10 Mistakes People Make When Visiting Florence
What Not to Do in Florence on Your 1st Visit
Common mistakes people make when visiting Florence inevitably revolve around the historical town’s amazing art. Given the sheer quantity and overwhelming beauty, proper planning is important to avoid disappointment.
First things first; don’t panic. There are relatively few mistakes you can make that will utterly destroy your trip. Just exercise standard safety precautions, especially in crowded places, and everything else will usually be pretty harmless. And, if you do accidentally find yourself doing one of these things to avoid on your first visit to Florence, you can be comfortable in the knowledge that you’re far from the first. Some of these mistakes date back to the 19th century.
10 Mistakes People Make When Visiting Florence
- Forgetting to pre-book your museum visits
- Missing out on David
- Trying to drive in the city center
- Forgetting to validate your train or bus ticket
- Eating near the tourist hotspots
- Getting Stendhal syndrome
- Missing out on the hidden gems
- Missing out on the southern side of the river
- Not taking a day trip around Tuscany
- Planning to have an early dinner
1. Forgetting to pre-book your museum visits
You might have to book some of them months in advance
Categoría: Parejas, Familias, Historia
Florence’s stunning museums and galleries usually have long queues of people waiting outside in the blazing Florentine heat for their turn to see these unique marvels. If you don’t arrange your tickets in advance, you’ll be joining them, losing endless hours of your valuable vacation time in lines.
While you can theoretically see Michelangelo’s David in the Accademia Gallery by getting your ticket at the door, many people spend all day queueing outside only to leave disappointed as the number of people allowed inside each day is limited. If enjoying Florence’s art is a priority for you, book as many of your tickets as far in advance as you can.
Forgetting to pre-book your museum visits
2. Missing out on David
If you don’t get a ticket, don’t worry, there are three of him
Categoría: Historia, Foto
Michelangelo’s David in the Accademia Gallery is arguably Florence’s star attraction. However, it’s also over 500 years old and so brittle that it might get damaged just by the vibrations from visitors’ footsteps. Understandably, the museum curators limit the number of people who can view it each day to minimize the damage.
Given this limitation, a lot of visitors miss out on seeing the original statue by failing to book their tickets far enough in advance. However, that doesn’t mean they have to leave Florence without having seen the biblical giant slayer. There are two replicas of David dotted around Florence. Head over to Piazzale Michelangelo or to the entrance to Palazzo Vecchio to see the replicas.
Missing out on David
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3. Trying to drive in the city center
And wearing the wrong shoes for walking around
Categoría: De aventura, Parejas, Familias
Florence is an old city and, like many European cities this old, its center was designed long before cars were even considered. Roads tend to be extremely narrow, turns tend to be tight, and convenient parking places are practically unheard of. Put simply, driving in the city center is not a viable option.
On the other hand, with the city center being relatively compact, Florence is an excellent place for walking from one attraction to the next. Even so, it’s strongly recommended to place comfort over fashion, especially with footwear. You’re going to be on your feet for a long time, often walking on ancient cobbles and uneven surfaces, so bring some practical shoes for your museum days.
Trying to drive in the city center
4. Forgetting to validate your train or bus ticket
This can be an expensive mistake to make
Categoría: Económico, Parejas, Familias
Florence’s public transportation is a hassle-free way to reach attractions on the outskirts of the city and beyond but only if you remember to validate your paper ticket. If you’re taking a train, look out for yellow boxes on the platform and stick your ticket into it. You’ll find a similar machine close to the door as you board buses.
Failing to validate your ticket could result in a fine of hundreds of euros, which you may be asked to pay on the spot. For a digital ticket in an app, no validation is required but you might have to activate the ticket. Or simply use your contactless bank card, phone, or smartwatch to tap in on buses and trams.
Forgetting to validate your train or bus ticket
5. Eating near the tourist hotspots
Convenience is costly
Categoría: Económico, Gastronomía en
Walking around all of Florence’s big attractions will undoubtedly give you an appetite, and the natural instinct would be to satisfy your hunger at the first available restaurant. While such places are certainly a convenient option, most are far more motivated by profit than they are by high culinary ideals. So, expect overpriced and inauthentic meals.
