When we walked past the Duomo on our last night, the air carried a familiar classical tune coming from a string quartet positioned along an adjacent alley. The drizzling had stopped and a small crowd had gathered around them. Suddenly, a little young boy took his mother’s hand and together they danced to the melody, to the delight of other tourists, who viewed and snapped away.
It’s tender moments like this that made our time in this marvelous city for keeps. I felt it as soon as we emerged out of the Santa Maria Novella station when we arrived in the city. trying to find our guesthouse, we walked with 30+ kilos of luggage on our back. It’s been a long, tiring ride from Zurich and we could certainly use some rest. The concrete pavement turned into cobblestones, the streets looked to narrow alleys. Det var tyst. It was as though we were never tired. and for a moment, I felt like Diane Lane (hahahahahhaahhaha), playing with the Tuscan sun, peeking from the top of the heritage buildings. then one left turn and we were greeted by a enormous swarm of people, all admiring the Duomo. hi there, fellow tourists.
We never expected to fall in love with Florence. When we were planning this 16-country European tour, I prepared for Paris or Reykjavik to take my breath away, but it was Florence who stole my heart and ran with it. Easily, it became my favorite city. (Yosh’s most-loved remains Paris, though. but he’s a Francophile, so that’s not really surprising.)
Vad är täckt i den här guiden?
UNDERSTANDING FLORENCE
BEST TIME TO check out FLORENCE
HOW TO get TO FLORENCEPISA TO FLORENCE
ROME, MILAN OR VENICE TO FLORENCE
OTHER EUROPEAN CITIES TO FLORENCE
MANILA TO FLORENCE
FLORENCE airport TO CITY CENTER
POCKET WIFI and local SIM IN FLORENCELocal SIM
Pocket Wifi Rental
Roaming
HOW TO get around IN FLORENCEFlorence Hop on Hop off Bus Pass with Audio Guide
Guided walking Tours
THINGS TO do in FLORENCEAccademia Gallery
Piazza del Duomo
Pitti palace and Boboli Gardens
Piazzale Michelangelo
Other Florence Attractions
FLORENCE DAY TOURSTuscany Tour
Assisi and Cortona Tour
WHERE TO eat IN FLORENCE
WHERE TO stay IN FLORENCEWhere We Stayed: Bronze horse Guesthouse
Top budget hotels Under €60
See More: Florence Hotels
SAMPLE FLORENCE ITINERARY
OTHER suggestions FOR THE poor TRAVELER
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UNDERSTANDING FLORENCE
The city was founded as early as 59 B.C. during the medieval times, it was one of the wealthiest cities in Europe. but it is best known for giving life to the Renaissance in the 14th century, the period that gave us Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, and Michelangelo. numerous elements contributed to the rise of Florence as a cultural epicenter. one of them: its ruling clan, the Medici, were substantial patrons of the arts. Art is the heart and soul of Firenze, which continues to inspire artists from around the world. Its streets are bursting with captivating architecture, sculptures, and even musicians and street painters trying to make a living.
Today’s Florence is a metropolitan hub and the capital of Italy’s Tuscan region, but its historic core remains intact, tucked at its center. It has 80 museums, not counting outside galleries that adorn its numerous piazzas. The city’s Old town attracts 13 million tourists a year, making it one of the most went to cities in the world.
Language: Italian. many signs have English translations.
Currency: Euro (EUR, €). €1 is roughly $1.11, PHP 55.94 (as of June 2017).
Modes of payment: numerous establishments accept credit report cards, but many still choose cash.
Electricity Info: 230 volts, 50 Hz. common sockets are type F, which also accept plugs that have two round pins (C and E).
BEST TIME TO check out FLORENCE
In general, the period between October to may is alright, but April is the most comfortable weather-wise. This is when the cold is slowly giving way to the summer heat. It gets much hotter in the next months and peaks in August, the month you want to avoid. even the locals try to go out of town during this month to escape the heat.
If you delight in winter, January and February may be a terrific choice for two reasons: lower prices, thinner crowds. Florence is always jampacked practically any time of the year, regardless of weather conditions. during our visit, we discovered that even in the middle of rain showers, the piazzas remain brimming with tourists, especially the area surrounding the Duomo.
HOW TO get TO FLORENCE
Florence is served by Amerigo Vespucci airport (FLR), an international airport situated just 30 minutes from the city center. but the Galileo Galilei airport in Pisa is the largest in Tuscany. because the the two airports are connected by rail and bus, Pisa is also a good gateway to Florence. Pisa airport also serves numerous of Europe’s inexpensive carriers including EasyJet, RyanAir, Transavia, and Thomsonfly.
