Venture out into a balmy, fragrant, lively Italian evening to experience the best things to do in Florence at night.
One of the most beautiful cities in Italy, Florence, its historic center a tangle of lamp-lit lanes and flagstone piazzi, generates a special ambiance at night. Rising out of the half-light are Renaissance treasures such as Piazza della Signoria’s statuary or the balanced bulk of the Ponte Vecchio straddling the Arno river.
Beyond the city’s immense heritage, you’ll also find one of Italy’s liveliest aperitivo scenes. Enjoy an array of international-class restaurants—as well as homey trattorias—in which to enjoy regional delicacies such as ribollita and an authentic Florentine steak.
Have an Aperitivo at a Rooftop Bar
Rooftop bar in Florence
Whetting your appetite with a delicious aperitivo before dinner is one of the best things to do in Florence at night. For something special, ascend above the terracotta rooftops to a cocktail terrace for a view of the hills, the reds and golds of sunset lingering in the sky as you nibble tasty cured meats with your glass of fizzing prosecco.
But where to go? The Panoramic Bar at Antica Torre Tornabuoni, found on via Tornabuoni, pairs signature cocktails and unrestricted views over the city. Its “Duomocolada” is a local, slightly sacrilegious twist on the Piña Colada. The Pool Bar at Grand Hotel Minerva is another perennial favorite, where Terrace Negronis over large cubes of ice help beat the July heat.
A popular newcomer is the sophisticated 701 Rooftop Bar, which caps off the Gallery Hotel Art on Vicolo dell’Oro. If it’s a little chilly, choose the plush, indoor comforts of DiSopra at Hotel degli Orafi instead, the duomo’s brick-hued dome peering in at its windows.
If you’re satisfied with your exalted vantage point, you can usually stay and have dinner as well. Opening times vary across all of these bars, so be sure to check the website to avoid disappointment.
Take a Passeggiata in the Historic Center
Historic Center
A passeggiata is an enduring and omnipresent Italian ritual. Wherever you are in the country, between the hours of 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., you’ll find the locals engaged on a genial, unhurried stroll.
This usually takes place on the high street or in beach towns, on the seafront promenade, although in a city such as Florence, you can find streams of humanity in several picturesque quarters.
Wandering out into the historic center is a fantastic way to engage with this ritual. The ethereal presence of the well-lit duomo with its pale marble facade is intensified at dusk. Piazza della Signoria is much less crowded in the evening, and the shadows thrown by the lights only intensify the drama of the statues on show.
Stroll towards the Arno River, burnished gold by the sunset. From here, perhaps choose the buzz of Piazza della Repubblica with its excellent selection of Spritz purveyors. Or work up an appetite for your bistecca alla Fiorentina with a 20-minute stroll to Piazza della Michelangelo. The views of nighttime Florence found here are well worth the effort.
Explore the Hip Quarter of San Frediano
San Frediano
In the Oltrarno, or the south side of the city across the Arno, San Frediano is where Florentines go for a good night out. You’ll find this cobblestoned district between via dei Serragli and Porta San Frediano.
Once the postcode of impoverished artists and craftsmen, this bohemian area is now the gentrified home of some of the city’s coolest bars and restaurants. Discover the idiosyncratic style and engaging ambiance of bars such as Mad and Gesto, or try Circolo Aurora for something more authentically San Frediano in flavor.
If you’re ready to eat, Trattoria Sabatino offers outstanding traditional Florentine cuisine. Or try L’OV, a beloved vegetarian place in Piazza del Carmine.
Grab a Bite at the Mercato Centrale
Mercato Centrale
A visit to the Mercato Centrale is one of the best things to do in Florence at night. Indeed, if you’re hungry and anywhere in the vicinity of San Lorenzo Square, it should be your first and only thought.
Enter its handsome 19th-century iron and glass bulk and make your way straight up to the second-floor Food Hall. The downstairs market closes in the early afternoon but the food hall is open until midnight. There’s serious culinary talent behind the eclectic offering, made with uber-fresh ingredients sourced earlier in the day from the downstairs market.
Think juicy hamburgers made with Tuscany’s famous Chianina beef; delicious Buddha bowls from the vegetarian stand run by Marcella Bianchi; and, the perfect way to finish: one of David Bedu’s delicious pastries. Yes, they’re French, but it’s allowed.
Browse the Uffizi’s Treasures Without the Crowds
Uffizi Gallery
The birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence is world famous for its art treasures, whether architectural, sculptural, or otherwise. As such, in high season, you’re often on your tip-toes peering over the shoulders in front to get a peek at masterpieces lining the walls of the Uffizi Gallery, the so-called “Italian Louvre”.
Fortunately, on Tuesdays, you can access the Uffizi’s late opening hours. This allows you to wander its stately halls until 10 p.m. The last admission is at 8.30 p.m., so it’s perfect as a post-aperitivo activity.
The Accademia Gallery doesn’t have a regular late night like the Uffizi, but does occasionally offer evening one-offs, so check the website when you’re in town. For more art in Florence, the less well-known but no less engrossing Museo Novecento offers Giorgio di Chirico and other modern Italian artists until 11 p.m.
Hop on a Nighttime Food Tour
Lampredotto
Taste-testing Tuscan cuisine is one of the best things to do in Florence at night. During the day, you’re engrossed by Renaissance art, timeless fashions at the museums of Gucci and Ferragamo, and absorbing the relentlessly gorgeous medieval architecture.
