Now that you’re a family, traveling is more expensive. We get it.
23.04.2024 - 10:05 / lonelyplanet.com / Amerigo Vespucci
Sitting comfortably along the banks of the Arno River, Florence has been welcoming tourists since the early days of international tourism, building a global reputation that is hard to match.
British and German aristocrats began traveling to the city to admire Gothic and Renaissance masterpieces as early as the 17th century, and while the era of the Grand Tour is long gone the stream of visitors never stopped.
As far as Italian cities go, Florence sits at the expensive end of the spectrum. The UNESCO-listed city center measures only about 5 sq km (1.9 sq miles), but draws in millions of people each year. The flow of tourism has been driving up prices for decades, with budget accommodation becoming increasingly hard to find. To this, add dozens of world-class museums and day-trip opportunities, and the cost of a visit to the Renaissance city will make your eyes water. Luckily, all is not lost.
The option to splurge is always available, but if you’d rather save some money to extend your stay or continue your Italian itinerary, here are some tips to help you cut costs when in Florence.
Average daily costs: €130–200
While you're in Florence, don't miss these top experiences
As for many other popular cities, the time of the year you choose to visit Florence can make a huge difference in terms of costs. Tourist crowds start clogging up the narrow streets of inner Florence in spring and typically last until early autumn. Human traffic reaches its peak in the summer, when Italians take their holidays and contribute to the queues.
From May to September accommodation prices can rise dramatically in the historic city. If you are planning to visit during this period, it’s best to book accommodation months in advance to be sure to find the cheapest options available.
If you are flexible and don’t mind the uncertain weather, visiting between November and February (excluding the two weeks from Christmas to the Epiphany), guarantees some good deals. Besides the offers on hotels and apartments, many major museums offer low-season rates which are made even more attractive by the absence of crowds. Access to the Uffizi, for instance, costs €12 instead of €25. Tickets for Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens cost €10 and €6 respectively, instead of €16 and €10.
Florence’s Amerigo Vespucci airport is conveniently connected to the city center thanks to the T2 tram line that links the terminal to the Santa Maria Novella railway station. Yet, it may be cheaper to fly into Tuscany’s other airport, Pisa. Located a little over an hour’s drive from Florence, Pisa’s Galileo Galilei airport offers many more options for low-cost flights. Ryanair, Wizz Air, Vueling and easyJet all fly in and out of Pisa daily.
When booking your flights
Now that you’re a family, traveling is more expensive. We get it.
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