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If you’re looking for the best views in Florence, have I got the post for you! I literally ran around Florence like a madwoman photographing all the top spots so I could share them with you!
I love Florence, and have loved it since studying here 20 years ago (!). I know this city extremely well.
In this post, I will share the 18 most spectacular views of Florence, all of which I have personally visited (except for the one tower that is rarely open), with my own personal photos, as well as information on the logistics of tickets you’ll need and how to get there.
I also have a section on the best spots for selfies, because not all great photography locations translate into great selfies, and what I think are the absolute best of the best viewpoints in Florence.
My goal is for you to use your limited time in Florence wisely, and to get photos you’ll treasure forever.
If you want to get great photos from Florence, read on! (And be sure to check out my guide to the best things to do in Florence, as well as the best day trips from Florence!) Let’s dive on in!
This post was published in August 2024.
View from Giotto’s Bell Tower (Campanile)
Giotto’s Bell Tower is one of the absolute best views of Florence, in my opinion. The bell tower, or campanile, is right next to the Duomo, so you have a good view of the Duomo, just about as close as you can get to it!
I also think this is one of the better choices of towers to climb if you have kids. There are three viewing platforms as you ascend the tower, which have plenty of room and are good spots to catch your breath, and the entire place is wired in, making it impossible to fall out (unlike the Duomo, where I nearly had a heart attack as a five-year-old leaned over the edge).
Of course, the wire is a problem for photographers with DSLR cameras. I couldn’t manage to get a good photo with my DSLR without having the wires ruining the shot. I did, however, get excellent photos from my phone. So that’s something to keep in mind.
How to see the view of Florence from Giotto’s Bell Tower: Buy one of the three cathedral passes that allows you to visit the Duomo (excluding the climb), the Baptistery, and the bell tower. You can buy online or at the tourism office on the southern side of Piazza del Duomo. From there you’ll have freedom to climb the tower within the time slot of the ticket.
View from the Arnolfo Tower at the Palazzo Vecchio
My other favorite view of Florence is from the Arnolfo Tower (Torre di Arnolfo) sticking out from the Palazzo Vecchio, overlooking Piazza della Signoria. This view gives you and up-close-and-personal view of the Duomo at eye level. It almost looks like a drone shot!
There are multiple levels leading up to the viewing platform, giving you different views of the city.
Do know that it’s VERY easy to buy the wrong kind of ticket here — I actually messed it up on my first try. And while it might not be the most popular place in Florence, I still strongly encourage you to book your spot in advance.
How to see the view of Florence from the Palazzo Vecchio: Buy a ticket from the official site here, and on the tab that says “Choose the type of ticket,” choose “Arnolfo Tower.” Do not keep it on the default, which is “Museo di Palazzo Vecchio.” That will only give you access to the museum, and not the tower itself. It’s “Arnolfo Tower” all the way!
View from the Duomo
Climbing the Duomo in Florence is a must on many travelers’ bucket lists! But honestly, it’s not my personal favorite. Climbing the Duomo is like climbing the Eiffel Tower or Empire State Building — sure, it’s a tall building, but you don’t see the iconic building of the city because you’re in it!
That said, I totally understand the draw of climbing the dome designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, which really does give you a panoramic view of the whole city.
One thing you should know, especially if you have kids, is that there’s no barrier at the top. I did worry about the five-year-old on our tour leaning over the edge, but his parents kept a close eye on him.
It is beyond essential to book this activity in advance, as it’s one of the top three sites in Florence that sell out far in advance (the other two are the Uffizi and the Accademia). Even on my recent visit in March, it was sold out for the next four days. So book it early, especially if you’re visiting during the warmer months!
How to see the view of Florence from the Duomo: If you want to splurge, I recommend doing the after-hours tour of Brunelleschi’s Dome to visit the Florence cathedral after it’s closed — you and your tour will be the only ones there — and get access to the private terrace.
