10 Hot Tips For Visiting Florence In The Summer
Florence is an incredible city, but summer temperatures and crowds of tourists can make a visit to this charming place straight out of the Italian Renaissance more of a hot mess than an ideal summer vacation. Here are some of my best tips to help you keep your cool while traveling and get the most out of your time in Firenze!
1. Avoid Crowds and Lines
Crowds of tourists on the Ponte Vecchio. Its a miracle this “old bridge” is still standing!
With over 13 million tourists flocking to Florence each year, its safe to say you are going to encounter some lines. In the summer months, when many tourists visit, the lines to visit the Duomo and other popular attractions can be up to two hours long! Start your day early and make it to the front of the line, or visit attractions an hour or two before closing to cut your wait time down. For more tips on visiting Firenze’s Duomo, check out this post.
2. Hydrate
It can be easy to forget to stay hydrated when rushing around the city trying to “see it all.” Remember to stay hydrated. In Florence, there are many free water fountain fill up stations throughout the city to keep your water bottle filled.
Pro tip: Don’t have a water bottle? Try plugging the spot where the water comes out. Ta-dah! Instant fountain. (See below)
My friend Matt modeling this genius water fountain hack
Pro tip #2: Do you like mineral water? The water station in Piazza della Signoria has both aqua naturale and aqua frizzante on tap for thoze who love fizzy water!
3. Eat…Gelato
What better way to cool off than with this tasty frozen dessert? Grab a cup or a cone and enjoy as you explore the city. My personal favorite gelateria? Gelateria dei Neri. They also have excellent granitas (the Italian version of a slushy) which are a great option if you’ve already consumed more gelato than you can handle.
4. Find the Perfect Travel Bag (and souvenir!)
Like many cities with high tourist numbers, Florence is an ideal location for pickpockets. I recommend finding a travel bag with a zipper and a cross body strap to help you avoid the unfortunate experience of being pickpocketed. Coincidentally, Florence is also known for its leather, so kill two birds with one stone and find a pickpocket-proof purse and a great souvenir at the same time.
I am currently obsessing over my newest travel bag from Italian leather store mywalit. Unlike many of the faux leather bags sold on the street, these colorful designer purses are genuine leather. The bag I chose is particularly perfect for travel, as there is no metal hardware making it super lightweight. I also love the bright pink color, perfect for adding color to my basic summer travel wardrobe! Find it online here, or head into one of the Florence locations.
5. Hit The Roof…(Top Bar, That Is)
Hotel Cavour’s rooftop features a spectacular view of the Duomo.
Many of Firenze’s swanky hotels offer rooftop terraces perfect for grabbing a refreshing drink and getting a fantastic view of the city all at once. Stay tuned for a post on Florence’s best rooftop bars, coming soon!
6. Explore Florence At Night
Check out the free open air museum in Piazza della Signoria! Perfect at night.
Avoid the hottest hours of the day and instead take a siesta. Head back out again after it cools down to catch an amazing sunset (try heading to Piazzale Michelangelo) and wander the city at night. While all of the Florence landmarks (Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, statues in Piazza Signoria) are incredible by day, they are beautiful lit up at night.
7. Do This, Not That
Looking for alternatives to some of Florence’s most popular locations? If you are okay with swapping some of the most touristy places in favor of smaller crowds, do it! You’ll probably get to see more, take better photos, and get a feel for the real Florence, sans tourists.
A few suggestions:
- Skip: Climbing the Duomo. Instead: Climb the Palazzo Vecchio or hit a rooftop bar
- Skip: The Accademia museum. Instead: Hit the Bargello.
- Skip: Grom Gelateria. Instead: Gelateria dei Neri, La Carraia
- Skip: Paninis at All’Antico Vinaio. Instead: Salumeria Verdi (AKA Pinos)
8. Hit the Beach
Posiatano, Italy. One of Italy’s most beautiful beaches
Does the heat of Florence have you missing the beach? Try heading to nearby Cinque Terre, or the less touristy Elba Island. Both are perfect day trips from Firenze and a great way to cool off and relax!
If you are planning on traveling more in Italy, head further south and soak up the sun on the beaches of Sardinia, or check out the Amalfi Coast’s island of Capri or the iconic black sand beaches of Positano.
9. Drink a Spritz
When walking down the streets of Florence on any given afternoon, you are bound to see Italians sitting outside sipping on bright orange iced cocktails, or Spritz. While the Aperol taste isn’t for everyone, this cool cocktail is a great way to try some of the local drink specialties!
10. Find Some Shade And Have A Picnic
The city center of Florence is seriously lacking trees, making the streets seem to bake under the heat of the sun. Head to the Boboli Gardens or Cascine park to cool down. If you are feeling adventurous, pack some snacks and head on a short bus ride to picnic near Florence’s colossal statue!
There you have it, my top 10 tips for keeping your cool in Florence’s summer heat! What are your favorites?
For more about Florence, check out these posts!
- Two Incredible Weeks In Italy: The Complete Itinerary
- 7 Fantastic Day Trips To Take From Florence
- 39 Reasons You’ll Fall In Love With Florence And Never Want To Leave
