12 Best Views of Florence, Italy (A Photographer’s Guide)

Discover the best views of Florence, from the dome of the Duomo to Piazzale Michelangelo at sunset, with photos from every viewpoint, photography tips, and a map.

Florence is one of the most photogenic cities in the world, and after several trips here, we can say with confidence that getting up high is one of the best things you can do. Whether you’re chasing the golden light on the Duomo at sunrise, watching the sun sink below the Arno from Piazzale Michelangelo, or capturing the city’s terracotta rooftops from a quiet hillside garden, Florence rewards every photographer who comes prepared.

We’ve visited Florence twice, once as a family for a day and a half, and again for four to five days with just the two of us, and the views never got old. We’ve climbed the dome, stood at the top of the Arnolfo Tower, wandered through the Bardini Gardens on a September afternoon, and watched crowds gather at Piazzale Michelangelo well before sunset. Photography is at the heart of how we travel, and this guide reflects that.

In this post, we share the 12 best views of Florence, with our own photos from each location, practical tips for visiting, and advice on the best times and angles for photography.

Best Views of Florence: Our Top Picks

PIAZZALE MICHELANGELO | For classic sunset photos of the Florence skyline

ARNOLFO TOWER | For the best panoramic view of Florence

DOME OF THE DUOMO | For looking down over the heart of Florence from above

BARDINI GARDENS | For a quieter, uncrowded alternative with equally beautiful panoramic views

GIOTTO’S BELL TOWER | For a close-up view of the Duomo dome — note the mesh grate affects DSLR photography

UFFIZI GALLERY | For the best view of Ponte Vecchio and the Arno River

ROOFTOP BARS | For views of Florence with a glass of wine in hand

OUR FAVORITE VIEWS | Arnolfo Tower, Piazzale Michelangelo, dome of the Duomo, and rooftop bars

Where to Get the Best Views of Florence

1. The Dome of the Florence Cathedral

The Florence Cathedral, also simply referred to as the Duomo, is the grand centerpiece of Florence. Most likely, you already have plans to visit the Duomo and from this one place, you can have two of the best views of Florence, both on the same ticket.

At the Duomo, you can climb to top of Brunelleschi’s dome (also called the cupola) and to the top of Giotto’s Bell Tower (also called the Campanile).

We’ll cover the dome climb here and the bell tower next.

From the top of dome of the Duomo, you get one of the best panoramic views of Florence. From this spot, you look down on the cathedral, Piazza del Duomo, and the heart of Florence. It truly is an unforgettable view.

To get here, you will have to walk up 463 steps. These can be steep, narrow, and winding at times. There is no elevator.

Along this massive stair climb you will also get to walk on a walkway around the base of the dome, which gives you an up close look at the frescoes of The Last Judgement.

The entire experience, with the views of the interior of the cupola and the views over Florence, make this one of the best things to do in Florence.

View from the dome of the Duomo

The view of Palazzo Vecchio from the dome

How to Climb the Dome

You must make a reservation in advance. You cannot just walk up and get in line for the dome. In order to do the dome climb, purchase the Brunelleschi Ticket online, and you will be prompted to reserve a time slot.

Tickets for the dome climb can sell out several days in advance, so we recommend making your reservation about a week in advance, maybe even sooner, to make sure you get a time slot.

The Brunelleschi Ticket also covers the other sites of the Duomo complex (including Giotto’s Bell Tower, mentioned next) and you have 3 days to visit everything. Learn more about the ticket types and get more helpful tips about how to visit the Duomo in our Guide to the Florence Cathedral ↓

Duomo di Firenze

Florence Cathedral: Tickets, Dome Climb & What to Know Before You Go

How to visit the Florence Cathedral, including the dome and Giotto’s Bell Tower.

If time slots are sold out for your visit, you can join a tour of the Duomo that includes the dome climb.

2. Giotto’s Bell Tower

Giotto’s Bell Tower, also called the Campanile, is part of the Duomo complex. It sits next to the Duomo and it is included on the Brunelleschi Pass, which is the same ticket you will need for the dome climb.

No reservation is necessary to climb Giotto’s Bell Tower. You simply get in line at the bottom of the tower. On our most recent visit (midday in mid-September), there was no line to enter the bell tower.

To get to the top of Giotto’s Bell Tower, you will walk up 414 steps. Again, there is no elevator. If you do this after the dome climb, you will walk up 877 steps (and earn several scoops of gelato)!!

On the climb to the top of the bell tower, you will walk up a long series of staircases and along the way, you can stop at several terraces for a break and a view of Florence.

