I went to Florence, Italy, the city of Renaissance art and architecture. I enjoyed walking around this magical Tuscan city, taking in the timeless architecture, and eating delectable food.
However, I made a few mistakes when traveling in Florence that I’ll tell you about so you don’t follow in my footsteps.
Besides that, I had an amazing time, and I’m here to tell you all about it. Florence is the perfect Italian city to spend a few days in and get lost, especially as a solo traveler. There’s an abundance of things to do, good food to eat, and places to wander.
I visited Florence solo, so I’ll give you the inside scoop on where I stayed, what I did, some of the best things I ate, and some tips and tricks on traveling solo to Florence, Italy.
Getting to Florence
I traveled to Florence on a whim after a week-long spontaneous trip with one of my good friends. We visited four European cities in nine days.
We went to Naples, Italy; Split, Croatia; Vienna, Austria; and Venice, Italy. We got the cheapest flights from one place to another and had a few days to explore each city without overly researching it.
After our trip, my friend went home, but I decided to stay in Italy since I had a free week and no plans. I took a four-hour coach from Venice to Florence. Would I recommend it? Yes and no. It was quite a hectic ride as it was completely booked, but it was cheap at just over 5 Euros a ticket. As a budget traveler, I will always go for the cheaper option!
I booked the coach on Trainline, which I highly recommend for booking cheap train and coach tickets all over Europe.
Where I Stayed in Florence
I stayed at Emerald Palace hostel for three nights and four days. I didn’t enjoy this hostel as much as others I’ve been to, so I’ll get into it’s pros and cons.
The first mistake I made was booking super last minute, i.e. the night before I was due to arrive. Because I booked so late, Emerald Palace was one of the only available hostels to choose from. It was the second-least expensive, at €130.68 for three nights.
One thing to note is that this is a family hostel–not youth-oriented, as I was used to with every other hostel I’ve stayed at in Europe. It was not very social, but there was a large common area with free coffee and tea and an outdoor patio.
The receptionists were friendly and helpful, more so than many other places I’ve stayed. They really took the time to ensure I had a great stay and offered tips and recommendations on the best places to visit in the city.
I booked Emerald Palace on Hostelworld, my favourite hostel booking platform. I especially love their chat and linkup features, which make it super easy to meet other solo travelers.
My hostel didn’t have any events going on, but another hostel, Ostello Bello, was a lot more social and held events every night. I joined a pub quiz on my first night and met some amazing fellow travelers.
On my second day in Florence, I met another fellow Canadian on the city group chat. We met up for an Aperol spritz, got pizza, and joined another group of travelers to watch the sunset, and went to a disco club.
To think that amazing night was spurred by the Florence group chat on Hostelworld is crazy, but that’s why I will always book on that app whenever I can.
Some of the Best Things to Eat, See, and Do in Florence
I was in Florence for three days at the end of April 2024. I explored the city for two days, then went on a day trip to Pisa and Cinque Terre on the last day.
Here are some of the best things I experienced in Florence.
A Free Walking Tour
Taking a free walking tour is one of my favourite things to do when arriving in a new city. On top of being virtually free (not including the tip!), these tours are a great way to visit some important monuments and get personal recommendations from the tour guide.
The tour lasted just over two hours. We visited multiple attractions, such as the Basilica of Santa Croce, Piazza del Duomo, and Ponte Vecchio, and learned about the city’s history.
Our guide told us about the famous sandwich shop All’Antico Vinaio but also introduced us to a lesser-known, cheaper, and maybe even better sandwich place that I would not have known about otherwise. I’ll share the name of it a little later.
If you’re interested in checking it out, I went on the Original Florence Free Walking Tour.
Wandering the Streets
Florence is not a small city. There are tons of streets to wander down and get lost in.
I especially loved walking along the Arno River with an Aperol Spritz or gelato in hand as the sun was setting. There was such a magical feeling about the city.
Piazzale Michelangelo for Sunset
I went twice to Piazzale Michelangelo to watch the sunset–that’s how amazing the view was.
On my first night, I went solo after having a nice lasagna for dinner. On the second night, I went with another traveler I met from the Hostelword group chat. We got a bottle of wine and a pizza and made our way to the top (which, by the way, isn’t that steep or long of a walk!).
We took some pictures, enjoyed the view, and met another group of travelers with whom we ended up spending the night.
