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Historic and world-famous art, architecture, culture, and cuisine make Florence truly spectacular to experience. It’s even better when you know the best time to visit Florence!
We share the best time to visit Florence, along with the cheapest, least busy, and worst times to go in this guide, plus tips to plan the perfect visit!
Why You Should Visit Florence
Florence, Italy is one of the world’s most iconic centers of history, art, and architecture. The scenic city is surrounded by the green, rolling Chianti hills of the Tuscany region and majestic peaks of the Apennine Mountains.
Florence, the capital of the province of Florence and region of Tuscany, is known for its world-famous art and architecture, vineyards and olive groves, and rich, historic culture.
Travelers might come to Florence in search of authentic Tuscan food. Here, crusty bread, pecorino cheese, olive oil, wine, and dishes like Florentine steak, ribollita soup, and wild boar ragu will please any palate.
Florence is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy with its scenic landscapes, renowned works of art, and examples of Renaissance, Gothic, medieval Romanesque, Baroque, and 19-century architecture.
UNESCO estimates that about 30% of the world’s most famous works of art by artists like Michelangelo, Giotto, Botticelli, and Vasari, are found right here in Florence.
In fact, the Historic Centre of Florence is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Here, the 13th-century Florence Cathedral (Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore), an Italian Gothic basilica, stands proud in Duomo Square.
The 16th-century Uffizi gallery houses famous paintings and sculptures, like Botticelli’s ‘The Birth of Venus’ and da Vinci’s ‘Annunciation.’
Adjacent to the Uffizi gallery is the Piazza della Signoria square, the W-shaped political center of Florence that stands in front of the Palazzo Vecchio, also called the Old Palace.
Appreciators of art have also to visit the Basilica of Santa Croce, a stunning medieval church filled with Giotto’s colorful plaster frescoes, a chapel by Brunelleschi (architect of the Duomo dome), and an early Renaissance tomb.
Then there’s the the Palazzo Pitti, or Pitti Palace. It’s a sprawling Renaissance palace home to museums and galleries like the Porcelain and Silver museums, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Museum of Carriages.
The Galleria dell’Accademia houses incredible Renaissance-era artworks. The Ponte Vecchio Bridge is an architectural wonder.
Art and history buffs will be amazed at the richness found within Florence’s borders. It’s impossible to list all the reasons to visit Florence!
With so much to appreciate, see, and do here, it’s clear that Florence is worth a visit. The next order of business is learning the best time to visit Florence!
What Is the Best Time to Visit Florence?
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- Overall best time to visit: April-June
- Cheapest time to visit: November-March
- Least busy time to visit: October-December
- Worst time to visit: July-August
Visiting Florence is something every world traveler and appreciator of history, food, art, and architecture should do at least once. Knowing the best time to visit Florence is key to enjoying your trip.
Florence experiences humid, hot summers with mild spring and fall seasons that give way to short, rainy winters.
Over 15 million people come to Florence each year, so understanding the most popular and least busy seasons will help you plan the right time for a visit.
The best time to come is between April and June. This is Florence at its best with gradually-warming temperatures, steadily decreasing rainfall, and outdoor festivals and attractions running at full capacity.
The months of November through March are when you’ll find the lowest prices on hotels in Florence, while the fall period from October to December is the least busy time of year to go.
Most people will want to avoid visiting Florence in July and August, which are the hottest and driest months of the year and busy with tourists.
Let’s take a closer look at the best time to visit Florence according to weather, prices, and crowds next.
Overall Best Time to Visit Florence
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The best time to visit Florence is from April to June, when sunshine warms the city, festivals kick into high gear, and every attraction, shop, and restaurant is bustling with activity.
Peak tourism seasons often align with the best time to visit a city – there’s a reason that so many people arrive during a specific part of the year.
In Florence, the peak season runs from April to August, but April to June are the best months to visit overall.
Come in April to enjoy slightly cooler temperatures around 65F, more affordable hotels, and shorter lines at museums and galleries. Note that rainfall is a little heavier with just over 3″ falling throughout the month.
Visit Florence in May for warmer temperatures around 74F with less rain than April, though you’ll pay a little more for a hotel and start seeing bigger crowds.
June is phenomenal for a Florence trip, as the weather warms to about 81F and rain is minimal. Hotel prices rise to $107-$281/night this month, but most travelers will find it’s the optimal month to come.
Visiting Florence during the peak season requires some planning and forethought. Book your room and flight up to 6 months in advance to ensure better availability and prices.
