Florence for a month in Jan-Feb

Hello, opinion from a resident from Florence. The main arguments against january are the temperature (low, but rarely freezing) and sun setting at 5pm. Apart from this, it could well be the best month to visit Florence as there aren't big crowds and if you are lucky with weather it could even be pleasant.
As for being lonely or bored, it depends on you. If you are into art, Florence may keep you busy for a month or even much more, if you are into clubbing there are probably better places.

Thank you lachera! I appreciate your reply.

Vince

Vincel116!
I think it's a great idea! Why not? You said you'd be there 1 month, then 2-3weeks. Not sure exactly how much time you'll have, but:
Plenty to do without being lonely:
Take small group tours to one or more of the museums,
Take a language class, or cooking class or any class
Get together with some ex-pat people by looking on Facebook, or some other platform
Sign up for small group tours of any neighboring towns, or cities....Siena, any of the southern hill towns, Pisa, etc.
Visit Rome and maybe stay over for a couple of nights. Ditto Venice or MIlan.
One thing I find enriching, read some history books about Florence and surrounding areas...it helps me to appreciate what I'm seeing.
And last but not least...serendipity happens! We've had wonderful conversations with
people who for whatever reason, we've bumped into!
Enjoy your planning!

On the subject of side trips - one problem with most European jaunts is that the first few days are jet lagged and the last few are rushed. Imagine a side trip to Rome (or anywhere else in Northern Italy) for two nights - but you will be in the time zone and it is a 90 minute trip so you get almost all of 3 days to look around for a change of place/pace.

Thanks Jadam! These are great suggestions. I'll be in Florence for 30 days, but I will have family with me for the first 7-10 days and then I will be by myself. Thanks for the great advice.
Vince

Thanks NickB - Great points!

Vince

Hi Vince --- it's a GREAT idea!

My husband and I have spent 35 nights in Florence twice and a third time for 10 nights. We plan to do it again in January/February some time in the next few years, exactly to have fewer crowds than we experienced in September and October, and even in November. and December.

We've enjoyed all three neighborhoods we've stayed in: Sant'Ambrogio just west of Piazza Beccaria, Santo Spirito near the Basilica, and San Frediano just outside the city gates. I am especially fond of San Frediano.

We went on very few day trips, but you could go on lots by train or bus. My husband took both all day and half day Italian language classes at the Istituto Michelangelo and highly recommends them, so that may be something you'd like to do. The students are from all over the world and you can attend cultural activities, like an evening visit to the Accademia.

I took art history classes at the British Institute and loved them and still take some on zoom. Pricey. You could check out their free Wednesday lectures on zoom --- you can register here: https://www.britishinstitute.it/en/whats-on/wednesday-lectures. I'm not crazy about the lecturer this week, but in November are two lectures about the 1966 flood in Florence. You can also see their old lectures on youtube.

I feel like I don't need to give you a big long list of all the wonderful things to see and do in Florence --- you won't have any problem with making your own list. You can certainly make friends taking classes. Even I did, and I'm not very social and I speak no Italian. It's fun to find a coffee bar and a restaurant that you can return to again and again. There are several restaurants in Florence where you sit at the same table as other people and you can chat with them or at least not feel like you are totally alone.

The so-called "cold" in January and February (note where I live) will be 100 times better than how hot it is in the summer and fall --- my theory is always that you can add warm layers for cold but when it's boiling hot you can't take take them all off (and you'd still be hot, even if you did). The shorter days in winter don't bother me one bit at home and they are actually much nicer in Italy because the streets are all lit up and people are walking around enjoying themselves and dining late and shops are open. But I know that the darker days really bother some people.

What else can I tell you? The buses are both fun and useful, once you figure out their routes. The more you learn about Florence before you go, the more you'll find things you want to do, like on our latest trip I tried to find and photograph all the flood markers. So, yeah, your trip sounds like a great idea to me!

Sounds wonderful! Since you're from the NE, you won't mind the weather! When I've traveled by myself, I've enjoyed day tours & food walking tours - We loved Eating Europe, I'm sure there are good ones in Florence. I think this one on the other side of the Arno River looks great. https://www.eatingeurope.com/florence/the-other-side-of-the-city-food-tour.

The other thing I would consider on my own in Italy is staying in a monastery. There's quite a bit written about them on the Forum. https://www.monasterystays.com/?d=Italy/Tuscany/Florence-accommodation, just to check it out. Booking directly once you decide saves money & avoids some unusual surcharges. This one looks really nice & was recommended here on the Forum. Some of them have a curfew, they're simple rooms. https://www.anticadimorasantanna.com/en/

PS, This just popped up on the Forum - https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/staying-in-a-monestary

Enjoy your planning!!

