How to 'Do' Florence before 40: The Ultimate 4-Night City Break with My Besties
A room with a bath tub AND a view of the Duomo at The Hoxton Florence
Hello folks, it’s taken me a while, but I have finally gotten round to writing up my Florence blog post and I am so excited to share it with you. Soooo, as you can imagine… saying goodbye to my thirties this year has been bittersweet, but it’s also been a bit of a kick up the bum to tick off more of my big bucket list trips before I hit the big 4-0. And so, get ready to salivate as you feast your eyes on all that I saw, ate, drank and did in the delicious city of Florence, Italy!
As usual, I’ve pulled together one of my uber comprehensive guides - this one is a 4-Night Foodie Itinerary - and a trip that made me hit 'extend stay' whilst still in Florence. I hope that you find it useful! Warning: your mouths will water! Note: It wasn’t a cheap trip, but you could do it more on a budget if you were savvier with flight prices and/or accommodation, but as I wanted to treat myself to a little bit of luxury for my 40th year – and bake in some solid Florentine experiences that I would never forget - I wanted to stay somewhere cool: meaning in a hotel room with a bath tub on the balcony with views of the Duomo! (Note: at the time of my stay, they did not provide bath robes, which feels like a bit of a missed opportunity for guests paying for rooms with outdoor bath tubs, just saying…)
I went with my two best mates for a solid five-day, four-night blast back in March (which, spoiler alert, turned into six days and five nights because I couldn't bear to leave! I swear, Florence is one of those places where you look around and think “I could actually live here!) I flew into Pisa—a smart travel hack, as it’s much cheaper and easier to fly from from the North of England—and then took the super simple train straight into the heart of Florence. The weather was crisp, but warm enough to walk around without a coat when the sun was out (temperatures were between 17-21 degrees celsius during our stay).
If you’re planning a trip to Florence - or maybe even doing a multi stop trip and want the full itinerary of where we ate, where we drank (our Chianti, Prosecco and Aperol Spritz count was high, obviously), and the two game-changing activities that you MUST book, then please do save this post now - or share with a friend you’d love to travel with.
The Hoxton Florence - a new stylish and well-heeled addition to this glorious city!
Where Chef’s Eat - The Pizza Book
Getting There & Where We Stayed
Flights: Ryanair, Manchester (MAN) to Pisa (PSA)
Cost: £184.40 return (booked March 4)
Airport Transfer: Train from Pisa Centrale to Florence S.M.N.
Cost: Approx. €14.00 one-way (quick and easy to buy at the station)
Initial Hotel (4 Nights): The Hoxton Florence
Address: Via della Palazzine, 2, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy
Cost: £668.35 (4 nights, for the room with the dream terrace bathtub—worth every penny! Use your Dis-loyalty discount if you have it and get up to 50% off new openings!)
Extension Hotel (2 Nights): Lunaria Suites - Fyodor Dostoyevsky's house (I booked through Booking.com)
Address: Via dei Georgofili, 1, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy
Cost: £321 for 2-nights
Note: A totally different vibe! This suite, once home to the writer Dostoevsky, is close to the Ponte Vecchio and offers a charming, historic feel.
Travel outfit: denim dress, nike trainers with leather jacket
The Ultimate 5-Day Florence Itinerary
DAY 1: Arrival & Tuscan Red Wine (Sunday)
Travel Day
MAN to PSA, train to Florence S.M.N., followed by a taxi to The Hoxton (note: Uber’s are not very common in Florence, so be prepared to ring local taxi services or ask the hotel or bar to book one for you). The tram is cheap and I managed to get one that only left me with a short walk to my hotel.
Pre-drinks and nibbles at Enoteca Violetta, The Hoxton Florence
Evening
Pre-drinks at Enoteca Violetta, The Hoxton Florence
Prosecco & nibbles at the gorgeous bar inside The Hoxton to ease us into the Florentine lifestyle.
Cost: €53.70 total
Dinner at Antica Trattoria da Tito dal 1913: Via Faenza, 137R, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy
A local institution for a reason! We devoured fried zucchini, a truly next-level wild boar ragu, and the most decadent steak wrapped in cheese. A Tuscan red wine and limoncello shots sealed the deal.
Cost: €96.50 total
DAY 2: Duomo Views & Florentine Steak To Die For (Monday)
Morning
Day 2 outfit: wide leg jeans and over-sized surf tshirt
Breakfast at Alassio, The Hoxton Florence.
Alassio, The Hoxton Florence
Breakfast of champions! We went for Eggs Royale , pancakes, and the yoghurt and granola bowl, washed down with a fresh orange juice and a flat white (score one free coffee for the Dis-loyalty members!).
Cost: €37.90 total (for three)
Florentine street art
Sightseeing - Piazza del Duomo & Piazza della Signoria
The Duomo is breathtaking—even just viewing Brunelleschi's Dome from the outside is awe-inspiring. We stopped at Piazza della Signoria for a cheeky view of the square. We didn’t book tickets to do the inside tour or climb the tower on this occasion - but maybe next time!
