How to Spend the Perfect Sunday in Florence

Last Updated on 22nd August 2024 by Sophie Nadeau

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Sunday’s are for exploring, and what better way to spend a perfect Sunday than in a city so beautiful it’s nicknamed “La Bella“. Florence is a magical pocket of Renaissance architecture, renowned for its plethora of historical sights and distinguished cultural heritage…and we haven’t even got started on the gastronomic delights of the city!

Here’s your ultimate guide on how to spend the perfect Sunday in Florence, and live your Italian dream!

Free Museum Day

Every first Sunday of the month the majority of the most important state monuments of Florence are made completely free to enter! Over 430 museums, sites and monuments throughout Italy allow both tourists and locals alike to explore and enjoy some of the most ancient sights of Italy on this day.

So with that in mind, if you are planning a trip to Italy and have the option to do so, I highly suggest aiming to be there for the first Sunday of the month!

Is everything closed in Florence on a Sunday?

No, a surprising number of things are open, particularly if you go to the more touristy locations.

Supermarkets tend to be open but have reduced opening hours (typically they’ll only be open for a few hours in the late morning and early afternoon). With this being said, smaller shops and independent corner shops may be closed.

Banks are usually closed but ATMs which are not inside of the bank will still be open. With this being said, I would aim to withdraw any cash you might need within banking hours in case you encounter a problem.

During our most recent trip to Florence at the end of 2023, we found that the majority of places we visited (except a few hole-in-the-wall eateries) tended to accept all major credit cards (except Amex which still tends to be pretty hit-and-miss in Europe).

Post offices are closed in Italy on Sundays and there are no postal deliveries or pickups. Therefore if you want to purchase some stamps for any postcards you might want to send, be sure to send them from Monday through to Saturday!

Are churches accessible in Florence on a Sunday?

Florence Duomo is closed on Sundays to visit, but several masses are held throughout the day (see more information below) so you can only enter if you are attending mass. However, this is not the case for all churches and some are still open, just with reduced opening hours that work around the mass service.

Best things to do in Florence on a Sunday

Attend a Mass

If you’re religious then you’ll probably already be planning to attend a church service and as the city homes over 100 churches, there are many to choose from. The times of mass are likely to be different to that of where you’re travelling from, so be sure to look online in advance.

A profound way to experience and attend mass is at the city’s most treasured and iconic sacred space, Florence Cathedral. There are several masses held on Sundays in the cathedral, typically the services happen at 7:30 AM, 9 AM, 10:30 AM (featuring Gregorian chant), 12 PM, and 6 PM. For those visiting for mass, the entrance is on the south side.

If you wish to attend a mass in English, this usually happens on a Saturday at 5 PM.

Go for brunch

The ultimate relaxing way to start a Sunday is to brunch! The combination of a meal eaten too late in the morning to be breakfast but too early in the day to be considered lunch. Here are a few suggestions of where to enjoy brunch in Florence (based on web reviews):

• Porcontento Breakfast & Brunch – A delightful spot to enjoy brunch, tucked away on a side street this café has an outdoor terrace, and serves delicious homemade Italian food in a charming setting.
• Melaleuca Firenze – Located beside the River Arno, this bakery bistrot serves delicious iced coffee, plenty of vegetarian options and offers a variety of different cuisines!
• Lunetta Café – Warm and cosy, with options of fresh juice, bagels, and speciality coffees.

Brunch is a relatively new addition to Italy, hence why a lot of the spots serving brunch offer cuisine which is more American-style. To start your day like a true local, begin with coffee! Italian breakfasts are often in the form of sweet foods like a cornetto (Italian croissant), biscotti or just a simple piece of cake.

Head out on a day trip

If you’re planning to spend more than one day in Florence, you may as well consider visiting other areas around the city. Whether it is the charming Tuscany countryside, ancient medieval towns, or iconic Italian markets, its somewhat central location makes it an amazing departing point to pick among dozens of delightful day trips from Florence.

Relax in the Boboli Gardens

One of the more popular gardens in Florence is the Boboli Gardens, a historical park which first opened to the public in 1766. Located on the other side of the River Arno from the Duomo and historic city centre, these illustrious gardens are filled with fountains, and sculptures, and boast beautiful views over Florence.

Boboli Gardens is open on Sundays from 8:15 AM – 6:30 PM and they are free on the first Sunday of the month, so if you can take advantage of this and aim to visit then! Regular admission starts from €10.

