The Arno and the bell tower of Santa Croce in the evening sun, Florence
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Luxury in Italy

Florence

The cradle of the Renaissance: palazzo hotels and villas on the hills, Brunelleschi’s dome and the Uffizi, and the vineyards of Chianti, Montalcino and the Val d’Orcia beyond.

The Arno at sunset, FlorencePhotograph: Fatih Altuntaş

Benvenuti

Where the Renaissance began

Florence is where the Renaissance began. In the fifteenth century the city's bankers, above all the Medici, paid for the artists who changed European art: Brunelleschi raised the great dome of the cathedral, finished in 1436, and Botticelli, Leonardo and Michelangelo all worked here.

The Uffizi holds the finest collection of Renaissance painting in the world, the Accademia keeps Michelangelo’s David, and the Ponte Vecchio still carries the goldsmiths’ shops across the Arno. The whole historic centre is World Heritage.

Beyond the city lies Tuscany: the hills of Chianti between Florence and Siena, the Brunello vineyards of Montalcino, and the cypress-lined Val d’Orcia. Many of the finest stays are on the hills above Florence or on the great country estates, with the city an easy drive away.

A few words of Italian
EnglishItalianSay it
HelloBuongiornobwohn-JOR-noh
PleasePer favorepehr fah-VOH-reh
Thank youGrazieGRAHT-see-eh
Good eveningBuonaserabwoh-nah-SEH-rah
The bill, pleaseIl conto, per favoreeel KOHN-toh, pehr fah-VOH-reh

Where to go

Florence at a glance

When to go and the one best hotel.

Florence

The cradle of the Renaissance, with Brunelleschi's dome, the Uffizi and Michelangelo's David at the Accademia. Its historic centre has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982.

Best time to visitApril to June, and September to October.

  • Stay
    Four Seasons Hotel Firenze

    A Renaissance palace and a former convent set in a private park, rated Forbes Five-Star for 2026 and holding three MICHELIN Keys.

Val d'Orcia, Tuscany

The landscape of southern Tuscany most often painted and photographed: cypress-lined roads, hill towns such as Pienza and Montalcino, and the Brunello vineyards. The Val d'Orcia was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004.

Best time to visitApril to June, and September to October.

  • Stay
    Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco

    A 2,000-hectare estate near Montalcino with its own Brunello winery and private golf course, holding three MICHELIN Keys.

Stay

Luxury hotels in Florence

The finest hotels in and around Florence: each rated Forbes Five-Star, holding two or three MICHELIN Keys, or among the 25 Finest Resorts of the Mediterranean.

Montalcino, Tuscany

Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco

A medieval hamlet and its estate of vineyards, woods and fields in the Val d'Orcia, south of Siena, restored by Massimo Ferragamo into suites and private villas.

The finest hotels

Each rated Forbes Five-Star or holding two or three MICHELIN Keys.

See all 13

Private villas and estates

  • The Best in ItalyFlorence

    Founded in 1982 by Count Girolamo and Countess Simonetta Brandolini d'Adda, it rents staffed castles, palaces, villas and country houses across Tuscany, Umbria, Rome, northern and southern Italy and the islands, and is still family-run. Visit website ↗

  • Villa Cetinalenear Siena

    A Baroque villa built from 1651 for Fabio Chigi, later Pope Alexander VII, and redesigned by Carlo Fontana in 1680; restored by Lord Lambton from 1977, it is now available for private rental, with three further houses on the estate. Visit website ↗

Dine

The best restaurants in Florence

The finest tables of Florence and around.

Three MICHELIN stars

Cruises

Florence by sea

How the ships arrive in Florence, and the luxury lines that call.

Florence's port is Livorno, about 90 km to the west and roughly an hour and a half by road, with Pisa on the way.

Of the luxury lines, Sea Cloud and Atlas Ocean Voyages begin and end voyages here.

The luxury lines that call here

From the lines' own 2026 and 2027 voyages. Ports change from season to season, so check the voyage before you reserve.

Luxury Cruise LinesSuites at Sea

Travel

First-class travel in Florence

The great hotel trains and first-class rail at our standard.

First-class rail

The top class on the scheduled high-speed trains, from city to city.

