Admire some of the world’s most renowned architecture. Delve into a past full of art and intrigue. Sip on an unforgettable aperitivo. These are just a few of the best things you can do in Florence in 2024, and here we tell you all about them. Discover old and new attractions. Find out how to see the Duomo from an unusual point of view. How you can meet the Gran Duke Cosimo I, and where to learn more about the top art exhibits in town.
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Best Things to do in Florence in 2024
1. Climb the Duomo and discover the Hidden Terraces
Climbing to the top of Brunelleschi’s Dome is a rite of passage in Florence. Firstly because it gets you up close to one of the architectural wonders of the world. Secondly because the view over Florence from the top is breathtaking. And lastly because it’s the ultimate spot to take a holiday selfie… Get climbing!
On this excellent Cathedral Hidden Terraces Tour you’ll be getting close up to the Dome and see the city from the terraces that are not usually open to the public.
2. Meet Gran Duke Cosimo I de’ Medici
This year marks the 450th anniversary of the death Cosimo I de’ Medici (1519-1574). Not to be confused with Cosimo the Elder (1389-1464), this Cosimo was the first of the Medici family to became Grand Duke, conquering a great part of Tuscany and instituting himself as its absolute ruler. You could say that with him Florence changed a good deal, both politically and physically. What is he responsible for ? He built the Uffizi and the Vasari Corridor, he restructured Pitti Palace and created Boboli garden (though this was mostly his wife’s doing).
If you want to see what Cosimo I looked like, head to the sculptures-filled Bargello Museum and look for a magnificent bronze bust by Cellini. There’s also an equestrian statue in Piazza Signoria by Giambologna. But the highlight is at the Uffizi Gallery, that hosts a famed portrait of Florence’s Duke impressively attired in full armour by Bronzino.
With Small Group, Skip-the-Line Tour of the UFFIZI you’ll enjoy an intimate introduction to the iconic Uffizi collection – max 15 people, audio headsets.
=> This one is for all fans of the Medici family. Last October the small Medici Museum has been moved to the Rotonda Brunelleschi.
=> See What’s New in Florence in 2024.
3. The new GiuntiOdeon bookstore-cinema
Check out one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world – the GiuntiOdeon . The popular cinema in Florence – that started its life as a theatre in 1922 – has recently reopened, giving new life to this iconic venue. Today it’s an elegant-looking bookstore, a venue for cultural events and original language cinema with 200 seats and a led wall for projections.
4. Aperitivo time in the coolest quartiere
Looking for the coolest neighbourhood in Florence, perfect for an aperitivo? San Frediano in the Oltrarno, with its narrow alleyways that are far from the madding crowds of the Duomo. There are loads of spots to choose from, but your best bet for an aperitivo is Gesto with its vintage-feel. There are cool sounds and great cocktails at Mad Soul & Spirits, and Santarosa Bistrot near the Arno has an atmospheric urban garden.
Gunè Next Door cocktail bar has recently opened in San Frediano, neighbourhood which is justly famous for its nightlife. Curated cocktails, old and new, in an intimate atmosphere.
Discover how the locals do happy hour in Florence on a 2-hour Aperitivo Tour. Join a local guide to explore neighbourhoods often missed by tourists, and stopping at historic ‘wine windows’ along the way. Mingle with locals and immerse yourself in the authentic Florentine lifestyle.
5. Go back to Etruscan time – Archeological Museum
Would you like to enjoy a crowd-free museum right at the heart of Florence historic centre? Vast and beautifully organised, the National Archeological Museum in Florence is not as well known as it deserves. The entrance is unassumingly small, in a corner of the beautiful Piazza Santissima Annunziata. Once you’re inside, you find a world of artefacts and displays that take you back centuries: Etruscan marble urns, bronze statuettes unearthed in the necropolises that dot the Tuscany region, Egyptian sarcophagus, and of course Greek and Roman art.
Did you know? The Etruscans have been talked about much recently because of a new amazing discovery in San Casciano dei Bagni, a thermal town near Siena.
6. Ride the Panoramic wheel
Until June 2024 there’s time to ride the Florence Eye, the panoramic wheel located at the Cascine Park, and rise above Florence to admire the city from above.
7. Visit a Food Market in Florence
Food is one of the highlights of any trip to Italy, and Florence is not an exception. This is the city that came up with the Florentine steak, the earthy ribollita soup, the deliciously tomatoey pappa al pomodoro, the famed lampredotto sandwich (this one requires a bit of daring!). And this is only the tip of Florence’s culinary iceberg.
San Lorenzo Food Market is a mecca for foodies, an inspiration to anyone who loves food. The colours, the smell, the preparation, from truffles to salame toscano, freshly baked schiacciata, aromatic pecorino cheese, it’s a real homage to taste.
Learn some culinary secrets in Florence: during this Cooking course and San Lorenzo Market Tour, you start by choosing fresh ingredients for your dishes, then you head to the kitchen and learn how to prepare a 4-course Tuscan meal under the guidance of a chef. Finally you’ll get to sit down and feast on your creations.
8. Try the original Negroni at the newly reopened Giacosa Bar
And after (or before) all the food, let’s get a drink! The Giacosa cocktail bar has recently reopened. The history of Giacosa – on the corner between Via Tornabuoni and Via della Spada – is strictly linked to the Negroni cocktail. It’s here that the famous drink was born, and now this historic bar is back, with new management and a modern touch.
See the best art exhibits in Florence in 2024
My Secret Florence, hidden gems in the city of the Renaissance