The view of the duomo as you climb Giotto’s Bell Tower

The view from the top of Giotto’s Bell Tower (photo taken in 2014)

This was once one of our favorite views in Florence. On our first visit here (2014), we had an unobstructed view and could take magnificent photos. Since our first visit, a black mesh has been added around the top of the bell tower. Now, you can no longer take photos from here with a camera without also photographing this mesh barrier (you can take photos without the mesh if your phone has a small camera).

I still think it’s worth it to visit Giotto’s Bell Tower for the view, especially since you have a great view of the dome from this spot.

The mesh grate that surrounds the top of Giotto’s Bell Tower (with a small camera phone it is possible to take photos without getting the metal bars in your photo).

3. Palazzo Vecchio (the Arnolfo Tower)

This is my favorite viewpoint of Florence. From the Arnolfo Tower (the tower of Palazzo Vecchio) you get stunning panoramic views of Florence and one of the best views of the Florence Cathedral.

The view from Arnolfo Tower

Palazzo Vecchio sits on Piazza della Signoria. Palazzo Vecchio is the town hall of Florence and on a visit here you can also tour the museum or take a tour of the Roman Ruins.

It is open every day. Get hours and pricing on the official website.

4. The Uffizi Gallery

The Uffizi Gallery is one of the most famous art museums in the world. In addition to seeing works of art by Titian, Michelangelo, Botticelli, and Leonardo da Vinci, you can also get several great views of Florence from this museum.

From the upper level of the museum, you can look out of the windows for one of the best views of the Arno River and Ponte Vecchio.

The view of Ponte Vecchio from the Uffizi Gallery

There is also a café and terrace on the upper level of the Uffizi Gallery with a view of Palazzo Vecchio.

shutterstock.com/goga18128

How to Visit the Uffizi Gallery: Make your reservation online in advance on the official website or through GetYourGuide. The museum is closed on Monday. A visit here typically lasts 2 to 3 hours.

5. The Boboli Gardens

This one may come as a surprise. The Boboli Gardens sit across the Arno River from the historic heart of Florence. The views of Florence from here may not be as impressive as from the Duomo but they are still wonderful. Plus, to see Florence from these gardens…beautiful!

Boboli Gardens

6. Bardini Gardens & the Bardini Villa

The Bardini Gardens (also called Giardino Bardini) are located on the same hill as the Boboli Gardens. The Bardini Gardens are much smaller, but because of their location, offer a better view of Florence. These gardens are also lesser known, so they tend to be less crowded than the Boboli Gardens.

On a visit here, there are two places to get a beautiful view of Florence: in the gardens and from the villa.

In the Bardini Gardens, you get great views of Florence from the terrace in front of La Loggetta di Villa Bardini, which is a small café. Next to the terrace is the Wisteria pergola. In April and May it is filled with flowering wisteria but it is beautiful all year round. Our photo was taken in September.

View from the terrace in front of La Loggetta di Villa Bardini

The Wisteria Pergola in September

We think the best view from Bardini Gardens is from the terrace on top of the villa. Now that you are slightly higher, you get even better panoramic views of Florence. There are also art exhibits inside of the villa that you can see on your visit here.

Overall, we liked Bardini more than Boboli. Bardini is less crowded and the views of the city are better from the more elevated position.

The view from the terrace of Villa Bardini

How to Visit the Bardini Gardens: Enter through Villa Bardini. To get here, it is an uphill walk on Costa San Giorgio from near Ponte Vecchio (you will pass the house of Galileo Galilei on this walk) or a quick walk from Boboli Gardens. Get updated pricing and hours on the official website.

7. Porta San Niccolò

This next viewpoint is a bit harder to visit, since hours are limited. But if you can fit it into your itinerary, you could be rewarded with one of the most unique views of Florence.

Porta San Niccolò, also called the Tower of San Niccolò, is one of the remains of the defensive walls of Florence. It is located on the south side of Arno River, within walking distance of the Bardini Gardens and the Rose Garden (mentioned next).

Porta San Niccolò

On a guided tour, you can visit the top of the tower. We were not able to do this, since the tower was closed during our visit, but I imagine that the view would be awesome, from its position on the Arno River.

It is only open for tours in the summer months. According to the sign at the base of the tower, tours run from the end of June through the end of September, between the hours of 4 pm and 8 pm. An advance reservation is necessary, which you can do on the official website.

