Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence

Florence Travel Guide

Featured holidays
Best time to visit
Getting around
Highlights
FAQs

Florence travel guide: your questions answered

Steeped in architectural excellence, Renaissance masterpieces, and centuries of trade, Florence is truly a city of culture.

Known far and wide as the Cradle of the Renaissance, Florence is the ultimate destination for those seeking grand architecture, art galleries that will take days to explore, and vibrant history on every street corner. For those in pursuit of beauty, the Tuscan capital has plenty of it. Florence is home to stunning attractions like the Ponte Vecchio and the Boboli Gardens, which will make you feel as if you have taken up residence in a postcard.

Florence is also famous for its culinary scene, swelling with local streets and internationally renowned Michelin-star restaurants. As the capital of Tuscany, Florence is the ideal base from which to explore the historic wine-producing region of Chianti, the striking Apuan Alps in the north, and the paradise beaches of Elba Island, which is but a scenic boat ride away.

We've been sending travellers to Florence for a long time, and we've learned a thing or two about what makes the experience magical, and what can make it stressful if you're going it alone. With this in mind, we have put together an expert travel guide to Florence, including all the best places to explore during your Tuscan adventure.

Is Florence right for you?

Different people travel in different ways, and there's no one right approach. But if you're considering Florence and wondering what an escorted tour might offer, this will help you understand whether it's the right fit for you.

You'll love Florence if:

Newmarket Holidays tour guide

You’re keen to explore Renaissance art and culture, with a knowledgeable guide by your side to bring it to life

Florence cityscape through a window, showing the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore

You like a clear daily plan with someone else handling the details, and the full cost upfront with no surprises

Newmarket Holiday customers

You're drawn to small group travel and the chance to meet like-minded people along the way

Newmarket Holiday customers

You're travelling solo and welcome the reassurance of good company throughout

Best time to visit Florence

When you travel changes more than you might expect. It's not just the weather; it can shape the whole experience, from how busy the sights are to what's on while you're there.

Palazzo Vecchio, Florence
Palazzo Vecchio, Florence

April to May (our recommendation)

Typically mild weather, manageable crowds, and everything open. It's when most of our travellers choose to go, and it's easy to see why.

Boboli Gardens, Florence, showing a pond and a fountain
Boboli Gardens, Florence

June to August

Florence in summer has real energy, long days, a buzzing atmosphere, and plenty of company from other visitors. It is warm, so this season suits travellers who enjoy the heat and the lively pace. If you'd prefer things a little quieter, spring and autumn are gentler alternatives. Either way, our escorted tours take care of the logistics; your tour manager handles the pace and the planning, so you're free to enjoy the city.

Ponte Vecchio, Florence
Ponte Vecchio, Florence

September to October

Beautiful light, fewer crowds than summer, and comfortable temperatures. If photography or a more authentic atmosphere matters to you, this season delivers. It’s slightly busier than spring, but still genuinely special.

A woman cycling along a pathway on a mountain in Florence, with a view of the city in the background
View of Florence

November to February (the quiet season)

Winter in Florence is quieter and often rainy, and it's where the real Florence lives. Travellers who've experienced it often tell us it feels the most authentic. Once the summer crowds have gone, you're seeing the city as locals do.

Is Florence safe?

Florence is one of Italy's most welcoming cities, and that holds whether you're travelling solo or with company. Serious crime is rare, and petty theft is no more common than in any major city, easily avoided with the usual care. Solo travellers on our tours consistently tell us they felt comfortable and welcome throughout their stay.

Is Florence safe for female solo travelers?

Solo female travellers do exceptionally well in Florence. Italians are respectful and welcoming. You can navigate the city, dine alone, explore neighbourhoods, and feel entirely at ease doing it.
What many solo travellers tell us they value most about an escorted tour isn't safety itself, but companionship. You're part of a small group of like-minded travellers. Most are 50+ and genuine friendships form. You'll never feel isolated, but you'll also have freedom and independence when you want it.

For everyone

Our guides handle the logistics completely. You're not navigating unfamiliar streets, working out transport, or managing details alone. You follow your guide, explore, and can rest assured that someone experienced has thought through everything.

Is Florence expensive?

This is a question we hear often, and the honest answer depends on how you travel.

On a Newmarket Holidays escorted tour

You'll know exactly what you're paying, and everything's included. Flights, accommodation, guide, some meals, some sightseeing - it's all there. You won't be wondering at every restaurant whether you're being overcharged, or calculating whether you can afford that museum entry. 

