15 Best Views in Florence
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Piazzale Michelangelo
This famous square, found on a hilltop on the southern bank of the Arno River, offers a spectacular view over the entire city of Florence with all its iconic landmarks. If you head to one viewpoint in Florence, it has to be this one. The only downside is that Piazzale Michelangelo is one of the most popular landmarks in the city and so it attracts a huge crowd, especially during sunset. This will be an experience you will share with many others, there is no way around it. However, it is quite a large open area, and you should be able to find quieter spots to admire the city.
Piazzale Michelangelo can be reached in a number of ways and it takes about 10min to walk up from the river bank. Unlike most other viewpoints on this side of the river which are found inside attractions with opening hours, Piazzale Michelangelo is a public square that is open 24/7, which means you can visit at any time of day, including sunset or sunrise all year round.
Watching the sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo is the ultimate Florence trip cliché, but for good reason. Seeing the entire skyline of Florence with all its iconic landmarks, from Ponte Vecchio to Duomo and Palazzo Vechio, against the golden sunset is a sight to behold, and an opportunity to take some really beautiful photos. Stay for a bit longer and past blue hour to see the city by night as well - all the main attractions are nicely illuminated. If you plan to spend some time at the viewpoint, it would be best to bring your own snacks and drinks, rather than relying on overpriced fare from the many street vendors patrolling this prime location.
coordinates: 43.76319, 11.26414
San Miniato Al Monte
San Miniato al Monte is a beautiful basilica perched high on the hilltop next to Piazzale Michelangelo, at the highest point in Florence. It’s one of the nicest churches in the city, and definitely worth visiting (free admission too). The terrace right in front of the basilica offers one of the best views across the city. It’s a similar view to that from Piazzale Michelangelo, but from a slightly different vantage point. I would say that the view is not quite as good, but because Piazzale Michelangelo is such a huge tourist magnet, this viewpoint is much less crowded and could make for a more pleasant sunset experience.
coordinates: 43.75969, 11.26472
Rose Garden
The Rose Garden lies a little below Piazza Michelangelo and is a bit of a hidden gem. You might end up there as you make your way towards the square. It’s a small lovely garden, with many varieties of roses. Unlike some of the other gardens nearby, this one is free to visit. You can also see the Duomo from there, though the view from the square above is much more impressive. The gardens close at 20:00, so if you are visiting during summer, you might not be able to stay for sunset.
coordinates: 43.76288, 11.26283
Piazza del Duomo
This is probably the first thing you will visit on your trip to Florence. Piazza del Duomo, the beating heart of Florence, is a bustling square dominated by three iconic structures - the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (or simply Duomo), the Baptistery of Saint John, and Giotto’s Campanile. As you walk into the square, you are overwhelmed by the sheer scale and opulence of this architectural masterpiece. Spend the night around this area and head to the square first thing in the morning to experience the square without any crowds - something that will change drastically as the day progresses.
coordinates: 43.77314, 11.25540
The Brunelleschi Dome
This huge red dome, a symbol of Florence, was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi and completed in the 15th century. It stands as a testament of Renaissance innovation and ingenuity, and remains the largest masonry dome in the world to this day. In order to climb to the top of the dome, you need to purchase the Brunelleschi Pass, which is the most expensive of the three passes available. This pass costs €30 and is valid for three consecutive days. It includes access to four other attractions as well, including the baptistery and the bell tower. A 45 minute time-slot must be booked for access to the dome.
There are 463 steps to climb to the top and the ascent itself is somewhat interesting. The route takes you around the interior of the dome where you can admire the Last Judgment fresco by Giorgio Vasari up-close. It’s probably worth paying the additional cost for the Brunelleschi Pass, even just to know that you have reached the very top of this architectural marvel. But if it’s a the view of Florence that you are after, I don’t think this is the best choice. It’s probably one of my least favourite viewpoints and the reason is simple: the Brunelleschi dome is the one defining element of the Florence skyline, and this is the one view that doesn’t include it. It’s basically the Italian equivalent of climbing the Eiffel Tower.
coordinates: 43.77317, 11.25695
Giotto’s Campanile
Many of the major cathedrals in Italy have a Campanile, which is a freestanding bell tower located right next to it, and Santa Maria del Fiore is no exception. Entrance to the bell tower is included in the Brunelleschi pass (€30) as well as the Giotto pass (€20). There are 414 steps to the top, where another beautiful view of Florence awaits. When we visited in summer 2021, there were separate tickets for all the attractions and we chose to only go up the Brunelleschi dome, but I imagine the view from the bell tower should be very similar, only you get to see more of the dome.
coordinates: 43.77283, 11.25569
Duomo North Terrace
Another viewpoint within Santa Maria del Fiore is the north terrace. This is a much more exclusive attraction and can only be visited as part of a guided tour, which is available on request. The north terraces may be included in more comprehensive guided tours of the cathedral complex. Because both the dome and the bell tower provide higher, more ample views, and are cheaper and more easily accessible, I don’t think this viewpoint is particularly worth exploring, but it is an option.
coordinates: 43.77331, 11.25622
La Terrazza Sul Duomo Firenze
The view from this accommodation is one of the very best in Florence, and one that you will only be sharing with a just a few other travellers. I really would recommend spending at least a night here during your stay in Florence, the view alone makes it worthwhile. Don’t miss the sunset from the terrace, and you might even be alone if you go at sunrise.
