I have to admit, I feel a bit silly typing out the word “instagrammable” (have I reached peak millennial?), but it’s just true: there are a ridiculous number of instagrammable photo spots in Florence, Italy.
And whether the word “instagrammable” makes you cringe a bit inside or you are 110% enthusiastic about the Instagram life (in which case, we’d love to have you follow us on Instagram for more Italy and Europe content!), there’s no denying that Florence is insanely photogenic.
From idyllic gardens to gorgeous viewpoints from historic towers to stunning churches, photographing Florence is an absolute delight from (almost) all angles.
If you’re looking for the most instagrammable places in Florence, this is where you need to go.
Table of Contents
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The Most Instagrammable Photo Spots in Florence
Towers + Overlooks for Taking Pictures in Florence
Giotto’s Bell Tower
While the cupola of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (also simply known as the Duomo) is popular to climb, people who didn’t book tickets in advance or are scared of heights might prefer the view from the bell tower next door!
Not only will climbing Giotto’s Bell Tower give you amazing views over Florence, it’ll allow you to get some up-close-and-personal shots of the epic cupola as well!
Piazzale Michelangelo
Hands down, if you’re looking for the most popular instagrammable place in Florence, Italy, this is it!
Piazzale Michelangelo is one of the most popular photo spots in Florence for good reason.
From Piazzale Michelangelo, you’ll have amazing views over all of Florence, including the Ponte Vecchio Bridge, the Duomo, and the Palazzo Vecchio.
Piazzale Michelangelo is also one of the best sunset spots in Florence, but fair warning: if you want to get photos of yourself without other people in them, the crowds at Piazzale Michelangelo at sunset will not make it easy.
Palazzo Vecchio
Far less crowded than the more iconic views of Florence but equally stunning, the Palazzo Vecchio is one of our personal favorite photography locations in Florence, Italy!
From the top of this tower, you’ll be rewarded with a magnificent view of the Duomo from the side, allowing you to easily capture how magnificent the building is as well as how clearly it dwarfs the rest of the city by comparison.
Tower of San Niccolo
The Tower of San Niccolo is the hardest to access of Florence’s instagrammable spots, but if you get the chance, it’s very rewarding.
The views of the Arno River, Ponte Vecchio, and beyond are supposed to be stunning.
Why is it hard to access?
The tower is only open for limited hours in the afternoon during the summer months–it’s closed entirely the rest of the year.
You can check dates, hours, and other information for visiting the tower here.
Markets + Food to Photograph in Florence, Italy
Mercato Centrale
Florence’s most popular food market is Instagram heaven.
From elaborate fruit stands to intricate cheese displays, this market is the perfect place to break out your camera.
Keep in mind that the bulk of the market breaks down by 2-3pm each day, so for the best shots, come earlier in the day.
San Lorenzo Market
Right outside the Mercato Centrale sits the outdoor San Lorenzo Market, which boasts leather goods and souvenirs galore.
While the leather here is not known for its quality–you’ll need to duck into one of Florence’s revered leather shops for that–the displays are eye-catching enough to rate it among the most instagrammable places in Florence.
Panino Shops and Trattorias
Florence is bursting at the seams with adorable panino shops and trattorias–you’ll see them on every corner–so be sure to stop into some of each for some epic shots (and delicious food).
While the famous All’Antico Vinaio does serve tasty sandwiches in a beautiful atmosphere, don’t feel like you need to wait in the giant line there in order to appreciate the charm of panino shops in Florence!
There are delightful spots all around the city, and when it comes to the low light typical in restaurants, it’s much more fun to photograph Florence a bit further from the crowds.
Mercato Nuovo + the Porcellino Statue
Want to ensure you come back to Florence?
In between taking some instagrammable shots, rub the nose of the Porcellino statue for good luck!
Good luck aside, the Porcellino statue still makes a great photo opportunity, and the Mercato Nuovo it is located right next to is another excellent opportunity to get some shots of leather goods and souvenirs.
Gelato
Did you know that–according to some accounts, anyway–gelato was invented in Florence?
While the claim will probably forever be disputed, it’s yet another good reason to take plenty of photos of and with gelato in Florence!
Whether you hold your cone out in front of the Ponte Vecchio, in front of the Duomo, or down one of the city’s many charming side streets, there’s nothing like some colorful gelato to add a little something to any of these photo spots in Florence.
