10 of the Best Neighborhoods in Florence and How To Visit

You hardly need a map if you’re staying in San Giovanni—just follow Brunelleschi’s Dome towering over the city, and you’ll find the neighborhood’s centerpiece: the Florence Duomo. Besides Florence’s famous Renaissance cathedral, San Giovanni also has world-class artwork in the Uffizi Galleries, sculptures and city hall in Piazza della Signoria, and old-school cafés for people-watching in Piazza della Repubblica. It’s the city’s historic heart and a solid choice if you’re a first-time visitor to Florence. Get an overview of the Tuscan capital’s Renaissance history on a central Florence walking tour, or raise your heart rate on a guided climb to the top of the Florence Duomo.

Santa Maria Novella is an action-packed neighborhood surrounding Florence’s central train station, so head there if you have limited time in town but want to be close to the city’s headlining attractions. If you’re into Renaissance artwork, see masterpieces by Michelangelo, Botticelli, and Giotto inside the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella. Follow your nose to the nearby Pharmacy of Santa Maria Novella, a colorfully frescoed, 13th-century perfumery that’s still slinging some of the best souvenirs in Florence. When golden hour rolls around, grab a seat at an outdoor restaurant in Piazza di Santa Maria Novella, which has excellent views of the basilica’s ornate marble facade.

East of the Duomo and just north of the Arno River, Santa Croce has a best-of-both-worlds location that’s close to both Florence’s Centro Storico and Oltrarno (the “other” side of the Arno) districts. Its main attraction is the massive Santa Croce Basilica, which houses the tombs of Michelangelo and Galileo, plus some of the most important Renaissance art and architecture in Italy. It’s well worth touring Santa Croce with a guide to see its standout chapels, tombs, and sculptures from an expert’s perspective.

Insider tip: A year-round people-watching spot, Piazza Santa Croce hosts some of Florence’s most-anticipated annual events, including a German-style Christmas market and Calcio Storico, a historic Florentine sports tournament with parades and festivities.

You shouldn’t spend your whole vacation in Florence on the north side of the Arno River—just cross Ponte Santa Trinita into Santo Spirito to see why. Good enough for the Medicis, Santo Spirito is where Florence’s former ruling family lived. See their royal apartments inside the Pitti Palace, along with centuries of artwork in the Palatine Gallery. Fountains and grottoes at the Boboli Gardens, one of Florence’s prettiest parks, are out back.

Aside from sightseeing, Santo Spirito is best for wandering. Browse artisan workshops making everything from jewelry to marbled paper, or sample Florentine steak and gelato on an Oltrarno food tour. Grab a nightcap in Piazza Santo Spirito, where locals and visitors hang out late into the evening.

Just inside the old city walls, which open up to rolling Tuscan hills beyond, San Niccolò is the closest you can get to the countryside without leaving central Florence. It’s best known as the gateway to Piazzale Michelangelo, a sweeping terrace with photo-worthy views over the city’s domes and rooftops. Visit the hilltop viewpoint on a golf cart tour if you’d rather not brave the stairs, and don’t miss other Florence green spaces in San Niccolò, including the statue-lined Bardini Garden.

Insider tip: Piazzale Michelangelo is extremely crowded at sunset. To enjoy the views without elbowing your way through a tangle of visitors, go in the early morning.

While it doesn't get as much buzz as San Giovanni or Santo Spirito, San Marco is easily one of the best Florence districts to visit for art lovers. The Accademia Gallery, which showcases Michelangelo’s David among other standout sculptures, is the neighborhood’s obvious first stop. Don’t overlook the nearby San Marco Museum, set within a 15th-century convent magnificently frescoed by former resident Fra Angelico. Another neighborhood gem is the Ospedale degli Innocenti, thought to be the world’s oldest orphanage and home to a top-of-the-line Renaissance art collection.

Insider tip: Piazza di San Marco is a convenient transit hub; several bus lines stop in the square, and you can ride the T2 tram straight to the airport.

If you’re looking for local Florence neighborhoods, Sant’Ambrogio is your best bet. Though the Sant’Ambrogio Market draws a fair share of tourists, you’ll always find Florentines hanging out in the neighborhood’s eponymous piazza, tiny bakeries, and stalls serving lampredotto (a local cow-stomach specialty). Eating true Florentine cuisine is one of the best things to do in Sant’Ambrogio, where you can taste your way through the neighborhood on a street-food tour or shop from its trusted vendors during a market-to-table cooking class.

Insider tip: Don’t miss the Great Synagogue of Florence while exploring Sant’Ambrogio—look for its green dome peeking out over the neighborhood, then head inside to see Moorish decorations and a Jewish history museum.

The San Lorenzo district is named after its Basilica of San Lorenzo, one of the oldest churches in Florence and packed with Medici history. The Medici Chapels, the opulent burial site of the Medici family with sculptures by Michelangelo, are the church complex’s must-see attraction. Reserve tickets in advance to explore on your own, or learn about Florence’s once-most powerful dynasty on a Medici walking tour. Behind the basilica, grab panini, fresh pasta, and ingredients to take home inside the Florence Central Market. The surrounding shops and stalls sell leather goods in every shade, and insider-led leather tours help you find the quality stuff.

Insider tip: Head to the Central Market before 2pm, when many of the ground-floor vendors close.

Often touted as Florence’s coolest neighborhood, San Frediano has plenty of hip restaurants and cocktail bars that live up to its trendy reputation. Historically, though, it’s a workaday quarter where several of the city’s silk makers, woodworkers, and other artisans continue to produce their crafts today. The sidewalks along Borgo San Frediano fill up with bar-hoppers at night, but by day you can get lost while wandering the neighborhood’s quiet, shop-lined streets and squares. Another perk of exploring the non-touristy quarter is that you’ll usually get the Brancacci Chapel, known for masterful 15th-century frescoes that Michelangelo later studied, to yourself.

If you’re willing to break a sweat (or take a quick taxi ride), there’s a ton to see in the hills of southern Florence. Follow in Galileo’s footsteps in the panoramic district of Arcetri, where the scientist lived his final days in a villa on Via del Pian dei Giullari. As for how to visit this Florence neighborhood, take a Vespa tour in the Tuscan hills.

Many tours make a stop at the Basilica of San Miniato al Monte before zipping uphill to Arcetri, where winding roads overlook olive groves, family villas, and Florence in the distance. E-bike tours follow a similar itinerary, allowing you to get incredible views of the city’s monuments, minus the foot traffic.