Alternatively, you can book a combination ticket that includes both climbing the dome and visiting David at the Accademia — two activities that I strongly urge booking in advance, no matter what time of year you’re visiting.
View from La Rinascente
La Rinascente is a department store chain in Italy. And several of their stores have cafes on the roof with excellent views of the surrounding city. (The one in Palermo is a delight, as is the one in Rome.)
But the view from La Rinascente in Florence has been one of my absolute favorites since my time studying abroad! It’s right on Piazza della Repubblica, and the rooftop cafe gives you an excellent up-close-and-personal view of the Duomo!
All it costs is the cost of whatever you eat or drink up here. That said — last time I was here, the service was abysmal, and I literally waited for 30 minutes, signaled the waitstaff multiple times, and nobody came to take my order. After that, I just gave up and left. Oh well. Free photos!
How to see the view of Florence from La Rinascente: The main entrance to La Rinascente is on Piazza della Repubblica. Take the escalators or the elevator to the top floor, then climb the final staircase to the cafe. Unfortunately there’s no elevator to the very top.
View from Piazzale Michelangelo
If you’re looking for the ultimate sunset view of Florence, Piazzale Michelangelo is THE place to go. Just know that you won’t be alone — as one of the most popular tourist attractions in Florence, you’ll be sharing the view with hundreds of your fellow travelers, along with some street musicians!
Be sure to double-check the sunset time before you go. And remember — it’s an amateur move to leave as soon as the sun sets! Stick around and you’ll continue to have gorgeous photos as the light changes, especially if you have a cloud-streaked sky. And then you get blue hour, which is incredible from here…
How to see the view of Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo: It couldn’t be easier — there’s a huge parking lot with a large staircase and plenty of room to spread out. You may want to combine this visit with the Rose Garden and/or San Miniato al Monte, as both are close by.
View from the Rose Garden
A stone’s throw from Piazzale Michelangelo is the Rose Garden, an incredible spot for photos in Florence. The garden is home to more than 400 varieties of roses, as well as lots of different kinds of plants and fruit trees.
This happens to be one of my favorite views in Florence, particularly if you’re visiting while the roses are bloom (spring and summer are good bets). Don’t miss the Japanese garden within the garden, which was a gift from Florence’s sister city of Kyoto.
How to see the view of Florence from the Rose Garden: The Rose Garden is free to enter and has gorgeous views throughout. I recommend stopping here before visiting Piazzale Michelangelo.
View from San Miniato al Monte
The church of San Miniato al Monte is a short walk up from Piazzale Michelangelo — and while there are certainly plenty of fellow travelers here, it’s not nearly as crowded by comparison. This church has a similar view, but is further back.
San Miniato al Monte has a very different feel from the other churches in Florence — rather than being a hallmark of the Renaissance, this church dates back to the year 1018. Though touches of Renaissance art were added centuries later, it always make me feel a bit off-kilter here. (I swear this church has ghosts. I can sense them.)
There are staircases leading up to the church from the road, and you have excellent views of the Florence skyline all the way up. From the top, you’ll have a view over some graves of the fascinating cemetery.
How to see the view of Florence from San Miniato al Monte: From Piazzale Michelangelo, head uphill along Via Galileo until you reach the staircases, then head up to the church. The church and cemetery are free to visit.
View from the Boboli Gardens
The Boboli Gardens are one of the nicest green spaces in Florence, located in the Oltrarno, south of the river. The gardens, designed for the Medici family, are located behind the Palazzo Pitti (Pitti Palace), which has an excellent collection of art.
Finding the view is actually a bit of a challenge, because you can’t see it from most of the garden. You need to walk over to the Kaffeehaus, the pale green building on the far left of the gardens after you walk in. The view of the Duomo and the city skyline can be viewed from one side of the building.
The view is a LITTLE bit obscured here, but I think it’s still worth seeing!
How to see the view of Florence from the Boboli Gardens: Tickets to the Boboli Gardens are available on their own, but you can also buy combination tickets that include the Pitti Palace. The Pitti Palace is wonderful, and I recommend visiting if you have time and are not art-ed out.
