Much to its credit, Florence is one of the few European cities to ban motorized traffic in the city center. The no-car zone is called the ZTL Zone in Florence. In these areas ( refer to this Google map for more info) cars will either not be allowed to drive or will be fined heavily for doing so. For those drivers who think they can sneak by: there are cameras everywhere so don’t think you’re not being watched. Touristy areas also mean more cops that can spot you. What’s more, not all the properties are expensive. Some budget hotels such as the two-star Alessandra have been around for years. And they’ve been joined by a new breed of small, design-conscious B&Bs — such Canto degli Scali on the Via delle Terme, and BBH, just south of the Church of Santa Maria Novella — that are a boon to culture-vultures on mid-range budgets. Night: Relax, have a nice meal in a quiet spot, and don’t go crazy. Tomorrow is a long day so it may not be a good idea to go out to the bars in Florence tonight. Day 3 in Florence: Let’s make a daytrip!

I’ve chosen the ideal daily structure, added times, routes to get there and suggestions on how long you should spend at each spot. Of course, you can add your own spots in, swap things around, or even skip some places. Use this itinerary as inspiration instead of a fixed plan to get the most out of your trip! 3 Day Florence Itinerary Overview Florence is full of incredible museums, and the Palazzo Pitti is definitely one of the best! The palace was built in the 15th century, and it has a fascinating history. The enormous building has been home to some of the most influential characters in the history of Florence!Always trust your gut instinct. Make copies of your personal documents, including your passport and ID. Forward your itinerary along to loved ones so they’ll know where you are.

LifeStraw– My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.In off-peak season, 4-6-bed dorms are 27-33 EUR while 8-10-bed dorms are 25-30 EUR. Private rooms are 70-100 EUR in off-peak season. Stay outside the historical center : It may seem inconvenient walking the extra 5-10 minutes, but it may be worth the extra money saved on hotels in Florence. The city isn’t that big either so you shouldn’t be too far away from the main attractions. Walking tours are a wonderful way to learn about Florence and there are a handful of excellent free tours in the city. They cover all the highlights and are the perfect introduction to the city. Florence Free Walking Tours runs daily free tours in English. Just be sure to tip!

Florence is known as the birthplace of the Renaissance. To learn more about this, and to experience some of the most famous Renaissance art in person, be sure to add the Galleria dell’Academia to your Itinerary. Late-Afternoon: Take a break and grab some Florentine street food. The local favorite is lampredotto– a sandwich stuffed with tripe (it’s better than it sounds.) Santa Croce is the largest Franciscan church in Italy and holds the tomb of Michelangelo (there are also funerary monuments to Dante and Leonardo da Vinci here too). It’s an interesting place to explore if you have already covered the highlights and have extra time in town. There are usually rotating exhibitions here as well. Admission is 8 EUR. 13. Take a vineyard tour Get the Firenze Card– If you are going to do lots of sightseeing, this card provides free entry to the top museums, tours, and attractions. It costs 85 EUR and is good for three days. Note: The Firenze Card is currently unavailable.

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San Gimignano: Probably the prettiest village in Tuscany, thanks to its many delicate towers and crumbling medieval fortifications. San Gimignano also has its own local vernaccia grapes soooooo there’s a good excuse to get drunk at the wineries! This town offers incredible views out over the valley of Florence and the Arno River. Take some time to explore the little town for a bit of an insight into life in the Tuscan countryside. The main piazza of the town has a fair amount going on, with some great tours departing from here. You could visit an interesting Roman theatre or see the San Francesco Convent. By car –We’ll go into this in more detail in the next section, but if you’re driving to Florence then you’ll need to leave your car in the outer areas of town. Driving is restricted in the historical center so there’s no point in trying to park there. The best parking in Florence can be found near the outer metro stations, like Scandicci.

See the chapel of Santa Maria de Firenze: Whilst many of the facilities at Santa Maria de Firenze require paid-entry, the main chapel is still free to enter. From the inside, you will be able to see the marvelous fresco of the dome still. Other than following general safe practices and common sense, you shouldn’t need to worry. Florence is a very safe destination to visit! HostelPass– This new card gives you up to 20% off hostels throughout Europe. It’s a great way to save money. They’re constantly adding new hostels too. I’ve always wanted something like this and glad it finallt exists. Val d’Orcia: This is the place that everyone imagines Tuscany to look like. Winding roads, rolling hills, rows of trees; Val d’Orcia is the poster child for the region. Montepulciano is lauded for its brunello wine while Bagni San Filipo as some awesome travertine hot springs.Climate: From June to August, the weather will be hot and humid. You can expect steamy afternoons to get up into the 90s, and many places don’t have AC so you’ll be feeling it. Meanwhile, in the winter, you’ll find frosty nights down into the 30s occasionally. Transportation: You can easily see Florence on foot so don’t worry much about transportation expenses. When you do use the bus, buy from a local tobacco shop instead of the driver – you’ll save a euro doing so. Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.