Travel tips · Florence · Italy
Florence travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Giorgio Galeotti, CC BY 4.0
Quick answer
Florentines are proud of their city's part in the Renaissance and of its food, and they keep to Italian daily rhythms: a quick coffee standing at the bar, a long lunch, an evening walk and a late dinner. Churches are working places of worship, and dress codes at the Duomo and the other basilicas are enforced at the door.
Key facts
- Language
- Italian
- Currency
- EUR
- Plugs
- Type C, F and L sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink, and public fontanelli fountains dispense free…
- Emergency
- 112 (European emergency number)
Things to know
- Greet shopkeepers with 'Buongiorno', or 'Buonasera' from mid-afternoon, when you walk in, and say 'Grazie, arrivederci' as you leave.
- Cover shoulders and knees for the Duomo, Santa Croce and other churches; staff turn away visitors in vests or short shorts.
- Avoid eating on church steps and monuments; local rules restrict it in parts of the historic centre.
- Do not handle produce at market stalls; let the vendor choose and bag it for you.
- Validate or tap your ticket as soon as you board a bus or tram; inspectors issue on-the-spot fines.
- Book Florence Cathedral (Duomo) ahead: Dome climbs need a timed reservation that sells out days ahead in spring and summer; book on the official Duomo site.
- Book Uffizi Gallery ahead: Timed tickets are strongly advised from spring to autumn; buy them on the official Uffizi site rather than from resellers.
- Book Galleria dell'Accademia ahead: Timed tickets avoid queues that stretch along Via Ricasoli for an hour or more in high season.
- Italian state museums, including the Uffizi and the Accademia, usually take part in free-entry days such as the first Sunday of the month; expect very long queues.
Tipping
Tipping is not expected in Italy. The coperto covers bread and table service; locals leave a few coins or round up for good service, and about 5–10% is generous in a fine restaurant.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Buongiorno | Good morning / hello |
| Buonasera | Good evening |
| Grazie mille | Thank you very much |
| Il conto, per favore | The bill, please |
| Un caffè, per favore | An espresso, please |
| Permesso | Excuse me (to get past) |
| Quanto costa? | How much is it? |
What to wear
Florentines dress neatly even for errands; pack something to cover shoulders and knees for churches and supportive shoes for the stone paving.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type C, F and L sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Drinking water
- Tap water is safe to drink, and public fontanelli fountains dispense free chilled still and sparkling water.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Phone and internet
- EU roaming applies to European SIMs; other visitors can buy a local SIM or use an eSIM, and many cafés offer free Wi-Fi.
- Time zone
- Europe/Rome
Florence is generally safe for visitors, but pickpockets work the buses, the station, the Duomo square and the Ponte Vecchio. Watch for petition and friendship-bracelet tricks around the major sights, and in summer take the heat seriously: carry water and avoid long walks at midday.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check Italy's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Florence?
Tipping is not expected in Italy. The coperto covers bread and table service; locals leave a few coins or round up for good service, and about 5–10% is generous in a fine restaurant.
+Can you drink the tap water in Florence?
Tap water is safe to drink, and public fontanelli fountains dispense free chilled still and sparkling water.
+What plugs are used in Florence?
Type C, F and L sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
+What language is spoken in Florence?
Italian.