Florence on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Florence can be done on a budget, but it is not cheap: the walkable centre, free churches and viewpoints help, while museums and beds cost real money. Plan on about €105 per person per day (bed in a shared double €55, food €25, sights €25, transport €2), or less in a hostel with one paid museum a day.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | €55 | €95 | €200 |
| Food & drink | €25 | €50 | €100 |
| Sights & tickets | €25 | €45 | €70 |
| Local transport | €2 | €4 | €20 |
| Per person, per day | €107 | €194 | €390 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Florence day-cost table.
Free things to do
- The interior of the Duomo (Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore); the dome and bell tower are paid
- Piazzale Michelangelo for sunset over the Arno and the dome
- San Miniato al Monte, with Gregorian chant at vespers, usually around 17:30
- The Loggia dei Lanzi's open-air statues on Piazza della Signoria
- Walking across Ponte Vecchio and through the Oltrarno artisan streets
- Browsing the ground floor of the Mercato Centrale and the Sant'Ambrogio market
Cheap eats
- Lampredotto sandwich from a kiosk: about €5–7
- Schiacciata ripiena from a sandwich shop: about €6–10
- Ribollita or pappa al pomodoro in a trattoria: about €8–12
- Pappardelle al cinghiale: about €12–18
- Cantucci with vin santo: about €5–8
Where to sleep for less
The cheapest beds are near Santa Maria Novella station, where a double costs roughly €100–150 a night and the station and airport tram are on the doorstep. Hostel dorm beds are often in the range of roughly €35–60 a night in summer. Remember the city tax, charged per person per night.
Getting around cheaply
Walk: the centre is small and most sights are within 20–25 minutes of each other. A bus or tram ticket costs about €1.70 for 90 minutes. From the airport, the T2 tram to Unità (by Santa Maria Novella) is the cheapest option, about 20 minutes. From Pisa airport, take the train.
A sample budget day
- Morning: Cornetto and cappuccino standing at the bar (about €3), free visit to the Duomo interior
- Lunch: Lampredotto sandwich and water from a kiosk (about €7)
- Afternoon: Galleria dell'Accademia for David (about €16), then walk to Piazzale Michelangelo for free
- Evening: Pizza and a glass of house wine in the Oltrarno, then a small gelato (about €20)
- Total: about €105 with a budget bed (about €55), one museum and a bus ticket
More ways to save
- Stay near Santa Maria Novella and walk everywhere instead of paying for central hotels around the Duomo.
- Fill a bottle at the fontanelli rather than buying water near the sights.
- Pick either the dome or Giotto's bell tower; the tower is better for photographs because the dome is in the view.
- Visit between November and February for lower room prices and cheaper Uffizi tickets.
- Buy wine from a shop for sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo instead of drinking at a bar.
- The Firenze Card only pays off if you plan four or more paid museums in 72 hours.
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Common questions
How much money do I need per day in Florence?
About €105 per person on a budget, about €195 mid-range and about €390 in comfort, including a bed in a shared double.
What can I do for free in Florence?
Visit the Duomo interior, Piazzale Michelangelo, San Miniato al Monte and the Loggia dei Lanzi, and walk across Ponte Vecchio and through the Oltrarno.
What is the cheapest way from the airport?
The T2 tram from Florence airport to Unità, by Santa Maria Novella station, for about €1.70.