Florence Honeymoon – 11 Best Hotels & Guide for 2023

About Florence

The city of Florence in Italy’s Tuscany region is one of the most romantic and beautiful cities in Italy and a vibrant go-to honeymoon destination. Beauty has ruled here for centuries, since Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Botticelli, and others turned it into a living work of art. Brimming with unparalleled paintings, sculptures, fountains, and architecture, Florence is built around the best – the best food, fashion, and shopping. Approximately 30 percent of the world’s art can be found in Florence. A simple stroll through the cobblestoned streets will surround a couple with medieval churches, palaces, and other landmarks rarely seen elsewhere. For more medieval authenticity, discover Florence by horse-drawn carriage. These can be found in the Piazza del Duomo and the Piazzo Signoria.

Besides some of the best museums and galleries (the original statue of David is at the Accademia Gallery Florence), the luxurious palazzos provide evidence of the good life Florentines take for granted. The palazzo turned into the ultra-luxurious Four Seasons Hotel and the elegant Palazzo Vecchietti are just some of the fabulous places to begin your life together.

Florence has the stunning ability to blend reality and fantasy, such as in the Gucci Gardens by the Palazzo della Mercanzia. In this mini-Florence, visitors can enjoy a first-class restaurant, a Gucci store, a bookstore with Gucci matches and phone cases, and an art gallery. Of course, Gucci isn’t the only high-fashion name in Florence. Ferragamo, Pucci, and Cavalli all have their base there. It’s a fashion renaissance and an opportunity to create a stunning wardrobe.

Information and Culture about Florence

Florence, the “Cradle of the Renaissance,” has always shown a love of the finest in art, clothing, museums, and food. It is a city dedicated to beauty. Were there any ideal males and females before Michelangelo’s David and Botticelli’s Venus? Or was it Florentine artists who defined aesthetics? While Florence is the world’s hub for medieval art, it also has an impressive collection of modern art displayed at the Palazzo Strozzi and Forte di Belvedere.

The city of Florence has been a perennial trendsetter. With its impressive line of royals, Florence is the natural place for Niccolò Machiavelli to serve as an advisor for the power-hungry, especially the Medicis. As such, Florence is also the birthplace of political science. Florence’s Galileo led the world in science, and Amerigo Vespucci was the leading explorer of his time.

Florence’s rich culture is reflected not only in its artwork but in its architecture with masterpieces such as the Baptistery of St. John and Giotto’s Bell Tower acting as showcases of unparalleled splendor. The fact is, architects were artists, as well, and they turned the entire city into a museum.

Many people consider Florentine cuisine to be the best in Italy, and Il Palagio, located on the ground floor of the Four Seasons Hotel, is a dining fairytale. The Altana Terrace is on the hotel’s rooftop with a view of the city. This is a private dining area serviced by the hotel’s own butler. Another part of the restaurant, the 15^th-century chapel, offers a four-course degustation menu served by a private butler and sommelier. A third dining option is on the Ponte Vecchio Bridge itself, with the Four Seasons having exclusive use of the terrace space, which is also serviced by Il Palagio’s private butler.

Honeymooners with a yen for Florence’s best pizza should head for Pizzeria Speria for the perfect Neapolitan pizza.

Average Cost of a One-Week Trip to Florence

The average hotel price in Florence has a wide range from $65 to $428 per night. For day activities and meals, the cost will be $61 to 114 each day.

For budget travelers, lodging at a bargain hotel will range from $56 to $65 per evening.

Honeymooners looking for a luxurious getaway should expect to pay $258 to $456 for daily meals, taxis, and sightseeing. A first-class flight from the US can cost between $2,186 to $4,150, while accommodation at a high-end hotel costs $154 to $418 per night.

Best Time to Visit Florence

Although the weather does fluctuate, with its abundance of galleries and museums, Florence can be visited all year round. Spring is a wonderful time to see the gardens return to full bloom. The summers can get hot and is the most crowded season. There are several great art festivals during the summer.

As in most cities, autumn in Florence is heavenly. It’s a great time to visit the surrounding villages as they harvest their grapes and olives. It rarely snows during a Florentine winter, and all that is needed are a few warm sweaters and a warm jacket, although the evening does get chillier. The Christmas markets and holiday festivities are an annual wonder.

Top Things to do in Florence

Piazzale Michelangelo

Piazzale Michelangelo, with its replica of Michelangelo’s David, is high above Florence and offers the best view of the city and its sunset. Bring a picnic basket and some wine and simply enjoy this magnificent experience.

Few things are as romantic as a bottle of chianti and seeing the Duomo lit up at night.

The Palazzo Vecchio Museum and Tower

Palazzo Vecchio seems to have always existed as Florence’s center of power. What began as ancient Roman ruins turned into a medieval fortress with Renaissance chambers and art and is now one of Florence’s most significant Renaissance museums.

The Hall of Five Hundred is the most important hall (see above) historically with its painted ceilings and sculptures. Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo both painted one of the murals. During the 16^th century, the Medicis turned the fortress into their family palazzo with apartments (grandly decorated by Michelangelo and Donatelli), secret passageways, and courtyards. There are tours of this grand palace, including its secret routes that tell much of Florence’s history.

Ponte Vecchio

Ponte Vecchio is Florence’s most famous bridge as it spans the Arno River. But calling Ponte Vecchio just a bridge would be like calling Da Vinci just an artist. It was built in the 14th century as a bridge with approximately 50 shops and even terraces. Many of the shops are mercantiles for gold and silver.

One of the terraces has a statue that has become famous as a site to declare eternal love by placing a lock on the statue while tossing the key into the river, which will guard the keys forever.

Romantic Cruise along the Arno River

One of the best ways to see Florence is on a one-hour gondola cruise down the Arno River. Enjoy an aperitif while floating passed palaces, the Uffizi Gallery, and beneath the Ponte Vecchio into the sunset while learning more about this fabulous city, its palaces, and architecture.

AquaFlor Firenze

This special Florence perfumery uses raw scents to create personal perfumes for individuals and will demonstrate how to generate the perfect olfactory experience. There is a workshop for two, allowing both husband and wife to work on their own unique scents. Sniffing each other is perfectly acceptable.

Cocktail and Aperitif Tour

AquaFlor Tour is a traditional Aperitif pre-dinner tour that guides visitors through Florence’s best lounges and bars for wine or cocktails. Each drink is paired with a tasty appetizer ranging from truffles, finger foods, and cured ham and cheeses. The tour wanders through the city’s backstreets for a special experience at three local stops. Private tours can be arranged.

Weather in Florence

Florence has hot summers and cold winters. The temperature can range from 25 degrees to a high of 97 degrees. The summers are short, from mid-June to September, with June through August being the best times to relax around a pool. November to March are four months of cold, with an average daily temperature below 60 degrees. January is the coldest month when it can get below freezing.

Florence’s longest season is the rainy season, which stretches from September to June. November sees the most precipitation.

Getting to Florence

From the US, only Delta Airlines has direct flights to Pisa International Airport, which is located an hour from Florence, and then visitors take a train into Florence from the airport. However, these flights are available only in the summer. Lufthansa has connecting flights out of Chicago, Washington, and New York.

Perhaps the best and most romantic way to get to Florence is to fly into Rome and take the high-speed train along the most scenic route through Tuscany. The train ride – or tour – takes an hour and a half.