Florence is the birthplace of the Renaissance.
You can tell, even centuries later.
Open minds and classical art. It what the city stills offers today.
But visiting this beautiful city also comes with a big price tag — unless you’re doing one of my Top 10 Free (or almost free) Things To Do In Florence!
- Piazzale Michelangelo — Start your day in Florence with a stop at Piazzale Michelangelo. It’s basically a parking lot … but this parking lot has one of the best views in the world! It’s the perfect place to take a panoramic picture to show off to your friends when you return home! (And it’s free!)
- Free Walking Tour (Plus tips) — This tour may really prove that the best things in life are free. You won’t need to worry about getting lost and failing to arrive at your destination before it closes. Free Tour Florence promises to show you the sites — as well as some of the unknown corners of the city. The two hour tour takes place daily, rain or shine. If you enjoy your tour, please remember to tip your guide.
- Santa Maria del Fiore — Duomo — When you look at the skyline of Florence, there’s no doubt where the Duomo is located. It’s one of the largest churches in the world, and it dwarfs the city. It’s also one of the most popular stops in the city. Even better? Walking inside won’t cost you a dime! Now, it will cost you if you want to climb into the dome or to the top of the bell tower. But even that’s only €6.
- Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) — Another landmark you’ll see from the Piazzale Michelangelo is Ponte Vecchio. The old bridge was built in the 1300s, and the city’s first bridge across the river. It’s also the only bridge in the city that survived World War II. If you want to window shop, this is the place to start.
- Free Museums — Don’t leave Florence without taking in some of the world’s most famous art — including Michelangelo’s David. State museums are free to anyone under the age of 18 and older than 65. For the rest of us, museums are free on the first Sunday of every month. Lines are long, so you’ll want to make sure you allow extra time. If you plan on going to many different museums, you may want to check out the Firenze Card. It’ll get you into each museum on the circuit once. But it’s also going to cost you €72, so you’ll want to make sure you get your money’s worth.
- Piazza della Signoria — If trips to museums aren’t on your list, you can get the best of all worlds by visiting Piazza della Signoria. There are stores and restaurants … and also all kinds of sculptures. A replica of Michaelangelo’s David even stands here.
- Strozzi Palace — Take a step back in time with a visit to Strozzi Palace. You can enjoy a free trip through the Exhibition of Contemporary Art. It’s housed in the palace and it’s free every Thursday evening between 6:00 and 10:00 pm. You’ll know you’re there when you arrive at something that resembles a small fortress.
- Don’t Take A Seat — Plan on enjoying your coffee standing up … or carrying out your lunch, if you’re on a budget. It’s an easy way to save some dough. That’s because if you decide to sit in many cafes and restaurants, you’ll be charged a sitting fee of at least €2-4.
- Cheap Eats — Another easy way to save some money on your food bill is to take advantage of the city’s nightly Apervito. Think of it as happy hour. For a set price (around €10) you’ll get a drink and all the appetizers you can eat. The time on this can vary slightly, but it’s usually roughly from 7:00-9:00 pm.
- Gelato — OK, so this isn’t free. But you can’t leave Florence without indulging in gelato. And even it’s all about location! If you’re really watching your euros, don’t order it near any of the tourist hot spots. We ended up paying double what others in our group did. We ducked into a shop along the Piazza della Signoria. Our group stopped at a shop on the way out of town and enjoyed the same great gelato at a much better price.