podtour
At a glance
- Country
- Italy
- Region
- Tuscany
- Language
- Italian. Hello: “buongiorno”. Thank you: “grazie”.
- Currency
- Euro (€)
- Population
- Around 350,000 residents
- Sockets
- Types C, F and L, 230 V
- Emergencies
- 112
- Tap water
- Yes. Tap water is safe to drink.
- Card payments
- Cards are widely accepted; a little cash can still be useful for small purchases.
- Tipping
- Tipping is optional; leave something if you would like to thank the staff.
- Driving side
- right
When to go
| Season | Approximate temperature | Rain | Daylight | Atmosphere |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Roughly 10–25 °C | Showers between mild days | Increasing daylight | A pleasant walking atmosphere |
| Summer | Roughly 20–35 °C; hotter spells are possible | Occasional thunderstorms | Long days | Intense heat in the centre |
| Autumn | Roughly 10–25 °C | Can be rainy | Shortening days | Walking improves as heat eases |
| Winter | Roughly 0–12 °C | Damp, rain and possible frost | Short days | A mixture of streets and museums appeals |
- Spring and autumn suit walking; in summer, keep exposed squares for cooler parts of the day.
- June brings the feast of St John and calcio storico, with more activity around Santa Croce. December adds Christmas atmosphere.
Walking the city
- Terrain: the historic centre and areas close to the river are fairly flat. The hills to the south involve slopes and stairs.
- Surfaces: stone slabs, cobbles and narrow pavements; wet paving can be slippery.
- Weather on foot: summer heat gathers between buildings. Alternate shade, water and indoor breaks.
- Distances: the Duomo, Signoria and river form a walkable area; you don’t need transport between every square.
- Crossings: traffic keeps right. A street full of pedestrians may still carry bicycles or authorised vehicles.
- Daily rhythm: the centre draws many visitors; a few streets away from the busiest axis, it’s easier to pause without blocking the flow. Leave room for a proper lunch; dinner can come later than you’re used to in Britain.
Getting there and around
- Florence Airport has a tram connection into the city, as well as taxis. If you arrive at another airport, plan the intercity leg too.
- Santa Maria Novella is beside the historic centre. Check whether your train arrives there or at another station.
- Trams and buses help with outer accommodation and longer journeys. For central walks, going on foot is often simplest.
- Slabs, steps and crowded streets complicate a walk with luggage; dropping it at your accommodation makes the day easier.
The neighbourhoods
| Neighbourhood | What it's like | Who it suits | Our routes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duomo and San Giovanni | Busy monumental squares | Beginning with recognisable buildings | The Duomo and the Baptistery Free |
| Signoria and Santa Croce | Broad squares linked by narrow streets | Sculpture and city life | From the Signoria to Santa Croce |
| San Lorenzo and San Marco | Market, churches and palaces | Walking among major buildings | The Medici in San Lorenzo and San Marco |
| Sant’Ambrogio | Market and neighbourhood streets | A pause off the busiest axis | Sant'Ambrogio and Eastern Santa Croce |
| Santo Spirito and Pitti | Squares across the river | Staying for lunch and a wander | Oltrarno: from Pitti to the Carmine |
| Bardi and San Niccolò | Streets at the foot of the hills | Changing bank and pace | Via de' Bardi and San Niccolò |
What to try
| Dish or drink | What it is |
|---|---|
| Ribollita | A thick soup of bread, vegetables and beans. |
| Pappa al pomodoro | Bread and tomatoes cooked into a thick dish. |
| Schiacciata | Flatbread with olive oil, plain or filled. |
| Lampredotto | A section of the cow’s stomach, stewed and often served in a bread roll. |
| Bistecca alla fiorentina | A thick bone-in steak, generally served rare. |
| Crostini toscani | Toast with liver pâté. |
| Pappardelle | Broad pasta ribbons, often served with meat sauces. |
| Fagioli all’uccelletto | Beans with tomato, sage and olive oil. |
| Cantucci | Hard biscuits, usually containing almonds. |
| Gelato | Ice cream for a break: choose what appeals without making it an exam. |
What to pack
- Comfortable shoes for hard paving and uneven joints.
