UPDATED 2/12/22
If you’re using my How to Spend 2 Weeks in Italy and planned your 2 Days in Siena, now you’re ready to find out how I saw Florence on budget in 4 days, packed with art, historic sites, wine tasting and an Italian cooking class with dinner. You won’t want to miss this itinerary.
2022 Italy Pandemic Travel Tips from My 2021 Italy Travel
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- Florence Solo Travel Planning Resources
- Florence on a Budget (or Not)
- Florence Solo Travel Packing Essentials
- Getting Around Florence
- Where to Stay in Florence
- Florence Italy Must Dos
- More Top Things To Do in Florence
- Florence Events Calendar
- Florence Activities and Tours
- Florence Dining
- Things to Do in Florence in 4 Days
- More Travel Itineraries You’ll Like
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Florence on a Budget (or Not)
Yes, Florence can be seen on a budget as a single traveler. To help provide more Florence budgeting options, peruse my Guide to Budget European Accommodations for additional accommodation-planning.
Let me state here that when I say “budget”, I mean your daily travel expenses could total €100 or less, which is possible. It’s up to you on where you wish to budget (accommodations, excursions, etc.), and how far in advance you book. Some attractions can be seen without a tour, which will save you money, of course.
The following Florence travel guide and itinerary can work for anyone, budget or not.
Ok, now let’s get you to Florence.
Florence Solo Travel Packing Essentials
Getting Around Florence
Arriving Florence
From most Italy locations, it is more than likely you will arrive at the Florence Santa Maria Novella train station. From there you can take other trains or regional or local buses outside of Florence, if you wish. No rental car is really needed.
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Florence is Walkable
The Florence historical center can really be done on foot, and if you’re staying within my recommended area (see map below), you can also walk to and from the Florence train station.
Where to Stay in Florence
Florence is larger than Siena but smaller than Rome. For optimum walking and sightseeing ease, it is recommended to stay within the Florence historic district and walking distance to the train station. I recommend staying within the circle on the map:
Florence Hotels
Florence has many hotel, hostel and other accommodation types across all budget types within the Florence historic center map.
Going in the off season, or booking well in advance, will get you the best Florence prices.
Consider booking at a property that either is eco-friendly or sustainably rated, or at least employs these methods into their business.
For location, price, amenities (including no pre-payment and free-cancellation), employing eco-friendly and/or sustainable operations, and customer reviews and ratings, my Florence budget hotel recommendation for over 50 single travel is Hotel Boccaccio.
It is in a fabulous location and includes breakfast that could be booked at €100 per night, depending on time of year and how far in advance you book.
Florence Budget Tip
There are Florence hostels that could start from around €25/night, depending on what amenities and location you want. Note, these are usually a bed in a dorm room. Private rooms in Florence hostels can cost the same, if not more, than a budget hotel.
With the same conditions, here are my Florence hotel recommendations for over 50 single travel (i.e., where I would stay), “budget” and higher:
Many accommodations may not let you check in until 3-4pm, but if available, have them store your luggage until your room is ready so you can get out and enjoy your Florence solo itinerary.
Eco-Travel Tip
In addition to Booking.com’s Florence Sustainable Travel properties, Green Globe and Green Key Global also have eco-friendly certified lodging options.
Florence Italy Must Dos
The capital of the Tuscan region, Florence can be seen in two days or twenty. If you have never been to the historic center of Florence, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the following are attractions that would a shame to miss.
You can easily do 3 to 4 Florence highlights in a day without being too tired, but I suggest you pace it out to enjoy the leisure time in Florence. Some attractions are free.
The reason why I suggested the following “musts” is that they are not-to-be-missed, amazing attractions, and, of course, they are also big tourist draws sure to draw long lines, especially April to October and on the weekends.
Firenze Card
That said, the first thing you should do upon arriving to the Santa Maria Novella train station, before you check in to your hotel, is walk across the street from the train station (there are big red flags out front so you can’t miss it) and purchase a Firenze Card, which costs approximately €72 (at time of writing) and is good for three days starting at the first point of entry.
Trust me, it is completely worth the money – not just because you get into the best attractions and you’ll have a great walking map, but that you pass all those people standing in line.
Even if the card is slightly more than all of the attractions you want to see, I feel it’s worth the extra expense for simply saving time from standing in lines.
Seriously, if you see a long line in front of any of the attractions, go right up to the front door and show them your Firenze Card. They will let you right in.
The time you save from lines with the Firenze Card is priceless. If you don’t get a Firenze Card, don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Even though you have your Firenze card, you will still need to make a reservation to go to the top of the Duomo Dome and enter the Duomo Cathedral. These are the only attractions where the Firenze Card does not let you skip the line. These are separate.
The first Duomo Dome tour of the day is 8:30am, which I highly suggest you book in advance online. You must choose your date and time of entry, which cannot be changed. When you’re done at the top of the Duomo, you can then go down and enter the Cathedral.
