Top 10 Viewpoints in Florence, Italy That You Cannot Miss
With its terracotta rooftops and Brunelleschi’s iconic dome, Florence has one of the most recognisable skylines in Italy. But where should you go to capture the best views of Florence?
From the best free photo spots to pricey panoramas, here are my top 10 viewpoints in Florence.
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Best Viewpoints in Florence, Italy
10. Fiesole
Reaching the first of my Florence viewpoints takes a little effort but it is well worth it.
Fiesole is so much more than a suburb of Florence. Set on a hilltop overlooking the city, this Etruscan town can claim to be the mother city of Florence itself.
Make sure that your camera batteries are charged. From Fiesole, there are panoramic views over the rolling countryside towards the rooftops, dome and medieval towers of Florence.
History fangirls or fanboys won’t feel short-changed either. Although there is not much left of Etruscan Fiesole, the Archaeological Area features remnants of Etruscan walls, a temple, a Roman amphitheatre and Roman baths.
Getting from Florence to Fiesole
To reach Fiesole from Florence, catch bus #7 from Piazza San Marco. At busy times of the day, there are 3 – 4 services an hour and the journey takes around 20 minutes.
Fiesole is also served by the hop-on-hop-off bus.
If you are feeling energetic, you can walk from Florence to Fiesole. It’s a 6 km hike and uphill all the way.
Find Fiesole on Google Maps here.
9. Ponte Vecchio
The most famous of Florence’s bridges, Ponte Vecchio barely needs an introduction and is synonymous with Florence itself.
As its name suggests, this is also the oldest bridge straddling the River Arno. Whilst today’s Ponte Vecchio was built in the 14th Century, it is thought that there has been a bridge at this point of the Arno as far back as Roman times.
Even if you are only in Florence for one day, walk across Ponte Vecchio for some of the best views in town.
Pause at the centre of the bridge and point your camera lens east towards Ponte alle Grazie. The view west towards Ponte Santa Trinità is equally wonderful.
Ponte Vecchio photography tips
For the best light, point your camera lens westwards in the morning and towards the east in the evening.
As Ponte Vecchio is a popular tourist attraction it is thronged with visitors during the busier times of the day. If you want to capture a decent image of the shops along the bridge itself, visit at the start of the day.
Find Ponte Vecchio on Google Maps here.
8. Uffizi Galleries
From Giotto to Botticelli, many of the most famous paintings in the world grace the walls of the Ufizzi Galleries. Visiting the Uffizi should be on your Florence bucket list, even if you only have a passing interest in art history.
But what is less well known is that this 16th Century building is home to not one, but two of the best viewpoints in Florence.
If your holiday budget will stretch to lunch in the Uffizi’s terrace cafe, you will be treated to an excellent view of some of Florence’s most iconic landmarks, including Brunelleschi’s dome and Palazzo Vecchio.
But for the price of your admission ticket, stop by the window at the end of the gallery’s great hallway. From here, there is a superb view of Ponte Vecchio and the Arno River.
There is even a bonus viewpoint across the terracotta rooftops to the Duomo through the window near room A31 (Signorelli’s paintings).
Buying a ticket for the Uffizi Galleries
Don’t be a hostage to fortune. As visitor numbers are restricted, advance booking for the Uffizi Galleries is essential.
The cheapest way of doing this is through the galleries’ website here.
If the official website shows no availability, try here. Although this is likely to be a more expensive option, the booking interface is clearer and it comes with free cancellation within 24 hours of your visit.
Find the Uffizi Galleries on Google Maps here.
7. Brunelleschi’s Dome
Not only is Brunelleschi’s dome Florence’s most iconic landmark, but the terrace at its summit is also one of the most popular viewpoints in town. You just need a head for heights.
The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, simply known as the Duomo, is ground zero of the Italian Renaissance and Florence’s beating heart.
Clad in pink, green and white Tuscan marble, the façade of Florence Cathedral will bring joy to even the most jaded traveller. However, it is Brunelleschi’s gravity-defying dome that is the building’s architectural claim to fame.
There are two compelling reasons to climb Brunelleschi’s dome.
If you are an art lover, it provides an unbeatable view of Giorgio Vasari’s frescoes of the Last Judgment that decorate the dome’s interior.
And from the terrace that wraps itself around the dome’s lantern, there are unobstructed views of Florence in all directions. However, it goes without saying that this viewpoint won’t put Florence’s famous dome in the frame.
Bear in mind also that you will need to ascend 436 steps, some of them steep. At times you will need to navigate narrow passageways. If you suffer from claustrophobia or vertigo, skip this one.
Whilst I am glad that I climbed Brunelleschi’s dome some years ago, I am not in a rush to repeat the experience.
Buying a ticket to climb Brunelleschi’s dome
Like the Uffizi Galleries, you will need to book your dome ticket in advance.
The cheapest way of doing this is through the official website here. In 2022, you are not able to buy a ticket solely for the dome. Instead, you will need to buy a Brunelleschi Pass, a combination ticket that also includes admission to the Duomo Museum, Baptistery of St. John, Santa Reparata and Giotto’s Bell Tower.
If the official website shows no availability, try buying your pass here.
Find Brunelleschi’s dome on Google Maps here.
6. Giotto’s Campanile
Together with the Dioumo and St John’s Baptistery, Giotto’s Tower forms part of the Duomo complex. Designed by Giotto and built between 1334 and 1359, this medieval skyscraper soars 270 feet above ground level.
In my view, Giotto’s Bell Tower is a better Florence viewpoint than Brunelleschi’s dome. Not only are there sensational views in all directions, but it also offers a fabulous view of the dome itself.
There is one downside though.
