Florence — Travelrags

Lonely PlanetJul 17, 2026

The ultimate road trip through Tuscany

Discover Tuscany on and off the tourist route on this 2-week road trip itinerary from Florence to the Maremma coast.

24 things in this story

Ponte VecchioSightExplore Florence's oldest market
Duomo di FirenzePlace of worshipFlorence's iconic, dome-topped cathedral
Galleria dell'AccademiaMuseumHome to Michelangelo's David
Galleria degli UffiziMuseumHome to Botticelli's Birth of Venus
Sant’AmbrogioPlace of worshipFlorence's oldest market
Basilica di Santo SpiritoPlace of worshipCrucifix attributed to Michelangelo inside
Piazzale MichelangeloSightWalk up for sunset views over the city
Abbazia di San Miniato al MonteSightSee the sun setting over the city
Strozzi BistroRestaurantGo large for steak
MattacenaRestaurantTry the steak
Trattoria 13 GobbiRestaurantSample the rigatoni
Caffè RivoireCaféEnjoy a negroni with chocolates and a view
Il VinileRestaurantGraze aperitivo bites
Antica Torre di Via Tornabuoni 1HotelUpmarket stay, namechecked by Dante
Palazzo Niccolini al DuomoHotelWaking up to a Duomo view
Antica Dimora JohleaHotelMidrange comfort
Hotel La ScalettaHotelRoam around Ponte Vecchio
Via ChiantigianaTrailPicturesque road connecting Florence with Siena
Elsewhere
Piazza MatteottiSightGreve in Chianti, ItalyTown square with quaint arcades
Museo del VinoMuseumGreve in Chianti, ItalyIntroduction to Tuscany's best-known wine
Officina RamuzziPlaceGreve in Chianti, ItalyRent an electric bike
Castello Di VerrazzanoAttractionGreve in Chianti, ItalyHistoric estate for wine tasting
Viticcio WinerySightGreve in Chianti, ItalyWinery just north of the village
Cantine Mirabilis (Enoteca Falorni )RestaurantGreve in Chianti, ItalyTry region's wine labels in an antique wine cellar

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Lonely PlanetJul 12

The ultimate weekend in Ravenna, Italy

Visit Ravenna once and you will find yourself returning again and again.

19 things in this story

Piazza del PopoloSightcentral square
Villa ForisHotelrecommended property with beautiful reception area
via CavourNeighborhoodstreet with cafes and shops
Palazzo GuiccioliSightLord Byron's notorious haunt, home of Teresa Gamba Guiccioli
Osteria del Tempo PersoRestauranttry Ravenna’s traditional capelletti pasta
Basilica San VitalePlace of worshipwatch the sun set over it
Casa Spadoni 44°12°Restaurantlocal specialties like piadina and squacquerone
Ravenna FestivalFestivallive music event, late May to July
Teatro AlighieriPlaceautumn-spring opera season in beautiful setting
Mausoleum of Galla PlacidiaMuseumdecorated in rich mosaics, built around 425 CE
San VitalePublic artworkheightens the wonder of mosaic creation
Sant’Apollinare NuovoPlace of worshipmosaic story of Justinian and Theodora
La MarchesiniRestaurantlocal favorite for stuffed piadini and eggplant flan
Dimensione MosaicoPlaceoffers mosaic courses using traditional methods
Ca’ de VenRestauranthistoric building with culinary delights
Cestha Marine Fauna Recovery CentrePlacerecovers injured turtles
MaPa BeachPlacebeach with sunbeds, kayak and paddleboard rentals
Zanzibar Spiaggia 56Placebeach venue that turns into a lively night spot
Mercato CopertoMarketredeveloped market with food suppliers and restaurants

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Condé Nast TravelerJul 10

I Followed Dua Lipa's Honeymoon Itinerary—Here's How to Plan It for Less

Megan Murray road-tested the singer and Callum Turner’s Italian route just weeks before they did. Here’s why it works.

16 things in this story

La Posta VecchiaHotelSeaside palazzo, once Roman hideaway of J. Paul Getty.
Porto ErcoleNeighborhoodTiny Tuscan port town, original Il Pellicano hotel.
Il PellicanoIce cream shopFamily-run collection of hotels, began in the 1960s.
L’HôtellerieHotelStay here in Palermo.
I Segreti del ChiostroRestaurantBakery hidden within an ancient monastery and flower garden.
Dal BaroneRestaurantFor local wines and street-perching.
Osteria del VespriRestaurantFor a more luxurious dinner.
Monastero Santa RosaHotel17th-century monastery with terraces toward the sea.
LadispoliNeighborhoodSmall, ancient town on the Roman coast.
Castello di OdescalchiSightMedieval castle in Ladispoli.
Borgo di CeriNeighborhoodPreserved 13th-century hilltop village.
La RoqqaHotelFive-star contemporary bolthole overlooking Porto Ercole.
Caravaggio wayTrailWalk that ends at Caravaggio's grave.
Hotel LocarnoHotelHotel Dua Lipa stayed at in Rome.
La MinervaHotelFirst hotel opened by the Orient Express group.
Palazzo TalìaHotelDesigned by Luca Guadagnino, color-blocked furniture.

