Last October we took the train down to Florence for four days and it was SUCH an amazing trip with my boys! Exploring cities in the Fall is the most amazing time of year. It was a super last minute trip, down to booking the train tickets AND AirBB on the way to the train station! ha It was chaos and so so much fun!
We stayed in the MOST amazing AirBB! I mean, look at that view from the terrace! I don’t think it gets any better than that. Plus, it has the most perfect location, only a 10 minute walk from the train station, and right in the center of everything. We explored on foot all weekend and loved every second of it! Okay lets get to it, here was how we spent a long weekend in Florence and everywhere we ate!
We got in later on a Thursday evening and had just enough time to grab dinner at Ginnino in San Lorenzo. They squeezed us in late and it was cozy and fabulous.
Day 1
We hit the ground running and headed straight for the Accadamia. We had to see the David! It was really quite amazing, and my boys loved all the greek sculptures.
When we left it was time for some lunch so we headed over to the Mercato Centrale to try some different foods and grab a drink. It’s right next to the leather market, we after eating we wandered around a bit to get our bearings. I knew I wanted a leather jacket, but the market can be a bit overwhelming so exploring it first helped a bit.
After dragging the boys through all of that ha, we grabbed some gelato at Grom, and sat down at Move On for drinks and a gorgeous view of the cathedral. It was nice to sit and relax for a bit!
We meandered over towards the Ponte Vecchio, admired some street art, rubbed the most of the Porcellino & dropped a coin for good luck, grabbed an AMAZING Cannoli at Ginos Bakery, picked up some wine and snacks, and headed back for happy hour on our rooftop! With a view like that from your AirBB, you don’t want to let it go to waste!
For dinner we walked down to Osteria del Gatto e la Volpe, where I proceeded to eat the most amazing truffled carbonara of my LIFE, in the coziest little spot. It was HEAVEN. I still dream about that dinner.
After dinner we wandered through the streets, cities lit up at night are my favorite. We rode the carousel in Piazza della Republica, and parked our butts right next door at Paszkowski for late night drinks and music. It was truly the most perfect first day in Florence.
Day 2
We grabbed coffee and croissants at Bonaugo, and walked over to the Museum Archeological. The boys love them and its cool to show and teach them about so much history.
When it was time for lunch, we headed back over to the Central Market. We loved that with all the different types of food, everybody could get what they wanted. It was a really cool market and a perfect spot for lunch.
After exploring the leather market the day before, and doing some research, we ended up going to Giorgio Leather Factory. We spent some time there and he was SO helpful. I went in with one idea in mind of what I thought I wanted, but he has a good eye and talked to me and taught me about what is ACTUALLY flattering on me and helped me pick something that I instantly loved so much more. I wear it all the time and adore this jacket so so much.
After making the boys sit through that ha we all wanted to take a load off so we sat down outside and grabbed a couple beers at JJ Cathedral Irish Pub. Again, what a view! Then walked over to grab some gelato at Perche, which is truly some of the BEST gelato Ive ever had. The flavors were heavenly.
We wandered the streets, and ended up sitting under some heat lamps at Osteria de Peccatori for aperitivo. It was lovely. We ordered a bottle of wine from our favorite vineyard in Tuscany, they brought out warm, oiled focaccia, and we just sat and talked with the boys. So nice.
For dinner, we went around the corner to Aqua Al 2. Highlyyy recommend this spot, and if you go, you must do the steak and pasta tasting. WOW. My husband and I shared it and it was perfect. Five different types of pasta and three different types of steak. Everything melted in your mouth and the flavors were out of this world. The restaurant itself was so warm and cozy too, such a fantastic evening.
Day 3
We woke up to a very rainy morning. We took our time enjoying coffee and snuggling together, then dressed warmly and headed out for brunch. Yes, I said Brunch! ha Not something you typically get in Italy, but we found a place that does “American Style” brunch and couldn’t pass it up! Apparently neither could anyone else, because we all waited in line at the Rooster Cafe for almost an hour, and it was totally worth it. Those chicken and waffles hit the spot.
After brunch we ran around in the rain for a bit, and then escaped it and hung out at the Leonardo Da Vinci Museum for a couple hours. It was interactive and the boys had SO much fun playing with all his inventions. It was a really cool spot to hang out and get out of the rain.
For lunch we wandered down to the All’Antico Vinaio for their famous sandwiches. We got so lucky and there wasn’t really much of a line, but either way, so worth it. They did not disappoint. SO good.
Afterwards, we just took it easy, getting lost in the streets, tasting more gelato, stopping for drinks and snacks. Its our favorite way to really see a city, escape the itinerary and just wander and see where you end up. Such a great way to enjoy it.
For dinner we ended up at Trattoria San Lorenzo, and it was soooo delicious. We sat upstairs and it was such a great little spot. Don’t skip their dessert!
We ended the night underneath the Cathedral. It was so beautiful at night, it didn’t even look real. It looked like it was painted into the middle of the city, I couldn’t get enough of it.
It was such an incredible few days in Firenze. The food was some of my favorite that Ive eaten in all of Italy. I could rave about every spot we enjoyed over and over again. I truly hope to make it back to Florence again one day, it was such an amazing city, so happy I got to take my boys there with me!
