Best tips for cruise holidays
in Florence

Planning a one-day holiday in Florence? Whether you’re hunting for the best 18-kt gold shopping spots, craving unforgettable dining experiences, or need hassle-free transport tips, we’ve got you covered. Dive into Florence like a pro, even with limited time on your hands.

Holidays in Florence - Shopping and Sightseeing

STORES OPENING HOURS:

Generally, in Florence, shops are open from 9:30 am – 1 pm. Riposo, Italian for the Siesta, is until 3 pm or 3:30 pm. In the afternoon, most days will close down by 7:30 pm.

However, Florence is a touristy place where shops in the centro storico stay open without siesta in the afternoon! Find out more in my article Shopping in Florence. If you want some good recommendations on shopping from local guides, check this tour:

MUSEUMS OPENING HOURS:

Closed on Mondays, Uffizzi Gallery and the Accademia included.

Have that in mind before booking your tickets online. Read more in our article on Florence Sights to See.

Of course, wait lines are hours long for all the museums in Florence. Tours and skip-the-line ticket owners always have advantage, the numbers of people they can let in at a time are limited so may not even get to enter after hours of waiting.

That is why booking skip-the-line option ticket is a must! Here I have prepared for you links for the quick access to top Florence museums:

USING CASH/ CARDS:

When on your cruise holidays in Florence, try to use cash even when shopping for bigger items like 18kt gold or leather. Many store owners are willing to give you a significantly better price for cash.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF TAX RETURN:

If you are not a resident/citizen of the European Union (EU), and you are spending over 150 Euros in one store at one time, ask for a tax back check in the store and claim the tax back!

STREET VENDORS:

Do not buy fake brand bags from street vendors! You could be heftily fined when going through the customs at the end of your Mediterranean cruise holidays in Florence! You could also be slapped with a large fine if caught while buying from the illegal street vendor.

GOLD:

If you’re a savvy shopper, do not buy gold on the Ponte Vecchio bridge. However, if money’s not an issue and you want to make your cruise holidays in Florence something really special, go ahead and get that gorgeous 18kt gold piece right there!

BOTTLED WATER:

Preferably buy it in local grocery stores/mini-markets, not the cafes/restaurants… you’ll be paying triple the price there.

BUYING FLORENCE ITALY LEATHER:

Remember, you get what you pay for. So…don’t buy cheap. If you are a serious leather buyer, you will not buy in the markets. In markets and cheap stores, what looks like leather isn’t necessarily leather, or is just simply the worst quality leather.
Sometimes, what you’re actually looking at can be just hide pulped and pressed into leather sheets, so it can rip easily. Also, most leather items you see in the markets are not made locally so if you do get something, don’t be surprised if you see exactly the same item in a Kusadasi, Turkey window a few days later! For half the price! That way, a special souvenir of your cruise holiday in Florence could turn into a bitter memory.

If you are a serious leather buyer, go to reputable stores only or take one of the shopping tours with local guides:

Holidays in Florence - Dining, Cafes, Restaurants

DINING:

When looking for a place to dine in Florence, look for the restaurants/trattorias in the side streets. Sitting on Piazza della Republica or Piazza della Signoria and people watching while enjoying your lunch certainly can be a memorable moment of your cruise holidays in Florence, but do it only if money is not in question.

SMOKING:

It is banned inside cafes or restaurants, but if you sit outside you might be surrounded with smokers.

HIDDEN COSTS

Beware of hidden costs when you dine out in Florence restaurants and trattorias.

Usually they are the cover charge (copperta, it includes the table setting and bread, anywhere from 5-10 Euros) and service charges. These additional charges should be pointed out on the menu, but even if they are, hardly anyone pays attention. So try and look for them before ordering so there’s no surprises, as they could increase your charge by 20%.

If the bill says Servicio Incluso (tip included), you won’t need to tip the waiter extra unless you are very happy with the service.

ICE-CREAM:

Fact is, everyone gets some gelato in Florence, and sometimes local stores really take advantage of it. Check the price of the scoop of your ice cream but also the price of the scone (sometimes there's an extra charge), before you get a shock!

For an experienced local gelato guide, try one of these tours:

TOURIST MENU:

You will oftentimes see these advertised in the restaurant’s windows. And yes, they can sound too good to be true so check if they include all the hidden charges: service (tip), cover charges, taxes…

If you want to feel relaxed while tasting the local food, we warmly recommend getting on one of the food tasting tours. Have you noticed they all have such high rates?

CAFES AND BARS:

Almost always, there are different prices between having your coffee/drink whilst sitting down, and standing inside by the bar.

There’s nothing wrong with sitting outside and enjoying people watching, after all you are on a cruise holiday in Florence, but just be ready for the bill when it arrives.

If you are into wines, you should definitely consider visiting Chianti region while in this part of the world:

florence restaurnats image, florence cafe image

Holidays in Florence - Safety and Getting Around

• SAFETY: Always keep your eye on your belongings.

In Florence occasional purse snatching happens, so keep it on the wall side of the pavement or between you and your partner when walking!

It’s better to carry your purse on your shoulder, keeping it closed under your armpit and not hanging in your hand. Follow this little tip to prevent your cruise holidays in Florence turning into a nightmare.

• TAXIS: You most probably won’t need to use one, unless you want to get from Florence train station to Piazza Santa Croce. So if you do, ask for the price in advance!

• GETTING AROUND: You don’t need the hop-on hop-off style buses when on your cruise holidays in Florence if you’re here for a day only… all the major sights are in the pedestrian area and cannot be reached with this kind of Florence transport!