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Condé Nast TravelerJun 19

I've Lived in Florence for Decades—These Are the Very Best Hotels in the Tuscan Capital

There's a new renaissance in Florence—and this time it's of incredible hotels.

31 things in this story

Collegio alla QuerceHotelFive-star hotel, Auberge Resorts Collection
Marriot WHotelSecond Social Hub
The JamesPlace of worshipBoutique beauty
Belmond Villa San MicheleHotelNestled among wooded hills
FiesoleNeighborhoodIt has structures dating to Etruscan and Roman times.
La RéserveHotelHotel in the Oltrarno
OltrarnoNeighborhoodUber-hip neighborhood with restaurants and boutiques
Borgo Pignano FlorenceHotelFive star hotel
Ponte VecchioSightThe only bridge in Florence spared from destruction during World War II, it is noted for the shops built along it;…
25Hours HotelHotelDesign-led hotel with hip, quirky vibe
Hotel Palazzo GuadagniHotelRenaissance-era palazzo on Piazza Santo Spirito
Social HubHotelCerchi un hotel elegante, un vivace alloggio per studenti o uno spazio per lavorare, incontrarsi, mangiare e bere?
Via TornabuoniNeighborhoodStreet with designer stores
Villa La MassaHotelFamily hotel with shuttle to Ponte Vecchio
Villa San MicheleHotelStay at Villa San Michele, one of the best luxury hotels in Florence.
Villa San Michele, A Belmond Hotel, FlorenceHotel15th century monastery-turned-villa
W FlorenceHotelEmphasis on dining and drinking
TrattoRestaurantRestaurant entrance mistaken for hotel's
Il SalviatinoHotel15th-century villa on slopes of Fiesole
The James Suite Hotel Firenze 1564HotelBlends contemporary elegance with classic charm
1564 Lounge BarRestaurantVelvet-clad bar with pink crystal chandelier
Hotel Savoy, A Rocco Forte HotelHotelOverlooks Piazza della Repubblica
The Hoxton, FlorenceHotelOccupies Renaissance palazzo and modernist structure
Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Resorts CollectionHotelSumptuous hotel on first hills above city
La GamellaRestaurantTop restaurant overlooking formal gardens
Palazzo Portinari SalviatiHotelGrand mansion with 14 guest rooms
Casa di DanteMuseumLearn about Dante Alighieri's life
Hotel La GemmaHotelSerene, design-minded oasis
Portrait FirenzeHotelBoutique hotel steps from Ponte Vecchio
Guerlain spaPlace
Centro StoricoNeighborhood

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Condé Nast TravelerJan 21

39 Best Airbnbs in Europe for Every Kind of Escape, From Aurora Chasing to Island Hopping

Plus, Austrian chalets, Irish castles, and more dreamy rentals.

25 things in this story

Uffizi GalleryMuseumWe've probably heard of this one, but start off basic for the latecomers—what's this place all about?
Boboli GardensParkIt is an important early Italian garden which influenced aristocratic gardens across Europe.
Santa Maria del Fiore CathedralSight
Elsewhere
Turner ContemporaryArts centreMargate, United KingdomThe title commemorates the association of the town with noted landscape painter J.
Wilton CastleHotelBree, Irelandcan host up to 14 guests
Thingvellir National ParkSightReykjavík, Iceland25-minute drive
Curve cafeCaféMargate, United Kingdom
Munch museumMuseumOslo, Norway
Nc'nean DistilleryPlaceDrimnin, United Kingdom
Clach Na Criche wishing stoneSightDrimnin, United Kingdom
Dreamland MargatePlaceMargate, United Kingdom
Park Wood hiking trailTrailBree, Ireland
Happy Trails farmPlaceBree, Ireland
H.C. Andersen HouseMuseumOdense, Denmark
Hvammsvik Hot SpringsSightReykjavík, Iceland
Oslo Opera HouseMuseumOslo, Norway
Astrup Fearnley MuseumMuseumOslo, Norway
Drottningholm PalaceSightStockholm, Sweden
Ekerö SkateparkSightStockholm, Sweden
Pafos ZooPlacePaphos, Cyprus
Tala Monastery Cat ParkPlacePaphos, Cyprus
Atlantis BooksPlaceOia, Greece
Osteria del TeatroRestaurantArezzo, Italy
BusattiPlaceArezzo, Italy
Lake Trasimento beachSightArezzo, Italy

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The New York TimesJan 21

In Europe, the Allure of Summer Travel Keeps Dimming

A big shift to spring, fall or even winter vacations in touristy, hot-weather cities like Barcelona, Florence and Athens shows no signs of slowing down.

