If you ever find yourself in Italy, Florence is a must visit city. Florence is the capital of the Tuscany region and is absolutely gorgeous with its architecture and surrounding greenery. Even if you only have one full day in Florence (like we did!) there is still so much you can explore and experience in 24 hours. 

Sights to See and Places to Go in Florence

Florence Cathedral and Bell Tower: Also known as the Duomo, the cathedral and bell tower are some of the more colorful and patterned pieces of architecture I have seen. It has some green and a pinkish colors woven in to the outside of the buildings. Click here for information on buying tickets to the Duomo and Bell Tower. 

Ponte Vecchio: This is Florence’s famous medieval bridge as it is built over the Arno River and has unique shops built in to the bridge. So go take some pictures of the views from the bridge and do some shopping while you’re there!

Bronze Boar: Located in the Piazza del Mercato Nuovo is a fountain of a bronze boar. Place a coin in the boar’s mouth, rub his snout, then make a wish! It is a belief if the coin drops in to the hole where the water drains then your wish will be granted. 

Piazzale Michelangelo: Located outside the city center and up what feels like 1 million stairs is the Piazzale Michelangelo which has one of the best views of the city! Grab a bottle of wine (or beer) and find a seat for the sunset. The panoramic view of the city is spectacular and you get a community feel as lots of people go watch the sunset. This was my favorite experience while in Florence! 

Pitti Palace: This palace is home to multiple museums and the Boboli Gardens. Click here for information regarding hours and tickets. 

Accademia Gallery: If you are an art lover, I highly suggest going to the Accademia Gallery. There you will see a variety of statues, paintings, but most importantly the marble statue of David! It is amazing to see Michelangelo’s work in person. He is so detailed in his work that the statue of David even has veins! I highly recommend buying tickets online in advance. We did not and got there around the time it opened and still waited for about an hour before getting in. Click here, to buy your tickets to this gallery in advance!

Loggia della Signoria: Located on one side of Piazza Signoria, this open-air sculptures museum is one to remember! It contains beautiful Renaissance art and the other great thing about it is that it is FREE!

Places to Eat and Drink in Florence

Side note: all of these places that are about to be listed are near the train station as that is where we always book our accommodations since we travel via train, but there are tons of restaurants, cafes, and bars throughout the whole city! 

Ristorante Pizzeria Maso’: This restaurant has meals for everyone and for a reasonable price. I would recommend the bruschetta, tortellini with truffle sauce, or one of their risotto dishes…yummy! There is also indoor and outdoor seating!

Shake Cafe: If you are sick of eating pasta or pizza everyday in Italy, this place has some refreshing and lighter options. It is perfect to pick up an on-the-go meal or you can sit and eat at the cafe as well. I recommend one of their wraps. Shake Cafe‘s wraps are large, filling, and delicious! Although if you are looking for a traditional sit down restaurant, this is not the place for you. 

Joshua Tree Pub: This craft beer pub is the perfect place to grab a drink! The bartenders are super friendly. The pub has a great atmosphere and it is a great place to meet people. I even got a little taste of my hometown Chicago as they served Lagunita’s beer! They serve a variety of craft beers and it is a great place to relax, watch sports, and socialize. 

Florence, a city so full of art, architecture, and culture. It should not be missed!