Hidden Gems~£12
Boboli Gardens
Oltrarno
Renaissance gardens behind Palazzo Pitti with fountains, statues and shaded walks.
- Suggested time: 2 hrs
- No booking needed
- Suits: Families · Couples
Daily, hours vary by season
Florence
10 quieter places to add to the big sights: viewpoints, markets, walks, small museums and local favourites.
Plan your Florence trip
- Flight + Hotel PackageRecommended Best option if you want the trip arranged together. View Packages Packages
- Hotels Prefer to book accommodation separately? View Hotels Hotels
- Flights Already have accommodation? View Flights Flights
- Things To Do Tours, attractions and experiences. View Activities Activities
10 places in Florence
Hidden GemsFree
Oltrarno Artisan Workshops
Oltrarno
Cross the river to find leather, paper and woodwork studios in a village-like quarter.
- Suggested time: 2 hrs
- No booking needed
- Suits: Food lovers
Workshops typically open weekdays; closed Sundays
Hidden GemsFree
Basilica di San Miniato al Monte
Oltrarno
A Romanesque church with a marble façade and a mosaic apse, high above the city, where monks chant vespers.
- Suggested time: 1 hr
- No booking needed
- Suits: Culture lovers · Photographers
Daily; short closing around midday
Hidden Gems~£10
Bardini Gardens
Oltrarno
A terraced hillside garden with a baroque staircase, wisteria pergola and a panorama of the Duomo, less crowded than Boboli.
- Suggested time: 1h 15m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Outdoor lovers · Photographers
Daily; hours vary by season
Hidden GemsFree
Piazza Santo Spirito
Oltrarno
A relaxed neighbourhood square with a plain Brunelleschi church, cafés and a Saturday market; it’s at its best in the evening.
- Suggested time: 1h 30m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Nightlife fans · Food lovers
Open-air; bars busiest in the evening
Hidden Gems~£9
Bargello National Museum
Duomo
A medieval fortress-turned-museum of Renaissance sculpture, including Michelangelo, Donatello and Cellini.
- Suggested time: 1h 30m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Culture lovers
Daily; hours vary
Hidden GemsFree
Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio
Sant’Ambrogio
A working food market beloved by locals, with lunchtime counters and fresher, cheaper produce than the central market.
- Suggested time: 1 hr
- No booking needed
- Suits: Food lovers
Monday–Saturday mornings; closed Sundays
Hidden Gems~£9
Medici Chapels
San Lorenzo
A princely mausoleum with Michelangelo’s sculpted tombs, in the church of San Lorenzo.
- Suggested time: 1 hr
- Booking recommended
- Suits: Culture lovers
Daily; closed some days
Hidden gems are the quieter alternatives to the headline sights. Prices, hours and booking advice are approximate, so check the official site before you go.