Cost: FREE
Shopping - Florentine Jewellery
Wandered over the Ponte Vecchio to browse the gold jewellery stores. A must-visit stop was Saccardi Gioielleria dal 1940.
Cost: Browse: FREE
Lunch at Loggia Roof Bar: Piazza dell'Unità Italiana, 6, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy
Book a table here! The views are incredible. We opted for a simple but perfect charcuterie sharing board (tagliere loggia) with Aperol Spritzes.
Cost: €64.00 total
Afternoon
Sightseeing at Boboli Gardens
Time to walk off the charcuterie! Stunning, vast gardens. Pro-tip: take water, wear comfy shoes and never skip leg day!
Cost: Entry: €10.00 per person
Enjoying my roof top bath tub at The Hoxton Florence
Dinner outfit: all black everything - apart from the shoes, of course.
Pre-Dinner drinks at Locale Firenze: Via delle Seggiole, 12R, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy
Pre-dinner cocktails and nibbles at this super chic spot. The cocktails here are world-class.
Cost: €80.00 total
Dinner at La Giostra: Borgo Pinti, 10/18R, 50121 Firenze FI, Italy
The main event! We came for the famous Fiorentine Steak (and it delivered). Paired it with a Ceccante Cabernet Sauvignon red wine. Essential booking!
Cost: €207.00 total
Nightcap at Virgin Rock Pub: Via dell'Agnolo, 83R, 5122 Firenze FI, Italy
A proper nightcap at a local pub to wind down after a big day. Note: This place was cool, but a bit quiet on a Monday evening, so might be a better crowd/vibe closer to the weekend.
Cost: €18.00 total
DAY 3: Art, Pasta & Tuscan Sun (Tuesday)
Morning
Sightseeing - Uffizi Galleries: Piazzale degli Uffizi, 6, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy
Art time! We pre-booked our tickets. This is a must-see, but book well in advance to skip the queues!
Cost: Entry: €29.00 per person (pre-booked)
Lunch at Pizzeria Ginori: Via Ginori, 13R, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy
Tomato bruschetta, Nduja and burrata pizza, and a delicious white pizza. The perfect refueling stop!
Cost: €36.00 total
Gelato ice cream at Sbrino - Gelatificio Contadino: Via dei Serragli, 32r, 50124 Firenze FI, Italy
Don’t forget to take a ticket and follow the instructions! Haha!
Cost: 6-9 EUR approx
Shopping - Logout Records: Via della Ghiacciaia, 16R, 50144 Firenze FI, Italy
A quick stop for the music lovers in the group.
Browse: FREE
Dinner at Il Santo Bevitore: Via di Santo Spirito, 64R, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy
Steak tartare, wild boar tortellini, and focaccia. Paired with a gorgeous Brunello di Montalcino. Classy and delicious! (Sibling restaurant to the cute deli & bakery sForno
Cost €85.00 total
Night
Cocktails & Live Music at NOF: Borgo San Frediano, 17R, 50124 Firenze FI, Italy
Drinks and live music to finish the evening! The BEST Freddie Mercury Tribute Act I have EVER seen!
DAY 4: Cooking, Chianti & The Great Extend (Wednesday)
Day 4 outfit: layering oversized band tshirt (The K’s) over black midi dress, with leather jacket and trainers and my Ray-Ban sunglasses
Final breakfast at Alassio: Eggs Royale and granola with fruit and a flat white coffe (you get one free coffee per day as a Dis-loyalty member - just show your card on the app)
Breakfast at Alassio, The Hoxton Florence
Our final breakfast at the Hoxton before my solo adventure began!
Cost: €26.77 total (for three)
Masterclass - Pasta Making Class at Cooking Art Brunelleschi Via della Torre, 2, 50129 Firenze FI, Italy
My absolute favourite thing I did. A 2.5-hour class making ravioli, tortellini, and pappardelle. Chef Antonio is a star! See if you can get in his lesson and tell him Lucie the girl with the red hair from March says “Hi!” haha! (Pre-booked via Viator).
Cost: Approx £50 per person –and worth every penny!
Coffee & Canolli at Gilli: Via Roma, 1R, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy
A quick coffee and cake on the terrace, soaking up the sun and people-watching before the coach trip.
Afternoon
Sightseeing - Half-Day Tuscany Wine Tour
PRE-BOOK THIS! 2 pm coach departure for a 5-6 hour trip through the rolling hills. Our driver was hilarious!
Cost: Small-Group Wine Tasting Experience in the Tuscan Countryside - £76.25 per person
Taking a moment on my half day wine tour, to enjoy the stunning views at Casa Emma vineyard, looking out over the Tuscan countryside and rolling Chianti hills.
Stop 1: Casa Emma (Wine Tasting & Bought their Tu Dream red wine) and Stop 2: Fattoria Montecchio (Cellar tour, stunning terracotta stills, and incredible views).
