Hello Italy: A Travel Guide to Florence

Ahhh, Florence!  With cobblestone streets, quaint cafes and hidden churches, it was love at first sight. As the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and the birthplace of the Renaissance, it’s filled with art, architecture, and of course, vino.

There are endless things to do and explore, so I’ve made it a little easier for you, highlighting my favorite places to stay and things to do in Florence, Italy.

Where to Stay in Florence:

Hotel: Hotel Lungarno

Website: https://www.lungarnocollection.com/hotel-lungarno

Located right on the Arno river, this 5-star hotel is one of the Ferragamo’s boutique hotels which makes it truly a design marvel. It also recently underwent a 6-month renovation, but still maintains the historic charm since their doors opened 50 years ago. 

Pros:

• Only 1 block from the Ponte Vecchio Bridge
• Only 65 rooms, so it has very personalized service
• Large balconies overlooking the Arno River
• All electronics have been upgraded with multiple USB ports and U.S. converters are available in each room.
• Free wifi
• Michelin-starred restaurant – Borgo San Jacopo
• HUGE walk-in closet that rivaled my own
• Amazing art collection, including a Picasso
• A luxury spa that, unfortunately, I was unable to visit due to our busy itinerary
• Cute little bikes free to rent and ride around the city

Cons:

None

Where to Eat in Florence:

Name: Borgo San Jacopo

Website: https://www.lungarnocollection.com/borgo-san-jacopo

Our first dinner in Italy did not disappoint!  This is a one-star Michelin rated restaurant that we originally chose for our first meal in Italy because of its location in our hotel. We chose the “experience” tasting menu paired with wine and it was just as yummy as it was beautifully presented. Virtually everyone was taking pictures of their plates (except me since I had been flying for 14 hours and was too exhausted to style a pretty setting!)

Tip: At the Borgo San Jacopo, reserve a balcony table. Be prepared for dinners that take multiple hours b/c Italy’s motto is, La Dolce Vita! #italy #florence #traveltips Share on X

Pro tip: Make a reservation for a balcony table and be prepared for a 2-hour dining experience. In fact, most of our dinners took multiple hours because Italy’s motto is, after all, “La Dolce Vita, the good life”.  Check, please!

Name: La Bussola

Website: http://www.labussolafirenze.it/

Without a doubt, La Bussola had the best pizza I’ve ever put in my mouth. The menu was full of typical Tuscan options, but when a local tells you to order the pizza, you obey!

I ordered the #2 Pizza with fresh sheep cheese from Chianti, pears, walnuts and Tuscan honey; the flavor profile was insanely delish! Hubby opted for the wild boar salami pizza which was equally amazing if you’re craving meat. We were surprised by the lack of protein options on Italian menus, so come prepared to eat tons of carbs and burn them off by walking!

Name: Lo Osteria Personale

Website: http://www.io-osteriapersonale.it/

If you want a diversion from the local Tuscan cuisine, you’ve come to the right place. Lo Osteria Personale is a small restaurant with an unassuming exterior, but it’s nicely decorated with mod-minimalist decor. I loved the modern spin on Italian classics in SMALL PORTIONS versus family style, huge portions.

We chose and tasting menu again and I loved exploring unconventional flavor combos that I wouldn’t normally order. Most Italian restaurants offer tasting menus but everyone at the table must get the same thing. Lucky for my husband and I, we agreed on most menu options!

The chicken ravioli was the best I’ve ever had; the creamed codfish was to die for; and I never considered octopus edible (and enjoyable) until this meal. The biggest surprise was the peanut butter and lime sorbet with coconut foam that I’m still drooling over. Don’t knock it ’til you try it!

Tip: If you’re a vegetarian, they have an entire menu chock-full of options for you!

Name: Osteria del Pavone

Website: http://osteriadelpavone.it/

I’m so very thankful that we missed our last night’s reservation at another restaurant because this was (in my opinion) BY FAR the best restaurant in Florence. We literally walked around in circles because my GPS obviously can’t decipher congruent alleyways, but this hidden gem was worth the extra steps in my 4-inch heels on cobblestones. A fairly new addition to the dining scene, Osteria del Pavone is located in a restored palazzo decorated with simplistic luxury. Marco, the owner was a delight and chatted with us throughout the evening.  It turns out that he also owns Cinghiale Bianco but wanted a more intimate space. Located in a building that was centuries (maybe thousands) of years old, the atmosphere was one of the best I experienced in any Florence restaurant. 