8. The Rose Garden

The Rose Garden is free to visit and offers unique views of Florence. It is located on a hillside, above Porta San Niccolo and just below Piazzale Michelangelo.

We entered at Autorita Di Ambito Ato Toscana Centro, on Viale Giuseppe Poggi. It only takes a few minutes to walk through the gardens. Once you are finished, there is a path that leads up the hillside to Piazzale Michelangelo.

Here is the view:

The Rose Garden (this will be a much nicer view once the crane is gone, which is probably is by now, since this photo was taken a few years ago)

9. Piazzale Michelangelo

Piazzale Michelangelo is one of the best places in Florence to watch the sunset. To stand on this terrace and watch as the sun sinks low in the sky and the lights come on in Florence is a magical experience.

If you want to watch the sunset from here, plan on arriving at least an hour before sunset, to get a prime spot on the terrace.

Piazzale Michelangelo at sunset

However, the view from here is gorgeous all day long, so if sunset views don’t work in your itinerary, the afternoon is another beautiful time to visit Piazzale Michelangelo.

The view from Piazzale Michelangelo in the afternoon

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10. San Miniato al Monte

San Miniato al Monte (St. Minias on the Mountain) is a basilica that stands on one of the highest points of Florence.

The view from San Miniato al Monte

It is located on the hillside above Piazzale Michelangelo and it takes about 10 minutes to walk here.

From the terrace in front of the basilica you get another amazing panoramic view of Florence. It’s a great view but we think that the view from Piazzale Michelangelo is better, so if you only have the time and energy for one viewpoint out this way, we recommend Piazzale Michelangelo.

You can also visit the inside of the church and stroll through the cemetery that surrounds the basilica.

11. From a Rooftop Bar

One of our favorite things to do in Florence is to have a glass of wine or a cocktail with a view of the Duomo, Arno River, or Palazzo Vecchio.

Several of our favorite rooftop bars are View on Art, Divina Terrazza, and Cosimo. You can see the full list in our guide to the best rooftop bars in Florence ↓

Florence Rooftop Bars

Best Florence Rooftop Bars with a View of the Duomo

Where to get a view of the Duomo, the Arno River, and the Florence city skyline…best rooftop bars and restaurants.

View on Art Rooftop Bar

B Roof Restaurant

12. From Your Hotel Room

WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL | Waking up to a view of the Duomo or the Arno from your hotel room is one of those experiences that makes a Florence trip feel truly special.

When we travel, we search out hotels that have unique views. In Florence, there are quite a few to choose from, and some of them are very affordable. We splurged, staying at the Rocco Forte Hotel Savoy, and starting and ending the days with a view of the Duomo dome in our hotel window was magical.

B&B La Terrazza Sul Duomo is a mid-range hotel that has rooms with a stunning view of the Florence Cathedral.

Portait Firenze – Lungarno Collection is a luxury hotel that has views of the Arno River and Ponte Vecchio.

Rocco Forte Hotel Savoy is a luxurious 5-star hotel that is just a short walk from the Florence Duomo. Some rooms have a view of the Duomo.

For more suggestions on where to stay in Florence (plus additional hotels that have a view of the Florence Cathedral and Ponte Vecchio), take a look at our guide Where to Stay in Florence.

Some rooms at the Savoy Hotel have this view of the Florence Cathedral

Best Views of Florence on a Map

Best Time to Visit (for Views & Photography)

We’ve visited Florence in July and September, and both visits gave us something different. In July, the city is at its most crowded. Piazzale Michelangelo fills up 45 minutes before sunset and the Duomo dome slots book out several weeks in advance. In September, we found shorter waits, softer light, and the Bardini Gardens almost entirely to ourselves on a weekday afternoon.

For photography, the best light in Florence is early morning and the hour before sunset. The warm stone of the city absolutely glows during golden hour, and the Duomo in particular looks spectacular when lit from the west in late afternoon.

• Spring (April–May): Beautiful light, the Bardini Gardens’ wisteria pergola is in full bloom, and crowds are manageable outside of Easter week. One of the best times to visit.
• Summer (June–August): Long days give you late golden hour (sunset around 8:30–9pm in June), but crowds are at their peak. Book dome slots 1–2 weeks out.
• Fall (September–October): Our personal favorite. Warm weather, softer crowds, stunning light. September is ideal.
• Winter (November–February): Fewest crowds and often clear blue-sky days. Cold but manageable, and viewpoints like Piazzale Michelangelo feel almost serene.

