One of the most beautiful and historically significant cities in the world…join me as I help you decide what to do, where to go, where to stay, and what to eat in stunning Florence.
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Intstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattstraveltips/
Music by:
https://www.epidemicsound.com
Thanks to Audrey Kennedy for the help! If you need a travel agent, she’s the best!
FEATURED IN THIS VIDEO:
How to Get into the City:
– From Pisa Airport (Gallilei Gallileo Intl Airport): Take the Pisamover to Pisa Centrale Station, and buy a ticket to Florence (Santa Maria Novella Station)
– From Florence Airport (Peretola)
Cheapest option is the new Tram from T2 to Santa Maria Novella Station in Florence.
Or just hop in a cab)
How to Skip The Lines:
(VERY IMPORTANT TO AVOID SPENDING HOURS IN LINES!)
– The most user friendly website for reserving skip the line reserved ticket times (for the Uffizi Gallery and the Academia Gallery (Michelangelo’s David) is:
https://www.florence-tickets.com/florence
(But you’ll pay more of a fee…but it is user friendly)
– The official ticketing website for the Uffizi Gallery and The David is B-ticket:
http://www.b-ticket.com/b-ticket/uffizi/default_eng.aspx
(Less user-friendly, but a cheaper ticket price…and it’s not that hard to figure it out)
– The official site for reserving a climb for the Duomo is here (this will also include entrance into all of the attractions of the Duomo):
https://grandemuseodelduomo.waf.it/en/cumulative-ticket-great-museum-of-the-cathedral-of-florence
– You can also call to book a time at the Uffizi and David by calling this number from a US phone:
011-39-055-294-883
– Or this number from an Italian phone:
055-294-883
You can also sometimes book through your hotel (if you’re staying at a hotel)
Or go with a small group tour like ArtVivia (more expensive, but highly recommended):
Food:
– All’Antico Vinaio
– Gustapizza
– Le Volpi e L’Uva
– Trattoria Mario
– Trattoria Za Za
– Zeb
– Cibrèo Trattoria
– Osteria Santo Spirito
– L’Osteria di Giovanni
– Trattoria Giovanni
Gelato:
– Venchi
– Vivoli
– Gelateria La Carraia
– Gelateria Artigianale La Strega Nocciola
– Gelateria Santa Trinita
– My Sugar
– Gelateria Dei Neri (one of my two favorites)
– Perché No (my favorite)
Neighborhoods/Piazzas/Sites:
– Piazza della Signoria
– Ponte Vecchio (Make sure to climb to the top)
– Oltrarno (Across any of the bridged on the other side of the Arno River)
– San Frediano
– Santo Spirito
– Walk along the Arno River
Markets:
– Mercato Centrale
– Mercato di San Lorenzo
– Loggia del Mercato Nuovo
– Sant’Ambrogio Market
Michaelangelo’s David:
Galleria dell’Accademia
(Again…make sure to book an advanced entrance time)
Other Museums/Art/History:
– Uffizi Gallery (BOOK AHEAD)
– Palazzo Vecchio
– Palazzo Pitti
Churches:
– Duomo di Firenze, also the Crypt below, the Baptistry, and Giotto’s Bell Tower (though as I said in the video…you’ll get as a good a view of the city from climbing the Palazzo Vecchio with FAR FEWER crowds)
– Basilica di Santa Croce (burial site of famous Italians)
– Medici Chapel (also the family tomb for the Medici)
Parks/Nature:
– Boboli Gardens (Beautiful impressive huge park)
– Giardino Bardini (My favorite park in the city)
– Rent a bike and ride through the hills above Florence. Best route (in my opinion) Head across the Ponte all Grazie (Bridge), and bike up the hills above Piazzale Michaelangelo.
Views of the City:
– la Rinascente (4th floor…up the green stairs)
– Rooftop bar of the Westin Excelsior
– Watch the Sunset on the St Trinity Bridge
Tuscany:
(I rented a car…I think it cost me around 50 Euros for the day)
– Day Trip/Wine Tour of Tuscany (There are many options for tours…I loved the small group half/day tour with Prestige rent…I found it on Trip Advisor (linked here):
https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductReview-g187895-d11458040-Small_Group_Wine_Tasting_Experience_in_the_Tuscan_Countryside-Florence_Tuscany.html
– Siena (if you only visit one town in Tuscany…make it Siena. Also take the bus, not the train)
– San Gimignano (Can be seen on the same day as Siena as they’re close by)
– Pisa
– Lucca (aerial shot of Lucca is from videoblocks.com)
PLACES I DIDN’T HAVE TIME TO FEATURE:
Restaurants:
– Osteria Vini e Vecchi Sapori (VERY POPULAR spot. Reservations are a must)
– Bella Donne (fantastic meatballs…or “polpettine”)
– Hostaria Il Desco (great little hidden gem near the Ponte Vecchio in a winding alley)
Other things to see/do:
– Bargello Museum
– Strozzi Museum
– Museo dell’Opera del Duomo (The Duomo’s museum)
MY EQUIPMENT:
– Main Camera: Panasonic GH5 (w/ Metabones Speedbooster adapter, and an XLR shoe mount for my lav mic)
– Second Camera (For Studio shoot): Sony FS5 with Canon 24-70 2.8
– Lenses: Panasonic Lumix 12-35 2.8, Panasonic Lumix 35-100 2.8, Sigma Art Lens 18-35 1.8, Canon 24-70 2.8
– Gimbal: DJI Ronin S
– Drone: DJI Mavic 2 Zoom
– Camera Slider: Rhino ROV Pro
47 Comments
Oh my gosh: i love you, Matt! You’re so funny
I took a day trip from Rome to Florence and was able to go up the Duomo, see David and walked all over and saw all sorts of crazy stuff…go in November, low crowds. Still didn’t scratch the surface. After watching this, I really need to go back….
nice video, thanks for sharing !👍
Video molto interessante ma per favore basta nel consigliare L’ Antico Vinaio, in fondo è sempre e solo una schiacciata !!!
