Let’s face it, traveling can get expensive. Every meal is “out” along with lots of museums to see and hotels every night, but you don’t have to be a Medici to visit Florence. A great way to balance the budget is to integrate some free activities into your schedule. Check out our list of fun and absolutely free things to do in Florence.
Pro Tip: Planning what to do on your trip to Florence? Bookmark this post in your browser so you can easily find it when you’re in the city. Check out our guide to Florence for more planning resources, our best Florence tours for a memorable trip, and how to see Florence in a day (with itinerary).
The Top 6 Free Things To Do in Florence
Traveling can quickly become expensive, but there are plenty of ways to enjoy Florence without spending a cent. Here are six free things you can do in Florence including Medici-built gardens, places with exceptional views of the city, and window shopping on historic Ponte Vecchio. Looking for even more things to do in Florence? Explore the toggle menu below.
Parco delle Cascine is easily the largest public park near Florence and most commonly used by locals. A free public space and quite large, it’s perfect for a morning run or a beautiful day in nature. The park is particularly beautiful in the fall.
The Rose Garden in Florence was created as part of a late19th-century commission to develop the left bank of the Arno river, also referred to as oltrarno. It was designed by an architect named Giuseppe Poggi in 1865 and is home to over 400 species of roses.
It’s free to enter and features a wonderful view of Florence. You could easily walk through it on your way to or from Piazzale Michelangelo, a must-see viewpoint in Florence.
Ponte Vecchio is an excellent example of a medieval bridge in Florence. It is built from stone and supported by archways. What makes it unique today is the shops built on the sides of the bridge and the famous Vasari Corridor that can be seen above them.
The Vasari Corridor is an incredible structure. The Medici, who practically ruled the Republic of Florence, built a hallway to connect their home, Palazzo Pitti, with the town hall, Palazzo Vecchio.
The bridge is mostly occupied by jewelers today and is full of tourists wanting to purchase something from “on top of Ponte Vecchio in Florence,” which I admit is pretty cool to say.
The jewelers are not there by accident either. This bridge used to be inhabited by farmers of all sorts but the Medici spread the idea that these types of shops made the bridge and city look fit for peasants. The farmers were forced out and they were officially excluded by decree in 1595.
While it obviously costs money to buy a keepsake from the jewelers, there’s nothing stopping you from doing a bit of window shopping on this historic bridge.
Michelangelo is considered the greatest Renaissance artist and the David statue is widely known as his masterpiece. Join our English-speaking guide as you skip the line at the Accademia Gallery to see David. Then venture out to see the center of Florence including the Duomo (outside), Baptistry Doors, leather market, and Ponte Vecchio. Admissions included.
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Skip the Line Uffizi Gallery Tour
The Uffizi Gallery is the most-visited museum in Florence for good reason. Join our licensed, English-speaking Uffizi guide for a journey through the Medician Renaissance. Learn all the stories behind the very art that brought our world out of the darkness as you look upon pieces like the Birth of Venus. All admissions included.
This is one of those sites that most people overlook when they visit Florence. It’s perched up on one of the highest points of the city, so the views are amazing. If you’re going to visit Piazzale Michelangelo for an awesome view, I highly recommend you go up a bit higher and see this amazing abbey.
The legend about San Miniato is also pretty cool. Minas (later San Miniato) was an Armenian prince who was serving under Emperor Decius (Emperor 249-251). Once the emperor heard he was a Christian, he had him executed by beheading after which Minas supposedly picked up his head and walked to his hermitage—where the present-day church is.
If you happen to be in Florence from April 25th to May 20th, this is a must. The crest of Florence is known as the Giglio, which is inspired by the Iris, an abundant flower in Florence.
This garden is magical and an extremely local thing to do in Florence. The Iris are beautiful flowers and are grown throughout an olive grove. There is a beautiful view of Florence and wonderful aromas. Plus, you won’t find many tourists here!
Most “nice” things in Florence had a Medici hand in them and the Parco di Pratolino is no exception. This large park was first built as a villa outside of Florence by the Medici and they built up the surrounding grounds with all types of marvels.
The centerpiece is a giant statue of a river god protecting the park. The statue looks like something you would see in “Lord of the Rings”. It’s massive and unique.
The park is a great free place to visit with kids and even has an adventure park with zip lines. The adventure park, however, is not free to get into, but it’s fun for older kids or groups. Although not specifically Italian, it would definitely be a cool memory.
Sean is a co-founder and owner of The Tour Guy and its subsidiary The Roman Guy. He studied finance and statistics, but that is his "Dr. Jekyll" side! His "Mr. Hyde" is in love with travel, art, history, and culture. Sean has read libraries of historical text and believes that all internet content should come from books. A practice he follows!
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