As a travel advisor, I’m constantly thinking about and planning travel so when it comes to my personal family trips you can bet I’ve considered all the options. So, why Florence? 

• Food, Art, History, Gelato…
• It’s compact so everything is a 20-minute walk away
• Plenty of day trip options without needing to move hotels every night
• It shines in the off season.  

We arrived in late March, and each morning we stepped out of our city center apartment to relatively empty streets and cool air, followed by full sunshine in the afternoon. Keep in mind that Florence is a compact city with tall, charming buildings that are ideal for wandering, but there is no wind. If you go in August, it’s hot, crowded, and with little breeze. I’d visit in September or October as Florentine food like Ribollita soup is perfect for a fall afternoon, and it’s also harvest season if you plan to visit wineries.

For those of you traveling with kids, it’s pretty easy to get to, with numerous flight options, and it’s kid-friendly (playgrounds, high chairs, kid meals), with everyone stopping to say “bellissimo bambino” and “ciao” to the kids. Our one-year-old was saying “ciao” back by the end of the trip. This made my travel mom heart so happy; seeing kids connect not just with locals but also with our tour guides (who did an excellent job of including them) was so special to me.

Where to Stay

Florence has a plethora of boutique hotels nowadays, some of my favorites include: 

• The Place: hip, right in the piazza of Santa Maria Novella with chic rooms and great service 
• Portrait Firenze: part of the Ferragamo family collection, modern with incredible views floor-to-ceiling windows and views overlooking the Arno
• Palazzo Vecchietti: home away from home, with a contemporary take on a 17th century palace – only 12 rooms so book early
• Antica Torre: in a medieval tower with a classic design, but what I really love is the sixth floor terrace views
• Hotel Savoy: sophisticated contemporary, in the hub of Florence, blending style and comfort and Rocco Forte is always family friendly (connecting rooms, Teddy Turn Down Service) 
• Four Seasons Florence: perfect for those who love a historic room; not right in the city center but a prefect retreat with gardens, a beautiful pool and a lot of history 

Reach out to Melted & Moved to discuss which hotel would be the perfect fit for you and when you book with us, we’ll VIP your stay (added amenities, priority for available upgrades). 

To Do

Explore Iconic Landmarks

• Visit the Uffizi Gallery: Marvel at masterpieces by Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Botticelli.
• See Michelangelo’s “David”: Admire the iconic statue at the Accademia Gallery.
• Climb the Duomo: Enjoy panoramic views of Florence from the top of the cathedral.
• Wander through Ponte Vecchio: Cross the iconic bridge adorned with jewelry shops.

Walking Tour of Florence & David: See photos and tips from my walking tour HERE. We can organize this experience with local guides for you! 

Immerse Yourself in History

We can organize several private tours where your guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel and discover landmarks of Florence with you. For example, A Medici Family tour is a popular option for our clients where you will be taken from the “Old Market, where the Medici family, newly arrived from the Mugello countryside, began their ascent. Then continue to the palace of the Strozzi family, enemies of the Medici.. Next explore the splendid Medici Palace, the family’s official residence, built by Cosimo the Elder, and admire the famous Chapel of the Magi painted by Benozzo Gozzoli, which includes portraits of different members of the Medici family. Continue to the richly ornamented Basilica of San Lorenzo, where the Grand Dukes of Tuscany were buried, and then to the New Sacristy, designed and built by Michelangelo for the tombs of Lorenzo and Giuliano de’ Medici, housing the celebrated sculptures of Day, Night, Dawn, and Dusk…”

Artisanal Florence 

Our favorite experience is meeting local artisans and witnessing master craftsmen at work. 

Meet with masters who create fabulous mosaics, fine-jewelry, leather goods, or even hand-decorated paper, as these local artists let you in on some of their creative secrets.

We were able to create hand-decorated paper and frame it in our home.  The best kind of souvenir.

Culinary Tours & Wine Windows 

We have several culinary tour offerings depending on your interest in cooking classes, market visits, or historic cafes.  One thing you cant’ miss in Florence are the Buchette del vino, or wine windows, which are all over Florence. They have been used for hundreds of years to sell wine. 

They helped with limited contact during the plague and more recently, Covid. People used to bring their own bottles to fill up and avoid shopping and taxes. You’ll find more than 180 windows but only a few are operational today.

Babae is perfect for living out this tradition by ordering your glass of wine through its wine window at aperitif time. 

• Ring the bell
• 5 wine options for 8€ 
• No open container law so you can enjoy your glass walking the street

Where to Eat

La Ménagère, with a stylish flower shop, bistro feel that easily converts into a cocktail bar in the evenings, stood out among the many coffee shops in Italy. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Cafe Gilli, Florence’s oldest cafe, is a must-see. Opt for a seat on the terrace for people watching in the piazza, views of the vintage carousel, and most likely some live music from buskers. I highly recommend the maritozzo.

Florence is known for it’s panini’s, and while All’Antico lived up to the hype, ‘Ino was even better and no line. Caffè Cibreo feels like a locals place, which was excellent for our rainy day lunch.

The glass of wine I had a Procacci (with a truffle panino) was my favorite of the trip and that’s saying something. For date night, I loved the cozy and candlelit atmosphere at Il Santo Bevitore. For the opposite experience, we headed out later for cocktails at Locale.

When booking a trip with Melted & Moved, I’ll provide a comprehensive list of dining recommendations to include on your itinerary.