Florence is a beautiful city at street level, but some of its most memorable landmarks are best viewed from above. Climb one of the city's historic towers or head across the Arno River to the surrounding hills, and you can find panoramic views of Florence's terracotta rooftops, medieval landmarks, and unmistakable Renaissance skyline.
During our last two trips to Florence, we have spent time exploring the city and seeking out some of the best views in Florence along the way. Some require a steep climb, while others are completely free or tucked inside of attractions you may already be planning to visit.
In this guide, we are sharing our picks for the five best views in Florence, including the viewpoints we think are actually worth the climb! For more help planning your trip, head over to our Florence Travel Blog, where we cover what to see and do, where to stay, where to eat, and our honest take on visiting the birthplace of the Renaissance.
From historic towers in the city center to panoramic viewpoints in the hills of the Oltrarno, there are plenty of places to see Florence from above. These five spots offer some of the best views in Florence, whether you want to admire Brunelleschi's Dome up close, take in the entire city skyline, or find a quieter viewpoint away from the crowds.
Easily the best views in Florence can be found at the Duomo Complex (formally known as the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore), where you can climb to the top of both Brunelleschi's Dome and Giotto's Bell Tower. Entrance to both of these landmarks requires a ticket, and we strongly recommend booking tickets in advance of your visit, particularly if you want to climb to the top of the dome.
The Brunelleschi Pass includes access to both the dome and Giotto's Bell Tower (plus, other sites within the Duomo Complex). Your dome climb requires a timed reservation, meaning you will have to take your chances with the weather on the day of your visit. Access to Giotto's Bell Tower, however, is more flexible and does not require a reserved time slot, so you can visit at any point during the validity period of your pass.
If you do not plan to climb the dome, the Giotto Pass includes access to the bell tower and other sites within the Duomo Complex. Tickets for the Duomo Complex can be purchased via the official Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore website or through our affiliate partner, GetYourGuide.
Please keep in mind that both of these viewpoints require a significant climb by stairs. There are no elevators, escalators, or accessible routes to the top, making these viewpoints inaccessible for travelers with mobility limitations. We would also not recommend either climb for families traveling to Florence with young children.
Climbing to the top of Brunelleschi's Dome is a bucket-list experience for many visitors to Florence, ourselves included. The Duomo is easily the most recognizable landmark in the city, and from its top, you are rewarded with incredible panoramic views across Florence, especially on a clear day!
The climb itself is a part of the experience. As you make your way up, you will pass the elaborate frescos that cover the interior of the dome. This is easily one of the best ways to appreciate the scale and detail of The Last Judgment.
That said, the climb is most certainly not for everyone. There are 463 narrow steps to reach the top, and some of the stairwells and passageways become extremely narrow. We would not recommend this climb for anyone who is claustrophobic or has a fear of heights. While there is no minimum age requirement for visiting the top of Brunelleschi's Dome, visitors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Your time at the top of the dome is also limited. Visitors generally have between 10 to 15 minutes to enjoy the view (truly one of the best views in Florence!) before being directed to begin your descent, and the time limit is strictly enforced. Your time up top honestly depends on how long it takes you (and those in front of you) to reach the top of the dome. While you do have enough time to take in the skyline and snap some photos, the experience can feel rushed after the long climb to get to the top.
The views from Brunelleschi's Dome are among the best in Florence. The panoramic, 360-degree views, allow you to see everything from the Tuscan hills in the distance to Palazzo Vecchio, the Basilica di San Lorenzo (home to the Medici Chapels), Giotto's Bell Tower, and more.
Despite the incredible vistas available to visitors atop Brunelleschi's Dome, it is not our favorite viewpoint in Florence. We actually prefer the view from Giotto's Bell Tower for one simple reason: when you are standing on top of the Duomo, you cannot fully appreciate the magnificence of the cathedral itself! From Giotto's Bell Tower, Brunelleschi's Dome becomes the centerpiece of Florence's skyline.
While Brunelleschi's Dome takes you to the very top of the tallest building in Florence, we actually prefer the views from Giotto's Bell Tower. From the tower, you can see the dome itself rising above Florence, along with the city's terracotta rooftops and surrounding hills. You also get the best perspective of the detailed marble façade covering the exterior of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.
The climb to the top of Giotto's Bell Tower is easier than the dome, but still challenging for many visitors. There are 414 steps to reach the top, with uneven stair heights and two-way traffic through some fairly tight stairwells. The stone stairs can also be slippery in places - take it from me, I slipped in one spot but was able to catch myself before tumbling down a flight of stairs!
The climb to the top of Giotto's Bell Tower is easier in a sense because the climb is broken up by several levels where you can stop, catch your breath, and admire different views of the cathedral and city.