PISA TO FLORENCE
From Pisa Airport’s terminal 1, you can board the train to Firenze SMN Station. multiple trains ply this route per day so reservation is not needed. just purchase a ticket when you arrive. The journey takes 1.5 hours. Fare is fixed at €11.10.
ROME, MILAN OR VENICE TO FLORENCE
If you’re on a bigger trip around Italy, you can easily reach Florence from Rome, Milan, Venice and other Italian cities by train. There are multiple trains a day.
There are two high-speed train companies in Italy: the state-owned Trenitalia and the privately owned Italo. Both use dynamic pricing (much like airlines). This implies that fares are not fixed. They change over time. Hence, it is best to book in advance. If you don’t have fixed plans yet, you can book on the same day, but expect to pay much more for your seat.
Usually, the most affordable fares are at €14.90 for Italo and €19.90 for Trenitalia. but Italo’s fare for some routes can go as low as €9.90 if you book way in advance. If you don’t have fixed plans yet, you can book on the same day, but expect to pay much more for your seat.
OTHER EUROPEAN CITIES TO FLORENCE
If you’re coming from other cities in Europe, the fast and low-cost option is typically flying. Intercity flights within Europe are surprisingly low-cost and they will save you a lot of time.
However, there are also trains available coming from outside Italy. There are day trains and overnight trains, depending on where you’re coming from. typically they make stops in another Italian City, typically Milan or Turin.
Från Paris. The most affordable option is to travel by high-speed to Turin (Travel time: 5h40; Fares from €29). Then, board an Italian train from Turin to Florence (Travel time: 2h45; Fares from €19.90). book the Italian train with Trenitalia.
From Zurich, Switzerland. Take a EuroCity train to Milan (Travel time: 3h26; Fare from €9) and then board an Italian train to Florence (Travel time: 1h40; Fare from €19.90).
From Munich, Germany. travel with German Railways to Verona, Bologna, or Venice (Fare starts at €9). then take an Italian train to Florence SMN (Fare from €19.90).ole trip, but this does
MANILA TO FLORENCE
If you’re a Filipino citizen, you’ll need a Schengen visa. Here’s how to get a Schengen visa.
There are no direct flights from the Philippines to Florence. many routes entail a few layovers. A good option is to fly to Pisa instead. Pisa is easily accessible. Turkish Airlines and Qatar Airways fly to Pisa with stops in Istanbul and Doha respectively.
FLORENCE airport TO CITY CENTER
The fastest way to get to historic center from Florence airport is by bus. Bus ticket price for single trip is €5 (P281.25 or $5.57) and €8 (P449.35 or $8.92) for round-trip ticket. Take the Volainbus, operating from 06:00AM to 11:30PM and departs every 30 minutes in front of the airport. It will take you directly to Santa Maria Novella (SMN) Train Station, which is located just next to the Old Town.
POCKET WIFI and local SIM IN FLORENCE
Local SIM
If you own an open-line or unlocked phone (meaning, your phone can accept SIM cards from other carriers), this is your most affordable option. Italy has four main telco companies: Vodafone, TIM, Tre, and WIND. The first two have the best coverage and 4G data connection.
TIM for Visitors. Cost: 30€. includes 4GB of 4G internet, 100 minutes of international and national calls, and a SIM Card. Valid for 30 days. The price is fixed, but you will be encouraged to top-up to get much more data, especially if you’re a heavy user.
Vodafone Holiday. Cost: 30€. includes 2GB of 4G data, 300 minutes and 300 SMS to all Italian numbers and to your home country, and a SIM Card. There is a 1€ maintaining balance.
Before you decide to purchase an Italian SIM, take note of the following:
You can only get one at the physical store or booth. Activation can’t be done online. The challenging part is that it can be challenging if you don’t speak Italian, so make sure you know exactly what plan you want before approaching any store staff to avoid confusion. note that the name of TIM’s holiday package is “TIM for Visitors” and Vodafone’s is “Vodafone Holiday.”
Bring your passport to the store. SIM registration upon activation is required by law.
Have the staff set up the APN on your phone to be sure you have the settings right. This changes depending on the device you use.
If you’re a heavy data user, top up after activation so you don’t need to return to the store in the middle of your trip.
Pocket Wifi Rental
You can rent out pocket wifi before your flight.
If you’re coming from the Philippines, one of the brands you can use is Flytpack.
Flytpack charges P500 per day for Europe and an additional P2800 deposit, which you can get back after your trip.
Because it can connect multiple devices, you can split cost with your companions.
