Florence is the Renaissance in one city: Brunelleschi's dome, Michelangelo's David and the Uffizi, all within easy reach of our Tuscan campsites. Come for the art, stay for the gelato and the sunsets.
Why visit Florence?
Brunelleschi's Dome – Climb 463 steps to the top of a 115 m masterpiece
Uffizi Gallery – Botticelli's Birth of Venus among more than 1,700 works
Michelangelo's David – A 5.17 m marble icon waiting at the Accademia
Piazzale Michelangelo – Golden-hour views over the whole Florentine skyline
Campsites With Pools – hu Firenze camping in Town is just 5 km away
Practical info
- Time needed
- Plan two separate days for the highlights; with children, half to a full day per outing is a relaxed pace.
- Best time to visit
- April, May, September and October are lovely for sightseeing; in summer, explore early in the morning and again in the evening.
- Tickets
- Book the Uffizi, the Accademia and the dome climb online in advance; under-18s enter the Uffizi free with a named ticket.
- Getting there and parking
- The historic centre is a limited-traffic zone, so use a park-and-ride lot or the Shuttle Bus at hu Firenze camping in Town.
- Food and drink
- Lunch at the Mercato Centrale food hall, gelato between sights and a coffee on Piazza Santo Spirito.
- Season
- Florence welcomes visitors all year round; major museums such as the Uffizi and the Accademia rest on Mondays, so plan them for Tuesday to Sunday.
Practical info
Is Florence worth visiting with kids?
Campsites nearby
Campsites near Florence
hu Firenze camping in Town
hu Firenze Certosa camping in town
Camping Village Il Poggetto
Camping hu Norcenni Girasole Village
by Happy Camp
Camping hu Norcenni Girasole Village
Homair - Camping Orlando in Chianti
A day at Florence from your campsite
- 08:00Leave hu Firenze camping in Town, just 5 km by road from the centre, and hop on the Shuttle Bus. The car stays at the campsite and you start the day relaxed.
- 09:00Climb Brunelleschi's dome with your reserved time slot: 463 steps to the top of a 115 m masterpiece, with the whole terracotta-roofed city at your feet.
- 11:00Cool down on Piazza del Duomo with a first gelato. Then explore Giotto's bell tower, the Baptistery and the Museo dell'Opera on your Duomo combination pass.
- 12:30Take a long, lazy lunch on a sunny Oltrarno piazza. Pasta, a glass of something local, and no hurry.
- 14:00Cross the Ponte Vecchio and wander the Oltrarno's artisan workshops, then circle back to Palazzo Vecchio and climb its tower for a second skyline view.
- 16:30Stroll along the Arno for a gentle breather. Rent bikes or watch the boats glide under the bridges.
- 18:30Walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo for golden-hour views over the whole Florentine skyline. Families with pushchairs can take the normal road instead of the steps.
- 20:30Back at hu Firenze camping in Town for dinner and a well-earned splash in the Lagoon Pools.
What to see in Florence
Florence is the capital of Tuscany, the cradle of the Italian Renaissance and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982. Its historic centre covers 505 hectares, and nearly every street corner delivers a masterpiece. Start with these:
- Piazza del Duomo: the cathedral, Brunelleschi's dome, Giotto's bell tower, the Baptistery and the Museo dell'Opera. Stepping inside the cathedral is free.
- Uffizi Gallery: Botticelli's Birth of Venus, Leonardo's Annunciation and Michelangelo's Doni Tondo, among more than 1,700 works in 101 rooms.
- Galleria dell'Accademia: Michelangelo's 5.17 m David, carved in the early 1500s from a single block of Carrara marble.
- Bargello: Donatello's bronze David and Michelangelo's early Bacchus.
- Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens: palace rooms, plus fountains, grottos and sculptures outdoors.
Also save time for the Ponte Vecchio, Palazzo Vecchio with its tower, and the churches of Santa Croce and Santa Maria Novella, each an art gallery in its own right.