Once you reach the top, there is no time limit. You can take as long as you want enjoying some of the best views in Florence, without feeling rushed to take photos or immediately begin the climb back down to street level.
As we mentioned already, the ability to actually see and appreciate Brunelleschi's Dome, as well as the cathedral's grand façade, is what ultimately makes Giotto's Bell Tower the better viewpoint within the Duomo complex. The dome is such an important part of Florence's skyline that being able to admire it from almost eye-level, rather than standing on top of it or looking up at it from the street, makes the view that much more impressive.
For one of the best views in Florence, it is hard to beat Piazzale Michelangelo (also known as Piazzale il David)! Perched in the hills of the Oltrarno neighborhood along Viale Giuseppe Poggi, the large square offers postcard-worthy views of Florence's skyline, with many of the city's most recognizable landmarks visible all at once. Plus, it is completely free to visit!
From here, you can look across the Arno River toward the historic center, with excellent views of Ponte Vecchio, the Duomo Complex, Palazzo Vecchio with the Torre di Arnolfo, and the Basilica of Santa Croce.
The piazzale is named for the Florentine artist Michelangelo Buonarroti, and replicas of several of his sculptures are displayed at the center of the space, including a bronze replica of David.
While Piazzale Michelangelo is particularly popular amongst tourists at sunset, we actually prefer visiting during the day. The piazzale is rarely busy during the day and daylight makes it far easier to pick out individual landmarks across the horizon.
Beautiful views are available along the walk to and from the piazzale, so getting there is certainly part of the experience! Just below the piazzale, you will find a Rose Garden (Giardino delle Rose), a free public garden that is worth visiting if you are in Florence during the late spring.
Piazzale Michelangelo is within walking distance of the neighborhoods surrounding the Duomo, and the walk from the Duomo itself takes about 30 minutes. Although, you will want to keep in mind that the final portion of the walk is uphill.
If you would rather skip the long, uphill walk, there is a public bus stop directly at Piazzale Michelangelo. (The bus stop is served by bus 13.) The Sightseeing Firenze hop-on/hop-off bus also regularly stops at Piazzale Michelangelo, making it an especially convenient option if you are interested in booking a sightseeing bus tour of the city.
Located behind the Pitti Palace (Palazzo Pitti) in Florence's Oltrarno neighborhood, Boboli Gardens offer another beautiful vantage point over the city. The gardens require paid admission, but unlike the Duomo or Giotto's Bell Tower, you will not need to climb hundreds of stairs to enjoy some of the best views in Florence.
Tickets for Boboli Gardens can be purchased online via the official Uffizi Galleries website, through third-party providers like GetYourGuide, and in-person at the Pitti Palace ticket office. Ticket offices are also available at each of the entrance points to the gardens.
The viewpoints here are somewhat similar to those from Piazzale Michelangelo, although you are not as high above the city. What makes Boboli Gardens special is the sheer amount of space that you have to explore. As you make your way through the gardens, you will find several opportunities to stop and admire Florence's skyline without the crowds that typically gather at the city's more famous viewpoints.
Of course, the views of the city are only a small part of the reason to visit Boboli Gardens! Boboli is actually one of the best examples of an Italian formal garden, with carefully designed walking paths, fountains, sculptures, terraces, and landscaping across the hillside behind the Pitti Palace. In fact, these gardens influenced French formal gardens, thanks to Marie de' Medici, who spent part of her childhood living at the Pitti Palace before she went on to become Queen of France. In fact, Marie de' Medici drew inspiration from the Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens when she commissioned the Luxembourg Palace and Luxembourg Gardens in Paris. The more you know!
For families visiting Florence with children, Boboli Gardens are one of the easiest ways to enjoy some of the best views in Florence without committing to one of the city's major tower climbs. The gardens are also wheelchair accessible, however, travelers with mobility issues should keep in mind that the gardens themselves are extensive and include hills, gravel paths, steps, and uneven terrain.
If the weather is nice, give yourself plenty of time to wander Boboli Gardens. Between the gardens themselves, views back toward the expansive Pitti Palace, and quieter glimpses of the city's skyline, Boboli Gardens are easily the most relaxing viewpoint on this list.
Standing prominently over Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio is one of Florence's most recognizable landmarks and an excellent place to see the historic center from above. Its central location gives you a completely different perspective than Piazzale Michelangelo or the Boboli Gardens. Instead of looking toward Florence from the surrounding hillside, you are right in the heart of the city, surrounded by terracotta rooftops and Renaissance landmarks.
The highest viewpoint at Palazzo Vecchio is its distinctive, medieval tower: Torre di Arnolfo. From the three levels that make up the tower, you have an especially impressive view of the Duomo rising above the surrounding rooftops.