Why don't you make videos anymore?
This was hilarious. Thanks for the video ! And full on disrespect to those fake Gelato places ! 🤣🤣
omg how adorable are you! I can NOT wait to (God willing) surprise my daughter (in pic) who will let me take her one last time on a mom/daughter trip before she starts her own family and since my mom (pic as well) passed. We're greek but I just found out thru DNA we're also Italian!!! Soooooo, my dream has been to see "The David" and who wants to go alone (not me) – So I heard you say start at Pisa so tell me – is just a day there enough? I'm thinking it is – and then train it over to Florence for perhaps 3 days and then fly off to Naxos (where she's wanting me to go as she went for her honeymoon) so I say YES! I saw your sweet mom wrote on here too (omg, we love our kids) – but I'm starting life all over and not being a flight attendant (got injured) time for me to travel even if alone – and who knows – maybe my Italian sweetheart will be right there! Not sure why I'm writing all this other than I am watching your video on t.v. while writing on the computer to you, haha – I send much Love, big hugs and hugs to your family too!
Just came across your travel blog and so glad I did…….. absolutely LOVE it! Great travel tips with humor thrown in! Thanks so much, Matt (I am now a new subscriber!) 😁
You’re 10x’s better than Rick Steves. Sorry Rick. Hope you can do more travel videos and get paid to do it.
We’re looking for a Matt’s Travel Tips on Venice. Any chance that will happen soon?
The name if the song 17:45?? ☺️
Loved your video! I’ve never been to Italy but it is a plan of mine and now I don’t know where to go!!! Very helpful. 😀
Wonderful video!
We are about to go to Italy and Florence is one of our stops. I love your video about this city…I have watched it several times and it makes me more and more excited about my trip each time I do. I love it because the way you describe the food, artwork, museums, etc., is filled with the perfect amount of detail, humor and contagious enthusiasm! Thank you!!
I would love to know how you shoot these videos which are excellent by the way. Any chance that you've done a "behind the scenes" video?
Excellent video, Matt. I'm planning a rail trip to Florence later in the year when, as you say, it may be a little less expensive. Your video has enthused me a lot and I'll certainly follow your suggestions about pre-booking some of the attractions. Grazie, signore! (that's about 50% of the Italian words that I know).
Going to Italy next week! Stumbled upon your channel and really enjoyed how well you summarize everything! Subscribed!
Great video!
مدينة جميلة .
Hi Matt – I just found your site and you have taken out so much of the hard work with your tips. Florence on Friday yaaay! Thank you again,
Heading back in November…INVALUABLE information on booking and FOOD!!! Grazie mille!
You are so cute!
How can you eat all that and not gain weight
There are also some great jewelry spots on the altraorno
This video made me so excited for my trip to Florence!!! Thank you for creating this. Super insightful and nicely done
Wow! I had emotions just by watching that video. Planing to go to Florence next spring, and you definitely confirmed it! Thanks for your generosity 🙂
Great tips and suggestions 👍
You forgot the small town of Orvieto! It is SO beautiful and charming with so many cool things to see. It is one square mile on the top of a plateau, the views are amazing! The caves below the city are cool, and the main church is gorgeous. Amazing shops and a clock tower to climb and see the countryside.
Thank you Matt for this wonderful video this will be my guide as I’m planning to visit Florence this coming October with my friends 🥰👍
We were last in Florence a month ago and are going back in 2 weeks time. This video is excellent – well done , Matt.
Why did you stop posting? 🙁
Very informative, best travel video ever. Greatly appreciated!
Good, to the point, informative video. But, most Trans-Atlantic travelers want a direct flight from N.A. and so will fly into Fiumicino airport outside of Rome. From there you can get a direct bullet train to Florence, runs @ 11:20 a.m. and 3:20 p.m., otherwise you have to get bus or train into Rome Termini/Tiburtina stn. then get a connecting train to Florence-and there's always the cheaper, longer bus journey from the airport direct to Florence.
An extremely well-made video. Please make more!
We have also made reservations at Oseteria Santo Spirito, Osteria Giovanni and Trattoria Za Za !
Your videos are awesome. Why are you not making them anymore?
Yo what happened to the channel? Real great content!
Seen dozens of these type of videos Matt but I have to give your props. Covered all your bases, good advice and recommendations thrown in. Definitely the best one I've seen on Florence. Subbed.
Good morning, Matt!! Any tips for Rome? I love your Florence video!
Fantastic video I would love to go
I'm so glad you mentioned the Medici Chapel, it's such and underrated gem in my opinion
THANK YOU, AMAZING VIDEO.
Come back 🙂 love ur videos
Two minutes, forty five seconds into your first video I've seen, and I have subscribed. It's all about the gelato. Can't wait to see more.
Thank you so much for this great informative video of Florence. My husband and I will be there this coming April 2023 and staying for 3 weeks and you have provided us with such great information and we are now more excited and eager to visit!
I have seen a lot of travel videos, this is by far “The Best”. Excellent cinematography, great scripts and music, very easy to follow and hit all of the best spots! We will be returning to Florence this Christmas 2022 and will take all your tips and advices. Thank you! 👏👏👏🇨🇦🇬🇧
Fantastic video! I'm planning a trip there soon and this was super helpful, but also fun and nicely filmed. Thanks for your work!