THE PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES ︎

We suggest tracking on Google Flights to find the best time to buy your tickets, regardless of where you are flying into. When in Italy, the rail system is affordable and easy.

︎︎︎Your passport must be valid three months beyond the period of your arrival. That means it expiration can’t be before Jan 2026, for our purposes. Please plan accordingly if you need to renew. 

︎ Flying to Florence

If flying directly from the States or Europe we reccomend flying into FLR (Florence International Airport).

The airport is approximately 20 minutes away from city centre by tram (RATP) which picks you up directly at the airport.

 
Local taxis would happily take you into town as well and all drivers take card (it’s the law).  Ubers are available in Florence but usually much more expensive than the local companies. 

︎ Flight to elsewhere, train to Florence

Alternatively, flying to another major airport in Italy is a great option if you want to do some exploring beforehand! You can take the train from where you are into Florence and its so rommmannnntic. 

Rome ︎︎︎Florence 1 h 30 hours by high speed rail
Milan ︎︎︎ Florence 1 h 40 minutes by high speed rail
Venice ︎︎︎ Florence 2 h by high speed rail 
Naples ︎︎︎ Florence 3 h by high speed rail

There are a few companies of high speed rail trains that can take you into Florence. We recommend Trenitalia. Try to selects window seats in advance so you can enjoy the Italian countryside on your ride. Also, quiet car/business class is much more relaxing.

LINK TO BOOKING TICKETS

︎︎︎ renting cars, beep beep 
please note, it is illegal to have an unauthorized passenger vehicle in the Florence city center.  But fear not, the city is super walkable.

If you would like to have car for travel and day trips, we reccomend not staying in the central parts of town to avoid big fines, huge.

Taxis, buses and trains are a much better form of transport around the country.

THE STAY ︎︎ ︎

Trigger warning. Italians don’t do hotel room blocks.︎ Aloooorrrra. A few suggestions on where to stay below.  Prices will vary, book soon.

If you have issues finding a place to stay during the wedding please let us know and we’d be more than happy to get help! Fastest response on the matter via text/call/carrier pigeons. 

We have only stayed in an AIRBNBs and its usually amazing. Depending on your tolerance for older buildings and narrow 6th floor walk ups, this could be a really great way to immerse yourself in the city. It also tends to be more affordable than hotels. 

Neighborhoods to look into if you want to find an airbnb: 

Centro Storico | the heart of the city with plenty to do - including all the historic buildings, churches, and markets. great for first time visitors.

Santo Spirito | artsy neighborhood with a bohemian vibe, popular among artists and young professionals. It offers a mix of boutiques, cafes, and cultural sites. if we lived here, this is where we’d be. 

Oltrarno | trendy and less touristy part of town with plenty of cafes, shops and restaurants and still loads of historic renaissance architecture. 

Santa Croce | best known for its historic charm, central location, and vibrant atmosphere. It's so close to many attractions and has a lively local community.

San Niccolò | Situated on the other side of the Arno River, this area has a more local feel with picturesque streets, artisan workshops, and stunning views of the city.

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Great HOTEL options in the city are endless, and the ones below are just a few suggestions to consider if you want a more curated stay in Florence.

Grand Hotel Baglioni |  A boutique 4-star Hotel that dates back to 1903. Central location - walkable to most places in city centre.  Prices usually around 250 euro per night in October.

Hotel Indigo Florence | Modern chain, but comfortable and in a great location. Prices usually around 180 euro per night in October.

Hotel La Scaletta al Ponte Vecchio |  3-star hotel thats both tucked away in the beautifully quiet Santo Spirito neighborhood and a few steps away from centre and the Point Vecchio. Prices usually 150 euro per night in October.

Palazzo Uguccioni Apartments |  Historic residence (high valted ceilings, swoon) sans the bells and whistles but in the heart of the city (overlooking the Palazzo Vecchio Tower). More apartments that hotel rooms and thus ideal for those wanting to do a group situation.

La Maison du Sage | A charming art deco bed and breakfast a few steps from the Santa Croce Basilica. Prices range from 180-250 euros per night in October.

The Artist’s Palace | A gem in the one of the most historic and central squares in Florence. Once a monestary frequented by Michaelangelo and Galileo. 

THE GOODS ︎︎︎

There are very few places in the world with more culture, art and history than Florence. We’ve included some of things we’ve discovered and love.

This list doesn’t cover a small fraction of it all. Bring walking shoes.

For museums: definitely book tickets ahead of time, you’ll get a timeslot and go with a (rather) small group of people. if you miss your timeslot, they have no mercy.

Oh, and heads up that Florentine steak is very very rare.  

Uffizi Gallery

One of the oldest and most celebrated museums in the world. It houses 13th to 18th century works from the likes of Botticelli, Correggio, da Vinci, Raffaello, Michelangelo, and Caravaggio. It’s not huge and won’t more than 3 hours to explore.