If you take your food seriously, it’s better to get away from the tourist hubs. You’ll find high-quality eateries that even locals rave about where you’re far more likely to find genuinely good food and great value for money. Head over to Sant’Ambrogio for traditional trattorias and good-value lunch menus or San Frediano for stellar osterias and neighborhood wine bars.
Eating near the tourist hotspots
6. Getting Stendhal syndrome
Pacing yourself when sightseeing in Florence pays off
Categoría: Historia, Foto
If you’re struck by Stendhal syndrome and get overwhelmed by the beauty of the art on display in Florence, you might get physical symptoms such as heart palpitations. That may seem like an exaggeration, but the staff at Florence’s hospitals have reported numerous cases of people experiencing dizzy spells after viewing Michelangelo’s David or Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus.
Realistically, some of these illnesses could be put down to extreme dehydration and exhaustion from long queues and walking around huge museums all day. That being the case, our advice is to pace yourself. Don’t try and do everything in a single day. If you are starting to feel a little overawed, take a break and drink plenty of water.
Getting Stendhal syndrome
7. Missing out on the hidden gems
The lesser known attractions rarely have long queues
Categoría: Historia, Foto
Florence is absolutely packed with interesting historical highlights, but not all of them are world famous. Some get barely a fraction of the attention that the likes of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore or the Uffizi Gallery get, which means shorter queues (if any).
Aside from the convenience of actually being able to enjoy the contents of the museum instead of just the line outside, some of the city’s lesser-known attractions are fantastic to visit in their own right. The striking Loggia of Bigallo, the fascinating Dante’s House Museum, and the historically significant Hospital of Innocents are must-sees. Check out our list of Florence’s hidden gems for more options.
Missing out on the hidden gems
8. Missing out on the southern side of the river
It’s small on attractions but big on charm
Categoría: De aventura, Parejas, Familias
While most of Florence’s top attractions are on the northern side of the Arno, there’s more to the southern bank than just nice views of celebrated bridges crossing the river. What the southern side of Florence lacks in famous attractions, it makes up for in charm.
The Santo Spirito and San Niccolo neighborhoods consist of quaint cobblestoned streets lined with traditional Italian coffee shops, with groups of locals enjoying the afternoon sun in the piazzas. If you want to experience the city like a local, stay close to the river and explore the atmospheric streets for authentic Florentine vibes.
Missing out on the southern side of the river
9. Not taking a day trip around Tuscany
There’s so much to see within a short drive of Florence
Categoría: De aventura, Foto
Florence may be the capital and star attraction of Tuscany, but once you get out of the city, you’ll experience the true magic of the area. It’s famous for its stunning landscapes of rolling hills, its historical highlights like the Leaning Tower of Pisa and Volterra’s Roman theater, and its outstanding wines and food. Suffice it to say, it’s a great way to spend a day or two while you’re in the area.
Getting out and about in Tuscany is pretty easy. You can book tours, hire a car, or use public transportation. The bus and train services are very good and cost-effective. If you’re hoping to reach outlying rural destinations, consider getting a taxi or renting a car.
Not taking a day trip around Tuscany
10. Planning to have an early dinner
Italians eat late
Categoría: Parejas, Familias, Gastronomía en
After a day of exploring Florence, you’re naturally going to be very hungry, to the extent that you might consider forgetting traditional mealtimes and going for dinner early. However, you’re going to quickly find that the majority of restaurants aren’t even open before 7 pm. Italians traditionally have their dinner late and they’re not about to break that habit for you.
If you can’t possibly wait until 7 pm, fear not as there are several options. You could self-cater, but there’s also the tradition of aperitivo you can enjoy. Bars open for a sort of happy hour before the restaurants open, offering pre-meal drinks and snacks. Just be careful not to fill up before you get to your main meal.
Planning to have an early dinner
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