Piazzale Michelangelo is free to enter and has the best views of the city. That’s probably why it was so crowded both nights I was there–and it wasn’t even the weekend!
To get a good spot and take some photos at sunset, arrive early, as it gets crowded very fast.
Join a Hostel Event
On the Hostelworld app, there were numerous activities being put on by other hostels to choose from, like a pub quiz, karaoke night, and Pictionary.
My hostel wasn’t very social, so I joined a pub quiz being put on by a hostel just up the street from mine, Ostello Bello. That hostel has a bar, so I grabbed a drink, joined a team, and tried my best. We didn’t win, but it was fun nonetheless!
Normally, when visiting big cities I love to join a pub crawl, but Florence had none.
Who knows, by the time this is posted, they might. I’d recommend searching GetYourGuide for pub crawls and other social events in the city.
Get a Sandwich from the Famous All’Antico Vinaio
If you have TikTok, Instagram, or have been doing some research on Florence, I’m sure you’ve heard of the famous sandwich shop All’Antico Vinaio.
At any time of day, you can expect to see lines of people out of both doors–yes, they have two! This was high on my list of things to eat in Florence, so I knew I had to try it.
However, I was skeptical and unsure that it would be any good for two reasons: 1) I’m vegetarian, and usually, places like these that only offer a few vegetarian options are not that great, and 2) I am usually very skeptical of overhyped places.
Since the line was so long, I thought it might take hours to get inside and place my order. But alas, after about 30 to 45 minutes, I got inside, placed my order, and had the sandwich in hand.
The inside of the shop is really cool, as you can see them make your sandwich right in front of you. You can choose from many options (including four vegetarian and one vegan sandwich) and modify the sandwich however you like.
I got the Vegetariana #3, which had gorgonzola, courgettes, sun-dried tomatoes, and rocket leaves. I took it to the steps of the Palazzo Vecchio and enjoyed it.
My verdict? It was really delicious and 100% worth it. It only cost €7 and was quite a large sandwich. You could easily split it between two people, and it would still be a decent serving size.
Here’s a little insider recommendation: stop by La Nicchietta in Calimaruzza, not too far from All’Antico Vinaio, for a cheaper version of virtually the same sandwich. I have not tried it, but our walking tour guide told us it was the best sandwich he’s ever had.
I did, however, get a takeaway green melon spritz from that shop, and it was delicious.
The Joshua Tree Pub and Space Club
On a whim, I decided to have a night out with the travelers I had met on my second day in Florence. It turned out to be one of the best nights out I’ve had in a while.
We went to the Joshua Tree Pub for drinks before going to the club. Frequented by students and young people alike, this pub was the perfect starting point for our night. We got shots, mixed drinks, and spritz for a decent price. Not to mention, the atmosphere and music were amazing.
After that, we went to a disco club called Space Club, where we danced the night away. If I recall correctly, it wasn’t expensive to get in–about €10 or less.
Check Out the Mercato Centrale
I love visiting food markets, especially in Italy, where the food is absolutely divine. The Mercato Centrale has two floors: the lower floor has fruit, veggies, and meat, and the upper floor has all kinds of food and drink vendors.
I would have loved to check out the market during lunch or dinner, but I didn’t get a chance. On the morning of my last day in Florence, I went to grab an espresso before heading to Pisa and Cinque Terre.
Coffee & Kitchen for Brunch
I’ve been to quite a few restaurants and cafes for brunch on my travels, and Coffee & Kitchen is one of my favourites. They have a good selection of sweet and savoury foods and great coffee.
There is an upstairs seating area and a few tables outside, where I sat and had breakfast before going on the walking tour.
I got an iced coffee, fruit salad, and a pistachio croissant for 15 Euros. That’s not too bad!
Trattoria Verdi Firenze
For my last dinner, I visited one of the best and coolest restaurants in Florence. Apparently, Trattoria Verdi Firenze is known for some of the best Florentine steak along with pasta and other dishes.
I got the ravioli filled with ricotta and spinach with truffle cream and a glass of wine (as one should in Italy!). It was delicious, but my only complaint was that the portion size was so small! I got only four ravioli for €17.50, which was quite steep and didn’t quite fill me up.
The restaurant was packed, but there was a nice atmosphere, and the server was very attentive.