They made a very stiff martini tableside from a beautiful antique bar cart.  I’ve had table side guacamole, but this was a completely different experience!

The eggplant risotto melted in my mouth and the pannacotta with amaretto sauce was a perfect ending for a perfect meal.

Bottom line: The food was superb, the ambiance was incredible, the drinks were strong, and the prices were reasonable.   

Things to Do in Florence:

Activity: Cooking Class, Desinare Cooking School

Website: https://www.desinare.it/en/

Desinare means “to sit down and eat in the company of family and friends”.

This culinary destination is truly a lifestyle concept with food as its focus. Not only do they feature Italian cooking classes, but downstairs is a retail shop reminiscent of a quaint Italian Williams Sonoma. Located in the bohemian Oltrarno quarter, we first stopped at the market where we met local butchers, farmers, and bakers who picked the freshest ingredients – truly farm to table.

Chef Cristian Giorgi is a hospitable host, gregarious chef, and patient teacher. He’s vegan, so we served up a delicious meatless meal of potato gnocchi, eggplant parmesan, and tiramisu. Kicking off our trip with this cooking class was the best possible way to appreciate all the food we enjoyed during our entire time in Italy. Bon appetit!

Activity: Private Walking Tour, Emanuela with Your Tuscan Holiday

Website: http://www.yourtuscanholiday.com/

I can’t speak highly enough about Emanuela and her knowledge of Florence and the entire Tuscan region. She sums up her passion with: “I give my voice to the city’s beauty so that it may delight not only the eyes but the other senses as well.”

Pro tip: Don't wear shorts or sleeveless tops on any tours with churches; shoulders and knees must be covered to go inside! #italy #florence #traveltips Share on X

Tip: DON’T wear shorts and sleeveless tops on any tours that involve churches.  I made that mistake on the first tour and missed out on going inside some beautiful churches.  Shoulders and knees must be covered to go inside.

Other Things to See in Florence:

It’s hard to narrow down my favorite spots, but here’s a very brief list:

• Florence Cathedral / Santa Maria del Fiore: As the 3rd largest church in the world, it dwarfed the huge crowd around it.  I’ve never felt as small as I did next to the huge panels of green and white marble exterior. Surrounded inside by sky-high pillars, gothic arches, and an endless marble floor, you see every last detail that the crafters labored on for 140 years. Don’t miss “the Last Judgment” painted on Brunelleschi’s Dome and the bronze “Gates of Paradise” at the Bapistry across the street.

• Uffizi Gallery: I didn’t appreciate the beauty of art until I came face to face with the masterpieces of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. I would highly recommend paying the extra cost for a private tour so you can skip the long line OR going on a Sunday morning. Don’t miss the adjoining Loggia dei Lanzi, an outdoor sculpture gallery with original Renaissance mythological statues including Perseus holding Medusa’s head in one hand and a sword in the other. It’s kind of eery, but it’s cool to get a feel for what it was like during the medieval reign of the Medicis.
• The Florence Experiment: Do plants have feelings? Both art installation and science experiment, a huge slide was recently installed in a museum where people are given plants to hold as they spiral down. The plants are then sent to a lab to detect the fear or joy their co-pilot had as they held them. I can’t make this up, people! Disclosure: I didn’t ride this nor did I get a chance to communicate with a plant. But I watched with glee.

• Accademia Gallery: if I could only go back and see one thing in Florence, it would be to experience the statue of David. There’s a long hall you walk through as you approach him, and it’s as if he’s pulling you inside the gallery. The detail is amazing and I was surprised that we were able to walk 360 degrees around the statue to take in all of Michelangelo’s detail.

Tip: Spring for the skip-the-line ticket…well worth the extra cost!

I hope you enjoyed my love letter to Florence, and stay tuned for more city guides for Tuscany, Rome and the Amalfi Coast!

Looking for more Italy travel tips?  Check out my top six tips for traveling to Italy >>