  • Trenitalia Frecciarossa, Executive

    The top class on Italy's high-speed Frecciarossa, in one carriage at the end of the train with only eight to ten leather seats that recline and swivel, a dedicated steward and a meeting room. Visit website ↗

  • Italo, Club Executive

    The top class of Italo, Italy's private high-speed operator, with leather armchairs in interiors by Giugiaro and a choice of seat. Visit website ↗

The hotel trains

Overnight journeys in restored carriages.

  • Venice Simplon-Orient-Express: Paris to Venice

    Belmond's restored 1920s and 1930s Art Deco carriages run the train's signature overnight route between Paris and Venice in both directions, with variants via Verona and via Florence, across a season that runs from March to December. Visit website ↗

  • La Dolce Vita Orient Express: Rome-based journeys across Italy

    Italy's own luxury train, in service since 2025, with 1960s-inspired cabins and suites by Dimorestudio and dining overseen by chef Heinz Beck. Visit website ↗

Shop

Luxury shopping in Florence

The shopping streets, jewellers, ateliers, auction houses, galleries and car showrooms of Florence.

The great shopping streets

  • Via de' TornabuoniFlorence

    The palace-lined street from Piazza Antinori to the Santa Trinita bridge, where Gucci has long had its Florence flagship and Ferragamo has kept its headquarters in Palazzo Spini Feroni since 1938, with Cartier, Hermès, Prada and Fendi nearby. Visit website ↗

Jewellers and watchmakers

  • PaneraiPiazza San Giovanni, Florence

    Founded in Florence in 1860 as a watch shop, workshop and school; its boutique facing the Baptistery has stood on Piazza San Giovanni since 1926 and keeps a working watchmaker's bench. Visit website ↗

Artisan ateliers

  • Stefano BemerVia San Niccolò, Florence

    A Florentine shoemaker offering fully bespoke shoes with its own lasts and signature fiddleback waist; it also owns the Florentine tailoring house Sartoria Vestrucci. Visit website ↗

  • Scuola del CuoioSanta Croce, Florence

    The leather school founded after the Second World War by the Franciscan friars of Santa Croce with the Gori and Casini leather families to teach war orphans a trade; it still makes leather goods by hand, including to order. Visit website ↗

  • Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria NovellaFlorence

    The historic pharmacy and perfumery of the Dominican convent of Santa Maria Novella, which dates its history to 1221. Visit website ↗

  • Ginori 1735 (Richard-Ginori)Sesto Fiorentino

    The porcelain manufactory founded in 1735 by Marchese Carlo Andrea Ginori at Doccia, on the family estate outside Florence.

Auction houses

  • Pandolfini Casa d'AsteFlorence

    Founded in 1924 and based in Palazzo Ramirez-Montalvo on Borgo degli Albizi, Pandolfini is one of Italy's leading auction houses, with sales of old masters, furniture, silver, fine wine and Asian art in Florence and modern and contemporary art and books in Milan. Visit website ↗

Art galleries

The great marques

Official showrooms, most by appointment.

The Great Marques: showrooms, factories and cars to hire ›

Experience

Events and things to do in Florence

The Florence year: the great events, month by month; each event's own website gives this year's dates.

The great museums

Private access

Doors that open by arrangement.

  • Truffle hunting with Savini TartufiForcoli (Pisa), Tuscany

    The truffle house takes guests into its own woods with its hunters and trained dogs, followed by a truffle menu with local wines at its headquarters; cooking classes and its Truffle Academy can be added. Visit website ↗

Wine estates that receive visitors

  • Antinori nel Chianti ClassicoBargino (Tuscany)

    The Antinori family's winery, designed by Marco Casamonti and ranked first in the World's Best Vineyards in 2022, offers three tasting tours, private experiences and the Rinuccio 1180 restaurant overlooking the vineyards. Visit website ↗

  • Tenuta dell'OrnellaiaBolgheri (Tuscany)

    One of the founding estates of the Bolgheri "Super Tuscan" reds, which receives visitors through its hospitality programme. Visit website ↗

Live

Luxury real estate in Florence

A home in Florence: the agencies and advisers at our standard, for the purchase and for life after it.