Palazzo Vecchio

Lookout tower, royal court and seat of government during the long reign of the Medici family. The closest equivalent of the Louvre in Paris, but focus on the design, frescos and getting a glimpse into the everyday quarters of the most powerful family of the Renaissance. 

Galleria dell’Accademia

Houses Michelangelo’s original David statue. Musuem, originally a monestary, also contains the world’s largest collection of Venetian art. 

Duomo 

Its one of the largest and most prominite landmarks of Florence. Built of colored marble and completed in 1347. Nice thing is that its nearly impossible to miss and worth spending some time on the small streets surrounding it. Tickets to go inside are available for purchase but the lines can be rather long. Worth it? Couldn’t tell ya, but let us know if so.

Laurentian Medici Library

The only architectural work of Michaelangelo. Houses ancient manuscripts and works, including Dante originals. Located in the complext of Basilica of San Lorenzo (along with the crypts of the Medicis).

Basilica of Santo Spirito

Located on a quaint and charming square on the more quiet side of the river. Surrounded by restaurants, bars and people eating gelatto on the church steps. V Italian. 

Florence Wine Windows | Link 
Since the 16th century, when Cosimo de Medici was in power and wanted to keep the public happy, wine windows were established to permit local wine growers who owned vineyards throughout the region to sell their vino without paying any taxes. Nice. Today, the 285 small arched windows on the sides ancient walls lining cobblestone streets still serve glasses to enjoy on the street.

Linked above is a pretty comprehensive map of where you can find them around Florence. Babae is popular and good. 

Fotoautomatica Booths 

Vintage photobooths nestled on streets throughout Florence. Probably the best analog photographs we’ve gotten (there’s actually a miniature dark-room and developement studio within each one). 

Places to find them:
Via dell’Agnolo | Via del Proconsolo | Piazza Stazione | Largo Fratelli Alinari | Via Santa Monaca | The Student Hotel

Santa Margherita de' Cerchi

A hidden unassuming church built in the Middle ages that sits in a gorgeous square. Dante married his wife and then met the love of his life (who he later married there as well) 😅️ Not grand, but historically notable and v old world Italian. 

Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy

This is the oldest still-operating pharmacy in the world, established in 1221 by Dominican monks. Today, they continue to make elixirs and perfumes using the original recipes (like the Aceto dei Sette Ladri, or “Seven Thieves Vinegar”  a scent that got its unusual name from a band of seven men who robbed corpses during the plague.) Cool. 

Rasputin Speakeasy 

We love this place and we are trying to be better about not gatekeeping so here it goes. Don’t leave without trying to a spot at  this cocktail bar located in Santo Spirito. Reservations are required and the space is quite small so not the best place for a group hang (4-5 max). 

Ironically, the real Rasputin never stepped foot in Florence so we are not sure why its named after him. ︎

Loggia Roof Bar 

Great hotel cocktail bar on the roof of the Palazzo Guadagni with views of charming Italian squares and the hills of Tuscany.  Try the Margot.

Trattoria 13 Gobbi
Great local spot with vegitarian and non-vegitarian dishes. Cash only. 

Gurdulù
Quaint restaurant with craft cocktails, nice food that’s not an arm and a leg, and a superb lil courtyard. They take reservations. 

Libreria Brac

Situated in a bustling part of town but surprisingly out of the way. It’s library, bookstore, art shop meets coffee shop/restaurant. Likely can just walk in. 

Le Volpi e L’Uva

Just a stellar wine bar, thats all.

Pino’s Sandwiches 

A no-frills joint where you can get the best Italian sandwich of your life with a 4 euro glass of wine. Local haunt but they speak English. 

Ditta Artigianale 

Clark’s favorite coffee shop in the city. They have a few locations and serve pour over, espresso drinks and nice breakfasts. 

Love Craft 

Small cocktial bar specializing in whiskey (which is a novelty in Italy). A bit rock n’ roll divey but the drinks are excellent and the staff is lovely.

Boutique Nadine

Women’s vintage boutique with designer labels and emerging Italian labels.

The Many, Many Markets 

Where tourists and locals collide. Markets around Florence are plentiful and always very surprising. Food, antinques, clothing, books - you name it. Always have cash on hand just in case. 

Mercato Centrale is inside a 19th century hall made of iron and glass. Lots of great pubs, delicious restaurants on the second floor, fresh produce on the first. Surrouding the outside of the Mercato Central is the old leather market - can be a bit of a tourist trap so careful when walking around it. Not to say you can’t find gems (there are tons of high quality grade genuine leather goods) but be on alert when passing by. 

Mercato Nuovo (Mercato Porcellino) is the newer version of the leather market near Mercato Centrale where you can find leather goods and textiles. Rubbing the nose of the bronze boar statue brings good luck.

Flower Market is an open air market that happens every Thursday also houses the only carousel in Florence. 

Santo Spirito Flea Market / Mercato Artigianale happens on Sundays where you can find vintage clothes, historical household antiques, handmade artisan goods, and spices, all while taking in the view of one of Florence’s most underrated churches