🇮🇹Florence
The cradle of the Renaissance — Michelangelo's David, Brunelleschi's dome, and more world-class art per square mile than almost anywhere on earth.
Mid-range figures, per person
Per person, no flights — those are just below. The mid-range figure is researched; budget and comfort scale it, so treat the two as rough. The trip calculator and hotels below break the day down properly.
Fares are into Rome or Milan; Venice sometimes prices the same. Florence is a cheap train ride from either. Ranges are typical fares booked 1–3 months out, checked mid-2026 — school-holiday peaks run higher, and patient shoppers beat the bottom end.
Prices checked · how we work these out
Is Florence expensive to visit?
Somewhat: a mid-range day in Florence costs $85–155 per person, and its $115 midpoint is 28% above the $90 median across all 127 cities here. Within Italy it runs 10% below the $128 average of our 3 Italy guides. That makes it pricier than 82 of the 127 cities, with a cheap meal at €6–12 ($6.50–13) and a mid-range hotel at €90–180 ($97–194) a night.
How much does a trip to Florence cost?
| Trip length | Budget | Mid-range | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 days | $150–285 | $255–465 | $450–840 |
| 5 days | $250–475 | $425–775 | $750–1,400 |
| 7 days | $350–665 | $595–1,085 | $1,050–1,960 |
| 14 days | $700–1,330 | $1,190–2,170 | $2,100–3,920 |
Per person and before flights, 3 days in Florence costs $255–465 mid-range, five days $425–775, a week $595–1,085 and two weeks $1,190–2,170; a week costs about $350–665 on a budget and $1,050–1,960 travelling in comfort.
Per person in US dollars, flights not included. Each total is a daily range from the band above multiplied out: mid-range is the guide's researched figure and already includes a mid-range room; budget and comfort scale it by 0.6 and 1.8, so treat those two as rough. The trip calculator lets you set your own days and group size.
Entry & visa
Most Western passport holders (US, UK, Canada, Australia) can visit Italy visa-free for up to 90 days within the Schengen Area for tourism. Check current rules for your passport before booking.
Visa rules turn on your nationality and change often — always confirm the current requirement for your own passport with an official government source before you book.
Quick facts
Money & what things cost
Cards are accepted almost everywhere, from museum tickets to trattorias, though small cash is handy for market stalls at Mercato Centrale or Sant'Ambrogio and for tipping. Florence is generally cheaper than Rome or Venice for food and lodging, though the historic center's restaurants near the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio charge a tourist premium.
What locals earn
| Earnings | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Average monthly salary (Tuscany region) | ≈ €1,900 ($2,040) | gross |
| Minimum wage | No national statutory minimum — set by sector collective bargaining |
Food & drink
| Item | Local price | ≈ USD |
|---|---|---|
| Panino from a lampredotto stand | €4–6 | $4.30–6.50 |
| Casual trattoria meal, per person | €15–28 | $16–30 |
| Bistecca alla fiorentina (shared, per kg) | €50–65 | $54–70 |
| Espresso at the bar (standing) | €1.20–1.50 | $1.30–1.60 |
| Glass of Chianti at a wine bar | €5–8 | $5.40–8.60 |
Transport
| Item | Local price | ≈ USD |
|---|---|---|
| Bus/tram single ticket (90 min) | €1.70 | $1.85 |
| 24-hour transit pass | €5 | $5.40 |
| Taxi flag fare / short ride | €3.30 flag + metered | $3.55+ |
| Florence Airport (Peretola) → city center (tram) | €1.70 | $1.85 |
Where to sleep & what it costs
| Tier | Per night | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hostel dorm | €25–40 ($27–43) | Several near Santa Maria Novella station |
| Budget hotel | €55–90 ($59–97) | Family-run B&Bs across the historic center |
| Mid-range hotel | €90–180 ($97–194) | Best value near San Lorenzo or Santa Croce |
| Luxury | €280+ ($302+) | Historic villa and palazzo hotels near the Arno |
Been recently? Check our prices
One tap per figure. Check-ins reset whenever this guide is re-priced, so they only ever vouch for the numbers you see here.
Trip cost calculator
$115 per person per day · 4 nights of lodging (Mid-range hotel)
A rough estimate, not a quote. The daily budget already includes a room, so one traveler pays exactly days × that budget; lodging is the room’s part of it, priced from the hotels below but never more than 45% of the trip. Extra travelers share the room and add only their own spending. Flights use the midpoint of the Getting there ranges above.
Getting around
- From the airport
- Florence Airport (Peretola/FLR) sits just a few kilometers from downtown; a tram (T2) runs directly to Santa Maria Novella station in about 20 minutes for €1.70. Pisa Airport, further away, is a common budget-flight alternative connected by train (~1 hour).
- On foot
- The historic center is small and almost entirely walkable — most first-timers barely use public transit within the old town, since major sights are 10–20 minutes apart on foot.
- Buses & trams
- Useful mainly for reaching Piazzale Michelangelo's viewpoint or areas just outside the walkable core; ATAF buses cover the city well.
