Florence, Italy

If you are looking for a city filled with amazing food, intriguing history, and architecture that is unimaginable, you need to book the next flight to Florence, Italy.

I spent four months studying abroad in Florence and living with an Italian family. Our apartment was nestled in between the Arno River and Santa Croce, so anywhere I looked there was always something going on. The balance between history and modern day entertainment provides a unique contrast to tourist visiting the city.

There is an uncountable number of things to keep you entertained in Florence. You could spend an entire day just roaming the cobblestone streets and not get bored. You should start your trip by climbing the Duomo which gives you a 360-skyline view of the city. Also, be sure to visit the leather markets to purchase some great souvenirs. If you’re into art you must visit the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia which is home to Michaelangelo’s “David” sculpture.

Restaurants

Café Piti – Sitting across from the famous Piti Palace is Café Piti. It is hard to decide which is better, the service or the food. You must try their spaghetti bolognese as well as the bruschetta with burrata

All'Antico Vinaio - The storefront will probably be hidden by at least 20 people waiting in line on each side of the street but when you see this then you have found the world famous “All'Antico Vinaio”. This typical Italian shop serves sandwiches where the homemade bread is still steaming from coming fresh out of the oven. You can choose from the list of fan favorites posted on the wall, or you can be adventurous and build your own. To top it off your meal is accompanied by their own self-serve house wine for only 2 euros.

Gelateria dei Neri - You could travel Italy for a year and try every gelato imaginable, but you have not had the best until you have gelato from Gelateria dei Neri. Be adventurous and try as many flavors as you can, it is all made fresh daily.

Il Taraocchi - One of my go-to restaurants while I was living in Florence because of their moderately priced entrees that were out of this world. It is across the Arno, opposite of the center of the city, but if you have the chance to go you must try their carbonara, spinach balls, and eggplant parmesan.

Golden View - Sitting on the Arno with the Ponte Vecchio out the window, you can understand two things: why it’s named “Golden View” and why it is one of the nicest restaurants in Florence. I wouldn’t recommend this as a place to eat regularly because the food is pricey, but it is a great place to experience once or take your parents if they come visit you while you are abroad.

My favorite thing about living in Florence was the wide array of dining. You may return home with a few extra pounds, but trust me, it’s worth it.

Aperitivo

Many restaurants in the city take part in the Italian tradition of Aperitivo. You purchase a drink and can help yourself to a buffet of finger foods, which is a great way to spend any afternoon. I highly recommend enjoying Aperitivo at one of the restaurants that I already mentioned, Golden View. If you don’t want to spend the money on dinner, Aperitivo is a great way to enjoy this restaurant. Surprisingly so, you can order a drink for about 10 euros and you get access to an unbelievable spread of food. The beautiful view of the river that runs through the middle of the city is an added bonus.

Do not leave Florence without a trip to Piazza Michaelangelo. Make your own “Aperitivo” - grab a bottle of prosecco and some friends and head up to watch the sun set behind the skyline.

Nightlife

Florence is one of the most popular cities in Europe to study abroad, which means the nightlife is some of the best in Europe. There is a very vibrant party scene that ranges from a chill bar to giant clubs that are open past sunrise. After a night out you must visit the famous “Secret Bakery”. It opens at about 2:00 am and there are no signs or advertisements, the only way you can find is by following the smell of freshly bakes Nutella doughnuts.

The Perfect Hub In Italy

The thing about Florence that most people do not know is that it is the perfect hub to base yourself out of if you want to see a lot of Italy in a little bit of time, or if you want to stay a while and dive into the culture of Tuscany. You can fly out of the Florence airport or the Pisa airport which gives you double the options when your searching for the cheapest flights for a weekend getaway.

Within two hours of the city you can visit:

Pisa, Sienna, & Lucca - Many tour companies that are based in Florence offer a very cheap day trip that takes you to Pisa, Sienna, and Lucca. This trip includes a tour of a winery as well and allows you to knock out 3 cities in one day for a low price, which for a budget traveler, is a great deal.

Cinque Terre - Just a short ride away on train or bus, Cinque Terre or “5 Towns” is the place of the beautiful colorful houses stacked on the cliff side that you’ve probably seen in plenty of photos. You can hike the trail that takes you through each village or take a faster route and ride the train that runs through the region. Cinque Terre is located in Genova so be sure to try the Pesto while you’re there, it is where it originated!

Rome - You cannot go to Italy without visiting Rome, but Florence is the perfect place to stay if you want to make a quick day trip by train and just see the basics.

Verona - The home of Romeo and Juliet, Verona is a beautiful city located not too far from Florence. I would definitely recommend going for a day or two and exploring. One of their delicacies is horse meat so if you’re brave enough you should try it!