Hidden gems in Florence: Unique things to do in this artful city
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Florence is one of the most visited cities in Italy, and many paths are well-trodden. But beyond the Uffizi queues and Duomo crowds, there's another Florence waiting. These are the spots I return to every visit: the tucked-away museums, the quiet churches, the rooftop bars where locals go for aperitivo. The kind of places that make you slow down.
After several visits, I've built up a list of hidden gems that feel genuinely Florentine. Some are art-historically significant but somehow overlooked. Others are just wonderful accidents you stumble across while wandering. This is the Florence that makes you want to stay longer.
Hidden gems in the centre
Church and Museum of Orsanmichele
Orsanmichele is highly historically significant, yet most visitors to Florence never see it. Even fewer know about the tower, which offers one of the best views in the city.
You need to book a timed ticket in advance by visiting the kiosk during the morning, then come back later to be guided through the church to the museum holding sculptures by Donatello and Ghiberti. Continue higher to reach the tower with views over the Duomo and Palazzo Vecchio. The moment I loved most was standing at those gothic windows as golden sunlight slanted through.
Museo di Palazzo Davanzati
Palazzo Davanzati is a 14th-century nobleman's residence that now functions as a house museum. Unlike Florence's art-heavy museums, this one shows you how upper-class Florentines actually lived.
The rooms have names like the Hall of Parrots and the Chamber of Peacocks, both with colourful medieval frescoes. Inside you'll find a rare internal well on every floor (an incredible luxury for the time) and a kitchen on the top floor to keep heat away from living spaces in summer. The lace and embroidery collection is exceptional.
Fotoautomatica booths
Scattered around Florence are old film photobooths. Real ones, not digital recreations. Search "fotoautomatica" on Google Maps and you'll see several locations pop up. They're charming throwbacks that make better souvenirs than most things you'll find in shops. There's one near the Bargello, another near S. Forno in Oltrarno.
Giovanni Baccani (The Blue Shop)
A gallery and picture framer with an exceptionally beautiful interior. Worth looking in even if you're not buying. The space itself is gorgeous, all ornate detailing and careful curation.
Palazzo Strozzi
Once a Renaissance palace, now a gallery that often shows contemporary exhibitions. I’ve been to see Olafur Eliasson, Helen Frankenthaler, and Fra Angelico here. The inner courtyard is open to everyone and often hosts interesting work. It's a breath of fresh air in a city dominated by Renaissance art.
Odeon Cinema
An old cinema turned bookstore that still plays films on the big screen. You can sit and work or rest in the balcony area above. Very classic Florentine.
Da' Vinattieri
Home to the best sandwich I've ever eaten. This tiny hole-in-the-wall near the Duomo serves lampredotto (Florentine tripe) for the brave, and schiacciata sandwiches for everyone else. My order: ricotta, soppressata, and orange. Around €5. Next door to Dante’s Church.
Santa Margherita de' Cerchi (Dante's Church)
Right next door to Da' Vinattieri is one of Florence's oldest churches, dating back to 1032. Tucked down a narrow alley, this tiny chapel is known as Dante's Church because it's believed to be where nine-year-old Dante first saw Beatrice Portinari, his lifelong muse. Dante also married Gemma Donati here.
The church holds tombs of the Portinari family, including what's claimed to be Beatrice's tomb (though this is probably fake, she likely would have been buried in Santa Croce with her husband's family). Still, visitors leave notes and letters at the tomb asking Beatrice to protect their love. The altarpiece by Neri di Bicci is beautiful. Free to enter.
Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella
The flagship store of the Santa Maria Novella fragrance brand is becoming more popular now, but I still think it counts as a hidden gem because most tourists miss it. It's on Via della Scala near the station, tucked away from the main tourist routes.
The shop is housed in a 13th-century building that was once a pharmacy run by Dominican friars. The space is extraordinary: vaulted ceilings, hand-carved wooden panels, rows of glass cabinets displaying perfumes like museum pieces. It's probably the most beautiful shop in Florence. The perfumes are excellent too, if you want something that doesn't smell like every duty-free in Europe.
Where to stay in Florence
Here are my picks of hotels with a charming or authentic vibe. In order of increasing price range.
Hotel Cestelli - (pictured) Budget friendly and good for solo travellers
Relais Cavalcanti Guest House - I loved my stay in this cosy guest house
Room Mate Luca - that chic, modern Italian vibe
Park Palace Hotel - Tuscan villa with a pool
Hidden gems in Oltrarno
Basilica of Santo Spirito
Santo Spirito is the main church in my favourite area of Florence. Designed by Filippo Brunelleschi in 1444, it's a testament to Renaissance architectural principles: harmonious proportions, geometric precision. The sacristy holds a Michelangelo crucifix.
But the real draw is the piazza. Santo Spirito is one of the liveliest, most authentic squares in Florence – regular markets, bustling bars and restaurants, locals actually living their lives. It's where Florence still feels like Florence.
Brancacci Chapel
It took me four visits to Florence before I finally saw the Brancacci Chapel. The frescoes are foundational to art history, yet the chapel stays relatively quiet.
In 1424, wealthy merchant Felice Brancacci commissioned Masolino da Panicale to paint scenes from the life of St. Peter. When Masolino left for Hungary, his young assistant Masaccio took over and created some of the most revolutionary paintings of the early Renaissance. His use of scientific perspective, unified lighting, and chiaroscuro broke from medieval tradition. Young Michelangelo came here to study and copy the figures. You get 30 minutes with your timed ticket. Book ahead.
Bardini Gardens
The Bardini Gardens combine three distinct garden styles across four hectares: a central Baroque staircase with six mosaic fountains, an English woodland with a rare canal, and an agricultural park with traditional Tuscan fruit trees.