- Trains for day trips
- Santa Maria Novella station has frequent, fast connections to Pisa, Siena, and other Tuscan towns, making Florence a strong home base for day trips.
Map
Drag to look around, or open Google Maps ↗ · Apple Maps ↗
Neighborhoods to stay in
- Duomo / historic center
- Steps from the cathedral and Uffizi — maximum convenience, but the busiest and priciest area.
- Santa Croce
- Lively, slightly more local feel, good restaurants, still an easy walk to the main sights.
- Oltrarno (south of the river)
- Artisan workshops, quieter streets, and the Pitti Palace — a more residential, less touristy base.
- San Lorenzo
- Central and good value, near the Mercato Centrale food hall, though a bit rowdier at night.
Things to do
Nightlife
Restaurants
Theater & shows
Tipping & etiquette
- Reservations for the Uffizi Gallery and Accademia (David) are essential in peak season — walk-up lines can run several hours.
- Eating or picnicking while sitting on the steps of churches or monuments is discouraged and sometimes fined, similar to Venice and Rome.
- Dress codes apply at churches — shoulders and knees covered to enter the Duomo, Santa Croce, and other major churches.
- Bargaining is expected at San Lorenzo's leather market stalls, but not in fixed-price boutiques.
- Many family-run restaurants and shops close for a few weeks in August (ferragosto) — check hours in advance if visiting then.
How to spend a trip to Florence
The historic center is small enough to cross on foot in twenty minutes, so what shapes a day here is not distance but the Uffizi and Accademia booking slots — fix those first and build the rest around them.
One day covers the Duomo, one great museum, and the river. Two big museums in a day is possible and not enjoyable, so choose between the Uffizi and the David.
- MorningThe Duomo and Brunelleschi's dome, and the piazza around them before the crowds thicken.
- MiddayA schiacciata from All'Antico Vinaio, or lampredotto from a street stand if you want the version locals eat.
- AfternoonThe Uffizi on a timed ticket booked in advance, then the Ponte Vecchio on the way across the river.
- EveningSunset from Piazzale Michelangelo, then dinner in Santa Croce or a glass at Le Volpi e l'Uva.
Three days is this guide's own answer: two for the city's art and one out into Tuscany.
- Day 1The one-day plan above: the Duomo, the Uffizi, the Ponte Vecchio and Piazzale Michelangelo at sunset.
- Day 2The Accademia for the David on an advance ticket, then the Oltrarno: artisan workshops, the Pitti Palace, and lunch at Mercato Centrale or Trattoria Mario.
- Day 3A day trip. Siena and Pisa are both straightforward trains from Santa Maria Novella, and the Chianti wine region takes a car or a tour.
Five days is more than Florence itself needs — it is a two-day city with a strong third. What it is genuinely good at, as this guide says outright, is being a base, so days four and five belong outside the walls.
- Days 1–3The three-day plan above, which covers the art and one day in Tuscany.
- Day 4The second Tuscan day trip, so Siena and Pisa each get their own day rather than being crammed together — or Chianti, for the wine.
- Day 5Either the churches and smaller museums the first days skipped, or the train onward: Venice and Rome both have guides here.
Safety & common scams
Florence is very safe for violent crime, including walking the historic center at night. The main friction points are pickpocketing in crowded museum lines and market areas, and the odd overpriced tourist-menu restaurant, not personal danger.
Scams to know
- Unofficial 'skip the line' ticket sellers outside the Uffizi or Accademia — buy tickets only through the official museum websites or your hotel.
- Pickpocketing around Ponte Vecchio and the Duomo during peak midday crowds — keep bags zipped and to the front.
- Leather market stalls selling 'genuine leather' that isn't — buy from a reputable shop if quality and authenticity actually matter.
- Restaurants near the Duomo with no posted prices — check the menu before sitting, especially for fish or steak priced by weight.
Emergency numbers: 112 (general EU emergency number, routes to police/ambulance/fire)
Phone & internet
Get an eSIM (via Airalo or similar) before you land, or a physical SIM from an Italian carrier (TIM, Vodafone, WindTre) — easy to pick up at a phone shop near Santa Maria Novella station. EU roaming rules mean SIMs from other EU countries also work at no extra cost.
First-timer FAQs
How many days do I need in Florence?
Two full days covers the Duomo, Uffizi, and Ponte Vecchio at a relaxed pace. Three lets you add the Accademia (David), Oltrarno's artisan streets, and a day trip to Siena or Pisa.
Do I really need to book the Uffizi and Accademia in advance?
Yes — both are among Europe's most visited museums and walk-up wait times routinely run 2–3 hours in peak season; a timed-entry ticket booked online in advance is close to essential.
Is Florence walkable, or do I need transit?
The historic center is very compact and walkable — most visitors use transit only to reach Piazzale Michelangelo's viewpoint or the train station, not for day-to-day sightseeing.
Is Florence a good base for day trips?
Yes — fast train connections make Pisa, Siena, and the Chianti wine region all doable as half- or full-day trips without changing hotels.
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