Ideas:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/unusual-activities-in-florence-italy

I’ve spent time in Florence in the winter and agree that it’s a fine time to visit. I do suggest not underestimating the climate though, as northern Italy can be surprisingly cold and raw, especially for anyone thinking of “sunny Italy.” When comparing the climate of where you’re planning to visit, versus where you live, as you are, it’s also important to think about your different pattern of daily activity. At home, you likely spend most of your time in the winter in a well heated house, workplace or car, rather than walking around, taking public transportation and sightseeing. And Italian buildings tend not to be as well insulated and heated as American ones. But with that said, I’m with the other posters in rather visiting Italy in winter than summer.

nancys8 - Thank you so much for all the great ideas. The Italian language classes, the cultural activities events, and the art history classes all sound great - I will look into them. And thanks for the link to the unusual activities thread - a lot of those sound interesting.

vince

Sandancisco - thank you for the day tours & food walking tours ideas - those sound perfect. And I never thought about staying in a monastery - but I'll look into that.

Thanks,
Vince

Slate - Thank you - those are all good points that I'll be sure to take into consideration.

Vince

I've been to Florence in February and it was fine. I'm from England and I found the climate to be pretty similar to that of home, just dress for chilly temperatures and you'll be fine.

I'm not sure I could fill a month in Florence, I'd have to take quite a number of side trips and I'm definitely a Rome over Florence person, it just didn't resonate with me in the way that Rome does.

As for being lonely, no-one here can advise you on whether that would be an issue or not. I'm a very solitary person who travels solo quite a bit and I doubt I'd feel lonely but everyone is different.

Just make sure you are properly dressed. It’s the coldest time of the year and at night temperatures can indeed drop below freezing, although not frequently (generally 30s at night and low 50s midday). Just pack one pair of long skiing underwear, which take little room, and take it with you to Venice or anywhere north if you take a day trip upthere.

There will be plenty of things to do to keep you busy for a month. There are 72 museums and over 100 churches and basilicas, 36 of which have a historic and touristic relevance just within the city limits. I am not even counting the many other places and towns nearby in Tuscany that you can visit on a day trip from Florence. Even Venice and Rome and Verona and Milan are less than 2 hours away, Bologna is 35 min away.

Below is the complete list of museums in Florence:
https://www.imuseidifirenze.it/lista-completa-dei-musei-di-firenze/

Roberto da and JC - Thank you both for your thoughts and advice. I appreciate it!

Vince

I too, think it's a great idea and a very good time to visit. Just on the small chance you are interested in shopping, note that the stores run tremendous sales in early January...

Thanks ekscrunchy!

Vince

Not much to add, but perhaps stay for some of the time in an apartment.
Then you’ll have laundry and kitchen facilities.
I would also take lots of day trips!

I always see undressed tourist, most likely thinking to "sunny Italy", discovering that Italy is not so sunny. Neaples, for example, is at the same latitude of New York (but Mediterranean is hotter than Atlantic). The last time that it snowed seriously in Florence is sometime around December 2010, but still do not underestimate the Italian winter. If you have some day trip, the hill towns are more chilly than Florence; dressed for Florence, I am always cold when I go to San Gimignano.

Thanks S J and lachera - good advice!

Vince

I doubt Florence will get as cold as where you live, but it won’t be warm especially in the evenings. If you don’t want to pack heavy jackets or down jackets, don’t despair, you can always buy one in Florence. At Decathlon, a large sports store on the way to the airport, you should be able to find them for under 80€. In the city center, at Rinascente or H&M or OVS you can find them also at very reasonable prices..

This is something I've occasionally done and may work for you. Instead of doing day trips, maybe spend the night in the town you're visiting without checking out of your Florence hotel, just take what you need for the night. Hotels in many small Italian towns are pretty cheap and will be cheaper in January. So you'll spend a little more money, but you get a lot more time to enjoy the town.

Thanks Roberto da Firenze - that's a great idea - I think I'd rather not pack one, but know that I can purchase one if needed.

Thanks,
Vince

Thanks Marco.

I think that's an excellent idea.

Thanks,
Vince

I have a down jacket which squashes up small into a plastic bag which I keep for holidays. It's also useful for mid-season sunsets when there's a cold wind from the north. It also doubles as an extra pillow if necessary.

Thanks Tinac - appreciate it!

Vince