Tips for Photographing Florence

Photography is at the core of how we travel, and Florence is one of the cities we’ve put the most thought into capturing well. A few things we’ve learned:

Arrive early or stay late. Every elevated viewpoint in Florence looks better at golden hour than midday.

The Arnolfo Tower vs. Giotto’s Bell Tower. This is the most important photography decision you’ll make in Florence. Both are elevated viewpoints looking over the city, but they’re very different shots. From the Arnolfo Tower, you look directly at the Duomo. It’s the classic Florence photo. From Giotto’s Bell Tower, you look down on the Duomo dome, which is spectacular, but a black mesh grate was added around the top that shows up clearly in DSLR and mirrorless photos. Phone cameras with small lenses can sometimes avoid it, but if you’re shooting with a larger camera, the Arnolfo Tower is the better call.

Bardini Gardens for a quieter frame. Piazzale Michelangelo and the Arnolfo Tower get the most visitors, but the Bardini Gardens terrace, especially from the top of Villa Bardini, gives you an equally stunning panorama with a fraction of the foot traffic. In September, we had the terrace almost entirely to ourselves.

The Duomo is hard to photograph up close. It is enormous, the piazza is tight, and there are always people around. Detail shots often work better than trying to capture the full building.

Don’t skip the details. Florence is packed with texture: door knockers, marble patterns, carved stone, old signs, gelato shops, market stalls, and café tables.

Some museum interiors restrict photography. Check rules before visiting, especially for flash and tripods.

Shoot in RAW if your camera allows it. The warm terracotta palette of Florence responds beautifully to post-processing. RAW files give you much more latitude to bring out the reds and oranges of the rooftops without blowing out the sky.

Focal lengths to consider. A wide angle (16–24mm on full frame) works well from the dome and the Arnolfo Tower, where you want to capture the sweep of the city. A short telephoto (70–100mm) is great from Piazzale Michelangelo and Bardini Gardens for isolating the Duomo against the skyline. Our photos were taken with a 15-35mm lens and a 24-70mm lens.

For gear recommendations, visit our Travel Photography Guide →

Photo Gear Guide

Travel Photography Gear Guide: What’s In Our Camera Bag

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best view in Florence?

The Arnolfo Tower at Palazzo Vecchio offers the best overall panoramic view of Florence, with a direct face-on look at the Duomo and sweeping views of the city’s rooftops. For the best sunset view, Piazzale Michelangelo is the classic choice.

Where is the best place to watch the sunset in Florence?

Piazzale Michelangelo is the most popular spot for sunset in Florence, and for good reason. The terrace faces west and gives you a wide view of the Arno, the Duomo, and the city lights coming on as the sun goes down. San Miniato al Monte, just up the hill from Piazzale Michelangelo, is a quieter alternative with a similarly elevated perspective.

What are the best free views in Florence?

Three of the best views in Florence are completely free: Piazzale Michelangelo (open 24 hours), San Miniato al Monte (open daily, free entry to the basilica and terrace), and the Rose Garden on the hillside below Piazzale Michelangelo.

What is the difference between climbing the dome and Giotto’s Bell Tower?

Both are part of the same Brunelleschi Ticket and both give you elevated views of Florence, but the experience is different. From the dome, you look outward over the city. From Giotto’s Bell Tower, you look down on the dome itself. It’s a beautiful view, but note that a black mesh grate has been added around the top that affects camera photography. If photos are a priority, the dome climb or the Arnolfo Tower will give you cleaner shots.

Which views of Florence are best for photographers?

The Arnolfo Tower at Palazzo Vecchio is our top pick for photographers, with unobstructed views, a direct line to the Duomo, and no mesh grating. The Bardini Villa terrace is a close second, especially for a quieter shot with softer crowds. For sunset photography, arrive at Piazzale Michelangelo at least an hour before golden hour to secure a spot on the terrace wall.

Plan Your Trip to Florence

If you’re still planning your time in Florence, our guides to the best things to do in Florence, the best rooftop bars in Florence, and our 2-day Florence itinerary can help you fit these viewpoints into your broader trip.

Florence isn’t the only Italian city that rewards getting up high. If you’re building out a broader Italy itinerary, we have similar guides on the best views of Rome, the best views of Venice, and the best views in Italy, each with our own photos and firsthand tips.

So, what do you think? Doesn’t Florence look magical? What do you think are the best views of Florence? 

Continue Exploring Italy

We have TONS more information about Italy in our Italy Travel Guide, including Rome, Florence, Venice, Tuscany, the Dolomites, the Amalfi Coast, Puglia, Sicily, and the Cinque Terre.

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