25 Unmissable Items for Your Florence Bucket List
Florence is an easy city to love.
From Brunelleschi’s terracotta cathedral dome to the medieval Ponte Vecchio, it is home to some of Italy’s most recognisable landmarks. Echoes of the Medici and Michelangelo resound in its cobbled streets.
One trip is never enough to see everything Florence has to offer, but this guide will help you make the most of the time you have.
I have visited Florence many times over the years. This is my personal bucket list, built from all of those trips.
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The Ultimate Florence Bucket List: 25 Unforgettable Things to Do
These are the best things to do in Florence, grouped so they’re easier to plan around. I have done every one of these myself, across several visits.
Want my personal favourites first? Skip straight to my top 10 here.
Streets, Bridges and Squares
1. Wander the Renaissance streets
Walking is the best way to get your bearings in Florence, and it costs nothing.
This is the birthplace of the Renaissance, the movement that transformed painting, sculpture and architecture across Europe. It reached its peak in the 16th century with Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael and Michelangelo.
Start at the Duomo, the geographical and historical heart of the city. Walk down Via de’Calzaiuoli, one of the main routes in Renaissance times, past Orsanmichele Church to Piazza della Signoria.
From there, the Uffizi Gallery and Ponte Vecchio are only a few minutes away.
If you fancy exploring Florence with a twist of fun, try this e-bike tour, an eco-tour by electric cart, a tour by electric scooter or an electric bike tour at night.
2. Cross the Ponte Vecchio
Even if you have only one day in Florence, Ponte Vecchio is unmissable. It’s the oldest of Florence’s bridges, and its butchers’ shops were replaced centuries ago by goldsmiths. The story goes that Cosimo de’Medici could not bear the smell of meat so close to his palace.
Above it runs the Vasari Corridor, an elevated passage linking Palazzo Vecchio with Palazzo Pitti. It reopened to visitors in 2025 after years of restoration.
3. Amble along the Arno
But Ponte Vecchio is not the only bridge in town; other bridges in Florence each have a story to tell.
Strolling along the River Arno is one of my favourite things to do in Florence. The north side is where you’ll find most of the city’s famous sights; south of the river is the Oltrarno district, literally the “other side.”
Walking from Ponte alla Vittoria to Ponte San Niccolò takes around 40 minutes without stopping.
4. Visit Florence’s free outdoor art gallery at Piazza della Signoria
Did you know that Florence has an open-air art gallery on the doorstep of the Uffizi Gallery?
Piazza della Signoria is home to the best collection of free sculptures in Florence, including a fake David (more about him later) guarding the entrance to Palazzo Vecchio. TThe Loggia dei Lanzi, at the Uffizi end of the piazza, contains some of the city’s most famous works of art, including Giambologna’s Rape of the Sabine Women.
5. Find the spot where Savonarola met his end
Piazza della Signoria is also the site of one of the most famous moments of the 15th century.
An inconspicuous bronze plaque amongst the cobblestones marks the spot where the charismatic monk Girolamo Savonarola (1452 – 1498) was burned to death. He was a puritanical fanatic who turned Florence into a theocracy, sponsored “bonfires of the vanities”, and temporarily ousted the mighty Medici.
Views over the City
6. Take in the view from the Tower of Arnolfo
Florence’s rooftops and cathedral dome, seen from above, belong on every visitor’s bucket list
There are several excellent viewpoints in Florence from which to choose and, in my book, the Tower of Arnolfo is one of the best. This is the medieval skyscraper of the Palazzo Vecchio, piercing the sky 308 feet above Piazza della Signoria.
Climb its 233 steps for show-stopping views of Florence’s cathedral dome and beyond.
7. Scale Brunelleschi’s dome
The view from the dome’s terrace isn’t the best in Florence, but the climb is worth doing once, if only for the close-up of Vasari’s frescoes inside. This isn’t one for anyone with claustrophobia or a fear of heights: 436 steps, some steep, through narrow passageways.
