The first time I visited Florence, I thought I was prepared. I had my list of must-sees, I booked my hotel near the train station, I queued for the viral sandwich, and I crossed the Ponte Vecchio with the crowd.
And while I loved the city, I realized later just how much I got wrong.
Florence is not a place you rush through with a checklist. It’s a city of hidden courtyards, quiet markets, and small details that only reveal themselves once you slow down.
So here it is — based on all my mistakes the first time, this is what I’d do differently next time.
Where to Stay
I wouldn’t stay near the train station
It’s convenient, yes. But the noise, traffic, and endless tourist menus made me regret it. Next time, I’d stay in San Niccolò or Santo Spirito — neighborhoods where mornings begin with quiet streets and the smell of fresh bread.
I’d stay in Sant’Ambrogio
Still walkable to everything, but with fewer tourist traps. Here you’ll find real trattorias, bustling markets, and apartments that feel like home.
I’d book an apartment, not a hotel.
Especially with friends or family. Cooking breakfast, spreading out, and paying less per person beats cramming into two overpriced hotel rooms.
I’d message apartment hosts directly.
Sometimes you get 10–20% off by skipping booking platforms — and you quickly learn if a host is attentive just by how they reply.
I’d stay near the tram line if I had a car.
Florence’s ZTL (restricted traffic zone) fines come out of nowhere. Staying outside the center in Novoli or Viale Talenti, parking easily, and riding the tram in is a far less stressful option.
Eating & Drinking
I’d avoid the Mercato Centrale food court.
Upstairs is chaotic and overpriced. Downstairs, locals still eat bollito and tripe on paper plates — that’s where the real Florence is.
I wouldn’t eat the viral sandwich.
Yes, I queued 40 minutes. Yes, it was fine. But around the corner, in a family trattoria, I had pappa al pomodoro that made me close my eyes in silence. The waitress even told me where her grandmother buys olive oil.
I’d eat at Sant’Ambrogio Market.
Inside, it’s loud and messy. Outside, locals sit with wine and tripe sandwiches on folding chairs. It’s not Instagram-perfect — and that’s why it’s perfect.
I’d go to Caffè Verone at sunset.
Perched above the Museo degli Innocenti, this rooftop café is quiet, affordable, and open to everyone. Great drinks, no hotel dress code, and views most tourists never see.
I’d have coffee at the Oblate Library.
Instead of fighting for space near the Duomo, I’d climb to the terrace at Biblioteca delle Oblate. Students study, locals chat, and the view of Brunelleschi’s Dome is unbeatable for the price of a cappuccino.
Museums & Sights
I’d book late afternoon at the Accademia.
Not 9am, when everyone else does. At 5:15pm, Michelangelo’s David often stands alone. No wall of phones, no tour groups — just you and the marble.
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On peak days, regular lines can stretch well over an hour. That’s where Skip-the-Line Accademia Gallery Entrance Tickets come in.
I’d climb Giotto’s Bell Tower, not the Dome.
The Dome is famous, but crowded and caged at the top. Giotto’s Tower is included in the same ticket, has fewer crowds, and offers the best view — including of the Dome itself.
I’d make time for the Cappella Brancacci.
Tucked inside Santa Maria del Carmine, Masaccio’s frescoes here changed Western art forever. Quiet, powerful, unforgettable.
I’d explore the Chiostro dello Scalzo.
Free to enter, almost always empty, and filled with Andrea del Sarto’s moving Renaissance frescoes. A true hidden gem.
I’d visit the Medici Chapels.
Inside San Lorenzo, Michelangelo himself designed the tombs. The sculptures are extraordinary — and I walked past them the first time without even knowing they were there.
I’d visit the Uffizi late in the day.
At 9am, the crowds are unbearable. By 4pm, it’s calmer. Botticelli, Caravaggio, and Raphael deserve to be seen without a wall of selfie sticks in front of them.
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I’d go inside San Miniato al Monte.
Most people stop at Piazzale Michelangelo. Ten minutes higher is a silent hilltop church where monks chant and golden mosaics shimmer. It’s unforgettable.
Planning & Timing
I’d make reservations. For everything.
Restaurants, rooftops, museums. Florence is not a walk-in city, especially in summer. No reservation = no entrance.
I’d avoid Florence in July.
The heat, the crowds, the chaos — it’s overwhelming. April brings blooming wisteria, October brings golden sunsets. Even better? January and February, when the city is almost empty.
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I’d plan around Mondays.
Most museums close, which makes Mondays the perfect day to explore Oltrarno or visit smaller chapels like Brancacci.
I’d book museum tickets at least 1–2 weeks ahead.
Especially for the Uffizi and Dome climb. They sell out in high season.
I’d use the Brunelleschi Pass.
Almost nobody knows this: it includes the Dome, Bell Tower, Baptistery, and Crypt — and lets you skip the Cathedral’s main line.
I’d slow down.
Not 12 things a day. One piazza. One painting. One meal without my phone. That’s when Florence truly shows herself.
Neighborhoods & Wandering
I’d wander near Piazza Santa Trinita.
Not for a destination — just to get lost. Between Santa Trinita and Piazza della Repubblica, every stone holds a story, and the noise fades once you leave Via Tornabuoni.
I’d cross Ponte Santa Trinita instead of Ponte Vecchio.
The Ponte Vecchio is crowded with overpriced shops. From Santa Trinita, you get the perfect photo of it instead — especially at sunset.
I’d visit Giardino Bardini.
The Piazzale Michelangelo view is famous, but Bardini’s gardens are shaded, fragrant, and calm. In April, the wisteria tunnel is a dream.
I’d take the bus to Fiesole or Settignano.
Twenty minutes to the Tuscan hills, with olive groves, Roman ruins, and sweeping views of Florence far below — no tour groups in sight.
I’d walk through the Rose Garden.
Just below Piazzale Michelangelo, this garden blooms with color and sculptures in May. Free, peaceful, and almost empty.
Safety & Scams
I’d walk with purpose.
Pickpockets gather near Ponte Vecchio and the Duomo. Keep your bag zipped, never stop for street games, and don’t look lost with your phone out.
I’d avoid the “stamp” scam.
They drop fake postcards, accuse you of stepping on their “art,” and demand money. Keep walking — it’s all staged.
I’d respect the dress code.
The Duomo and Santa Croce turn people away daily. Shoulders and knees covered saves you from an awkward shawl rental or outright refusal.
Final Thoughts
Florence isn’t just about the checklists. It’s about knowing where to wander, when to slow down, and how to step away from the crowds.
The first time, I made mistakes. The second time, I knew better.
And that’s when Florence stopped being a postcard and started feeling like a city I could love forever.