Condé Nast TravelerDec 16, 2025

My Favorite Airbnb in Florence, Italy: A Lavish Loft With Medici-Worthy Waterfront Views

With massive windows quite literally overlooking the Ponte Vecchio, you can't get a more central—or stunning—stay in the heart of Florence.

7 things in this story

Luxury Blue RiverHotelthree-bedroom apartment overlooking the Ponte Vecchio
Ponte VecchioSightFlorence’s emblematic stone bridge built in 1345
Uffizi GalleryMuseum16th-century Medici property turned iconic art museum
Palazzo VecchioSightseven-minute walk from the Airbnb
Boboli GardensParkeleven minute walk from the Airbnb
DuomoPlace of worshipthirteen minute walk from the Airbnb
Il Prato 73Hotelthree-bedroom below the Florence Cathedral

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Atlas ObscuraDec 10, 2025

Cloister of the Dead in Firenze, Italy

The Cloister of the Dead at Santa Maria Novella in Florence is the oldest of the convent’s cloisters, dating back to the late thirteenth century when it was built for the Dominican friars. Its name comes from its long use as the community’s burial ground. For centuries, the walls were lined with tombstones, coats of arms, and inscriptions, turning the space into a lapidary cemetery that preserv…

2 things in this story

Santa Maria NovellaHotelconvent complex containing the cloister
Cloister of the DeadSightoldest cloister, dating to late thirteenth century

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Condé Nast TravelerNov 16, 2025

I Base My Travels Around Perfume—Here Are 7 Cities to Visit for an Olfactory Immersion

Let your nose wander through destinations with a rich perfume history.

23 things in this story

Musée International de la ParfumerieMuseumLearn about the history of perfumery.
FragonardPlaceFamous perfumery with a mini museum.
MolinardPlaceOffers a hands-on perfume-making workshop.
GalimardPlaceOne of three major perfumeries in Grasse.
International Rose FestivalFestivalOccurs in May during the rose harvest.
Jasmine FestivalFestivalOccurs in August during the jasmine harvest.
Santa Maria NovellaPlaceFounded in 1221, original outpost still open.
Villa Des ParfumsHotelStay in a 19th-century perfumer’s mansion.
Skylark BNBHotelOffers views and educational experience with proprietors.
Denis DurandSightIndependent perfumer with opulent aesthetic.
Café FleurRestaurantPart café, part concept shop with artisanal coffees.
Officina Profumo-FarmaceuticaSightDestination for perfume lovers, open since the 1600s.
Aqua FlorSightReviving Florence's perfume presence since 2009.
Dr. Vranjes FirenzeSightOne of a dozen Florentine perfumeries.
ProfumoirSightTaking scent-tourism to a new level.
Casa ProfumoirHotelRenovated home of master perfumer Sileno Cheloni.
Museo VilloresiMuseumEducates guests on raw materials used in perfumery.
Giardino delle RoseSightHouses nearly 400 species of roses.
Palazzo FirenzeHotelGlamorous 18th-century mansion turned five-star hotel.
Campomarzio70SightNiche perfume store with olfactory works of art.
Profumoir Perfume Tasting experiencePlaceTeaches nuances about perfumery and includes incense ceremony.
Osmorama roomSightVisitors can find and sniff over 1,000 notes and accords.
Antica Spezieria Erboristeria San SimonePlaceOffers an affordable perfume masterclass.

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Condé Nast TravelerNov 5, 2025

The Best Affordable Hotels in Florence, from Oltrarno to Santo Spirito

From townhouses filled with modern art to cozy boutiques in the city, these are the cheapest, nicest hotels in Firenze.

16 things in this story

The HoxtonHotelRooms overlook Brunelleschi's dome or have terraces
Hotel Number NineHotelDuplex suite has knock-out views of the Duomo
25Hours HotelHotelThemed rooms include Paradiso or Inferno
Hotel Palazzo GuadagniHotelStands on buzzing Piazza Santo Spirito
Stella d’ItaliaHotelThe Stella d'Italia, popularly known as Stellone d'Italia, is a five-pointed white star, which has symbolized Italy for…
Palazzo GuadagniHotelWith a location at the heart of the hip Oltrarno district, rooftop views, a dreamy loggia and latter-day…
Daisy'sRestaurantDBS Warehouse is poised to become one of the largest retailers of professional beauty supplies in Southern California.
Piazza Santo SpiritoNeighborhoodFocal point of life in authentic Florentine neighborhood
4F Boutique HotelHotel
Casa G FirenzeHotel
Ottantotto FirenzeHotel
NumeroventiHotel
ParadisoHotel
InfernoHotel
Casetta del GiardinoHotel
Renaissance-era Palazzo GuadagniHotel

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