When you’re comparing hotels, keep the average nightly rates for the peak season in mind:
- April: $98-$257/night
- May: $102-$268/night
- June: $107-$281/night
You’ll be able to enjoy all the museums, galleries, restaurants, nightlife, shops, and festivals around the city to the fullest from April to June.
Plan to check out the following events during the best time to visit Florence:
- Scoppio del Carro (“Explosion of the Cart”) if you’re there for Easter
- Florence Maggio Musicale from late April to May
- Fireworks and football at the Patron Saint Feast Day in late June
- Florence Dance Festival at the Teatro Romano, Fiesole
- Outdoor concerts at Sesto d’Estate Music Festival
Cheapest Time to Visit Florence
Tribuna room in the Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy August 2021/Paolo Gallo/Shutterstock
The cheapest time to visit Florence is from November to March, when tourist numbers dwindle and low prices are the reward for rainy-season travelers.
Temperatures between the mid-30s and upper 50s keep tourists at a minimum. But if you’re willing to brave the cold conditions – sometimes icy and windy – you’ll enjoy fewer lines at major attractions and reduced hotel rates.
Florence experiences a good amount of rain with cooler temperatures from November to March, making it less popular with tourists and contributing to the lower cost of visiting this time of year.
Expect daily highs in the low 50s from December to February, with warmer temperatures approaching 60F in November and March.
Rainfall is heaviest in November (4.4″), the rainiest month of the year here. December sees around 3.5″, with January, February, and March getting around 3″ on average.
November and December see the fewest visitors of the year in Florence, and the drop is mirrored in hotel prices around the city during this time.
Tourist numbers stay relatively low through January, February, and March, but things are on the upswing by the end of February as the spring shoulder season arrives.
November is when you’ll find the lowest hotel rates of the year in Florence, with rooms costing as little as $58/night. December, January, and February are similarly priced.
By March, tourist numbers are still somewhat low, but beginning to rise ahead of the peak summer season. That pushes hotel prices up a bit this month.
- November: $58-$152/night
- December: $60-$157/night
- January: $60-$158/night
- February: $59-$155/night
- March: $66-$174/night
November is the absolute cheapest month to visit Florence, but the difference between it and drier months like January, February, and March is pretty negligible.
If you love finding great deals, the winter “saldi” sales event takes place after Christmas in Florence. Most clothing is on clearance, but competition for the best items can be tough!
Least Busy Time to Visit Florence
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October to December is the least busy time to visit Florence, with a steady decline in tourist numbers as the warm summer and early fall peak season wraps up.
October, November, and December are considered the low season in Florence. This is when the fewest tourists come to the city, which is perfect if you’re hoping for a less-crowded visit.
There’s a significant drop in temperature come October, when daily highs drop from the upper 70s to 70F with lows in the 50s. Rainfall is considerable, with about 3.5″ falling throughout the month.
Festivals and events are few and far between this time of year, but you can check out the parade and ceremony at Festa di Santa Reparata in early October at the historic Santa Maria del Fiore.
November is when things really get wet with roughly 4.4″ of rain soaking the city this month. November sees the fewest visitors of the year in Florence and the rain has a lot to do with it.
December is slightly wetter than October, but not as bad as November with about 3.6″ of rain this month. October and December see about the same number of tourists in Florence, but it’s not much more than November.
Here’s a look at how much Florence hotels may cost on average during October, November, and December according to data from Google Hotels:
- October: $83-$220/night
- November: $58-$152/night
- December: $60-$157/night
It might be worth planning your visit during the slightly more expensive month of October when it’s warmer and less rainy. You’ll be able to avoid the biggest crowds with better weather.
Worst Time to Visit Florence
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If there is such thing as the worst time to visit Florence, it would have to be July and August. It’s hot, dry, and many attractions and restaurants shut down in August – the “ghost month.”
During July and August, the beauty and history of Florence is dimmed a bit by the hot temperatures in the upper 80s and 90s. July is dry, but August gets about 3″ of rain throughout the month.
Even if you don’t mind the heat, much of Italy “closes” in August – it’s often called the ghost month, as it’s the time of year most Italians take their vacations.
As a result, many of the shops, restaurants, and attractions that make Florence so special close down in August and leave Florence feeling a bit like a ghost town in parts.
Prices are lower than in the peak season during the late summer, but it’s not the cheapest time of year to visit. Here’s a look at the average hotel rates in July and August:
- July: $86-$228/night
- August: $79-$208/night
If you must visit Florence during this period, aim for the first or last week of August, when businesses are more likely to be open.