You can get skip-the-line tickets to the Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens here, or for just the gardens, skip-the-line tickets to the Boboli Gardens here.
View from the Bardini Gardens
Now, the Bardini Gardens are lesser-known in Florence, but they are home to an outstanding view! And even better? You get a ticket to the Bardini Gardens along with your Boboli Gardens ticket.
If you’re looking for peace and quiet — and an escape from tourist crowds — the Bardini Gardens are an excellent place to go. (Though there might be a boisterous school group there, like when I visited.)
You can see the view from right next to Villa Bardini, but stroll the gardens and you’ll see more of the view from different angles.
How to see the view of Florence from the Bardini Gardens: To get to the Bardini Gardens, exit the Boboli Gardens at the Forte di Belvedere exit, and simply follow the signs for the Giardino Bardini. It’s about a five-minute walk. Your Boboli Gardens ticket will get you in.
View from View on Art Rooftop Bar
Florence does have its share of rooftop bars, and one of the most popular ones is View on Art. And the view here is one of the very best. It feels like the Duomo is inches from your face, all lit up for the evening. It’s a wild, intense view.
Honestly, beyond the view, View on Art isn’t a great bar. The cocktails aren’t anything special, the decor is cheap — it’s clear it’s all about the view.
So my recommendation is to go for one drink, take your photos, and then go to one of the better cocktail bars in Florence. My favorites are Procacci (cocktails and truffle sandwiches!), Manifattura (serving exclusively Italian spirits!), and Giacosa 1815 (where the Negroni was invented!).
How to see the view of Florence from View on Art: I recommend calling ahead for a reservation, especially in high season. I was able to show up and get a table in March.
View from JJ Cathedral
JJ Cathedral is a bar right on the edge of the Duomo, close to the bell tower. Yes, it’s a very touristy Irish bar, literally in front of a major monument, with a somewhat scary bathroom — the kind of place I wouldn’t go to today — but you go here to enjoy the view.
JJ’s, as my friends and I called it, was one of my regular bars during my semester abroad in Florence in 2004! I think I still have my membership card. I would always get a Strongbow. Though I went back in 2024 and they no longer carry Strongbow.
JJ Cathedral has lots of seats outside, and a very small balcony on the second floor. If you can get seats on the balcony, that’s even better! Just know that it’s pretty much impossible to fit more than one party onto that tiny balcony, so you might have to settle for one of the outside seats.
How to see the view of Florence from JJ Cathedral: Just walk on over and order a beer! The balcony doesn’t have much room, so you might have better luck in the morning. They open at 10:00 AM.
View from Grand Hotel Baglioni
The Grand Hotel Baglioni is home to one of my favorite unique views in Prague — it’s an actual 360-degree view of the Florence skyline! This is extremely rare in Florence, and is a reason enough to visit their American Bar on top of the hotel.
And if it’s a very special occasion, I suggest you contact them for the table that is at the very top of the bar, above all the other seats and platforms — but keep in mind that with only one table, reservations go quickly.
Even so, from wherever you stand, you can enjoy a view of the Duomo, Basilica San Lorenzo, and the many red rooftops of Firenze.
How to see the view of Florence from the Grand Hotel Baglioni: You can walk in and visit the American Bar whenever you’d like, but if it’s in high season or you want the special table, it’s good to make a reservation. Note that in low season, most of the chairs are covered, but small areas are open outside.
View from Porta San Niccolò
This is one of the best but toughest-to-get views of Florence that exists. Porta San Niccolò, the Tower of San Niccolò, is a tower located not too far from Piazzale Michelangelo that happens to have a wonderful view of the panorama of Florence.
Unfortunately, the visiting hours for Porta San Niccolò are extremely limited — only between June 24 and September 30, 4:00-8:00 PM. You must make a reservation in advance for a guided tour, which is available in Italian or English. It’s a 160-step climb to the top.