Overall, I’d give this a 10/10 for the experience and 8/10 for the food.
Visit Some Museums
…Obviously. This is so low on my list of recommendations because I didn’t go to any. I know, it probably sounds crazy that I went to Florence, known for more than 82 museums, and didn’t go to even one.
The reason for this is because they were all booked out. I’m not kidding–the Uffitzi, the Duomo, and many many others were fully booked for weeks.
I was quite shocked, as it never occurred to me that April would be a high season. But alas, there were SO many people crowding the streets of Florence. More so than Naples, Venice, and Bologna, which I also visited that same month.
The lesson learned from this is to do your research and book ahead, especially for the more popular museums. If Florence was that busy in April, I can only imagine how crowded it would be in the summer months.
My Day Trip to Pisa and Cinque Terre
After talking to someone I met at a hostel the night before, I spontaneously decided to go on a day trip to Pisa on my last day. Florence is a big city, but since I didn’t plan on going to any museums or tours, I felt I had done everything I wanted to do in the city in two days.
I decided to go to Pisa since it’s so close to Florence, and I figured, why not? Let me get a photo with the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
It rained the entire day, but I still went because I wasn’t going to let a little rain spoil my plans. In hindsight, I think it was a good thing, as there were probably fewer tourists than there would have been had the weather been good.
I took the train to Pisa, which took about an hour and cost €9.30. I grabbed coffee and a snack from Filter Coffee Lab, and a sandwich from a vegan shop called Vegan Come Koala.
The coffee was delicious, but the sandwich was sub-par. However, I did appreciate the vegan option in a small city like Pisa.
After lunch, I visited the Leaning Tower. All I can say is that it is quite a tourist trap, but it is worth visiting Pisa if you want to get the iconic photo.
I had my picture taken, grabbed a souvenir, and hopped back on the train to my next destination: Cinque Terre.
Now, visiting Cinque Terre was even more spontaneous than visiting Pisa. I’ll go into a detailed story on why I decided to visit Cinque Terre in my next post, but it had something to do with my vision board and following my destiny.
Long story short, at the beginning of this year, I created a vision board for my phone wallpaper of things I want to accomplish. I have a few travel-related photos on there, and on the train to Pisa, I realized that one of those photos was Manarola, Cinque Terre.
When creating the vision board, I had no idea I would visit Italy this year or be anywhere remotely close to Cinque Terre. When I realized that I could go to a lookout point to see the exact same beautiful view as on my vision board, I felt like it was destiny. I had to go.
I said goodbye to Pisa and took the train to La Spezia Centrale and a second train from there to Manarola. The journey was about two hours and cost €15.35. It wasn’t the easiest place to get to, but it was totally worth it.
I chose to visit Manarola, one of the five towns that make up Cinque Terre, because you can visit the Manarola Overlook Viewpoint and see the exact same view that was on my vision board.
Stepping off that train and into the town of Manarola, greeted by the colourful houses and beautiful scenery, felt like a dream. I couldn’t explain it. It was like destiny. It was on my vision board, and this trip was completely unplanned–it was only by chance that I was able to visit.
Although it was raining, the views were stunning. I walked up and down the trails through the town feeling on top of the world.
I didn’t have enough time to visit anywhere else besides Manarola, but if you have the time, I would definitely recommend visiting Manarola and the other towns on the coast, linked by the national park and trails.
Tips and Tricks on Navigating Florence + Google Maps List
I always create a Google Maps list of places I want to visit when planning my trip. I’ve created one for Florence, which I edited afterward to include my top recommendations. You can view it here.
Here are a few tips and tricks for navigating and visiting Florence.
Book Museums and Attractions in Advance
During the high season from May to September, expect the main attractions, like the Uffitzi Gallery and the Duomo to be fully booked for weeks. I did not book anything in advance, so I could not visit any museums.
The same goes for booking a hostel. I waited until the night before, and that was a terrible mistake. I was left with few options, which were not cheap.
Here’s an interesting thing I learned from another traveler who’s been to the city many times: Florence will almost always be busy, no matter the time of year. It’s one of the most popular Italian cities for tourism.
Expect there to be crowds. If there are none when you visit, consider yourself lucky.
Take Day Trips from Florence
There is an abundance of things to do in Florence, and you likely won’t get bored if you’re there for a few days. However, consider taking a day trip or two from the city.
