What you should know before visiting Florence 

Book tickets in advance for the most important monuments and museums, such as the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Uffizi or the Accademia Gallery. This will save you time waiting in queues.

Also explore the lesser-known parts of the city, such as the Oltrarno or San Lorenzo. Here you will not be disturbed by the streams of tourists and you can walk through the typical markets and beautiful streets.

If you're traveling in the summer months, avoid the biggest tourist attractions around midday, when it's at its hottest and many tourists congregate. Better visit these places early in the morning or later in the evening.

Bring comfortable shoes and clothes because the best way to get to know Florence is on foot.

Try local dishes such as ribollita, bistecca alla fiorentina, cantuccini or gelato. Restaurants and cafes are often located in hidden alleyways, where you can best taste the local cuisine and atmosphere.

If you want to travel around the city, I recommend using public transport such as buses or trams, or even better, walking around. The city center is not large and you can best discover the beauties of Florence by walking.