Italy · spring (Mar-May)
Spring in Florence: Best Things to Do (Mar-May) — Trip Planner
Your Florence plan for a spring trip — when to go, how long you need, and what to prioritise. Blossom and garden walks, spring festivals, outdoor markets and shoulder-season crowds in Florence — the best bookable spring activities before summer prices hit.
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Spring experiences in Florence
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What's actually worth your time in Florence
Brunelleschi's cupola is a timed, sold-out-in-advance climb of 463 steps with no lift and no way down but the same stair; the Baptistery's ceiling mosaic beside it needs no climbing at all. Ponte Vecchio is a photograph, since its goldsmiths price for cruise traffic. Piazzale Michelangelo at dusk is worth the uphill walk. Palazzo Vecchio's Arnolfo tower gives the Duomo view the Duomo cannot.
What to eat in Florence
Bistecca alla fiorentina is a thick Chianina T-bone sold by weight, served rare, and ordered for two at Sostanza or Il Latini. Lampredotto, the fourth-stomach sandwich, comes from carts and from Nerbone inside Mercato Centrale. Schiacciata sandwiches are what the All'Antico Vinaio queue is for. The market's ground floor is produce; the upper floor is a late-opening food hall.
What things cost in Florence
The Uffizi is 25 euro full price and 16 on-site after four in the afternoon; the Accademia totals 20 with its booking fee. An espresso taken standing at the bar costs a little over a euro and roughly doubles at a table. A lampredotto panino is four to five euro. Bistecca is priced per kilo, and a proper one starts at about a kilo for two.
What first-timers get wrong in Florence
The centre is a ZTL and cameras issue fines that reach rental customers months later, so do not drive in. Restaurants add a per-person coperto. Book the Uffizi and Accademia weeks ahead from April to October, days ahead in winter; both close Monday, so save that day for Palazzo Vecchio or the Bargello. Sitting on the cathedral steps to eat now carries a municipal fine.
Florence's museums, and which one to pick
The Uffizi runs 25 euro standard, with a cheaper after-four ticket from 2026 at 16 on-site or 20 online, and closes Mondays; Botticelli's Primavera and Birth of Venus hang in one room. The Accademia is 16 plus a 4 euro booking fee and is essentially David plus unfinished Slaves. The Bargello holds Donatello. Domenica al Museo makes state sites free on the first Sunday monthly.
When to go to Florence
| Best months for spring | Avg daily high | Rain days |
|---|---|---|
| June | 28°C / 82°F | 8 days |
| September | 27°C / 81°F | 9 days |
| April | 19°C / 66°F | 11 days |
The month to avoid is December — around 12°C (54°F) with roughly 16 rain days. Prices and crowds track the weather here: June is the sweet spot, December the month most people skip.
Pack for peak season: Summer clothes, plus one light layer for air-con and evenings, High-SPF sunscreen, sunglasses, and a refillable water bottle, A packable rain shell or compact umbrella earns its space, Comfortable walking shoes — every guide on this site assumes you'll use them.
Where to base yourself in Florence
- Centro Storico — Duomo, Piazza Signoria, the Renaissance core.
- Oltrarno — Artisan workshops, Pitti Palace, less touristy.
- San Lorenzo — Central Market, leather goods, breakfast cafés.
- Santa Croce — Leather school, Santa Croce church, evening aperitivo.