Florence is quite close to many surrounding cities, and it’s so easy to hop on a train and travel between them. Some great day trip ideas include Pisa, Lucca, Chianti, Siena, and Cinque Terre.
Things to Look Out for as a Solo Female Traveler in Florence
Be aware that many Italian men will be bold and catcall you in Florence. I’m saying this purely based on personal experience, so it may not be the same for you. However, Florence is the only Italian city I’ve been to where I’ve been catcalled this many times.
If you’re alone, avoid going to Parco delle Cascine anytime other than Tuesday, when they have the vintage market.
How Much I Spent in Florence for Three Days As a Solo Traveler
I aim to be very transparent on this blog and let you in on the reality of solo traveling on a budget. I thought it would be interesting to track everything I spent for the three days I was in Florence.
I wasn’t on a strict budget, but I didn’t want to unnecessarily spend money if I didn’t have to.
Here’s how much I spent in Florence for three days:
Monday
I arrived in Florence in the late afternoon, so I started tracking my spending when I took the tram from the bus station to my hostel.
- Tram ticket: €1.70
- Dinner (lasagna + glass of wine at a vegan restaurant, Il Vegano): €13.50
- Gelato: €3
- Glass of Aperol (hostel bar): €7
- Glass of wine (hostel bar): €4
TOTAL = €27.50
Tuesday
- Breakfast (latte, croissant, fruit salad at Coffee & Kitchen): €15
- Spritz: €5
- All’Antico Vinaio sandwich: €7
- Tram: €1.70
- Drinks & club entry: €30
TOTAL = €58.70
Wednesday
- Espresso & cookie: €2.30
- Train ticket to Pisa: €9.30
- Lunch (vegan sandwich): €9
- Coffee & snack: €8.30
- Train ticket to Manarola, Cinque Terre: €15.35
- Train ticket back to Florence: €22.20
- Dinner (glass of wine & ravioli at Trattoria Verdi): €17.50
TOTAL = €83.95
Total spent in Florence: €301.03
- Food: €75.60
- Transportation: €50.25
- Drinks & going out: €46
- Accommodation: €130.68
Is Florence Safe for Solo Female Travelers?
Florence is a very safe city for solo female travelers. I felt safe walking around by myself, even during the night. However, keep in mind there were tons of people everywhere, even after the sun went down.
One thing I would say about Florence that has been different from every other Italian city I’ve visited was the sheer number of Italian men who were not afraid to call out to me. On the warmest day, I wore a dress and got catcalled by numerous men–all Italian.
If you’re a solo female traveler, be prepared for Italian men to say, “Ciao, Bella!” I’m not sure if this is a universal experience, but this happened to me multiple times during my three days in Florence.
The only place I would avoid is Parco delle Cascine. I had quite the experience there, even though I went during the day.
I wanted to go to Parco delle Cascine for the vintage market they hold on Tuesdays, but I went a bit too late. The market runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and I went just after 2.
As soon as I stepped into the park, it felt like I walked into the ghetto. Think South London ghetto. I’m not kidding, and I’m not trying to be funny. It was not a fun place to walk around alone.
There were tons of men and homeless people shouting at me and one even tried to follow me. After just five minutes, I knew I had to leave. I turned around and took the tram back to the city center.
As with any city, be careful and be aware of your surroundings. Besides that, I felt Florence was quite safe as a solo female traveler.
Final Thoughts
I decided to visit Florence on a whim. It was a very last-minute decision, but I’m so glad I went. I loved walking around the beautiful city, grabbing a takeaway spritz, gelato, or sandwich.
If you visit Florence, I would highly recommend visiting Piazzale Michelangelo at sunset and taking a day trip to Cinque Terre. And while you’re there, try a sandwich from All’Antico Vinaio.
I don’t feel like I’ve spent enough time in Florence, especially since I didn’t visit any museums. I would definitely visit again, but in the off-season.
Some of my favourite platforms while traveling
- Hostelworld: a great platform to book cheap and social hostels
- Trainline: the best app to book trains and coaches throughout Europe and the UK
- GetYourGuide: a great way to book experiences and events in the city
- Airalo: the best eSIM provider, with access to over 200 countriesÂ
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- The Greatest Lessons I’ve Learned from Solo Travel
- How Solo Travel Changed My Life
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