Because of these limited hours, I have technically been to the location of Porta San Niccolò, which is right by Piazza Poggi, but I’ve never been able to climb to the top.
How to see the view of Florence from Porta San Niccolò: Send an email to [email protected] and they will let you know if there’s availability. Reservations go very quickly.
View from the Uffizi Gallery
Does the Uffizi Gallery have a grand view worth experiencing? Kind of, but I don’t think it’s one of the better ones. That said, the Galleria degli Uffizi is one of the best art museums on the planet, and I highly recommend visiting either way!
The museum is home to a cafe on the Uffizi Loggia, with a view of the Duomo. There is a wall that obscures part of your view, but you can see the Duomo peeking up above it. I’ve seen some photographers get creative with their shots here; mine isn’t that inspiring, unfortunately!
The cafe isn’t that special, but it’s a good place to refuel with a coffee or water in between your art exploration. But if you want to visit a much better cafe after your visit, I highly recommend Rivoire, close by on Piazza della Signoria, which has an art-filled interior and makes my favorite hot chocolate in the world.
You can also enjoy views of the Ponte Vecchio from the second floor:
Sadly, the windows were closed at the time of my visit, but I’ve seen lots of people take unobscured photos from here.
How to see the view of Florence from the Uffizi: Advance reservations at the Uffizi are BEYOND essential. You can book advance tickets here. Alternatively, you can book a small group tour of the Uffizi if you want to learn from a guide. The cafe is easy to find in the museum.
View from the Ponte Vecchio
Once again, the Ponte Vecchio DOES have nice views — but not of anything super memorable in Florence. You can’t quite see the Duomo from here, but you do get a decent view of the side of the Uffizi, and the river itself.
Actually, my favorite photo of the view was this selfie, taken in 2019:
Yes. Florence brings the romance, all right. (Someone tell the dude looking at his phone.)
So yes, you won’t get the best views of your trip here, but it’s definitely worth a quick photo!
How to see the view of Florence from the Ponte Vecchio: Just head over to the Ponte Vecchio and take photos from the open center part of the bridge.
View from the Lungarno
The Lungarno is the road that winds along the north edge of the Arno River. You have beautiful views along the river, taking in the Oltrarno, but I think the single best view is just to the east of the Ponte Vecchio.
From here you’ll get the perfect shot of the Ponte Vecchio that everyone seems to have. You can get a shot up close, or head further down the Lungarno, past the Uffizi, to get a shot from further away.
How to see the view of Florence from the Lungarno: It couldn’t be easier. From the city center, head to the Ponte Vecchio, and take a left. Walk along the sidewalk next to the river until you’ve got an angle you like.
View from the Ponte Alle Grazie
Ah, the Ponte alle Grazie was my bridge! My apartment during my semester abroad was a stone’s throw from here. The Ponte alle Grazie is the next bridge down from the Ponte Vecchio, which means you actually have a view of the Ponte Vecchio.
While it’s hard to fit in everything from this Florence viewpoint, you can definitely fit in the Ponte Vecchio and the tower of the Palazzo Vecchio, along with the Uffizi and other buildings along the Arno River.
How to see the view of Florence from the Ponte alle Grazie: Walk over to the Ponte alle Grazie, the bridge to the east of the Ponte Vecchio, and head down the southern side of the river, the Oltrarno side. From this corner of the bridge and the street, you’ll have a great view.
View from Fiesole
Fiesole (fee-YAY-zo-lay) is a small town that is even older than Florence, dating back to the Etruscan period. Just a 20-minute drive from Florence in the Tuscan hills, Fiesole is home to a Roman amphitheater, some pretty churches, a small museum, and an excellent view of Florence from a distance. It’s a rare view of the city from a northern viewpoint.
(Note: I have been to Fiesole, back in 2006, but I took terrible photos with an ancient camera, so I used a stock photo above. You can see my bad photo here if you’d like.)
