In this “Travel SMART” series of articles we discuss real-world travel plans for exploring popular locations in a cost-effective manner. SMART evaluates the Staying options, Mobility, Attractions, ROI (Return-On-Investment) and Transport options for planning the trip. This article focuses on travel plan based from Florence, Italy.
Transport options – Train travel in Italy is smooth, and Florence is easily reached from other major cities under 3 hours on fast train from Rome, Milan or Venice via the Firenze Santa Maria Novella Station . There are also flights to Florence Airport (FLR) from major European cities like Milan, Barcelona or Paris but keep in mind, due to its relatively smaller size there will be connecting flights when you are flying in from USA or Canada. Major highways connect Florence to many Italian cities like Bologna (1.5h), Assisi (2h), Venice (3h), Milan (3h) and Rome (3.5h).
Staying options – On our first trip we opted for an Airbnb near the Galileo Museum, a short walk from Santa Maria Novella Train Station, perfect for feeling like a temporary local. The Hilton Garden Inn Florence Novoli is another affordable option not too far from the Da Vinci science museum.
Mobility – Florence is built for strolling, but taxis and buses are there if needed and not as expensive as Rome or Milan. Villas in the Tuscan countryside offer another kind of magic if you opt to rent a car from the Train Station or the airport. All the major attractions in Florence, from the Galleria del Academia to the historic Florence city center to Palazzo Pitti and Boboli garden across the Arno river are easily walkable.
Attractions – Florence is the birthplace of the Renaissance and boasts world’s biggest collection of UNESCO Heritage Architecture within a city center. Following are some of the key attractions in Florence, most of which can be explored in 3-4 days. The attractions are listed in a particular order with map link to easily explore them on foot.
- Galleria dell’ Academia di Firenze – This museum hosts world’s most renowned sculpture, Michelangelo’s David.
- Basilica of Santa Croce – The principal Franciscan church of Florence, Italy and a historic landmark.
- Florence Cathedral – The Florence Duomo (3rd largest in the world), the nearby Giotto’s Bell tower and Museum are some of Florence’s most iconic landmarks.
- Piazza della Signoria – This plaza sits next to historic buildings from Renaissance times including Palazzo Vecchio, Uffizi Gallery and a famous statue collection.
- Palazzo Vecchio – Palazzo Vecchio is a historic museum with many priceless artworks and artifacts spread across its many rooms.
- Uffizi Gallery – This art gallery hosts many famous paintings including Da Vinci’s early work.
- Ponte Vecchio – This historic bridge connects Florence over the Arno river.
- Palazzo Pitti & Boboli Garden – This large palace was the Medici stronghold from the 16th century.
ROI (Return On Investment) – Some important factors when evaluating Florence are the ease of mobility options and large collection of historic artifacts in a relatively small area. We found the following steps in our travel plan for using Florence as a base in Tuscany yielded a high ROI!
- Rent a car from the Florence train station if planning to take road trips outside the city, especially in nearby Tuscan villages and cities. Google Map and walkable routes are sufficient for exploring most attractions.
- Use a credit card online or in Florence for your purchases that avoids international fees.
- When exploring central Florence, avoid designer shops which typically have high marked up price and only few local products. Most Florence city attractions are relatively safe to explore and tourist friendly.
- Save on meals by choosing a hotel with free breakfast options. For example, Hilton Hotel chains have free breakfast for Hilton Honors members (free program with a downloadable app). The Hilton Garden Inn, listed among staying options, is within walking distance of public transportation.
- Save on Overall transport cost by using a combination of public transport coming to and moving around Florence and using a rental car for trips outside the city when having 2 or more people ton a trip. Having a rental car will allow visit to other famous cities of Tuscany like Pisa, Luca and Sienna as well as other nearby regional cities like Bologna, Assisi and Livorno, all under 2 hours of drive.
Enjoy the video podcast below to learn about historic Florence, Italy!