Is Florence Worth the Cost? What I Spent and How I Saved

8 min read

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Florence may not be the cheapest place to visit, but if you do it right, you can save money and fall in love with the city, just like I did. Keep in mind that Italy in general is a tough place to save money on travel, but if you’re careful, you can make your trip much more affordable.

First things first, try to avoid peak tourist season, specifically June-August.

While more expensive than other European cities, you can hack the system by booking a few months in advance, and using my city budget advice. For context, I spent about $50-100/day including accommodation.

Traveler Liz pictured in front of the Duomo.

Florence, Italy is a bit more expensive that most smaller towns in Italy, but costs are similar to Venice and Rome in terms of food prices. Accommodation can be a bit more expensive, so make sure you book ahead for the best rates.

If Florence is on your list, then keep reading to learn how to make it more affordable and decide for yourself if it’s worth the cost.

Where to stay?

View from the rooftop at the Plus Florence Hotel/Hostel

I stayed at Plus Florence, and while it was ideal for all types of travelers, solo or groups, it was affordable, offered really cool amenities, and was centrally located with easy to access from the train station.

It had awesome amenities, like a rooftop with stunning views, a pool with a waterfall, and an outdoor bar. Heads up: the rooftop and food areas close early!

Plus Florence has hostel-style or private rooms (I was in an 8-bed dorm). I’d recommend a private room if you want more quiet, but it’s a fun, social spot that won’t drain your travel fund.

If you’re after something a bit more private but still reasonably priced, check out HomEdo BnB. It’s a cozy, modern guesthouse with stylish rooms and thoughtful touches.

Think soft lighting, comfy beds, and steps from the center of town. It has a much more relaxed, homey vibe than a hostel, so it’s perfect if you want a quiet base without splurging on a luxury hotel.

Do I need a car?

Florence is definitely walkable, but a car could be helpful to avoid all those aggressive hills, and venture beyond the city easier.

If you’re looking to find a good deal, I suggest renting from DiscoverCars, since they offer great bargains, especially if you intend to use it for longer than a few days.

What should I see?

Florence isn’t that big, but there is a ton of stuff to do. Now make sure you book in advance, especially during busy season, because if you want to see the famous Michelangelo, you’re going to need to.

If you want to make your time and money stretch the most, you need to get a Firenze city card, it will save you tons of attractions.

You might not be able to visit every place on a budget, but you can pick and choose from a list of what you want most.

If you want to start central, head over to Piazza di Santa Maria Novella. That’s the main square in Florence, and it’s impossible to miss it while you’re there.

There’s a little park in the center of this square and I used it as a frequent cut through while I was there.

Traveler Liz in the central plaza in Florence.

If you have the budget for a tour of the Uffizi, it is much better than just an entrance ticket, and not too much more expensive. Learning about the museum through a tour is a much better experience than just walking through yourself.

Even if you didn’t plan to do any tours, you still need to visit the Uffizi since it’s one of the best things to do in the city with a ton of history. It’s a bit more expensive than the average attraction, but you’ll make up for it by using my tips to save on other city adventures.

The Leonardo Da Vinci Museum was luckily an affordable spot to visit and extremely cool to see, so make sure to add that to your list. Academica

A view from the Campanile of Florence Italy that stretches far.

Go into the Duomo with the additional attractions. The Campanile has a view that struck me in all directions.

I’d highly recommend going up there to see what all the fuss is about. This picture is just a taste of the views you get to see, and the Duomo is a can’t miss activity.

One more great addition is Pitti Palace which is an art museum, and behind it you will find the Giardino di Boboli which will blow you away. Giardino di Boboli a gorgeous garden that is absolutely massive and incredible to see.

If you want the full Florence experience, you need to spend the day there, get yourself a little picnic or just spend your time wandering, it’s well worth the cost.

Free activities to enjoy

The sun setting over Piazzale Michelangelo in Florence.

You absolutely can’t miss the Piazzale Michelangelo while you’re in Florence. It offers a gorgeous view of the sunset.

While it requires some effort trekking up the hill, you can see the whole city. This is the highest place with a clear view of all of Florence, it doesn’t get better than that.

A tour of this area is incredible too, it’s super helpful! Here’s the tour that I would recommend.

Another free thing you should do is the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. Only the church is free though, climbing up the Duomo or the other parts of this building have additional costs.

I chose to climb the Campanile, rather than get the full pass which included the Duomo. There are some GREAT city views from there. These attractions are all very busy, so make sure you arrive as early as possible to avoid waiting in line all day.

I fell in love with many of the gardens while I was there, so insanely enjoyable, and even better when you grab some pizza and make a picnic. I have a bit of an obsession with gardens here, but if you’re looking for a free one, check out Giardino dell’Orticoltura.

I would also always suggest a free walking tour if you want to explore the city, just make sure you tip!

My favorite part of Italy: aperitif

One of my favorite ways to save money while traveling was to get an Aperitivo. Aperitivo is a pre-drink meal, but it often comes with little bites included in the cost of the drink.

You find much better options for this outside of the city, but even in the city there are some great options. Make sure you are visiting early, usually around 5 or 6 for these deals, because they don’t typically apply later in the day.

A wooden tray with 3 different types of bite-size food alongside my drink at a bar in Florence, Italy.

While I was in the city, I visited Soul Kitchen, and their aperitif included 3 tester appetizers along with your aperitivo drink for a cost that I would normally pay just for a drink.

There is limited outside seating available and it’s really cute, the place is pretty small, but during this special it wasn’t too busy.

I also headed over to Marina di Pisa, which was a short bus journey away and I had the cheapest aperitif I could expect right across the street from the ocean.

They replenished my snacks anytime they were low and it was the cheapest cocktail I’ve ever paid for I think. If you’re over there visiting the ocean, you need to visit L’Albero Maestro.

Little finger sandwiches, chips, and peanuts next to my Aperitivo drink at a bar in Italy.

Let’s talk full sized meals

It’s Italy, so you’re going to need to distinguish between the good Italian places and the tourist traps. And the good places, those ones are usually booked, so plan ahead.

First off, there is Trattoria Za Za which was by far the best place that I ate at during my entire stay in Italy, not just Florence.

Pictured is my appetizer (truffle prosciutto, artichoke, and burrata cheese). I also got a pizza that blew me away.

Make sure you book in advance because this line goes on forever, I was lucky to get in (only because I was a party of one).

Proscuitto cheese truffle plate at a Trattoria Za Za in Florence.

A huge sandwich from the famous shop with meat and cheese in Florence

If you want to eat the best sandwich in your life, it will be located at All’Antico Vinaio. These sandwiches are massive and great value for your money.

You can customize them or choose from the list. The line might be long, so expect to wait a little bit, but it’s well worth it.

The chocolate croissant from Caffè il Sole was absolute heaven. And of course the cappuccino was to die for as always.

This was a nice quiet shop, away from the main area but still central, so it was perfect for a quiet morning.