The climb is definitely more manageable than the climb to the top of Brunelleschi's Dome and Giotto's Bell Tower. Not only is it shorter with only 233 steps, but the Torre di Arnolfo has three levels where you can stop, catch your breath, and enjoy the views over Florence before continuing on to the top. While you will still need to tackle plenty of stairs, the experience is overall easier and less confining than the climb inside the Brunelleschi's Dome.
One important thing to know before visiting is that access to the Torre di Arnolfo is not automatically included with your paid admission to Palazzo Vecchio. We unfortunately found this out the hard way on our visit to Palazzo Vecchio in 2023.
So, if you want to climb the 233 steps to the top of the tower, you will need to book a ticket that specifically includes the Torre di Arnolfo. Tickets for Palazzo Vecchio and the Torre di Arnolfo can be purchased, in advance of your visit, via the Comune di Firenze website.
The Torre di Arnolfo may close in the event of inclement weather, so access to all three levels of the tower is not guaranteed.
That said, you do not necessarily have to climb to the top of the tower to find great views from Palazzo Vecchio. The upper levels of the palace offer several opportunities to look out across Florence. If you have already climbed the Duomo or Giotto's Bell Tower, or simply do not want to tackle another tower during your limited time in Florence, you can still enjoy some beautiful views of Florence as part of your visit to Palazzo Vecchio.
One of the most overlooked views in Florence can be found inside the Opera del Duomo Museum (Museo dell'Opera del Duomo). While most visitors come here to see the museum's collection of original sculptures and works created for the Duomo Complex, there is also an upper-level terrace with an incredible up-close view of Brunelleschi's Dome.
The perspective here is completely different than the other viewpoints on this list. Rather than looking out across the entire skyline, you are standing remarkably close to the Duomo and its enormous dome. This viewpoint, in our opinion, gives you a much better sense of the scale of Brunelleschi's masterpiece and offers a fantastic opportunity to grab photos of the Duomo from a quieter angle.
Best of all, the terrace is something of a hidden gem! On our visit, we were the only ones out on the terrace, making this easily the quietest viewpoint in the city. Plus, you do not have to climb stairs to reach it. It is actually accessible by elevator!
The view is simply a bonus to what is already one of Florence's most worthwhile museums. The Opera del Duomo Museum houses many of the original works created for the cathedral, including masterpieces by Donatello and Michelangelo, plus the original, gigantic bronze doors of the Baptistery.
Access to the terrace at the Opera del Duomo Museum is included with admission to the museum. The museum is included in both the Brunelleschi Pass and the Giotto Pass which include admission to the Duomo Complex sites mentioned earlier in this guide to the best views in Florence.
If you are not interested in visiting Giotto's Bell Tower or Brunelleschi's Dome, but still want to see the cathedral, Baptistery, and Opera del Duomo Museum, you can book the Ghiberti Pass via the official Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore website.
While you certainly are not visiting the Uffizi Galleries (Galleria degli Uffizi) for the views, its rooftop terrace is actually a beautiful bonus while exploring one of the most famous museums in Florence. Located near the end of your visit on the second floor of the museum (home to the main masterpieces in the collection), the panoramic terrace places you surprisingly close to the Palazzo Vecchio and Torre di Arnolfo.
Unlike the other viewpoints on this list, the rooftop terrace at the Uffizi Galleries is more about appreciating the architecture immediately surrounding you. After spending hours inside the galleries, it is also a nice opportunity to step outside, get some fresh air, and enjoy a perspective that you do not get from street level.
Since the terrace is already a part of your visit to the Uffizi, there is no need to plan a separate stop around it. Just make sure you do not rush past it on your way through the museum! A small café is just near the entrance to the rooftop terrace, near the Lanzi Staircase.
From the top of Brunelleschi’s Dome to the hills of the Oltrarno neighborhood, seeking out a few of the best views in Florence is well worth adding to your Florence itinerary. Each of these Florence viewpoints offers a different perspective, whether you want to see the Duomo up close, look across the city’s terracotta rooftops, or take in the skyline from a quieter spot like the Boboli Gardens.
If you only have time for one stop, we recommend either Giotto’s Bell Tower for an incredible view of the Duomo itself, or Piazzale Michelangelo for the best free panoramic view of Florence. However, some of our favorite views are the unexpected ones, including the terrace at the Opera del Duomo Museum!
Ready to plan the rest of your trip to Florence? Head over to our Florence Travel Blog for more of our first-hand recommendations, including what to see and do, where to stay in Florence, our favorite Florence restaurants, and practical tips for visiting Florence.
Have a favorite viewpoint in Florence that we missed in this guide? Let us know in the comments below! ⬇️