The panoramic views are extraordinary. Ponte Vecchio, Palazzo Vecchio, and the Duomo all visible from the Belvedere terrace. If you're there in late April, the wisteria tunnel is spectacular.
Giardino dell'Iris
The Iris Garden is a botanical treasure dedicated to irises, established in the 1950s through an international competition for new iris varieties. It's only open a few weeks per year in early May during the "Iris Bloom" festival.
Situated below Piazzale Michelangelo, the terraced garden showcases rare iris species and provides scenic views of Florence's skyline. I've never managed to time a visit correctly, but it's on my bucket list.
Loggia Roof Bar at Hotel Palazzo Guadagni
Before dinner in Santo Spirito, head to the rooftop terrace at Hotel Palazzo Guadagni for aperitivo. The views stretch over the piazza and across Florence's rooftops, the drinks are good, the staff are friendly. It's atmospheric without being pretentious, just a perfect spot to watch evening light over the city.
S. Forno
My favourite bakery in Florence. The simple white shop sells incredible bakes. I always get budini di riso (a Florentine rice pudding tart), but there are dozens of other treats. I returned day after day on my most recent visit. It's right next to a fotoautomatica photobooth.
Il Conventino
A well-loved community space and cafe in a former convent. Beautiful setting, perfect for a casual lunch, and genuinely feels like where locals go. They serve delicious pizzas at reasonable prices. You might get lucky and find a flea market on when you visit.
La Cité
A really sweet cafe tucked away in Santa Croce. Cozy atmosphere with lamplight, tea and cakes. Nice place to rest when you need a break from sightseeing.
Hidden gems near Santa Croce
Scuola del Cuoio (Leather School)
Hidden behind Santa Croce Basilica, through a discreet archway to the left of the church facade, is one of the most fascinating shopping experiences in Florence. The Scuola del Cuoio was founded in 1950 by Franciscan friars and the Gori family as a social project to teach war orphans a trade. Now it's run by the founder's three daughters and their children, and it's still a working school.
You walk through what was once the monks' dormitory, designed by Michelozzo, with frescoes still visible on the vaulted ceilings. You can watch students learning to cut, stitch, and gild leather using Renaissance techniques. Everything is handmade on-site.
Mercato delle Pulci (Flea Market)
The real treasure is behind the main Sant'Ambrogio food market. Dozens of antique and flea market stalls selling homeware, antique paintings, textiles, old linens, ribbons, lace. I wished I had a project in mind when I visited because there's so much to dig through. Mornings are best.
Cibreo Caffe
Retro wood-panelled interior, nice spot for breakfast. Classic Florentine style with tables spilling out onto the street.
Pasticceria Nencioni
Delicious local bakery, super crowded and popular with Florentines. You have to order over the heads of Italians drinking their morning cappuccino, but it's worth it. The pastries are excellent, the atmosphere is authentically chaotic.
Hidden gems in San Lorenzo & San Marco
Museo Sant'Orsola
Sant'Orsola is a former convent founded in 1309, later converted into a tobacco factory under Napoleon, then used as a refugee centre, then abandoned for decades. In 2020 it was purchased for renovation into Florence's first contemporary art centre, scheduled to open in 2026.
During construction, they're hosting temporary exhibitions and film screenings in the industrial spaces. I saw a contemporary art exhibition there and had the experience of wandering the vast spaces as the only person inside. Very quiet, very ghostly in a good way. The building also houses the tomb of Monna Lisa Gherardini (the presumed model for Leonardo's Mona Lisa), who was buried here in 1542.
Caffè Lietta
Way up in Piazza della Libertà, Caffè Lietta specializes in piruli (shortbread tarts filled with custard) and budini di riso. The terrace beneath the portico is lovely. Perfect for trying renowned Florentine desserts in a relaxed setting away from tourist crowds.
Museo Marino Marini
Florence isn't known for modern art, but the Museo Marino Marini is a dedicated space for the work of Italian sculptor Marino Marini (1901–1980). Housed in a former church, it showcases his expressive modern sculptures, particularly his recurring equestrian theme. The contrast works beautifully.
Museo Novecento
Located in a former hospital, Museo Novecento is dedicated to 20th-century Italian art. It's a comprehensive journey through modern and contemporary Italian movements. The building itself is beautiful. Good if you want a break from Renaissance overload.
Further out
Museo Stibbert
The Museo Stibbert is housed in the former residence of Frederick Stibbert, an English collector who assembled an eclectic collection of armour, weapons, costumes, and art from various cultures and periods.
One standout is the impressive collection of European, Islamic, and Japanese armours. A fascinating glimpse into warfare and craftsmanship across centuries. The opulent rooms and lush gardens enhance the experience. It's a bit out of the city centre but not difficult to reach via bus or taxi.
Giardino dell'Orticoltura
Dating back to the mid-19th century, this garden started as an experimental space for a horticultural society and evolved into a public botanical garden. It's become a cultural hotspot hosting events and exhibitions.
During summer evenings, it offers a great viewpoint for sunset with outdoor bars and good vibes. The enormous glass greenhouse is spectacular. Locals love it, tourists rarely find it.
Final thoughts
I can give you a list of hidden gems worth seeking out, but one of the best things about Florence is the random little places you'll stumble across while wandering. The artisan tradition is genuinely alive here: families who've been binding books or making leather goods for generations, not recreations of what that used to look like.
Pick a neighbourhood, walk slowly, let yourself get distracted. The best spots are usually the ones you find by accident because you glanced through a ground-floor window and saw someone working at a press.
The best shopping in Florence, including the most beautiful shopfronts, artisan shops, and ornate flagship stores in Firenze.