The exterior walkways are protected by a safety grille that obstructs your views of the city. But this is not a deal-breaker. With a bit of experimentation and careful placement of your camera, you can manage a clear shot.
Climbing Giotto’s Tower is also long and can be steep and claustrophobic, particularly near the top where the steps are narrow and twisting. But you can catch your breath and take in the views at the tower’s three levels (and get a close-up of the bells).
Ultimately, this is one Florence view that is 100% worth the effort.
Buying a ticket for Giotto’s Tower
Although the demand for tickets to climb Giotto’s Tower is not as high as that for Brunelleschi’s dome, do not be a hostage to fortune. Reserve your ticket in advance here.
As with the dome, you will not be able to buy a ticket solely for Giotto’s Tower. Instead, buy a Giotto Pass, a combination ticket that also includes admission to the Duomo Museum, Baptistery of St. John and Santa Reparata.
Find Giotto’s Tower on Google Maps here.
5. Tower of Arnolfo
The views of Florence from the Tower of Arnolfo at least equal those from Giotto’s Tower. Designed by Arnolfo di Cambio, this imposing tower of the Palazzo Vecchio pierces the sky 308 feet above Piazza della Signoria.
Entering through the palace, guides lead you to the 233 steps to ascend the tower. Climbing the Tower of Arnolfo is not as arduous as climbing either Giotto’s Tower or Brunelleschi’s dome.
But this relative ease does not mean that you are short-changed when it comes to views. The Duomo complex is clearly in the frame as are Piazza della Signoria and the Uffizi Galleries.
Visiting the Tower of Arnolfo
Although demand for tickets is not as high as for some of Florence’s other viewpoints, I recommend buying your ticket in advance to avoid disappointment. I bought my ticket on the day before my visit at a quieter time of year and availability was limited.
For safety reasons, the tower will close if it is raining.
You will need to deposit your bag in a free locker before your visit.
Find the Tower of Arnolfo on Google Maps here.
4. Boboli Gardens
Sprawling over an area of 11 acres, the beautiful Boboli Gardens, features formal landscaped gardens, Renaissance sculptures and gurgling fountains. These gardens, which formed the backyard of the Medici’s Pitti Palace, deliver on so many levels.
Not only are they wonderful to stroll through, but they also allow you to escape the worst of the tourist crowds of Florence. Furthermore, from the Boboli Gardens, there are some of the best views of Florence and the rolling Tuscan countryside beyond.
If you want to look down on Florence from a higher vantage point, continue further uphill to Fort Belvedere, a fortress dating from the late 16th Century.
Visiting Boboli Gardens
You can buy your ticket through the official website here.
Find Boboli Gardens on Google Maps here.
3. San Miniato al Monte
Our next location combines an ancient church, a compelling legend and one of the best free views of Florence
Dating from 1015, San Miniato al Monte is the oldest church in Florence. It
marks the spot where the obscure St. Minias ended up after the Romans beheaded
him on the banks of the Arno in 250 AD.
The church has a lovely Romanesque facade, an art-filled sacristy and a ceiling of glazed terracotta panels. Although these are well worth a look – and you are likely to have the place pretty much to yourself – most people head to San Minato al Monte for its viewpoint.
For a second photo stop, make your way to the Sacred Doors Cemetery, directly behind the church.
Good to know
If you visit San Miniato al Monte in the late afternoon on weekdays you should hear the monks singing Gregorian chants. There is more information here.
Find San Miniato al Monte on Google Maps here
2. Piazzale Michelangelo: The classic postcard view of Florence
Piazzale Michelangelo is an essential part of your itinerary for its classic postcard view of Florence. And best of all, it’s completely free.
Piazzale Michelangelo photography tip
For the best light, visit Piazzale Michelangelo in the morning. Alternatively, pack a bottle of Chianti in your daypack and head up there at sunset for an experience that you will never forget.
Looking across to the opposite side of the river, Florence’s major landmarks are obligingly laid out before you. This is also one of the best viewpoints in Florence to appreciate the majesty of the Arno and its bridges.
There’s a bronze copy of Michelangelo’s David – one of Florence’s free sculptures – in the centre of the square. Piazzale Michelangelo also has a decent cafe with an outdoor terrace and no shortage of vendors selling tourist tatt.
Getting to Piazzale Michelangelo
It’s a 15-minute walk uphill to Piazzale Michelangelo from Ponte Vecchio. This is steep in places.
Alternatively, jump on bus #12 (from Boboli Gardens) or bus #13 (from Ponte Niccolo). This viewpoint is also served by the hop-on-hop-off bus.
As San Minato al Monte is five minutes uphill from Piazzale Michelangelo, why not combine these two Florence viewpoints in one visit?
Find Piazzale Michelangelo on Google Maps here.
1. The Best Viewpoint in Florence: The Rose Garden
Drum roll please. In my humble opinion, the Rose Garden offers not only the best free view of Florence but also the best overall experience. If you are allergic to crowds, Florence’s Rose Garden is the perfect antidote.
A few steps below Piazzale Michelangelo, this gorgeous garden has overlooked Florence since 1865. Its fragrant rose bushes won’t be a surprise, but it also has a small Japanese garden donated by Kyoto, Florence’s twin city.
Attracting a fraction of the visitors that descend on its better-known neighbour, Florence’s Rose Garden is a peaceful respite from the sometimes overwhelming crowds. As a bonus, it also has a cheap and friendly coffee bar with outside tables.
And as for those views of Florence? I’ll let you be the judge.
Find the Rose Garden on Google Maps here.
Map of the Best Photo Spots in Florence
And that’s a wrap.
To help you navigate your way to these locations, here’s a map of my favourite viewpoints in Florence. For an interactive map, simply click here or on the image itself.