Book ahead through the official site for the best prices. You’ll need a Brunelleschi Pass, which also covers the Duomo Museum, the Baptistery, Santa Reparata and Giotto’s Bell Tower. If it’s sold out, try buying your pass here.
But this may not be for you if you suffer from claustrophobia or vertigo. There are 436 steps – some of which are steep – and narrow passageways to navigate.
8. Climb Giotto’s Campanile
I think the bell tower gives a better view than the dome, mostly because it includes the dome itself. You just need to angle your camera through the safety grille.
Like the dome, this is a long, steep climb. Book your Giotto Pass here, which also covers the Duomo Museum, Baptistery and Santa Reparata.
Like Brunelleschi’s dome, this is a long climb that is steep and claustrophobic in places.
9. Watch the sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo
Hike uphill to Piazzale Michelangelo for that classic postcard view of Florence, with the city’s major landmarks laid out before you like a model city. It’s completely free.
Walk uphill from Ponte Vecchio in around 15 minutes, or take bus #12 or #13. the hop-on-hop-off bus stops here too. Full details in my guide to Piazzale Michelangelo.
10. Smell the roses at Giardino delle Rose
In my humble opinion, the tranquil and fragrant Rose Garden offers the best views of Florence. You’ll find it just below Piazzale Michelangelo, and it is also free to enter.
11. Visit San Minato del Monte
Keep climbing to San Miniato al Monte for another excellent photo stop.
Dating from 1015, it’s Florence’s oldest church, built where St Minias was said to have died after being beheaded by the Romans. Step inside for the art-filled sacristy and glazed terracotta ceiling.
Art and Museums
12. Fall in love with Renaissance art at the Uffizi Galleries
The Uffizi Gallery is home to some of the greatest works of art on the planet. This is an all-you-can-eat buffet of Renaissance art, so don’t try to see the whole collection in one visit.
Pick a handful of key paintings at the Uffizi Gallery and take your time with them.
Booking ahead is essential, as visitor numbers are capped. The official site is cheapest, but if it shows no availability, try here instead for a ticket with a small premium.
13. See the Doors of Paradise
Facing the cathedral is the Baptistery of St. John, the egg from which Florence’s golden age was hatched.
In 1401, Lorenzo Ghiberti won a competition to design the doors of the city’s new Baptistery, creating its North and East Doors. The latter was later coined “The Gates of Paradise” by Michelangelo and altered the way that Renaissance people viewed the world around them.
The doors you see today are excellent copies. The originals are in the Duomo Museum.
14. Say “hello” to David
No Florence bucket list is complete without the Accademia (Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze), home to the world’s most famous statue. Carved from Carrara marble and standing fourteen-feet tall, Michelangelo’s David is worth seeing again on every visit.
Copies stand outside Palazzo Vecchio and at Piazzale Michelangelo, but it’s worth paying to see the real thing in the Accademia.
Don’t be a hostage to fortune; buy your ticket for the Accademia in advance from the gallery’s official website here. Failing that, try buying your skip-the-line ticket here.
15. Follow the Michelangelo trail in Florence
David is not the only Michelangelo sculpture in Florence. Although the “divine artist” created many of his masterpieces in Rome, many of his important works of art are in Florence, and he is buried in the Basilica of Santa Croce.
Trace his life from an early crucifix in Basilica di Santo Spirito to the moving Bandini Pietà in the Duomo Museum.
16. See the sculptures at the Bargello Museum
The Bargello is to sculpture what Florence’s Uffizi Gallery is to painting. There are key works by Michelangelo, Donatello and Giambologna, as well as the Baptistery door competition entries from Lorenzo Ghiberti and Filippo Brunelleschi.