Is visiting Fiesole worth it? Honestly, I think there are much better day trips from Florence. But it’s close by enough that you could nip in for an hour or two, take your photos, then nip back, if you really wanted to visit.
How to see the view of Florence from Fiesole: To get to Fiesole, take bus ATAF 7 from Santa Maria Novella bus station to Fiesole, which is about a 20-minute drive.
Best Florence Views for Selfies
If you’re looking for a good spot for selfies in Florence, I’ve got you covered! This was part of my research.
The best spots for selfies are spots that are fairly close to the Duomo. If not — think San Miniato al Monte — it will hard to make out what’s behind you.
That selfie above was taken at the Palazzo Vecchio. I really love this angle, though you should know that the bottom of the window is pretty high. I’m 5’4″ (162 cm) and the bottom of the window came halfway up my chest. You’ll have to lift children up to get them into this position.
I also love this selfie at La Rinascente. It helped that I had the seat right in the corner and didn’t have to ask anyone to move to get this (or the several dozen other shots I took).
And I really loved this evening selfie at View on Art. It was just so close, and being there with the aperol spritz — it was so festive!
Which viewpoints of Florence are most worth it?
I understand that not everyone wants to do what I did and climb tower after tower, sometimes two towers in a row, just for the sake of comprehensively researching a city. But I do think there are a few more worth it than others.
So, which views of Florence are most worth it?
Overall, my top two favorite views are from the Arnolfo Tower at the Palazzo Vecchio, and at Giotto’s Bell Tower. However, if you’re using a DSLR, you probably won’t like the bell tower due to the chicken wire covering everything. These are the two paid options I would invest in.
In addition, I think it’s very much worth seeing the sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo, as crowded as it can get, and stopping in the Rose Garden en route. These are both free to visit.
And of course, you need to stroll along the Lungarno to get those shots of the Ponte Vecchio! That’s very easy to do, and free.
And if you’d like to add one cafe to your list, I would recommend the cafe on top of La Rinascente. That will only cost the price of your drinks or food.
Those, to me, are the views I think you should prioritize in Florence. I don’t even think climbing the Duomo is essential — this is your blessing to skip Brunelleschi’s Dome if you’re not feeling it!
I hope you have the best time in my beloved Florence, and get pictures you’ll treasure forever.
More on Florence:
Planning a Trip to Italy:
- What NOT to Do in Italy
- Solo Female Travel in Italy: Is it Safe?
- Ultimate Guide to Driving in Italy
- How to Stay at an Agriturismo in Italy
- 30 Stunning Mediterranean Islands To Visit In Your Lifetime
More Cool Places in Northern Italy:
- Three Weeks in Northern Italy: An Itinerary
- Parma, Italy: A Colorful, Artsy, Delicious Town
- Where to Stay in Rome: Best Neighborhoods and Accommodation
- Three Days in the Dolomites: A South Tyrol Getaway
- The Immaculate, Bursting Mosaics of Ravenna, Italy
- 25 Best Food Experiences in Emilia-Romagna, Italy
- 23 Best Things to Do in Bologna, Italy
Best of Southern Italy:
- 28 Fabulous Things to Do in Naples, Italy
- 16 Fun Things to Do in Sorrento, Italy
- Tropea, Italy: A Spectacularly Situated Beach Town
- The Joys and Challenges of Traveling in Sicily
- 22 Beautiful Places to Visit in Sicily
- Where to Go in Eastern Sicily
- 23 Fun Things to Do in Palermo, Sicily
- Complete Guide to the Aeolian Islands, Sicily
- Aci Trezza: A Laid-Back Coastal Town in Sicily
- Visiting Sicily in the Winter: Worth it or not?
- 17 Fun Things to Do in Bari, Italy
- 17 Cool Things to Do in Matera, Italy
- The Stunning Trulli of Alberobello, Italy
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- Experiencing the Carpino Folk Festival in Puglia, Italy
Have you been to Florence? Any tips to share?
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