The best attractions in Florence, Italy are waiting to be explored. From stunning galleries to remnants of the Renaissance, follow our guide to see it all.

There are few cities where the entire center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take one glimpse at the heart of phenomenal Florence, Italy, and you’ll understand immediately why it has that accolade. Travel the charming cobbled streets while taking in the incredible palaces, churches, museums, restaurants, cafes, and fountains.

The birthplace of the Renaissance that changed European life forever has been preserved for future generations to enjoy and bask in its unparalleled beauty. But where to start in this culture-packed city? Our insider’s list of the best 10 things to do in Florence takes in the essentials and a few things the guidebooks might have missed.

The Uffizi Gallery

It’s impossible to oversell the Uffizi Gallery. This isn’t just Italy’s finest museum – it’s one of the grandest in Europe. Unsurprisingly, it’s at the top of the list for must-sees attractions for visitors to Florence – which is why lines can be hard to avoid – but visiting out of season can help. The early morning or late in the day timeframes are good options as well, and will free up more time to spend with masterpieces from the Renaissance and ancient Greece. Try to get your tickets in advance too – it’ll really speed things up.

There are constant efforts and work being done to expand the exhibition space. There are already over 100+ rooms, but make a beeline for the rooms containing 18 works by Botticelli, including the iconic The Birth of Venus. The building itself is a work of art, but it doesn’t overshadow major work from Michelangelo, Raphael, Rubens, and Rembrandt. There’s even room for da Vinci, Caravaggio, and an altarpiece by Giotto. It’s truly a feast for the senses.

The Duomo

Rising above the city rests the impossible – and impossibly beautiful – Duomo. Topped with the Cupola del Brenelleschi, Filippo Brunelleschi’s remarkable cupola of red-tiles manages to combine grace with hulking size. The Duomo is Gothic rather than Renaissance, with construction beginning in 1296 and finishing in 1436. As one of the largest churches in Europe, its exterior grandeur on Piazza Duomo is more than matched by its exquisite interior.

Look out for the biblical frescoes, the 15th-century working clock, the remnants of an earlier 7th century church on the same site and, of course, the cupola. You need to reserve your ticket to climb the steps – all 463 of them – but it’s worth it for the views and closer peeks at the 16th-century frescoes.

Palazzo Vecchio

This is the administrative heart of the city, home to the council and the mayor. Add in a chapel, a 16th-century map room, an original work by Donatello, and a 418-step climb up the top of the tower, and you can see why people flock to this palace all year round. Those who get married at the Palazzo Vecchio do so in a palace that was built at the very beginning of the 14th century.

Michelangelo’s David

The Accademia Gallery hosts one of the most prominent and famous Florence attractions: Michelangelo’s David. Lines are unavoidable to get into this gallery, but every second is worth it. Once you’re up close, you’ll be staggered at the level of detailing the master was able to achieve sculpting from one single block of marble. There are other lesser works of his here, also worth seeing, and notable paintings by Botticelli. But let’s be honest, it’s hard to get past the main attraction.

Museo Dell’Opera del Duomo

Once you’ve been wowed by the cupola of the Duomo – and perhaps even climbed it – you can discover more about Brunelleschi’s Renaissance addition at the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo on Piazza Duomo. As well as instructional films, there are also a few masterpieces to be found here: Michelangelo’s La Pieta, work by Donatello, and a pair of 15th-century golden gilded bronze doors by Ghiberti, which are truly stunning.

The Church of Santa Maria Novella

More breathtaking beauty awaits at the Church of Santa Maria Novella. Founded by Dominican monks, this 13th-century basilica came into its own during the Renaissance when visiting artists worked here. It’s a serene and beautiful place, even on a busy day, with its white and green marble front, captivating frescoes, a crucifix by Giotto, and its peaceful cloisters.

Basilica di Santa Croce

The Florentines loved building churches, and few can compete with the neo-Gothic exterior of the Basilica di Santa Croce. That marble façade is somewhat misleading – you expect the interior to have a similar feel, but it’s much more serene inside. Still, it has joys aplenty for the visitor – wondrous cloisters by Brunelleschi, a Medici chapel, an amazing sacristy, frescoes by Giotto, and the tombs of Galileo and Michelangelo.

Tuscan Treats

The Mercato Centrale – or Central Market – is a welcoming change of pace in Florence. The building that houses the market dates from the late 19th century, and there has long been a food market here, but a recent revamp has seen it become a red-hot foodie destination.

Now it houses a cooking school and a fresh, street-food feel with tasting stands at every turn on the new first floor. Sample Italian specialties, silky buffalo mozzarella, pizza, pasta, meats, pastries, and the local lampredotto sandwich. That’s cow stomach, if you’re wondering.

Palazzo Pitti

Another former Medici stronghold, the Palazzo Pitti was built in the mid-15th century and later bought by the Medici in the mid-16th. They ruled Tuscany from here before the Lorraine-Habsburgs, and then the Savoys took it over.
There are four museums to explore here, with work from Rubens, Botticelli, and Raphael, in addition to apartments that give an authentic feel of life as it was lived by House of Savoy when they dwelled within these walls.

Piazzale Michelangelo

For a view of Florence you’ll never forget, head to Piazzale Michelangelo. It’s the place for the perfect photo opportunity, panoramic in scope, framed with a copy of David and more souvenir stalls than you’ll know what to do with. Enjoy the stroll up here and time it for the sun going down over one of the world’s most exquisitely beautiful cities.

If we’ve overlooked a must-see attraction in the fabulous city of Florence, tell us all about it on Twitter.