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 travelling between December and March is that there is not so much tourism and, therefore, you will be able to 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.

Here are all the details for your trip to Florence during the winter season. If you want to expand the information in this post with other suggestions, read the post What to see and do in Florence.

Whatever time of the 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 discover in this visit that, why deny it, is always better to do it in winter to take shelter from the cold.

This tour lasts an estimated three to four hours and tickets to the Uffizi Gallery are priced from €12 for adults. You can also book a guided tour of the Uffizi Gallery with an art history expert to learn all the details of each of the works.

One of the most popular winter activities in the city of Florence is the Firenze Winter Park which 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 Father Christmas' house and have a mulled wine or a snack at one of the stalls on the 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 metres long and is installed in the Fortezza Da Basso Park, around a lake. It is available from around November to February. Don't hesitate to go for a run with friends and family.

Traveller's tip

If you go to Florence in the winter season, the weather won't be good, but you'll be able to see the city more comfortably, as this is the time of year when there are fewer tourists. You will also benefit from cheaper 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 those in cities such as Viareggio or Venice, there is also a parade from Piazza Ognissanti to Piazza della Signoria, where a costume contest is held afterwards. In addition, fancy dress parties are organised in various venues around the city. This 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 the Piazza de Santa Croce with the participation of chefs and chocolatiers from all over the country. A real 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 Michelangelo's quintessential work, the David. Normally, the queues are kilometres long, but in winter this changes.

Michelangelo's David is 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 from Tuesday to Sunday from 9 am to 6.45 pm and it is also an ideal plan to escape the cold Florentine winter. Tickets to the Galleria dell'Accademia are priced from €12 for adults and €2 for 18-25 year olds.

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 flavours and the prices are very cheap. 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 11am to midnight, so there's no excuse.

If you have the opportunity on your trip to Florence during the winter season, be sure to visit the Basilica of San Miniato al Monte and attend a Eucharistic celebration. It is celebrated in both Latin and Gregorian chant and takes place on weekdays at 6 pm and on Sundays and public 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. San Miniato al Monte is undoubtedly one of the most charming places in Florence and a visit to it is unique and a must.

La Cité is a charming place in the heart of Florence, an ideal place to spend a winter afternoon. It is a bookshop café with a full cultural programme, 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 3pm to 1am, and from Thursday to Saturday it is open until 2am.

Obviously, a visit to Florence's Duomo is another must 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 it is really amazing. Also, during your visit, I recommend that you take the opportunity to climb Brunelleschi's Dome, one of the best viewpoints in the city and a unique architectural work of art. Tickets to the Florence Duomo start at €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 right 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 metres.

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

Before planning your trip to Florence in the winter season, you should also bear in mind that this is the time of the year with the fewest hours of daylight. It is already dark at around 5pm, so you will have less time to see the city. Therefore, I recommend that if you travel to Florence during these months, don't 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 the Italian city is, which receives millions of visitors every year, it 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 for flights and hotels. These are the months of the year when there is less tourism, which has a direct influence on the price.

If you're travelling to Florence in winter, pack your suitcase well. The weather in the Italian city during these months is very cold and wet, so it's advisable to pack very warm clothes. A good coat, preferably waterproof, a hat, gloves, a scarf and several thick jumpers. In addition, it is essential to wear comfortable, waterproof and non-slip shoes, because it can rain and even freeze.

If you are going to Florence in the winter season you should be aware that there are a number of public holidays coinciding with these months of the year when the timetable of public transport as well as the main attractions may be altered.

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