10 Things to Do in Florence in the winter

Florence is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, as well as one of the most visited. Therefore, one of the biggest advantages of traveling between December and March is that there is not so much tourism and, therefore, you can enjoy the city more comfortably, without so much overcrowding, and you will also save time in your visits, since the main monuments and museums of the city will not have so much waiting time. In addition, you can enjoy certain festivities specific to this time of year.

Below, I give you all the details for your trip to Florence in the winter season. If you want to expand the information in this post with other proposals, read the post what to see and do in Florence.

Whatever time of year it is, an unforgettable plan of your trip to Florence is to tour the Uffizi Gallery and admire its main works: 'Spring' and 'The Birth of Venus' by Botticelli, 'Tondo Doni' by Michelangelo, 'La Maestà di Ognissanti' by Giotto, 'Madonna and Child with two Angels' by Filippo Lippi or 'Madonna of the Goldfinch' by Raphael, are just some of the examples of the best works of the Uffizi Gallery that you can get to know in this visit that, why deny it, is always better to do it in winter to take shelter from the cold.

This visit has an estimated duration of three to four hours and tickets to the Uffizi Gallery are priced from 12 € for adults. In addition, you can book a guided tour of the Uffizi Gallery with an expert in art history to learn all the details of each of the works.

One of the most popular winter proposals of the city of Florence is the Firenze Winter Park that takes place from mid-November to mid-February in the Obihall garden, in Lungarno Aldo Moro.

It is a winter theme park with various leisure activities such as two ice skating rinks, one for adults and one for children, and other facilities for alpine skiing and other winter sports. The youngest members of the family can also visit Santa Claus' house and have a mulled wine or a snack at one of the stalls on site.

Do you like ice skating? If so, in Florence you can enjoy the longest ice rink in Europe. Yes, just as you read. It is 320 meters long and is installed in the Fortezza Da Basso Park, around a lake. It is available from about November to February. Don't hesitate to take a few races with friends and family.

Traveler's tip

If you go to Florence in the winter season, the weather will not be good, but you will be able to see the city more comfortably, as this is the time of year when there are fewer tourists. In addition, you will benefit from lower prices than in other months of the year.

Carnival has a long tradition in Italy and although Florence's Carnival is not as popular as that of cities like Viareggio or Venice, a parade is also scheduled from Piazza Ognissanti to Piazza della Signoria, where, afterwards, a costume contest takes place. In addition, costume parties are organized in various places in the city. It usually takes place in February.

If you are a chocolate lover, you should know that at the beginning of the year Florence hosts the Fiera del Cioccolato, an artisan chocolate fair held for ten days in Piazza Santa Croce with the participation of chefs and chocolatiers from all over the country. A paradise where you can taste a wide variety of chocolates from numerous artisans. Visit the official website and find out all the details.

A must on your trip to Florence is to see the quintessential work of Michelangelo, the David. Normally, the queues are kilometers long, but in winter this changes.

Michelangelo's David is located in the Accademia Gallery, the second most visited museum in Florence after the Uffizi Gallery. A visit where you can also admire other pieces such as 'Madonna del Mare' by Sandro Botticelli and Filippino Lippi and 'Venus and Cupid' by Jacopo Carrucci

The opening hours of the Accademia Gallery are Tuesday to Sunday from 9 am to 6:45 pm and it is also an ideal plan to escape the cold Florentine winter. Ticket prices for the Galleria dell'Accademia start at 12€ for adults and 2€ for young people from 18 to 25 years old.

Whether it's winter or summer, a must on your trip to Florence is to have an ice cream. In Florence you will find numerous gelato shops, but my recommendation is to go to Gelateria La Carraia. They have a wide variety of flavors and the prices are very affordable. They have two establishments in Florence: one next to the Carraia Bridge, in Piazza Nazario Sauro, and another just five minutes from Santa Croce, in Via dei Benci.

Gelateria La Carraia is open every day of the week from 11 a.m. to midnight, so you have no excuse.

If you have the opportunity on your trip to Florence during the winter season, be sure to go to the Basilica of San Miniato al Monte and attend a Eucharistic celebration. It is celebrated both in Latin and Gregorian chant and takes place on weekdays at 6 pm and on Sundays and holidays at 5:30 pm.

The Basilica is open from Monday to Saturday from 9:30 am to 1 pm and from 3 pm to 7 pm, and on Sundays from 8:15 am to 1 pm and from 3 pm to 7 pm. Without a doubt, San Miniato al Monte is one of the most charming places in Florence and the visit is unique and a must.

La Cité is a charming place in the heart of Florence, ideal to spend a winter afternoon. It is a bookstore café with a full cultural program, from concerts, conferences and seminars to book and CD presentations. A place where you can immerse yourself in Florentine cultural life and where you can also go to relax and have a delicious hot cappuccino while reading a book.

La Cité is located in Borgo San Frediano, next to the La Carraia Bridge, and is open every day of the week: from Sunday to Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 1 a. m. and from Thursday to Saturday it is open until 2 a.m..

Obviously, a visit to the Duomo in Florence is another must-see on your trip. The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is the third largest cathedral in Europe after St. Peter's in Rome and St. Paul's in London and is truly amazing. In addition, during your visit I recommend that you take the opportunity to climb the Dome of Brunelleschi, one of the best viewpoints in the city and an unparalleled architectural work. Tickets to the Duomo of Florence are priced from 20 € for adults.

On your visit to Piazza del Duomo you can also take the opportunity to enter the Battistero di San Giovanni, which is the oldest building in Piazza del Duomo, and is located just in front of the Cathedral. And even if you don't want to visit it, don't miss the Gate of Paradise, decorated with 10 bronze panels depicting a series of scenes from the Old Testament.

Of course, in Piazza del Duomo you can also climb Giotto's Campanile, visit the Crypt of Santa Reparata and see the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo. A great list of proposals in just a few square meters.

The weather in Florence in winter is characterized by low temperatures, as well as humidity, with an average temperature of between 6 and 7°C. Specifically, the average minimum temperature in December is 3°C and the maximum temperature is 11°C. In January, temperatures drop even more, reaching between 2ºC and 10ºC. In February they are between 3ºC and 12ºC and in March between 5ºC and 12ºC.

On the other hand, before planning your trip to Florence in the winter season, you have to take into account that this is the time of the year with the least hours of daylight. At around 5 p.m. it is already dark, so you will have less time to see the city. Therefore, I recommend that if you travel to Florence in these months do not hesitate to start your sightseeing day early in the morning.

The best thing about visiting the city of Florence in winter is that the influx of tourists is considerably lower than other months of the year, and considering how touristy is the Italian city, which each year receives millions of visitors, is a factor to take into account, since you will not have to wait in line to see the main museums and monuments and you can visit more comfortably and calmly.

One of the advantages of visiting Florence in the winter period is that prices are considerably cheaper than in other months of the year, both in flights and hotels. These are the months of the year when there is less tourism, which directly influences the price.

If you travel to Florence in winter, organize your suitcase very well. The weather in the Italian city during these months is very cold and wet, so it is advisable to bring warm clothes. A good coat, better if it is waterproof, hat, gloves, scarf and several thick sweaters. In addition, it is essential to wear comfortable, waterproof and non-slip shoes, because it can rain and even freeze.

If you go to Florence in the winter season you have to keep in mind that there are a number of holidays coinciding with these months of the year in which the schedule of public transport as well as the main attractions may be altered.

• December 25 is Christmas Day.
• December 26 is Santo Stefano.
• January 1 is New Year's Day.
• January 6 is Epiphany.