The unit comes with a built-in power bank, which guarantees you get to use it for an entire day trip without draining the battery.
Varje uthyrning kommer med en universell adapter. mycket användbart!
Roaming
Om du är baserad i Filippinerna kan du också använda leverantörens roamingtjänster. Priserna varierar beroende på din leverantör.
Globe Telecom: De har massor av roamingalternativ. Du kan välja Roam Viber (P199) eller Roam Facebook (P299) i 24 timmar. Eller välj Unli-data som roaming för P599. Du kan kolla alla sina priser genom att komma åt Globe Roaming Page
Smart: De har också Unli Data Roaming-tjänsten som heter Surf i utlandet för P550 eller deras TravelWiFi för P390 per dag med 1GB-data i 24 timmar. Du kan kolla på deras webbplats för mycket mer info -> Smart reser världen
Detta är inte det mest ekonomiska alternativet, men roaming har sina egna fördelar. Postpaid roaming aktiveras automatiskt, så du behöver inte registrera eller kolla in en butik eller göra en insättning. Du har inte en extra gadget att ladda och ta hand om under resan. Och om du är en grupp kan du slå på personlig hotspot eller tethering för att dela upp kostnaden.
Hur man kommer runt i Florens
Florens historiska centrum kan enkelt utforskas till fots. Faktum är att många gator endast är för fotgängare och blockera bilåtkomst. Det kan dock fortfarande vara mycket förvirrande. Google Maps borde kunna hjälpa dig med att navigera.
Men om du vill utforska den mycket mer moderna sidan av Florens, kan du ta bussen eller spårvagnen. T1-spårvagnslinjen går från Vacation Home Costanza (Scandicci) till stationen Santa Maria Novella (SMN). Du kan köpa dina spårvagnsbiljetter från SMN-stationen eller någon auktoriserad etablering – apotek, kaféer, tidningsställen – som har en “Ataf” -klistermärke.
Det finns många typer av biljetter tillgängliga. Den gemensamma biljetten kan användas en gång och gäller i 90 minuter. Bäst att boka i framsteg eftersom det kostar mycket mer om du köper biljetten ombord. Men det finns också flera körbiljetter, som du kan använda flera gånger inom samma 90-minutersperiod. Här är kostnaderna:
1 biljett x 90 minuter (förbokad): € 1,20
1 biljett x 90 minuter (ombord): € 2,00
2 biljetter x 90 minuter: € 2,40
4 biljett x90 minuter: € 4,70
Längre biljetter är också tillgängliga, om du planerar att använda spårvagns- och bussystemen ofta.
24-timmars biljett: € 5
3-dagars biljett: € 12
7-dagars biljett: 18 €
Du kan också använda ATAF-biljetterna på bussen.
Florens hopp på Hop Off Bus Pass med ljudguide
Bild med tillstånd av Klook
Om du är en fan av hoppet på hopp av buss, finns det också en som arbetar i Florens. Detta tar dig till några av stadens väsentliga attraktioner. Varje sittplats levereras med en flerspråkig ljudguide, dela information om varje plats.
Passet är tillgängligt inom 24-timmars, 48 timmar och 72 timmars varianter.
✅ Boka ett pass här!
Guidade vandringsturer
Även om Touring Florens kan göras DIY-stil, kan du uppskatta staden och dess historia mycket mer om du går med i en guidad tur. Vandringsturer tar dig till viktiga attraktioner som Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, The Baptistery och Giottos klocktorn, med en guide som diskuterar vikten av varje stopp.
Klook ger en vandringstur på engelska, spanska och italienska. Resan gör ett stopp på Piazza Duomo, Piazza Signoria och Ponte Vecchio bland andra. En guide kommer att leda turen, dela väsentliga insikter om varje stopp under vägen. Den engelska resan kostar € 13,20 per person.
✅ Boka en slot här!
Det finns också helt gratis vandringsleder i Florens.
Saker att göra i Florens
Accademia
Bild som erbjuds av Klook
Accademia Gallery grundades 1784 och det är museet där du kan se Michelangelos välkända skulptur David.
Adress: genom Ricasoli, 58/60, 50121 Firenze, Italien
Inträdesavgift: full € 8,00 (12,50 € under utställningar) | Minskade 4,00 € (6,25 € under utställningar)
Om du behöver en guide kan du boka en resa från Klook, som är inklusive en skepp-the-line-biljett.
✅ Boka en slot här!
Piazza del Duomo
Piazza del Duomo, platsen för en av de mest fantastiska kyrkorna jag någonsin sett: Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore eller Il Duomo di Firenze. Den enorma strukturen