My husband and I will be traveling to Florence for 7 days in April/May for the first time. We have been to Rome, Venice, and Cinque Terre a few years back. We enjoy museums, art, eating, sight seeing, and just walking and relaxing together. We will arrive on Saturday, April 30. I know that the Uffizzi and most things will be closed on Sunday, May 1 and Monday, May 2 due to a holiday. We will have just been in Rome for a busy five days, so we hope to have a more relaxed pace in Florence and I think with the number of days we have, that will be possible....especially with the holiday. I am buying the Rick Steves' Florence and Tuscany book, but wanted a head start before it arrives. What would be your top recommendations both for our 'relaxing days' when most things are closed and then for busy sight-seeing ones too? After staying in Florence we will be traveling to Siena, so we've already got that covered.
Posted by
Fort Lauderdale, FL
1232 posts
For relaxing, walk along the Arno, stop at a cafe, and watch the kayakers, if they are out.
If you want a day trip, Lucca is very relaxing. About 1 hr 20 min away by train. You can walk or ride bikes along the wall, then eat and relax in the town (inside the wall).
Posted by
Austin TX after living in Boulder CO for 25 years
1166 posts
Take the bus up to Fiesole for dinner and sunset
Hike up to Piazzale Michelangelo for sunset views over the Arno
Go to the rooftop bar of the Baglioni Hotel for wine and sunset views
Mercato Centrale for lunch
walk the area around the Santo Spirito Church
eat at Mama Gina's on Borgo Jacopo
take a cooking class with Giovanni at florencetown.com
walk the Torrigiani Gardens
and walk, walk, walk…..
Look up Afar.com - it's a great travel magazine and you can input a city/town and see their articles - they usually have off the beaten path ideas of things to do !
Posted by
OP
9 posts
Thank you so very much for your help.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15163 posts
Boboli Gardens too. On top there is a coffeehaus with commanding views of the city. Also on top is Fort Belvedere, which offers the best panorama of Florence. However I don't know if the fort is always open to the public as it used to be in the old days, or just for special exhibits. Years ago they closed it because stupid teenagers were taking selfies while standing on the walls and sometimes they would fall down the walls and die (not a big loss for humanity since it eliminated stupid people from the gene pool but they closed it anyway).