Wondering where to watch the sunset in Florence Italy? While there are many enticing spots to spend golden hour, there’s no place more magical than Piazzale Michelangelo. Yet, there are a few essential tips to know before you go to have the best experience! Here are some easy Florence sunset tips and all about our own experience at the famous Piazzale Michelangelo.
Our Recent Trip to Florence
We had been to Florence many years ago, and fell in love with the history, Tuscan cuisine, and medieval architecture. Yet, there was one thing we missed out on during our first visit!
This Italian city is known for having one of the most magical sunsets in the world. So this trip, we made going to Piazzale Michelangelo a priority on our Florence itinerary.
Our visit started by catching the train from Lugano Switzerland, where we were staying for the month. The two nights we planned for gave us time to fully explore the city.
We went to the Galleria dell’Accademia, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, and ate our hearts out during our two day visit. Still, there was truly nothing like seeing the Duomo and skyline from above during sunset in Florence!
This is one of those must-do touristy things that’s actually worth it in Italy. While it will be super crowded, trust us when we say the view is worth it. Here’s some more of of the best things to do in Florence for your first trip.
Quick Things to Know For Florence Italy
- Plan to walk everywhere in Florence, and bring good shoes that won’t hurt your feet.
- Spring and Fall are the best time of year to visit. We still loved our trip to Florence Italy in August, but prepared for extremely hot weather.
- Stay near the Arno River and Ponte Vecchio Bridge for the most central location. Some of our favorite hotels are Hotel degli Orafi, La Casa Del Garbo, and Plus Florence hostel.
- Give yourself at least two nights in Florence Italy. Adding a third would be better if you want to visit more museums.
- Buy an e-sim like this one from Airalo to stay connected around the city.
- Make sure to taste the famous Florence sandwiches and tripe. If you don’t know where to start, book a Florence food tour or cooking class!
- Never leave home without travel insurance. We’ve been using Safetywing for years while abroad for coverage.
- Rent a car after Florence (this is the company we use) and head out on a Tuscany road trip. Some of the places we loved are Montepulciano, Pienza, the Saturnia Hot Springs, Cortona, and Pitigliano. You can even include the leaning tower of Pisa in your Tuscany itinerary.
7 Tips For Watching the Florence Sunset
1. Getting to Piazzale Michelangelo
First of all, you should know how to get to the most iconic Florence sunset spot! Piazzale Michelangelo sits high above the city on a hill in the Oltrarno district.
It was originally built in 1869, during the short time period that Florence was the capital of Italy. If you couldn’t guess, it’s named after one of the most renowned Italian renaissance artists. Yes, this is the same Michelangelo that’s responsible for the Statue of David!
It’s good to know that Michelangelo square is located slightly outside of the city center. From the Duomo, it will take you about 20 to 25 minutes. The last section once you get close is a steep uphill to the top.
This is one reason to really think about what you pack for your visit. We wrote a complete guide with the best Florence Italy outfits for some inspiration.
You can also take the 12 or 13 bus lines from the city center to this epic Florence sunset spot. We even saw people taking taxis from the bottom of the hill to Piazzale Michelangelo.
2. See the Bobili Gardens
If you have some extra time before, then you should definitely take a stroll through the Bobili Gardens. They’re located just below the Piazzale Michelangelo behind the Pitti Palace.
It’s free to enter and you can stroll through hundreds of rose bushes and sculptures by Jean-Michel Folon. This makes for a perfect stop before you head up the hill to get a better view.
3. Arrive at the Piazzale Michelangelo Sunset Spot Early
This is by far the most important tip for watching the Florence Italy sunset. We actually lost track of time with how much fun we were having at the wine windows, and almost made this mistake.
The sunset in Florence was around 8:30pm during our visit in mid-August. We arrived late about 30 minutes before and almost didn’t get a seat!
The steps going up to Piazzale Michelangelo are the prime area, but know that you will be shoulder to shoulder with other travelers. Don’t worry though, once the drinks start flowing and the colors of the sky change, you’ll forget all about how crowded it is.
4. Pizza for the Sunset in Florence
One reason we were slightly late for the sunset in Florence Italy was stopping for food. There is a highly-rated pizza place just at the bottom of the hill. Plan for about 15 minutes to get up to the plaza once you have your pizza in hand.
I’Pizzacchiere makes for the ultimate pizza break before you head up to the legendary sunset spot. Other travelers were quite jealous when they saw us pop our pizza out for golden hour!
One thing we will say, is that we were quoted 10 minutes for a takeaway pizza. It took around 20 minutes with how busy it was, so be sure to get there a little early if you’re short on time.
5. Bring Your Own Drinks
Another tip watching the sunset in Florence Italy is to buy your own wine or beer for the top. There is a few vendors selling drinks and snacks above the stairs, but it can often be double the price than it is at the store.
Sipping on some Chianti wine as the sun went down over the Duomo was something we’ll never forget. Honestly, we’d seen pictures before we came, but we couldn’t believe how the sky lit up so orange and pink. What a moment to cap off our day in Florence!
6. Stay for the Florence Sunset After Party
As soon as the sun went down, we thought about leaving… but that’s when the real party started! There was a band playing music with everyone singing along up at the Piazzale Michelangelo sunset.
It’s hard to explain the pure joy of both locals and tourists from the top of one of Italy’s most beautiful cities. Also, the party showed no signs of slowing down when we finally left after 9pm.
7. More Spots to Watch the Sunset in Florence Italy
Now that you know about the best place to end your day, we have one more awesome Florence sunset spot to consider! The Basilica of San Miniato al Monte sits even higher above Piazzale Michelangelo, giving off more incredible views of the city. If you’re up for it, you can walk another 10 minutes uphill to find a viewing spot by the church.
Our first night we also took in sunset from the historic Ponte Vecchio bridge over the Arno River. There are even some great hotels nearby that have rooftop bars with stellar views.
For a unique experience, you can take the bus 20 minutes to Fiesole. This is a gorgeous hilltop town just outside the city. You can tell by now that there are endless places to watch the sunset in Florence!
Have any questions on this article or want to share your own favorite Florence sunset spot? Leave us a comment below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
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We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!