Instagrammable Piazzas for Photographing Florence
Piazza del Duomo
If you’ve seen one Instagram photo of Florence, it’s probably from the Piazza del Duomo!
As the center of Florence’s tourism world and home to the Duomo, the baptistery, and several museums, no hunt for instagrammable spots in Florence would be complete without plenty of shots here.
Piazza della Repubblica
A historical square and a beautiful carousel–that’s Instagram gold.
The Piazza della Repubblica is one of our favorite places to snap photos in Florence, Italy, and its central location means that you’re almost certain to walk by it several times or more during your trip!
Fair warning, there has been quite a bit of construction happening here in recent years, so be prepared to have to hunt for the best angles.
Piazza della Signoria
Home to the Palazzo Vecchio, the gorgeous Neptune Fountain, and an outdoor display of gorgeous statues, the Piazza della Signoria is bursting with instagrammable photo opportunities.
The Piazza della Signoria is one of those places that will remind you that the City of the Renaissance is an artwork unto itself–no ticket to the Uffizi (though the museum is located right here, just saying) required.
The Best Garden Photo Spots in Florence, Italy
The Boboli Gardens
The Boboli Gardens easily make the list of most instagrammable places in Florence.
Once the haunt of the wealthy Medici family, the gardens were laid out in the 16th century and have been maintained since.
While there are beautiful views of Florence in the gardens, our favorite spots face away from the city and boast views of the stunning Tuscan countryside.
Our personal favorite of all the Florence photo spots in the gardens is near the porcelain museum–that’s where the below photo was taken.
The Rose Garden
Located just underneath the Piazzale Michelangelo, the Rose Garden offers similar views to the famous Piazza–but with fewer crowds and beautiful roses in the foreground!
A bonus for hitting up the Rose Garden on your quest to find the most instagrammable places in Florence?
If you go in the spring, the entire garden smells absolutely amazing.
The Bardini Gardens
While smaller than the Boboli Gardens, the Bardini Gardens are home to great views over the city!
When it comes to photographing Florence, though, the real star of the Bardini Gardens is the tunnel of wisteria that blooms in the spring.
April is generally considered the best time to catch the wisteria in Florence, but of course the season can vary depending on the year.
Two things are for certain though: the wisteria in the Bardini Gardens is one of the most photogenic attractions in Florence, and it only lasts a few weeks a year!
Bridges to Take Photos of Florence From
Ponte Vecchio
As one of the best-known landmarks in Florence and (in my biased opinion, anyway) prettiest bridges in the world, no list of instagrammable spots in Florence would be complete without the Ponte Vecchio.
The bridge is lined entirely with glistening jewelry shops (the only type of business legally allowed to exist on the bridge).
The result is a bridge that practically glitters, and pulls your eye in a thousand directions as you walk across it.
Ponte Santa Trinita
As lovely as photographing the Ponte Vecchio as you stroll across it is, for the full effect of the beauty of the bridge itself, you have to step a little further back.
The nearby Ponte Santa Trinita Bridge boasts beautiful views of the Ponte Vecchio and is one of our favorite spots to photograph the famous bridge.
More Instagrammable Places in Florence, Italy
The Exterior of the Uffizi
The Uffizi may be one of the most famous art museums in the world, but you don’t even have to step inside to start appreciating how beautiful it is.
The 16th-century structure was built by Giorgio Vasari to house administrative buildings for Florence (hence its location right next to the Palazzo Vecchio, which is still the functioning town hall of Florence), and is gorgeous.
San Miniato al Monte
Piazzale Michelangelo a bit crowded for you?
Hike up a bit further to San Miniato al Monte!
Not only will most of the crowd melt away, you’ll have a chance to photograph both an overview of the city and the 1000-year-old church!
While you can walk up to the church, if climbing isn’t your thing, consider joining a vintage Vespa tour!
Not only is it a fun way to access the view, but a vintage Vespa also provides plenty of Instagram matieral in its own right and is one of our favorite memories from all of our trips to Florence.
Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy
Tucked behind an unassuming door a short walk from the Santa Maria Novella Train Station sits the stunning Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy.
Don’t be confused by the name: this isn’t a modern pharmacy, but a 600-year-old perfumery and apothecary.
