Things to Do in Florence at Night: A Solo Traveller’s Guide

Safe places to stroll, see great art, eat gelato and enjoy Florence at night

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

Florence is a magical city, and no more so than after dark. So if you’re considering popping by to “do” Florence in a day en route to bigger cities in Italy, I’d like to convince you to stay a while. Florence at night offers smaller crowds and cooler temperatures, plus those golden-hour views over those beautiful bridges of your Tuscan dreams.

And if you’re already planning at least one night in Florence, this guide covers things to do in Florence at night with practical suggestions for safe areas for strolling, what activities to book, and where to stay so that you can make the most of your time in this stunning Renaissance city—whether you’re craving culture, connection, or just a quiet walk with gelato.

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Is Florence Safe at Night? Tips for Solo Travellers

The short answer: yes, Florence is generally safe at night—especially in well-lit central neighbourhoods like the Duomo, Santa Croce, and Oltrarno, where you’ll find lots of locals and visitors out enjoying dinner or gelato late into the evening—especially in summer. You won’t be alone out there. I was travelling with another female friend, and we did a lot of walking around in the evening and felt very comfortable.

That said, like any popular European city, there are risks to be aware of:

• Pickpocketing is the most common issue, especially in busy tourist spots or near the train station. The more crowded it is, the more you should watch your wallets and phones.
• Parks like Parco delle Cascine are lovely by day, but best avoided after dark.
• The area around Santa Maria Novella train station can feel sketchy late at night—if you’re arriving after, say, 10pm, plan to get a taxi to your hotel and don’t linger.
• Emergency? The local police number is 113. Save it in your phone before you go to Italy.

One way that I reduce my risk of being solo in a quiet area at night is booking a hotel that’s very close to the things I plan to do, especially ones with great rooftop bars to hang out at without needing to worry about getting back to my room alone and late. I’ve included recommended hotels throughout this post.

For more Safety Tips for Solo Travellers, I’ve written a whole ebook you can download today.

Now here’s my list of wonderful things to do in Florence at night

Catch the Sunset: Florence’s Golden Hour Moments

Watching the sun set over Florence’s terracotta rooftops is a dream! (With this caveat for solo travellers—there are a lot of couples canoodling.) But here are some great spots to romance yourself:

• Piazzale Michelangelo: The classic choice with sweeping city views. We took an ebike tour of Florence at night that zipped us up the hill and I loved the vibe up here with street musicians and impromptu dancing. Read my full review of the tour or check out dates and rates to book the ebike night tour here.
• San Miniato al Monte: Just above Michelangelo, this quieter church terrace gives you the same view—plus a peaceful atmosphere.
• Ponte Santa Trinita: A beautiful place for photos. Stand on this bridge to watch the light hit the Ponte Vecchio just right.
• Rooftop Bars: In the early evening, look for aperitivo offers—free small bites when you buy a drink. We loved the live music at the rooftop bar of our hotel Plaza Hotel Lucchesi, Emperio, which is open to non-guests after 7:30pm. And sunset was glorious from the bohemian style restaurant at Palazzo Guadagni in the arty Spirito Santo neighbourhood—advance reservations required.

Explore Art After Dark

If you want to avoid the crowds and the heat you can see some of the most famous art in Florence at night. It’s perfect if you’ve arrived late or just prefer a quieter vibe.

A few Florence Museums are open late on select nights.

Accademia Gallery is where you’ll find Michelangelo’s David and since it’s lit by a skylight going at night will show you the famous sculpture in a whole new light—literally. During high season of June and July, the museum is open until 10pm on Tuesdays. But reserve ahead and note the last admission is at 9:15pm.

The Uffizi Gallery no longer opens late (someone please tell ChatGPT to stop giving out false info!) but there’s something new and exciting to do there at night: the Vasari Corridor, an enclosed 1km passageway between the Uffizi and the Palazzo Petit built in 1565 as a secret passage for the Medici family, is now open to the public. And on Friday night from July to September Vasari Corridor is open 7pm to 11pm. Reservations required. For full details on visiting the Vasari Corridor (in Italian, Corridoio Vasariano) read their FAQ.

For free art in Florence at night (or anytime), head to Piazza della Signoria: the most famous square in Florence. It’s full of gorgeous grand sculptures by great Italian artists. There’s a copy of Michelangelo’s David standing on its original location near the city hall. Perseus with the headless Medusa by Benvenuto Cellini. The Neptune Fountain with the face of Cosimo de Medici. Cosimo, a bronze equestrian statue by Loggia dei Lanzi. Truly, if you are short on time or money but want to see great Renaissance art in Florence put this public square on your bucket list.

If you’re visiting Italy in May look out for The European Night of Museums, held annually on the third Saturday of the month, when the city’s major museums and cultural institutions stay open late and charge just 1 Euro entry fee.

Take a Night Class (Yes, Pasta is Involved)

Evening classes are a fun, low-pressure way to meet other travellers and locals while learning something new. The best ones are small and fill up especially in summer so book in advance.

Pasta-Making Workshops: Most start around 6 pm and include wine, dinner, and new friends. Great for solo travellers who want a social experience without the bar scene. This one with a gnocci option looks delicious. Or here’s one for pizza and gelato.

Wine Tastings: As you might know I don’t drink alcohol but most people visiting Florence at night would love a good glass of wine. Evening wine tastings are hosted in cozy enotecas around the city.

Find Free Outdoor Entertainment

From live music in piazzas to outdoor movie nights, discover some Italian contemporary culture in the summer and early fall at a free show. Many of these events have websites that are only in Italian – Google translate is your friend, because it’s worth it to find local gems!

• Estate Fiorentina: A citywide arts festival with hundreds of free music events—jazz at Parco delle Cascine, indie bands in Santo Spirito, and more. (June to September).
• Sagrati in Musica: Classical and choral concerts held outside churches across the city. Magical, unexpected, and usually free.
• Firenze Jazz Festival early Sept in Oltrarno neighbourhood
• Lantern Festival (Festa delle Rificolone) – September 7: A beloved Florentine tradition, with paper lanterns and processions through the historic centre.
• Apriti Cinema (Piazza de’ Pitti & Uffizi): In July and August, look for free open-air movie screenings after dusk in original languages with subtitles. Occasionally includes director Q&As.
• Cinema in Villa Bardini (Giardino Bardini): A stunning terrace cinema with city panorama, ticketed showings and occasional free “family nights” Early July – late August

Gelato time! Stroll, Snack, and Soak Up the City

Florence is compact, walkable, and well-lit at night—perfect for a solo wander. And one more gelato before bed. I recommend a walk on the banks of the Arno River, either side.

For gelato, I liked La Carraia in Santa Spirito (more than 60 flavours) which is conveniently next to the Ponte Carraia bridge. It’s close to the San Frediano area which is lively at night.

Or head up to the Duomo, where the cathedral glows beautifully after dark and the crowds are long gone. We stopped there on that night ebike tour and it was lovely

Where to Stay to Enjoy Florence at Night

You’ll want a centrally located hotel to make the most of your night out without worrying about long walks or late buses. And I’m a big fan of great hotel bars.

I loved staying at the Plaza Hotel Lucchesi, right on the Arno River about a 10-minute walk from main attractions like Ponte Vecchio, Uffizi Gallery, etc with a great rooftop bar. On the other side of the river, Palazzo Guadagni is also a cool hotel you can hang out at in the evening.

Booking tip: Florence fills up fast during festival season and long weekends, so lock in your stay early.

I hope this list of things to do in Florence at night has been inspiring and helpful! Here are more cool and unusual things to do in Florence.