By nightfall, you’re ravenous. And, instead of agonizing over which Florentine specialty you’re having tonight and which tomorrow, try to fit them all in a single evening. This kind of legitimized gluttony occurs on a food tour, and the best will balance niche items like lampredotto—the famous Florentine tripe—with crowd-pleasers like the local cheeses.
An evening Italian food tour usually also entails, if desirable, the opportunity for sunset wine tasting or even a Negroni cocktail-making demo. With a knowledgeable Florentine leading the way, a food tour is one of the best ways to swiftly immerse yourself in the culture—and see off that art-induced hunger.
Take an Evening Cruise on the Arno River
Arno River
The Arno River rushes down from the Apennines and winds through the cities of Florence and Pisa before emptying into the Ligurian Sea.
During the medieval era, the river acted as an essential conduit for regional trade, helping to bring in the goods necessary to fuel the flourishing Florentine economy. But it hasn’t been all business. Boat parades have long been common on the Arno, such as the one seen during the Festa di San Giovanni in June, a festival that dates back to the Middle Ages.
By night, the banks of this historic channel are atmospherically illuminated. A cruise along its dark, sparkling waters is one of the best things to do in Florence at night. Ideally, your trip will be on an open barchetto—the traditional, punt-propelled boat that was once used to transport the wool and timber that supported the Florentine economy.
As you bob along, your guide will point out rarely-seen angles of the Uffizi and the Ponte Vecchio, one of Florence’s stunning bridges. Accompanying your unique perspective on illustrious Florence will, typically, be a glass or two of prosecco.
See the Nighttime Lights from Piazzale Michelangelo
View from Piazzale Michelangelo
There’s a famous angle on Florence that’s regularly reproduced in photographs. It has the Duomo set lengthways, rising above the terracotta rooftops of the city. The gently sloping Tuscan hills provide a perfect backdrop. This perspective, which so perfectly captures the elegance of the historic center, is found at Piazzale Michelangelo.
The view is even more magical at sunset, the sky gilded, the streetlights picking out the winding streets, and the silhouetted Ponte Vecchio teetering above the molten Arno.
The piazzale is reached by a half-hour walk from the historic center, or by catching any number of buses, including numbers 12, 13, and 23. Public transport can take roughly the same amount of time as walking.
Breathe in the Fragrances of the Boboli Gardens
Boboli Gardens
Italy is home to some of the most beautiful gardens in the world, its sun-blessed Mediterranean climate and the Italians’ inborn flair for design creating some bona fide floral sorcery.
The Boboli Gardens are one of Italy’s most beautiful gardens—a pioneering 16th-century vision that reputedly inspired the Gardens of Versailles. Poured into its creation was the skill and talent of Renaissance leading lights Ammannati, Buontalenti, and Vasari.
Bardini Gardens
In summer, the gardens remain open until 7.30 p.m., offering the opportunity to walk among its honeysuckle and wisteria fragrances as the daylight softens.
Staying open just as long are the nearby Bardini Gardens. Dating back to the 13th century, these gardens are a beguiling mix of decorative styles. Last entry is usually one hour before closing.
Have an Early Evening Shopping Spree
Jewelry
There’s a problem that sometimes occurs during a guided walking tour of Florence’s historic center. While hurrying to keep on schedule, you’re pulled past enticing stalls and boutiques, usually arrayed with leather goods and jewelry in places like Piazza del Mercato Nuovo and San Lorenzo.
In the evening, there’s time to scratch that shopping itch as many of the city center shops obligingly remain open until 7.30 or even 8 p.m. The city’s most famous shopping artery is Via Tornabuoni, lined with palazzi that once belonged to Florentine nobility. The aristocrats of fashion reside here now, brands such as Gucci, Ferragamo, and Bulgari.
Via Tornabuoni
Via Tornabuoni also used to be the home of the Casoni Cafe, where a century ago the Negroni was first mixed. The street is also a superb location for some evening people-watching.
Read: Two Days in Florence
Catch a Show
Teatro Niccolini Photo by Manuelarosi on Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
Florence is a buzzy city with a non-stop entertainment program, as befits an Italian cultural grandee. The Tuscan capital offers several superb music and events venues where you can slip into a red velvet fold-down seat and take in a show.
The Teatro Niccolini is the city’s oldest theater, although following a relatively recent renovation it feels as if it was opened—if not yesterday—then definitely not in the 17th century when it was built.
International stars regularly appear on its storied stage, so check the website for the latest shows. The Niccolini is found north of the Duomo, squeezed into Via Ricasoli. Meanwhile, the city’s newest theater—the Opera di Firenze—is an entirely different proposition altogether.
The city’s only venue for opera, its award-winning architecture looks like a modern weave of light and steel. If you’re visiting in May, it’s also the venue for the dazzling Maggio Musicale Fiorentino productions. Slightly outside of the city center, the Opera di Firenze is served by the Porta al Prato train stop.
Eat an Incredible Italian Meal
Pasta
The Tuscan capital has an outstanding restaurant scene. Sitting down to a long, delicious dinner is one of the best things to do in Florence at night.
If it’s balmy, find your way to the natural wine list and streetside tables of intimate Il Santo Bevitore, on Via Santo Spirito. For a dose of hearty traditionalism and maybe the city’s most revered ribollita, find Trattoria Marione. If it’s summer, a reservation is mandatory, but if you’re out of luck, don’t despair—there’s a second location just up Via Bella Donne.
For a taste of somewhere that feels like Florence in a nutshell, descend into a medieval church crypt to dine at Ristorante Buca San Giovanni on the piazza of the same name. The history of this fine dining spot is palpable; it used to be a secret meet-up space for shadowy Florentine societies. Rest assured, they didn’t eat as well as you’re about to.
Arno River
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