If you're wondering about costs beyond the tour

Florence is moderate. You can eat well without breaking the bank. But the stress of managing it yourself, finding restaurants, checking prices and navigating transport, can sometimes cost more than the money you save. Our travellers often tell us the all-inclusive nature of an escorted tour actually saves money when you factor in all the things that go unseen.

Getting to Florence and getting around

Getting around Florence itself is straightforward. Most major sights are within a 20-30 minute walk of each other. Florence rewards walking, it's how you actually feel the city. Our guides lead the way, so you're never figuring out directions or wondering if you're going the right way.

Does Florence have an airport?

Florence has its own airport (Peretola), or you can fly into Pisa (just an hour away by train). On a Newmarket Holidays tour, we handle all of this, meaning you don't have to navigate it. You arrive, and your transport is waiting.

What you'll experience in Florence

Our tours focus on the works and places that actually matter, led by guides who understand not just what you're seeing, but why it's significant. The difference between rushing through highlights alone and experiencing them with a knowledgeable guide is the difference between seeing and understanding. You'll encounter:

The pace

Days are structured but never rushed. You'll walk, explore, share meals with your group, and have genuine time to absorb what you've experienced.

Florence itself is walkable, with most major sights within 20-30 minutes of each other on foot. Our guides lead the way and manage the rhythm. If you have concerns about walking distances, stairs, or physical demands, let us know. 

Our escorted tours have options; with some of our destinations and itineraries specifically designed with careful pacing in mind, rest stops built in and flexibility around who joins which activities. With Newmarket Holidays, accessibility isn't an afterthought - it's something we plan for from the start.

Things worth knowing

Tap water is safe everywhere. English is spoken in tourist areas and hotels. But the real comfort of a Newmarket tour is this: you don't have to think about any of it, as your expert tour guide does all of this for you.

Florence for over 50s

With plenty of architectural splendour, artistic excellence and centuries upon centuries of rich history, Florence is an ideal place for over 50s travellers - or those looking to enrich their travel experience with more than just the usual delights like food, wine, and sun. Older travellers love the slower pace of the city, compared to the faster-paced cities of Rome and Milan. Yet Florence has so much life to it - so travellers will never find themselves short of sights and activities during their stay. That said, we welcome all ages, and younger travellers find their people too.

Florence escorted tours with Newmarket Holidays

We're not going to tell you that escorted travel is for everyone. But we will tell you what it genuinely offers.

What's included

  • Flights from the UK
  • Accommodation in carefully chosen locations
  • Some meals (breakfast, several dinners, some lunches)
  • Local guides with genuine expertise in Florentine art, history, and culture
  • Access to major sights and galleries
  • Transport and logistics fully coordinated
  • Small groups (typically 15-25 people)
  • ABTA/ATOL protection

Who travels this way

Our typical Florence traveller is often 50+, but we welcome all ages. They value expertise. They appreciate not having to make all the decisions. They want to experience a place deeply rather than tick boxes quickly. Many are solo. Many are celebrating something (retirement, an anniversary). Many are friend groups who want the ease of organised travel without the isolation of going it alone.

Ready to explore Florence?

If this speaks to you—if you're drawn to Florence but the prospect of navigating it alone feels overwhelming—our escorted tours are designed for people like you.

We can't promise Florence will be easy. But we can promise it will be meaningful, comfortable, and genuinely memorable.

FAQs

Read our blog

A scenic view of Portofino, Italy, with colourful buildings lining the harbour, boats floating in the clear blue water, and green hills rising in the background under a bright, sunny sky
Staff Stories

Inside our itineraries: Exploring Northern Italy with Ella and Emilia

Join our holiday planner, Emilia, and sales support executive, Ella, as they delve into their experiences on one of our award-winning Italian tours

Panoramic view of Florence, Italy, with the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore rising amongst the terracotta rooftops
Inspiration

Inside our itineraries Q&A series: Live la dolce vita with our Italy experts

Make the most of your next Mediterranean escape with insider knowledge courtesy of our Italian tour managers, Elisabetta and Anna.

The best things to do in Italy for senior travellers
Inspiration

The best things to do in Italy for senior travellers

Italy for senior travellers: Discover Italy's rich history and culture on an escorted tour with Newmarket Holidays. Visit our site.

You'll love our holidays

Trustpilot