Florence with kids and teenagers
Young children love the historic carousel in Piazza della Repubblica, the shaded playground at Lungarno Santa Rosa and the wide-open space of Piazza Santa Maria Novella. Palazzo Vecchio has a Kit for Families for ages 6 and up, and the Mercato Centrale food hall makes an air-conditioned lunch stop. Pushchairs work well on the pavements, and a baby carrier is handy inside museums.
Teenagers will head for the dome climb with its 463 steps, the Palazzo Vecchio tower, the Galileo Museum or the interactive Leonardo museum. Hands-on options include gelato-making, pasta classes and bike rental along the Arno. Under-18s enter the Uffizi free with a named ticket.
Tickets, timing and parking in Florence
Book the Uffizi, the Accademia and the dome climb online before you travel. Every Uffizi ticket is timed, and booking ahead locks in the slot you want. Duomo sights are visited with combination passes, and the dome needs a reserved time slot. Arriving at opening time, ideally Tuesday to Thursday, gives you a calm start to the day.
In summer, sightsee in the morning and again in the evening, with a long lunch and a gelato in between. The historic centre is a limited-traffic zone, so leave the car outside it. Park-and-ride lots such as Villa Costanza in Scandicci and Viale Guidoni are well connected to the centre, and the shuttle options at our campsites make it even easier.
Where to stay near Florence
Our campsites put Florence within easy reach, with a pool to come home to. hu Firenze camping in Town is the closest at 5 km by road, with Lagoon Pools, a Shuttle Bus and Florence access built in. hu Firenze Certosa camping in town, 11 km away, adds a Tuscan Hills scenic setting and a Shuttle Service. Camping Village Il Poggetto, 19 km from the city, offers two swimming pools and a Florence & Chianti location, plus Adventure & Family Fun.
Day trips from Florence
When you want a change of pace after the museums, head for Fiesole, Greve in Chianti or Certaldo. All three are easy excursions from the city, and the green Chianti hills make a refreshing contrast to the Renaissance streets.
Our tip: give Florence two separate days rather than one marathon. Spend the first on the Piazza del Duomo and the Uffizi, with your timed slots booked online before you leave home. Keep the second for the Oltrarno, Boboli Gardens and Piazzale Michelangelo. Arrive at opening time, take a gelato break, and keep your evenings free: the view from Piazzale Michelangelo or San Miniato al Monte as the sun goes down is the best finale we know. With children, one big sight per outing plus a piazza stop keeps everyone smiling. We like hu Firenze camping in Town as a base for this. It is 5 km away, it has a Shuttle Bus, and the Lagoon Pools are the perfect reward after a day on the cobblestones.
— Tip from our specialist
Frequently asked questions about Florence
How many days do you need in Florence?
Plan two separate days for the highlights. Day one suits the Piazza del Duomo and the Uffizi, day two the Accademia, Palazzo Pitti with Boboli Gardens and the Oltrarno. With children, half to a full day per outing is a comfortable pace, finished with a gelato and a piazza stop.
Do I need to book tickets for the Uffizi and the Duomo dome?
Yes, book online ahead. All Uffizi tickets are timed entry, and the Accademia and the dome climb also need a reserved slot. Duomo sights are visited with combination passes, while entering the cathedral itself is free. Booking early lets you choose the morning slot you like best.
Can you drive into the centre of Florence?
The historic centre is a limited-traffic zone (ZTL), so cars stay outside. Park at a park-and-ride such as Villa Costanza in Scandicci or Viale Guidoni, both well connected to the centre. Staying at hu Firenze camping in Town, 5 km away, gives you Shuttle Bus access instead.
Is Florence a good city for children?
Yes. Highlights include the historic carousel in Piazza della Repubblica, the Lungarno Santa Rosa playground, Boboli's fountains and grottos, Venchi's chocolate waterfall and the Kit for Families at Palazzo Vecchio for ages 6 and up. Under-18s enter the Uffizi free with a named ticket, and a baby carrier is handy in museums.
Where can you stay near Florence on a camping holiday?
Our closest option is hu Firenze camping in Town, 5 km by road, with Lagoon Pools and a Shuttle Bus. hu Firenze Certosa camping in town is 11 km away, and Camping Village Il Poggetto, 19 km away, offers two swimming pools and Adventure & Family Fun for the whole family.