The Two Faces Of Florence: That Of Luxury And That Of The Backpack

A city has many nuances, and depending on our way of traveling we will discover one or the other. On this occasion, we want to show you two different faces of Florence : one for healthy pockets and the other for those traveling on a tight budget.

Discover the different faces of Florence

When planning our trip, on many occasions we must tighten our belts. We know that there are more expensive cities and others that are cheaper. But without a doubt, knowing where to stay or where to eat can save a lot of money.

On the other hand, we may also want to do the opposite. In other words, we want to live like a king enjoying all possible luxuries. And Florence is the perfect city to show both sides of the same coin : the city of luxury and the city of savings.

We take a tour of the city of the Renaissance, showing where to leave the money or where to save it. You are going to know two very different faces of Florence, but that will allow you to immerse yourself in a magical city.

The flights

From the moment we buy the plane tickets we can start to choose if we want to spend more or less. We must start from the premise that Florence is not the cheapest destination in Italy, but even so we have the typical low cost option and the flag company.

In this way, flights operated by Vueling, a low-cost company , depart from Madrid and Barcelona, with an approximate price of 150 euros per person. If we want a little more comfort, we can opt for Iberia, which offers to travel to Florence, in this case only from Madrid, for about 300 euros.

The hotels

Throughout the city there are dozens of luxury hotels, one of them is The St. Regis Florence, a mansion designed by Brunelleschi, the architect of the famous dome of the cathedral. It is only a 10-minute walk from places like Santa Maria Novella or the Ponte Vecchio. The night costs about 900 euros.

Another option may be the JK Place Firenze, a small hotel with just 20 rooms located a few meters from the church of Santa Maria Novella. Some rooms are smaller than others, but all offer spectacular views of the square of the same name or of the entire city.

If we don’t want to spend too much money on accommodation, we also have different options. The best known are the applications that put individuals in contact to rent tourist apartments. There are different types and, of course, of different prices, but they should not exceed 90 euros per night.

It is also possible to stay in a small hostel, such as the 3-star Hostel Archi Rossi. For about 50 euros per night we have our accommodation and, in addition, it offers us breakfast. Two very different faces of Florence, don’t you think?

Food

At lunchtime we also find the two extremes. On the one hand, we can choose a restaurant with 3 Michelin stars, such as the Enoteca Pinchiorri. Their prices range between 150 and 310 euros per cover, but the food is delicious and the wine list is a real delight. They only offer dinners and it is advisable to book.

Another option is La Bottega del Buon Caffé, on the banks of the Arno and with a well-kept and exquisitely decorated terrace. The raw materials are of the highest quality and they have a wine list with more than a thousand different labels.

At the other extreme, we find numerous food stalls throughout the city. We can get a piece of pizza for about 4 euros. Of course, a regulation has recently come into force in the city that prohibits sitting in the street to eat, so you must do it while walking. If not, you risk being fined up to 500 euros.

You can also try one of the famous sandwiches from All ‘Antico Vinaio, in the center of the city and for just 5 euros you can eat and recharge your batteries.

Transport

Florence is not a very big city, so you will hardly need to take public transport. Even so, you will need to use it at least to get to the city center from the airport, if you are arriving by plane.

Taxi is the fastest option, but the truth is that this transport is the second most expensive in all of Europe, only behind Amsterdam. The rate is set at 22 euros and a supplement of 1 euro for each suitcase.

There is also the option of taking a bus, for 6 euros each way (or 10 if you buy round trip) and that leaves us at Santa María Novella station, right in the center. If you decide to take the city bus at any time, you should know that the ticket is worth 1.40 euros if purchased at kiosks and 2 euros if purchased directly on the bus.

They are two ways of traveling, of seeing two faces of Florence, of enjoying its beauty and its gastronomy. But whichever you choose, you will fall in love with the city for sure!