Prime real estate

  • Lionard Luxury Real EstateFlorence

    Italian luxury specialist with offices in Florence, Milan, Rome, Naples, Venice, Porto Cervo and Forte dei Marmi, handling villas, castles and estates in Tuscany, Liguria, Sardinia and Capri. Visit website ↗

  • Romolini ImmobiliareTuscany

    Exclusive Christie's International Real Estate affiliate since 2008, specialising in historic properties, wine estates and villas in Tuscany, Umbria, the Amalfi Coast, Monte Argentario and Sardinia. Visit website ↗

All the leading agencies in Italy ›

Looking for a home in Florence? Write to [email protected] and we will introduce you, in confidence, to the right agency.

Private banks and advisers

International schools

  • International School of FlorenceFlorence

    An IB school for ages 3 to 18 offering the Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma programmes, serving families across Florence and Tuscany. Visit website ↗

Plan your trip

Luxury travel in Florence and the Mediterranean: your questions answered

Plan your journey to Florence

Where is Florence?

In Tuscany in central Italy, on the river Arno. Florence airport takes smaller private jets and is about 15 minutes from the centre; Pisa airport is about an hour away, and Rome is under 90 minutes by high-speed train.

What is Florence famous for?

The Renaissance: the Duomo and Brunelleschi’s dome, the Uffizi, Michelangelo’s David and the Ponte Vecchio, the Medici, Tuscan cooking and the wine country of Chianti and Montalcino.

Which are the best restaurants in Florence?

The three-MICHELIN-star table on our list for Florence: Enoteca Pinchiorri.

Do you tip in Florence?

Not obligatory; a service charge (servizio) may already be on the bill. Leaving a few euros, or up to about 10% for excellent service, is appreciated. Taxis: rounding up is enough. Luxury hotels: porters €2–5 a bag, housekeeping €5–10 a day, €10–20 for a helpful concierge.

What should you wear in Florence?

Shoulders and knees covered in churches; carry a light scarf or layer. Elegant, well-cut dress for fine dining.

Beyond Florence

More in Italy

The rest of Italy, and the Mediterranean beyond.

ItalyLuxury Italy Holidays: Amalfi Coast & CapriExplore ItalyThe MediterraneanTwenty-two countries and Gibraltar, first class onlyExplore the MediterraneanPlan your journeyFrom your home to Florence, with the costsOpen the trip planner

Customs and etiquette

Customs and etiquette in Florence

How Italy does things.

Language
Italian. English is widely spoken in luxury hotels and leading restaurants in Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan and the main coastal resorts; less so in the countryside.
Greetings
A handshake on first meeting; cheek kisses among friends and family. Titles matter: dottore / dottoressa for anyone with a university degree, signore / signora otherwise.
Dress
Shoulders and knees covered in churches; carry a light scarf or layer. Elegant, well-cut dress for fine dining.
Dining
Lunch about 1–3 pm; dinner from about 8 pm, often 9.30 pm or later in the big cities and in summer. Book ahead for good restaurants. A per-person cover charge (coperto) for bread and table setting is normal and is not a tip. Ask for the bill; it will not arrive until you do.
Tipping
Not obligatory; a service charge (servizio) may already be on the bill. Leaving a few euros, or up to about 10% for excellent service, is appreciated. Taxis: rounding up is enough. Luxury hotels: porters €2–5 a bag, housekeeping €5–10 a day, €10–20 for a helpful concierge.
Good to know
Smaller shops often close for a midday break and on Sunday. Many towns fine people for sitting on monument steps or eating and drinking beside major churches and monuments; entering or bathing in public fountains is an offence in many cities, including Rome and Florence, and swimming in Venice's canals is banned. Taking sand, shells or pebbles from the coast is illegal.
Tourist tax
Venice charges day visitors an access fee on set days from April to July, from €5 booked in advance; guests staying overnight in the city are exempt but must register online.

Every list on this page is checked by hand and dated: last checked October 2026. Hotels, restaurants and events link only to their own official websites, where confirmed.

The Mediterranean Season Letter

Where to be, every season

Four letters a year, one for each season: the Mediterranean from spring to autumn, and Beyond the Mediterranean, into the Alps, in winter. The one best hotel to book, and the events worth crossing a sea for.