- Water bottle, hat and sunscreen in hot weather.
- Layers and a waterproof; a coat in winter.
- A layer to cover shoulders in churches.
- Bring an adaptor for Italian sockets, including type L; British plugs won’t fit.
- Download your routes and audio before setting off: Podtour works offline.
For the trip
Customs and common mistakes
- Say “buongiorno” before ordering.
- Cover shoulders and knees in churches and stay quiet during worship.
- Keep the way clear beside shop windows and outdoor artworks.
- House steps are entrances, not picnic tables.
- Ask before photographing craftspeople or the inside of their workspace.
- Don’t touch sculptures or rub surfaces for luck.
- Bistecca alla fiorentina is generally rare; discuss your preference before ordering.
- In busy cafés and bars, you often pay at the till first, then order at the counter with your receipt; watch how it works when you arrive.
If it rains (or it's very hot)
- The Duomo and the Baptistery Free lets you plan an interior visit as a break, separately from the route.
- From the Signoria to Santa Croce passes near central museums. Choose an interior and leave time for it, without relying on instant shelter.
- In heat, split Oltrarno: from Pitti to the Carmine with a long break. Crossing the river doesn’t remove the sun or guarantee shade.
Itineraries with Podtour
These plans leave time for meals and an interior visit. Listen at the outdoor points on each route; arrange interior visits separately.
Days Plan
1 day
Begin with The Duomo and the Baptistery Free, then From the Signoria to Santa Croce, towards the south and east of the centre.
2 days
Day 1: follow the previous plan. Day 2: Oltrarno: from Pitti to the Carmine and Via de' Bardi and San Niccolò, on the south bank. Allow time to connect their starting points.
3 days
Days 1 and 2: follow the previous plans. Day 3: The Medici in San Lorenzo and San Marco. Leave the rest for an interior visit or rest, rather than adding another route out of duty.
What to see with Podtour
= a place covered by our free route, The Duomo and the Baptistery Free.
| Place | Why go | Route and stop |
|---|---|---|
| Baptistery of San Giovanni | An essential part of the square before all your attention goes to the dome. | The Duomo and the Baptistery Free · «Baptistery of San Giovanni: Dante y su pilón» |
| Santa Maria del Fiore and Brunelleschi’s dome | The façade rewards a pause for its details. | The Duomo and the Baptistery Free · “The façade judged by the public” |
| Palazzo Vecchio | The palace also holds stories on its outer walls. | Legends of Florence · “The face on the wall” |
| Palazzo Medici Riccardi | A façade with plenty to say about power. | The Medici in San Lorenzo and San Marco · “The palace that was too beautiful” |
| Palazzo Pitti, exterior | The great palace opens the walk across the river. | Oltrarno: from Pitti to the Carmine · “The palace of the fugitives” |
| Santo Spirito | A square for lingering and looking at its church. | Oltrarno: from Pitti to the Carmine · “The church that wanted to face the river” |
| Piazza dei Ciompi and Loggia del Pesce | A loggia that suggests other uses of the space. | Sant'Ambrogio and Eastern Santa Croce · “The fish loggia that moved” |
| Orsanmichele | A distinctive building among central streets. | Dante's Florence · “The city that burned” |
| Mercato Nuovo and the Porcellino | The market invites you to find an easily missed detail. | Legends of Florence · “The wheel of the Mercato Nuovo” |
| Ponte Vecchio | The famous bridge rewards a look at its ends too. | Legends of Florence · “The tower that refused to be crossed” |
| Santa Croce | A church linked to the memory of many people. | From the Signoria to Santa Croce · “Galileo’s finger” |
| Piazza Santa Croce | A broad square that has been a stage, not just a backdrop. | From the Signoria to Santa Croce · “A match against an army” |
| Sant’Ambrogio and its market | A neighbourhood for combining a market and a walk. | Sant'Ambrogio and Eastern Santa Croce · “The poorly dried chalice” |
| Synagogue and former Jewish neighbourhood | A different dome on Florence’s skyline. | Sant'Ambrogio and Eastern Santa Croce · “A green dome outside the ghetto” |