1. Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio 

• Less touristy than Mercato Centrale. Great for trying local cheese, lampredotto (Florentine street food), and seasonal fruits with locals.

2. Eat at a Buchette del Vino 

• These “wine windows” were used during the plague to serve wine safely. Some have reopened and serve drinks or gelato directly through the wall.

3. Take a Tuscan Cooking Class in a Private Villa or Farm

• Hands-on experience in the countryside, often includes pasta making, wine pairings, and olive oil tastings.

1. Scuola del Cuoio (Leather School) 
   Watch artisans craft leather goods in a 13th-century monastery. You can also take a workshop to make your own piece.
   
   
2.  Marbled Paper Workshop 

• Try your hand at traditional Florentine paper marbling—a centuries-old technique used in bookbinding and decoration
  
  

3. Visit the Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella - 

• One of the oldest pharmacies in the world (since 1221), still selling perfumes and herbal remedies in a stunning setting.
  
  

4.  Museo Horne or Museo Stibbert 

• Crowd-free museums with rare art collections and eclectic antiques. The Stibbert has a world-class arms and armor collection.

5. Visit the Vasari Corridor (when open) - An elevated secret passageway above the Ponte Vecchio, once used by the Medici. It’s reopening gradually to the public.

 🌅 1. Torre di San Niccolò Climb

• Open only in summer, this medieval tower offers panoramic views and fascinating insights into Florence’s old defensive walls.

🥩 2. Nerbone at Mercato Centrale – Go Early!

• This old-school food stall in the downstairs market is famous for its lampredotto and bollito sandwiches. Locals queue at 10am—if you go later, it’s flooded with tourists or sold out.

📚 3. Brac – Hidden Bookstore + Vegetarian Café

• A cozy, artsy spot near Santa Croce. Hidden behind an unmarked door, it’s a vegetarian café, art gallery, and bookshop all in one. Quiet and stylish, beloved by locals and creatives.

🐟 4. Osteria Tripperia Il Magazzino – Florentine Offal Done Right

• In tiny Piazza della Passera (another secret gem), this osteria specializes in trippa and lampredotto with elevated flair. The piazza itself is a quiet, charming nook few tourists find.

🎨 5. The Tabernacles of Florence

• All over the city, you’ll see small religious shrines embedded in walls—known as tabernacoli. Many date back centuries and are works of Renaissance art in miniature. Locals often leave flowers or candles.

🏰 6. The Secret Courtyards

• Palazzo Medici Riccardi has a gorgeous free-entry courtyard (with benches and orange trees) often skipped by visitors.

• Palazzo Strozzi also has a peaceful inner courtyard open to the public, often with temporary art installations and a quiet café.

🧵 7. Antico Setificio Fiorentino – Historic Silk Workshop

• A functioning 18th-century silk mill still using original looms. You can book a private tour and see Renaissance weaving techniques in action—many of their fabrics are still used in luxury fashion and historic restoration.

🕯️ 8. La Specola – Museum of Zoology and Wax Anatomy

• Currently being renovated (reopening soon), this bizarre and fascinating museum houses centuries-old anatomical wax models and taxidermy. Surreal, eerie, and 100% off the beaten path.

🏺 9. Ditta Artigianale – Hidden Coffee Alchemy

• Florence isn't known for specialty coffee, but this local micro-roastery is changing that. Go to the via dello Sprone location—it’s built into a 13th-century monastery with hidden cloisters in the back.

🌿 10. Giardino delle Rose (Rose Garden)

• Just below Piazzale Michelangelo, this hidden garden offers quiet trails, blooming roses (best in spring), and contemporary sculptures by Jean-Michel Folon—all with fewer crowds than the terrace above.

The best time to visit Florence depends on your travel style and what kind of experience you’re after—here’s a breakdown to help you choose the perfect window:

🌸 1. Late April – Early June (Best Overall Time)

• Why it's great: Mild weather, blooming gardens, longer daylight, fewer crowds than summer.