17. See Masaccio’s masterpiece at the Brancacci Chapel of Santa Maria del Carmine
It’s a tough call, but if I had to pick a favourite painting in Florence, it would be Masaccio’s fresco of Adam and Eve expelled from Eden, in the Brancacci Chapel of Santa Maria del Carmine. The expulsion of Adam and Eve from Eden is worth the cost of your airfare to Florence alone.
18. See the frescoes in the Church of Santa Maria Novella
Built by Dominican friars between 1279 and 1357, Santa Maria Novella is one of Florence’s most important Gothic churches. Inside are Masaccio’s Holy Trinity and fresco cycles by Ghirlandaio and Filippino Lippi.
19. Be inspired by Fra Angelico at San Marco
Florence’s Museo San Marco houses the finest collection of frescoes by the early Renaissance master Fra Angelico (1395 – 1455). His most famous work of art is The Annunciation (1440 – 1445), depicting the Angel Gabriel with glittery wings kneeling before Mary.
Gardens and Resting Places
20. Stroll through the Boboli Gardens
The Boboli Gardens were once the Medici’s private backyard. Eleven acres of landscaped grounds, Renaissance sculpture and fountains, with views over the city and the Tuscan hills beyond.
21. Pay your respects at the Basilica of Santa Croce
The 14th-century Basilica of Santa Croce Church is the final resting place of many Florentine greats, including Dante, Galileo, Machiavelli, Michelangelo and Rossini. This Franciscan church is also famous for its fresco cycle by Giotto in the Bardi Chapel, depicting stories from the Life of St. Francis.
At the time of updating this article (August 2026), the Bardi Chapel at Santa Croce was still undergoing restoration and its frescoes hidden by scaffolding.
22. Discover the Medici Chapels
The Medici Chapels form part of Basilica of San Lorenzo, one of Florence’s oldest churches. This is the final resting place of many of the Medici and is home to celebrated sculptures by Michelangelo, dedicated to members of the family.
Other Things to Do in Florence
23. Take a half-day trip to Fiesole
Set on a hilltop overlooking Florence, the Etruscan town of Fiesole is just a short bus ride from the city. It is a good escape from the heat and crowds of Florence, especially in the summer months, and its Archaeological Area has interesting Etruscan and Roman remnants.
Catch bus #7 from Piazza San Marco (up to four an hour at busy times, journey around 20 minutes), or the hop-on-hop-off bus. If you’d rather walk, it’s a 6km uphill hike. I’d take the bus there and walk back.
24. Visit a Renaissance pharmacy
For a scented souvenir, visit the Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy, one of the oldest pharmacies in the world.
Directly associated with the Basilica, the Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella is one of the oldest pharmacies in the world. In 1221, Dominican monks founded the church with a garden, and in 1381 they started concocting perfumed waters to fight disease, including the Black Death.
It no longer works as a pharmacy, but it still sells beautiful, if pricey products.
25. Finally … have the best sandwich of your life
Florence is full of good places to eat, but for the best lunch stop, head to All’Antico Vinaio. Their sandwiches use schiacciata, a local flatbread, and the wine is cheap and good.
There are two central shops: one on Via dei Neri near Piazza della Signoria, and one on Via Ricasoli near the Accademia.
My Top 10 Florence Experiences
I hope this guide helps you put together your own Florence bucket list. If you have found this useful and need more help with planning your vacation, check out a few of my other articles:
- How Many Days in Florence Are Enough for a Perfect First Visit? (+ Sample Itineraries)
- How to Spend One Day in Florence: Itinerary & Tips
- 15 Florence Hidden Gems
- Where to Stay in Florence, Italy: The 7 Best Areas
For a bit of travel inspiration, take a look at these dreamy Florence quotes or my favourite books about the Cradle of the Renaissance.
Buon viaggio!
By Bridget
Bridget Coleman is an award-winning travel blogger who is an incurable Italy addict and has travelled its length & breadth on multiple occasions. Find out more here.
To get in touch, email her at hello@flashpackingitaly.com