Casa Emma: Via Casa Emma, 15, 50021 Località Casa Emma, FI, Italy Fattoria Montecchio: Via Montecchio, 4, 50026 San Casciano in Val di Pesa FI, Italy
Tasting Lunch (Included in Tour Price) Slap-up wine tasting and lunch (massive charcuterie spread). Tried: Fattoria Montecchio Chianti Classico Vendemmia 2022, Riserva 2017, La Papessa 2019, and Pietra Cupa 2019.
Evening
Check-in to Lunaria Suites
Extended my stay for two more nights but moved location! Early night needed after all that wine and travel.
DAY 5: Central Florence & Last Tastes of Tuscany (Thursday)
Day 5 outfit: wide leg jeans, cropped black vest, oversized sheer black shirt, trainers + leather jacket
Breakfast pastry and flat white at The Hoxton Florence
Morning
The Hoxton Florence (Lobby)
Grabbed a final breakfast pastry and flat white whilst catching up on emails in the stylish lobby.
Lunch at Gusta Pizza: Via Maggio, 46R, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy
Everyone raves about this spot. It’s small, busy, and the pizza is outstanding.
Cost: Approx 15-20 EUR total
Night
Dinner Date at Trattoria 4 Leoni: Via de' Vellutini, 1R, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy
A great dinner spot in the Oltrarno neighborhood. (And yes! Bumble IS a thing in Italy…)
Cost: Approx 40-50 EUR total
Sightseeing Stroll Around Florence
A final, beautiful stroll by night around the city.
Cost: FREE
More cool Florentine street art
DAY 6: Lucca & Departure (Friday)
Breakfast at Ditta Artigianale: Via dello Sprone, 3R, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy
A top-tier coffee spot. Eggs Florentine with bacon and a flat white. Grabbed some coffee beans to take home!
Cost: 15-20 EUR approx
Ice Cream Treat - Mancuso Gelati Italiani: Via dell'Ariento, 27R, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy
PISTACHIO GELATO. Don’t walk, run. It’s the best.
Cost: 5-9 EUR approx
Evening
Doll up, Dinner & Drive to Lucca
Dinner at Trattoria da Guilio (Via delle Conce, 45, 55100 Lucca LU, Italy) in Lucca to be closer to the Pisa airport for the early flight home. Tried some traditional dishes, but be warned: some of the more traditional offal/fish dishes require a strong stomach! This place feels rustic, rowdy and full of hundreds of kitchen tables overflowing with Italian families all talking over one another and gesticulating wildly in the most authentically Italian way - what a sight to behold!
Cost: Approx 30 - 40 EUR total
home time
Early flight back from Pisa to Manchester.
The Florence Trip Cost Breakdown (aPPROX Per Person)
This is a breakdown of the core shared and fixed costs, allowing you to estimate your own spending.
Total Cost (Approx.)
Flights: MAN-PSA Return (Ryanair) - £184.40
Accommodation: The Hoxton Florence (4 nights) - £668.35
Accomodation: Lunaria Suites (2-nights) - £321.00
Transport: Manchester Ubers (Return) - £63.12
Stand out dinners - costs (examples)
Trattoria da Tito Dinner - €96.50 total / €32.17 each
La Giostra Steak Dinner - €207.00 total / €69.00 each
Il Santo Bevitore Dinner - €85.00 total / €43.00 each
Drinks
Locale Firenze Cocktails & Nibbles - €80.00 total
Sightseeing, tours, tastings and cookery lessons :
Boboli Gardens Tickets - €10.00 each
Uffizi Galleries Tickets - €29.00 each
Cooking Art Brunescelli Pasta Class with unlimited wine - £52.85 approx pp
Small-Group Wine Tasting Experience in the Tuscan Countryside - £76.25 approx pp
Total: £1,575.81 approx (for one person)
Florence Top Tips & Travel Insights
Pre-Book Everything: Uffizi, Boboli, and any popular dinner spot like La Giostra must be booked well in advance, especially in peak season to avoid disappointment.
Use the Train to Pisa: Don't bother with expensive, less frequent flights to Florence. The train from Pisa is quick, cheap, and simple and taxis are SUPER expensive!
The Hoxton's 'Dis-Loyalty' Perks: If you sign up, you get one free coffee per day, which saves a few quid over the trip!
Enjoy THE best of The Best Italian red wines for a fraction of the price that you’d pay in the UK: stock up on Brunello and bring a few bottles home.
Go bold: If you are brave, try the traditional Florentine dishes! I'm a wimp with strong smells, but if you love traditional Italian cuisine, you'll find plenty of unique spots. The steak though is a MUST!
My Research List: Don't forget to check out the initial list of places I researched ahead of the trip for more ideas: Florence · Google Maps List. Is there anywhere I’ve missed that I should add to my ‘must-see’ list next time? Let me know!
✨ More Travel Inspiration
Heading to Rome next? Be sure to check out my solo blog post and itinerary for embracing romance and adventure in Italy's capital: Rome for Solo Souls: Embrace Romance and Adventure in 2 Unforgettable Nights.