Florence & Pisa 5-day Itinerary
Italy
Where to go and what to see in Florence to get the most from your trip – a 5-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Nicky Swallow.
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Florence, Tuscany, Italy
Ribollita
The Florentines are quite traditional in what they eat and justly proud of their local cuisine which is hearty, rustic, and based on simple ingredients such as bread, pulses, meat and poultry, fresh veg and olive oil, all prepared with the minimum of fuss. Typical seasonal ingredients include artichokes and porcini mushrooms, wild boar, rabbit, pork, game and excellent beef.
Wash it down with one of the robust local red wines; Tuscany is Italy’s premier wine-growing region producing from Chianti Classico in the hills between Florence and Siena to the highly-rated (and highly-priced) Super Tuscans from the Bolgheri zone on the coast.
Meals are traditionally divided into antipasti (starters), primi (soup, pasta), secondi (meat, fish) and dolce (dessert).
Tuscan specialities include crostini (rustic liver paté on toast), bruschetta (toast laced with new-season’s olive oil), ribollita (vegetable, bean and bread soup), pappardelle con la lepre (pasta with hare sauce), arista (roast loin of pork) and the famous bistecca alla fiorentina (T-bone steak). Also see Nicky’s round-ups of traditional Italian foods you must try in Italy.
A local trattoria will usually offer a perfectly drinkable, cheap and cheerful house plonk (red is a better bet). More sophisticated regional wines include the famous Super-Tuscans, Brunello, Chianti Classico and Vino Nobile; ask the wine waiter for advice.
Florence’s eating and drinking scene is varied and lively taking in several white-cloth, Michelin-starred establishments serving gourmet food with all the bells and whistles, contemporary ‘osterie’ where young chefs riff on their Mum’s recipes and homely trattorias where they dish up textbook versions of Florentine classics.
For a quick bite, try one of the traditional tripperie (tripe stands) that are the Florentine equivalent of street food stalls; menus feature stewed or cold-dressed tripe and lampredotto (cow’s stomach), often eaten in a bun.
An enoteca (wine bar) is another good bet for a glass and a snack.
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Italy
Where to go and what to see in Florence to get the most from your trip – a 5-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Nicky Swallow.
Italy
Where to go and what to see in Florence to get the most from your trip – a 3-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Nicky Swallow.
As a rule of thumb (although there are some notable exceptions), steer clear of the most touristy areas when you are searching for somewhere to eat in Florence. There are few good restaurants near the Duomo, for example, while neighbourhoods such as Santa Croce, the Sant’Ambrogio market area and San Niccolò are far more interesting gastronomically speaking, and this is where the Florentines go to eat.
The Oltrarno neighbourhood, south of the river, has a particularly buzzy and eclectic dining and drinking scene.
Florence, Tuscany, Italy
Gelato (ice cream) was invented in Florence in the 16th-century, where it first appeared during banquets at the Medici court. For five days in late May, this festival celebrates this fact with a festival dedicated to all things gelato (including frozen cocktails).
Best for ages: 8+ | Free | 5 days
Florence, Tuscany, Italy
The first floor of Florence’s traditional produce market, Centrale Mercato, was transformed in 2014 into a dazzling food hall where producers offer everything from freshly-made mozzarella, truffle pasta, barbequed ribs, artisan bread and cheeses to hand-made chocolates. Pair a guided tour (to find ingredients) with a Tuscan cooking class after.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Florence, Tuscany, Italy
This hole-in-the-wall ice cream shop (on pretty Piazza della Passera in the Oltrarno) dishes up some of the best gelato in the city centre, all made in small batches from fresh ingredients and without any kind of artificial flavourings. Think pistachio, pink grapefruit, zabaglione and coffee; flavours move with the seasons.
Best for ages: 4+ | Free
Florence, Tuscany, Italy
This small wine bar specialises in wines from small, independent producers and always has something interesting on offer. Order one of the bubbling, melted cheese-topped crostini to soak it up; the one with truffle-infused sausage is particularly good.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
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Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Florence, Tuscany, Italy
An aristocratic mansion set in a magnificent private garden, AdAstra offers 16 beautiful rooms filled with antiques, up-cycled retro pieces and quirky design touches.
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Florence, Tuscany, Italy
Cool, edgy Ferragamo-owned design hotel by the Ponte Vecchio in the heart of the city – the perfect base for sightseeing.
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Florence, Tuscany, Italy
A superb heritage hotel with impeccable facilities and services that occupies a frescoed Renaissance palazzo and former convent. Set in a majestic 11-acre park, 20 minutes from Florence’s historic centre.
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Florence, Tuscany, Italy
A centrally-located 4-star hotel with comfortable modern rooms, a rooftop pool, and rooftop bar which is an unbeatable spot for sunset cocktails.
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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Tuscany, Italy
A heady mix of incomparable Renaissance art, gorgeous palazzos, Tuscan cuisine and home-grown haute couture.
Tuscany, Italy
The astonishingly beautiful region of Tuscany has it all: art cities and ancient hill towns, high mountains and long sandy beaches, alongside luxurious hotels and some of Italy’s best food and wine.