• Highlights:

  • Wisteria in bloom at Bardini Gardens

  • Maggio Musicale Fiorentino (classical music + opera festival)

  • Easier to book museums and restaurants

• Average temps: 18–26°C (64–79°F)

✅ Best for: Sightseeing, photography, gardens, food

🍇 2. September – Early October (Runner-up Best Time)

• Why it's great: Still warm, but less crowded than summer. Harvest season in Tuscany, ideal for wine lovers.

• Highlights:

  • Grape harvest and wine festivals nearby (Chianti, Montalcino)

  • Golden light for photos

  • Easier to get into the Uffizi without hours-long lines

• Average temps: 20–28°C (68–82°F in early Sept, cooling down by October)
  
  

✅ Best for: Food & wine, Tuscan day trips, comfortable weather

🏛️ 3. November – Early December (Underrated Quiet Season)

• Why it's great: Fewer tourists, great museum access, and lower hotel prices.

• Highlights:

  • Christmas lights start going up in early December

  • Local truffle & chestnut season

• Drawbacks: Colder, fewer outdoor café vibes, earlier sunsets

✅ Best for: Art lovers, budget travelers, avoiding crowds

🎄 4. Mid-December – Early January (Festive & Cozy)

• Why it's great: Florence is magical at Christmas with lights, markets, and concerts.

• Highlights:

  • Florence Christmas Market in Piazza Santa Croce

  • Midnight Mass at the Duomo

• Drawbacks: Cold, and some sites may close for holidays

✅ Best for: Holiday charm, fewer tourists, festive spirit

🔥 5. July – August (Avoid if Possible)

• Why not ideal: Hot, humid, crowded, and expensive. Locals often leave the city in August.

• Exceptions:

  • If you go, early morning or nighttime exploring is key

  • Good for outdoor festivals (e.g., concerts on Arno River)

⛔ Not ideal for walking-heavy days or those who dislike heat

🛫Best time based on the months

• Best months: May, early June, September

• Worst months: Late July and August

• Cheapest + quietest: Mid-November to mid-December

The official currency in Italy is the Euro (€). 

Clients often ask whether they should buy euros in the States before their trip. My simple answer is that it depends, with a few exceptions noted below. 

ATMs (or more importantly, Bacomats) are widely available, and withdrawing money from an ATM in Europe is as easy as using one in the US. You will hear people tell tales of how expensive it is to withdrawal money at airport ATMs, and while that may be true, it will still be less than the surcharge you'll pay at your local bank.

The first exception to this rule would be for folks who operate on a cash basis all the time at home and would be face burdensome anxiety using a foreign ATM or using an electronic means of payment. If you do not feel comfortable in the digital world, and you want to travel with cash, you should buy euros at your bank in the U.S. and pay the fees.

Secondly, having euros to pay for tipping, shopping in street markets and taxi can be good reasons to have a small amount of cash to start your visit to Italy.

To find out the current exchange rate for American dollars at xe.com. There you will get an idea of what it will cost you to buy and use euros. The rate changes frequently and you should check both when you book your trip, and just before you leave.

Pro-Tips: 

• DO NOT bring US dollars to Europe, expecting to be able to spend them, or to change them at a bank or old school currency exchange booth. This is a sure way to get the worst exchange rate possible and pay the highest fees. Europeans have no use for American currency because of the high cost of exchanging it. 

Most US-issued credit cards are accepted in Italy, with Visa and Mastercard being the most widely recognized. American Express and Discover are less commonly accepted, except in major cities and tourist areas. It’s always a good idea to carry some euros in cash for smaller vendors or emergencies.

Apply for a Credit Card With No Foreign Transaction Fees

Many credit cards allow you to make purchases abroad without incurring foreign transaction fees. These cards offer a convenient and secure way to pay while traveling.

Consider Using Cash

To avoid ATM or transaction fees, you might opt to pay for your trip in cash. You can exchange U.S. dollars for euros at a bank, credit union, or currency exchange store before your trip. This approach can be helpful if you have a clear budget for dining and souvenirs.

There is no right or wrong when deciding if you will use a credit card for your vacation or purchase foreign currency to budget your money better.  It is all up to you and your travel style.  

Pro-tip

Be sure to read how to keep your money safe under the topic entitled "Pickpockets and Safety Tips".