If you do not book the top of the Duomo in advance online, you can go to the Duomo ticket office off the side of the piazza. If you wait to purchase and reserve at the ticket office, I recommended this being your next stop after getting your Firenze Card, before checking into your hotel, because entry times book up fast.
You’re only in in Florence for 4 days, or less, Duomo reservations could already be booked through your days in Florence. I can’t stress enough to book in advance online.
Florence Activity – Reservations Required
- Duomo Dome, Cathedral – A Florence must do. Climb 463 steps to the top for spectacular views of Florence.
- Duomo museum and cathedral
Florence Activity – Reservations Recommended
- Campanile Bell Tower – 50 less steps then Duomo but still great views.
- Galleria dell’ Accademia
- Uffizi Gallery
- Bargello Museum
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More Top Things To Do in Florence
Here are more worthwhile Florence attractions:
- Baptistery
- Monastery of San Marco (Fra Angelico)
- Ponte Vecchio bridge
- Palazzo Vecchio
- San Lorenzo market
- Corridoio Vasariano
- Palazzo Pitti
- Piazza della Signoria
- Piazzale Michelangelo
- Museo delle Cappelle Medicee (“Medici Chapels”)
- Galileo Science Museum
Florence Events Calendar
If it helps in planning what you would like to see, here is a list of annual events held in Florence and annual events held in the Tuscany region.
Florence Activities and Tours
If you want to stay outdoors more so than in, you can take a guided walking tour of Florence. It’s a great way to learn more about the city and its history.
When in Florence, why not take an Italian cooking class? That’s what I thought, so I did. Here is the class I took and had a wonderful time and met some great people. I recommend this Tuscan Cooking Class and Dinner activity when in Florence.
If you’re into wine tasting, like I am, and have a free day in Florence after using up your Firenze Card, why not take a day trip into the the Tuscan countryside with a half-day wine tasting or full-day wine tasting trip?
The Tuscan region is famous for its wine so many fabulous wine tours abound for you to experience. Check out Tuscany in a Bottle if you need more inspiration.
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If you’re on a budget and cannot afford a group wine tasting trip, how about trying a Do-It-Yourself wine tasting trip without a car, much like you did Montalcino?
Grassina, Rignano sull’Arno, and Greve are only a 36-minute, 49-minute and 60-minute bus ride from Florence, respectively. Doing one stop is easily doable, but why not try two? You won’t have to worry about driving either. All the better.
Florence Dining
- The San Lorenzo Market has good shopping and opportunities to grab lunch.
- The Mercato Centrale is famous for its fresh food where you can also grab a bite at a stand.
- If you are a meat lover, find a Florentine steakhouse where you can enjoy Chianina beef and local Chianti.
- On a budget? The Curious Appetite has some great recommendations on how to eat cheap in Florence.
- My recommendation? Osteria Pastella. Pietro is the owner. He gets his food fresh daily and his menu and food is sublime. You can see them prepare fresh pasta in the window. I also think his version of tiramisu is the best. I admit ate there more than once my last time in Florence. Don’t just take my word for it, check out the reviews.
Things to Do in Florence in 4 Days
Here is my recommended Florence itinerary that shows what a single traveler over 50 can see and do in 4 days, possibly at €100 or less, if you book well in advance, choose the right tour or entry tickets, and get a Firenze Card for the top Florence attractions to meet your tastes and budget.
Florence Day 1
- San Lorenzo Market – browse or shop local artists and clothing tents.
- Mercato Centrale – pick a favorite stand for a bite and glass of wine and shop.
- Accademia Gallery (Michelangelo’s David)
- Monastery of San Marco and Museum
- Dinner at Osteria Pastella
- Hotel
Florence Day 2
- Uffizi Gallery
- Ponte Vecchio – cross the bridge, explore or shop.
- Walk the Oltrarno District – explore local shops and artists.
- Palazzo Pitti
- Piazzale Michelangelo – great city views.
- Dinner
Florence Day 3
- Climb the Florence Duomo* (“Cupola”) with make advance reservations.
- Grande Museo del Duomo*
- Baptistery*, Ghiberti’s “Gates of Paradise”
- Campanile Bell Tower – go to the top.
- Piazza della Signoria – lunch and explore.
- Palazzo Vecchio
- Walk the Corridoio Vasariano
- Dinner
*A Climb the Duomo, Duomo Museum, and Baptistry small group tour is another option
Florence Day 4
Alternatively, you could spend your last day on a Greve day trip from Florence with either:
Greve Wine Tasting Day 4
Group Wine Tour
- 1/2 Day Wine Tasting Tour with food tastings, or
- Full Day Wine Tasting Tour with food tastings
- Dinner in Florence
OR
Self-Guided Wine Tour
- Round trip bus to Greve
- Three wine or grapa tastings and lunch in Greve without a car
- Dinner in Florence
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Let Me Hear From You
I would love to hear if this 4 day itinerary for Florence on a budget was helpful to you. Post me your thoughts or questions in the Comments section below. Thank you!
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