Quick answer: Florence runs about EUR 135 per day mid-range - noticeably less if you eat local and walk. Cheapest window: April-May and September-October - mild and walkable; July-August is hot, crowded and expensive.
What things actually cost
| espresso at the bar | 1.30 EUR |
| gelato small cone | 3 EUR |
| Uffizi ticket (high season) | 25 EUR |
| lampredotto panino | 5 EUR |
| trattoria dinner with wine | 25-30 EUR |
| tram or bus single | 1.70 EUR |
Eat well for little
- Bistecca alla fiorentina at Trattoria Mario or Osteria dell'Enoteca - sold by weight, about 50 EUR per kg; one steak feeds two
- Lampredotto panino from Nerbone or a street trippaio cartabout 5 EUR, the classic Florentine worker's lunch
- Schiacciata sandwich at All'Antico Vinaioabout 7 EUR, expect a queue at lunch
- Gelato at Gelateria dei Neri or La Carraiaabout 3 EUR for a small cone
- Ribollita (bread and vegetable stew) at a traditional trattoria - about 9 EUR
Money mistakes to avoid
- Turning up at the Uffizi or Accademia without a timed reservation - book official tickets days or weeks ahead, especially April-October
- Eating on the main squareswalk 10 minutes to the Oltrarno or Sant'Ambrogio and pay roughly half for better food
- Driving into the ZTL restricted traffic zonecameras issue automatic fines; park outside the center and walk
- Cramming Pisa, Siena and Chianti into one daypick one day trip and give Florence itself the time it deserves
Transport without the tourist tax
The T2 tram runs from Florence airport to Santa Maria Novella station in about 20 minutes for 1.70 EUR. The center is compact and mostly pedestrian - you will walk almost everywhere; buses/trams (1.70 EUR single) only matter for Piazzale Michelangelo or Fiesole.
Planning the full trip? Start with the 3-day Florence itinerary.