July can be great if you love hunting for bargains as the summer “saldi” sales event takes place, with businesses discounting clothing up to 70%.
Things to Consider
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Visiting Florence is the trip of a lifetime! You don’t want to miss any of the spectacular sights, cuisine, shopping, and entertainment in the city.
Here are some helpful travel tips to make the most of your Florentine journey!
- Book a guided tour. It’s worth it to book a guided tour of Florence to ensure you don’t miss anything. When you book a tour, you’ll be able to skip the long lines, learn fascinating facts and trivia, and discover hidden gems off the beaten path that grow your respect and appreciation for the culture, art, and history of Florence.
- Study up before you go. Your experience in Florence will be so much better when you know what you’re looking at! Before you go, study up on the different architectural styles, monuments, museums, artists, and regions of the city. You’ll be able to recognize the architectural elements and artist styles with ease once you’ve done your research.
- Check out the sales in summer and winter. Italians love fashion, and clothing goes on clearance twice a year throughout the country. The summer and winter “saldi” events see prices slashed anywhere from 5% to 70% off, with some items reaching even deeper discounts further into the sales season. Summer sales from July-August are much busier, but you can find great deals without the crowds during the winter saldi from Janaury-February.
- Learn a little Italian. People in Florence speak a Tuscan dialect of the Italian language. In fact, Florence is where the Italian language was developed and began to evolve! Many people working in the tourism sector speak English, but it’s so valuable to learn a few key Italian phrases to help you communicate and connect with the culture here. At minimum, learn to greet people in Italian: “Buongiorno” means good day and “bueno sera” means good evening.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tourists taking photos at The Birth of Venus painting by Sandro Botticelli in Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy July ’22/canbedone/Shutterstock
You probably have a few more questions about the best time to visit Florence. Which months are ideal to go? How long should you stay?
Check out the most frequently asked questions below to learn more.
What is the cheapest time to visit Florence, Italy?
November to March is the cheapest time to visit Florence, Italy. The late fall, winter, and early spring months are rainy and cool, attracting fewer tourists and leading to lower prices on hotels in the city.
November is the cheapest month of all to visit Florence, with hotel rates as low as $58/night. It’s the wettest month, however, so it might be better to visit in the drier months of January to March.
How many days is ideal for Florence?
Plan on spending 2-3 days in Florence to give yourself enough time to take in the sights, visit the best museums and galleries, and taste your way through the city.
A guided tour is the best way to experience Florence to the fullest in a 2-3 day period. You’ll be able to visit all the highlights and discover some of the best works of art and architecture without wandering aimlessly.
Is November a good time to go to Florence?
November isn’t a great time to go to Florence because it’s so rainy. As the wettest month of the year, November gets around 14 rainy days and sees 4.4” of rainfall throughout the month.
On the other hand, November is part of the low season and it’s the cheapest month to visit Florence with excellent prices on hotels. If you don’t mind the rain, November can be a viable time to visit.
Is September a good time to visit Florence, Italy?
September is considered the second-best time of year to visit Florence. Warm temperatures in the upper 70s, a little rain, and fewer tourists than the peak summer season make September a great time to visit Florence.
Since it’s a good time to go, you’ll find that hotel prices are higher during September - even higher than during the peak summer season.
Is September too cold for Italy?
No! September is not a cold month in Italy. In Florence, September reaches daily highs in the upper 70s with lows just under 60F.
Throughout Italy, different regions range between 55F in Northern Italy to 80F in Southern Italy during September.
So, What’s the Best Time to Visit Florence?
You can’t plan a better visit to Florence than one during April, May, or June. It’s warm and sunny, everything is bustling with activity, and the city feels alive.
Save a little money by going between November and March, when prices on hotels are at their cheapest and you’ll find a steadily declining number of tourists in the city.
If avoiding crowds is your top priority, the low season from October to December is the best time to visit Florence. Visitor numbers hit their annual low during this rainy, chilly period.
July and August stand out as the worst times to visit Florence for different reasons.
July is hot and August in Florence can feel like a ghost town as locals leave for vacation and close businesses, shops, and museums while they’re away.
Florence will awaken the art, history, architecture, and food lover in anyone. This stunning Italian city in the Tuscan region will appeal to all your senses – sight, touch, sound, smell, and taste.
When you plan your trip to Florence according to the best weather, prices, or less-crowded conditions, you’re sure to enjoy a memorable trip that enriches your world with a new appreciation for all things Florentine.