Go for a walk through the city centre

There’s no better way to soak up Florence than wandering through the historical streets and taking in the charm of the city. Though every day is pretty crowded in Florence, if you go for a walk early on a Sunday morning, you’ll find the city much less crowded than much of the rest of the time as weekend revellers recover from the night before!

Wander along the River Arno

The major river which flows from the Apennines through Florence and into the Ligurian Sea below Pisa is the River Arno. It is one of the most important waterways in central Italy, along with the river Tiber.

A slow and gentle walk along the water’s edge is one of the most idyllic activities to do, particularly if you’re looking to have a long and lazy Sunday in Florence. It also allows you to take in the city from a different perspective as you pass by most of the city’s historic sights and monuments.

Head to a market

Spend some of your Sunday wandering around one of the many markets of Florence. Brimming with local delights and treasures, it’s a perfect opportunity to scout out what the city has to offer. It’s also a great spot to pick up a picnic hamper and take to one of the local parks. Here are some of the markets you don’t want to miss:

• San Lorenzo Market – Easily Florence’s most famous market, San Lorenzo comprises two markets, indoor and outdoor. The indoor market is known as Central Market, where all the good food awaits, the outside market sells souvenirs, leather goods and vintage clothes. Open 9 AM – midnight daily.
• Mercato del Porcellino – This small 16th-century covered market is characterised by statues and its iconic fountain and holds a special place in both local Florentines’ and tourists’ hearts. Translated as ‘market of the little pig’ you can rub the statue of the porcellino for good luck! Open 9AM – 6:30 PM.
• Mercato Nuovo – This small ‘new market’ specialises in leather goods. Open 9 AM – 6:30 PM.
• Mercato di Santo Spirito – Florence flea market, here you are bound to find hidden treasures to take home and remember your trip by. It’s also a great spot to people watch. Open 8:30 AM – 5 PM.

Tour the wine windows

One of the most fun aspects of Florence, if you enjoy wine, is to visit the wine windows of the city. These small arched windows in the side of otherwise unassuming walls throughout the city and are known in Italian as ‘Buchette del vino’  which translates as ‘little wine doors’.

The little openings were created to serve food and drink while maintaining as little human contact as possible while avoiding the plague (and as a way of avoiding expensive city taxes). After all, only a hand or arm can fit through these little openings. The buchette are typically around 30cm tall and 15cm wide.

Today, almost 150 wine windows remain in the city centre of Florence. However, it should be noted that the majority of these are walled/ bricked off and only a handful are in use as wine windows now.

Take a cooking class

Italian food is world-famous thanks to its simplicity and great taste, so where better in the world to try and make fresh pasta from? Spend a long and lazy Sunday making (and tasting) some of Italy’s most famous pasta dishes.

By the 14th century, pasta had become a staple in the Italian diet. Some of the most famous pasta dishes to try in Florence are:

• Truffle pasta – Warming and buttery, thanks to the city’s proximity to Tuscany, which is famous for its abundance of truffles, this is sure to be the most mouthwatering truffle dish you can get!
• Pappardelle al cinghiale (wild boar pasta) – A Tuscan classic, long flat ribbons of pasta (thicker than tagliatelle) holding the delicious sauce of boar ragu.
• Pici all’aglione – Simply thick hand-rolled pasta tossed in olive oil and garlic.

You can discover more about cooking in Florence here by reading our complete cooking class in Florence guide.

Find the best gelato spot in town!

Gelato translates as frozen in Italian and is a delicious ice cream that has a history dating back to the 16th century. Rumours say Florence is the origin place of gelato, though there’s no firm evidence on the matter.

We visited Vivoli, the oldest gelateria in Florence. Serving delicious gelato since 1929, Vivoli’s wooden-panelled ice cream bar and traditional exterior add to the charm of buying a sweet treat from here.

Watch the sunset over Florence

Undoubtedly the best way to end any day is by watching the sunset. Watching the sun melt over Florence is one of the most enchanting experiences when visiting the city, as you watch the warming tones of orange and yellow fade across the iconic terracotta-roofed buildings of the city. To find out the best views from which to watch the sunset, read our where to find the best viewpoints in Florence guide.

For even more Florence inspiration, be sure to check out our suggested guides for spending one day in Florence, how to spend 3 days in Florence, and the top day trips from Florence. For those looking to visit Tuscany, be sure to check out our suggestions for spending one week in Tuscany.

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