First time in Florence? What to know before you go

A first trip to Florence is really four things: the Renaissance core, one big museum morning, one view over the city, and one day out into Tuscany. Everything below sits inside or just outside the old walls, so you can do it on foot.

Book the two art stops before you fly. The Uffizi and the Accademia (Michelangelo's David) sell timed slots that go first thing in the morning; turning up without one in high season usually means a long wait or no entry. The Duomo complex is separate: the cathedral itself is free to enter, but the dome climb, the bell tower, the baptistery and the museum need a combined ticket with a booked time for the dome.

Florence is small and flat in the centre. The Duomo is the middle of the map; the Uffizi and Ponte Vecchio are a 5–10 minute walk south, Santa Maria Novella station is 10 minutes west, and Santa Croce is 10 minutes east. The Oltrarno, south of the river, is another 10 minutes over the bridges.

That means you do not need a car, a bus pass or a taxi for the classic first trip. The one exception is Piazzale Michelangelo and San Miniato, which sit on a hill across the river; walk up in 25–30 minutes or take bus 12 or 13.

Coordinates below are approximate city-centre points.

Stay inside the old walls if this is your first trip. The area between the station, the Duomo and Santa Croce puts almost everything within a 20-minute walk, and it is where you want to be at 7am before the day crowds arrive and again after dinner. Cheaper rooms sit further out along the tram lines.

Eat where the menu is short. A trattoria with five pasta dishes usually beats a piazza table with photographs on the menu. Coffee is cheapest standing at the bar; sitting at a table in a central square adds a service charge. Many restaurants add a per-person cover charge (coperto) and some add service — both are normal, not a scam.

Carry a refillable bottle: Florence has public drinking fountains (the small stone ones with a spout), and the water is drinkable. Wear shoes you can walk in; the centre is cobbled and the dome climb is 463 steps with no lift.

Book the big three — Uffizi, Accademia and the Duomo dome — before you travel. Everything else can be decided on the day.

April to June and September to October are the best windows: mild walking weather, long daylight and manageable queues if you book ahead. May and September are the sweet spots.

July and August are hot, humid and the busiest; the centre around the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio becomes hard to walk through in the middle of the day. If you must come then, do museums in the morning and stay off the main lanes between 11:00 and 16:00.

November to March is quiet and cheaper, with short days and some smaller sights on reduced hours. Winter is a good time for the Uffizi and for food, less good for gardens and hill towns. Easter week and Italian public holidays fill the city fast.