 | Florence Tourist Traps | Tips 1 - 10 of 105 |  |
Popular Tourist Traps | Other Tourist Traps Tips | All Tips (105) Not so much a tourist trap as a caution I guess....
If you decide to pull up a seat at one of the outdoor tables of the numerous cafes that line Florence's piazza's, you will certainly pay for the privilege of having a prime people watching position.
While it may cost you less than 1 euro to have a coffee standing at the bar inside, it may cost around 8 euros if you sit outside!
Sometimes when you go to one of these cafe's they come and take your order without you ever seeing a menu....or the prices....
Look - I love sitting in these cafes and watching the world go by, but at least now I know what I am in for and am prepared when the bill arrives!!
Why not buy a gelato or snack to takeaway from a shop nearby, and find a ledge to perch on in a Piazza - much cheaper!! Leave a Comment
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The Duomo is a masterpiece in architecture. The variations of marble and the marvel of the dome construction is beyond words.
Despite this, I think the Duomo is over-valued compared to the long lines, the cost, and wasted time. If you're looking to get a beautiful view of Florence, go to Michelangelo's Terrace instead of paying money to go up the tower at the Duomo.
Instead of wasting time in line, go to Santa Croce where the crowds are less (see our Santa Croce tip for more info).
Don't get me wrong, I'm an art history buff (like you couldn't tell) and I love the Duomo... but I think tourists should avoid falling into the trap of wasting half a day at the Duomo (most of it waiting) when there are so many other worthy things to see and do in Florence.
If you're going to do the Duomo, at least make a point of spending 1.5 - 2 days in Florence (or more if you plan on visiting more than 1 gallery). I certainly don't think you can do all of Florence and do the Duomo in a single day.
Go to Micheangelo's Terrace instead of the Duomo to get a view of Florence.... and it's FREE!
Santa Croce is just as beautiful as the Duomo and is equally worth your time with less lines... and it's FREE too! Leave a Comment
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Well , forget what the book or travel guide said about the so called Museum with the most 1st class art pieces per inch in the world. yes no doubt there are master pieces from Botticelli etc etc but there is a catch there ....the museum is so small and so many paintings are all squezzed into a room.
Uffizi - accroding to my dear friend Rene ( one of Florence most noted celebrity ) means office , thus its was never meant to be a museum.
The whole area is dwarfed by British Museum and the Louvre anytime. In Louvre and British museum you never have to queue up for so long and you can appreciate those paintings with enough oxigen.
The exterior is also not very expensive and properly cared for. And the queue is horribly long. I blame it on the administrations inability to relocate to a bigger place and their inability to create more entrance ( but after all , its so small )
If you dont make reservation, dont trying to queue up unless you can turn up like two hours before the museum opens.
( my case- my dear celebrity friend booked for me , I forgot and went to PISA , but dutifully waited for 1 hour the next day before I walked away )
- I heard my VT fren said that if you go like at 6pm ..there will be no crowd and its also free Leave a Comment
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Well, I hafta say...
The bridge brings a certain fascination for me as a person from the jewellery trade. Mostly sort of cheesy, the wares that the shopkeepers choose to flog are meant for those who are not generally exposed to jewellery objects when they are in their home countries.
What was most interesting is the length of time that the bridge has been used by those who make jewellery for a living.(I don't recall the dates exactly, but from somehwre in the 13th century)
The views from the bridge are lovely. Bring a camera, and look out over the water from all available angles. The view of the bridge from the adjacent streets is not all that appealing, but certainly a curiousity.
If you must buy a souvenier, I would suggest a nice pair of well-made earrings. They usually withstand years of wear, unlike some of the other offerings, which are produced in a lightweight fashion to reduce costs of the manufacturers and retailers. Leave a Comment
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Piazza della Repubblica is a central point of Florence. However, be aware that the cafes located there have some of the highest prices in Italy id you intend to sit down and be served in classic surly Florentine style. The other day I noted some of the prices for table service:
1. Cappuccino: 4.50 Euros (£ 3 or $5) - remember its only about 3 sips!
2. Hot Tea: 5.50 Euros (£ 3.75 or $ 6.60) at least they give you a little teapot - check to see if it is more than 1/2 full!
3. Soft Drink: from 7 - 9 Euros depending on size.
4. Water (1/2 litre) 4 Euros (£ 2.80 or $ 6.20)
5. Cocktail: 8 Euros (£ 5.50 or $ 9.75) - sometimes more!!!
This is not meant to knock Florence but the cafes in Piazza della Repubblica and Signoria are tourist traps with a captial T!
Make sure your company, girlfriend, boyfriend are picking up the tab!
Don't order food, it is notoriously BAD.
Don't put up with crappy service, you are paying TOP Euro for the pleasure.
Stay as long as you want, don't EVER feel rushed, a 3.50 Euro espresso buys you a great vantage point for the afternoon.
Great place to park elderly relatives or travel companions who are sick of shopping and siteseeing.
Lots of other little cafes on side streets, check out menu first - also see what their wares look like first, sometimes those pastries have been sitting there since the renaissance. Leave a Comment
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This busy shopping street filled with outdoor vendors is also lined with low end restaurants that extend outside into the street. Their tables are filled every day with unfortunate tourists who don't recognize that within 50 feet in any direction they could have found a better spot to eat. Perhaps it isn't until they sit down that they notice the terrible smell of sewage that emanates from the drains along the sidewalk! What's more, the street is unclean and is one of the most heavily trafficed by pedestrians.
If you really want to eat here, take a seat inside. Leave a Comment
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You'll be paying a lot extra to shop in this location.
For example, when searching for a jar of white truffles, I found that in a store in this piazza the price was over $30. Two blocks away I found the same jar, same brand, same size for $15.
All the time I overhear tourists placing orders for cheese in one of the shops to get shipped to the US. None of them realize that many stores offer this, and for quite a bit less.
It really doesn't take much effort to find a better price. At least, take a few side streets and compare. Leave a Comment
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There are London style doubledecker buses in the city that bring tourists for rides around the city. Be advised that all the greatest attractions (Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio, Piazza Santa Croce, Ponte Vecchio...) are in areas restricted to traffic. You won't see much with these tours. Go for a walk instead. Most monuments are very close to each other.
Just (don't) do it! Leave a Comment
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Aside from it unlikely being his actual house, the "museum" is virtually empty and very small. All it really contains are some photographs of Florence , some assorted documents, and a few copies of the Divine Comedy, none of which are remarkable. The house is a bit interesting for the sake of the building's architecture, but this is just as well viewed from without.
Dante's death mask is on display in Palazzo Vecchio.
Also, if you are really interested in early renaissance period homes and how they originally looked, Palazzo (Museo) Davanzati is very well done. It's been temporarily closed for two years, for restoration I believe. Check to see if it's opened when you come if this sort of museum interests you. Leave a Comment
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Our Segway Tour of Firenze was an absolute delight, highly informative and personalized. The Segway is a joy to ride and the thoughtful, professional staff makes the experience unique and unforgettable. We are telling all of our friends. Of all the things we did in Italy, we had the most fun, and learned the most, on the Segway Tour of Firenze!
www.segwayfirenze.com
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