The hotel is located in one of the buildings on the edge of Piazza del Duomo, so the location could not be any better. Not only that, but its rooftop offers an unrivalled view of the majestic cathedral. And the price is not too high, especially for this location and this view (we paid around £100/night with breakfast in summer 2021, though rates would have gone up since then). Various types of rooms are available, though, personally, I would recommend just going for the cheapest one available, because the terrace is open for all guests at all times, and that is the best part. Check rates here.
coordinates: 43.77268, 11.25435
Palazzo Vechio
Palazzo Vecchio, the town hall of Florence, is one of the city’s best known landmarks. Not only can you visit its museum, but you can also climb up the 95m bell tower, Torre di Arnolfo - the entrance fee for tower is €10. Because this viewpoint lies perpendicular to the Florence cathedral, the view of the Duomo from there is particularly impressive.
coordinates: 43.76927, 11.25617
Uffizi Gallery
The Uffizi Gallery houses one of the most important art collections in the world and should be part of any Florence itinerary. As you wander around its corridors admiring the works of Italy’s greatest artists, take a peek through some of the windows, and you might catch a glimpse of the Arno river including Ponte Vecchio. There is also a rooftop cafe called Cafeteria Bartollini, facing Piazza della Signoria on the northern side of the museum. The view from there includes Palazzo Vecchio, which you can see just as well from the square below, and the Duomo. Expect coffee and soft drinks to cost 2-3 times more if you wish to sit down, but you might be able to just have a quick look while you wait for your takeaway.
coordinates: 43.76784, 11.25506
Boboli Gardens
Boboli Gardens is the perfect retreat for visitors seeking serenity in the heart of Florence. It’s a vast urban garden located on a hill behind Palazzo Pitti and spanning around 45 hectares. Despite the large size, the views of Florence from the park are not really the best, as they are often obstructed by the trees. However, these historic gardens is ideal for a relaxing walk away from the crowds.
A combined ticket pass is available for Uffizi Gallery + Palazzo Pitti + Boboli Gardens for €39. The entrance fees would add up to €54 if you purchase the tickets individually. If this is your first time in Florence, then it’s very likely that you would be going to Ufizzi at some point. If you wish to visit either one of the other two attractions, then you should just get the pass and you’ll be able to visit both.
coordinates: 43.76444, 11.25227
Forte di Belvedere
Forte di Belvedere is located right next to Boboli Gardens, and, as the name suggests, the view from up there should be pretty good. For just €3, you can visit its museum and also admire a great panorama of the city. Because the fort lies in a more elevated position, the view of Florence is better than that from anywhere inside Boboli Gardens. Despite this, Forte di Belvedere is a bit of a hidden gem, and sees much less visitors than the gardens or other viewpoints nearby such as Piazzale Michelangelo. In fact, I didn’t even come across it before I returned from our trip to Florence… which is why I have no photos to share from this viewpoint.
coordinates: 43.76301, 11.25371
Bardini Gardens
Giardino Bardini is another beautiful garden on this side of the Arno river. It is smaller than Boboli, and some say nicer even. The view of the city is also better due to its better location. Note that if you already have a ticket to Boboli Gardens, then this also includes access to Bardini Gardens, which would otherwise be €6 for just the gardens (there is also a Villa Bardini that houses various exhibitions).
coordinates: 43.76325, 11.25788
Ponte Vecchio
Ponte Vecchio is an renowned architectural gem and one of the most iconic structures in the whole of Italy. It’s the oldest and certainly the most beautiful bridge in Florence. During its early years, it was destroyed and rebuilt a few times, but the present version has been in place since 1345. It is the only bridge in the city that survived the WWII bombings. You can admire the bridge from up-close as you walk towards it along the river banks, and there is even a little square in the middle of the bridge - though there is not much to see from there.
coordinates: 43.76805, 11.25309
Ponte Santa Trinita
Possibly the best view of Ponte Vecchio can be seen from the next closest bridge over the Arno river, which is Ponte Santa Trinita. Ponte alle Grazie is the other option, on the other side, however it is a little too far.
coordinates: 43.76901, 11.25038
All the viewpoints above can be found on my map of Tuscany (currently a work in progress).
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