Florence Guide
Florence…what a dream! It is by far the most beautiful city that I have ever seen. I love that you can walk the entire city within 10 minutes, it’s very clean, very safe, and the people are so kind. This is probably one of my favorite destinations to date. I want to share with you a few recommendations if you ever find yourself planning a trip to this beautiful city.
Getting Around
Flying into the Florence airport is very easy. It pretty much felt like flying into the Bozeman, MT airport…quaint, small, and simple to navigate. The airport is only about 15 minutes from the middle of the city. We also loved that you can walk everywhere in Florence. You can get from one part of the city to the other in about 10 minutes. I love that all of the Italian families come out around 5 pm for a stroll. Also, Florence has Uber if you need car service.
Stay
JK Place Florence // Overlooking the Novella Piazza sits the JK Place boutique hotel. I absolutely loved everything about this hotel. The location is ideal for getting around Florence (only a 5-minute walk to the Cathedral, which sits in the center of the city), the rooms are gorgeous, and the quaint restaurant serves the most delicious eggs in the morning. If you can request a room with a window looking out to the Novella Piazza…do it! Just open your windows in the late afternoon and listen to the musicians play during sunset.
A few other places I came across in my research:
Hotel Santa Maria Novella
Riva Lofts (a little longer walk to the center of town 20 min)
Hotel Lungarno
Four Seasons Florence
Eat
Parione // Authentic Italian // One of the best meals we had in Florence, it is a bustling bistro that promises delicious pasta, steak, and a fun atmosphere.
Procacci // stop here for a truffle sandwich, seriously the best in the city. Plus this quaint shop serves a beautiful glass of pinot grigio. And this is a famous place in Florence that you must put on your itinerary.
Gucci // Yes the high-end designer Gucci just opened a restaurant in their flagship store. If you are into fashion, you must eat here. You get a private shopping experience + dinner in a perfectly decorated restaurant. Trust me, get the burger & caesar salad, best thing on the menu. Dinner only.
Sieni // stop here for an antipasto platter, and sit outside.
Mamma Gina // I read great reviews on this place!
Obica Mozzarrella Bar // good lunch spot
Do
Walking Tour // We went on a food & wine walking tour, which was a highlight of the Florence trip. Our guide took us all over Florence, pointing out historical and important places along the way. She was very knowledgeable about the history of Florence, and we learned so much. Places we stopped along the way
Procacci
City Market
Famous Cafe & Bakery
Pointe Vecchio
Piazza del Duomo
The David // definitely worth the trip inside to see the famous David statue. It was even more grand in person. I highly recommend buying tickets through your hotel concierge, this was you can avoid the lines through the quick-pass line.
The Cathedral // No words can describe the beauty of this famous cathedral. It will blow your mind! Get here early to be the first inside, as the lines are insane to get in as the day goes on. Also, we went early on a Saturday morning to take pictures in front of the church before the piazza was filled with people.
Pointe Vecchio
Shop
COS // It’s similar to H&M, but better quality clothes.
OTTOD’AME // If you buy one thing in Florence, buy a dress here. This store was so beautiful!!
MIO CONCEPT // My sister and I are obsessed with Pagani sunglasses. We bought our first pair in Capri and searched high and low in Florence to find a shop that carried the Pagani brand. There is 1 in Florence, it’s hard to find, but worth the search.