Not only is the interior incredibly beautiful and a dream to photograph, but you can also pick up some great local Italian souvenirs while you’re there!
Along the Banks of the Arno River
You don’t have to be on one of Florence’s photogenic bridges to capture beautiful views from them!
There are gorgeous places to take photos in Florence all along the river, but for one of the best views of the Ponte Vecchio, walk to the river from the Uffizi Museum and turn toward the bridge.
This area is generally crowded, but also stunning and worth enjoying when photographing Florence!
Tips for Photographing Florence, Italy
Like most popular touristic cities around the globe, you’ll need a few tricks up your sleeve to take your best Instagram photos in Florence, Italy!
Here’s what to consider before setting off.
Get up early to take pictures in Florence.
This could apply to anywhere, not just getting Instagram shots in Florence, but this city is definitely easiest to photograph without enormous crowds around you–and getting up early is the simplest way to avoid those crowds.
If you do manage to drag yourself out of bed early (good job, seriously), I recommend heading directly to the Piazza del Duomo and embracing your chance to photograph the Duomo without swarms of people around it.
… or stay out late.
Not an early bird?
Us either, unless we happen to be battling jet lag at the time.
Luckily, with the right equipment, taking photos of Florence at night is also a great way to avoid the crowds.
Embrace golden hour.
The golden glow of Tuscan light is always amazing… but during golden hour, it gets even better.
Golden hour is the perfect time to hit spots like the Ponte Vecchio, the Ponte Santa Trinita, and The Piazzale Michelangelo (just be prepared to share the view–these areas get crowded during sunset in Florence for a reason).
Don’t be afraid of the rain at Florence photo spots.
Honestly, I believe Florence is frequently at its prettiest right after a rainstorm!
… And the fact that the crowds disperse when the rain sets in doesn’t hurt, either).
Be patient.
You won’t regret waiting for the two minutes it takes for the people standing behind you to clear out of your shot.
Give yourself a couple of minutes to try to get the framing right, and you’ll cherish your photos that much more for years to come.
Be respectful when photographing Florence.
In a world of Instagram, (relatively) inexpensive DSLR and mirrorless cameras, and excellent cameras on smartphones, it’s no surprise that constant photo-taking can become a bit of a contentious topic.
Everywhere you go, from famous cities to local hikes, it seems that more people are taking more photos than ever before.
In general, I don’t think you need to shy away from taking photos and enjoying the most instagrammable places in Florence, but some people definitely take it too far.
My biggest tip for photographing Florence is simple: don’t be one of those people.
Don’t hog photo spots if you see other people waiting. Don’t take photos of things that have signs stating not to photograph them. Don’t climb on structures that you aren’t supposed to climb.
In other words, just be a reasonable person.
It’s not that hard, and we’ll all be better off–and end up with plenty of opportunities to enjoy the best photo spots in Florence–for it.
Where to Stay in Florence, Italy
Looking for a great place to base yourself when taking pictures in Florence?
We’ve visited Florence many times and stayed all over the city.
Here are a few excellent options boasting excellent reviews and locations that are walkable to most of the most instagrammable photo spots in Florence.
Both of these hotels in Florence are midrange in price, boast an excellent, walkable location, and have wonderful reviews–we wouldn’t hesitate to stay in either one!
Budget
B&B Le Stanze del Duomo — Though Florence hotels can be a bit pricey and stretch the definition of “budget”, B&B Le Stanze’s beautiful rooms and an impeccable location in Florence will be sure to have you swooning!
Check rates & book your stay at B&B Le Stanze del Duomo!
Midrange
Bargello Guest House — Located in the heart of Florence, this property is only a short (read: less than 5-minute) walk away from some of Florence’s highlights like the Palazzo Vecchio.
Staying here, you’ll be within easy walking distance of the best of what Florence has to offer.
We loved our stay here and would happily check in again!
Check rates & book your stay at Bargello Guest House!
Luxury
Hotel Lungarno — Nestled right against the Arno River and home to one of the best views of the Ponte Vecchio in Florence (not to mention some of the best views of the rest of Florence from their top deck), Hotel Lungarno is considered one of the absolute best hotels in Florence for good reason.
You can’t go wrong using Hotel Lungarno as your base for your time spent exploring the best Florence photo spots!
Check rates & book your stay at Hotel Lungarno!
The top photo is genuinely one of the best I have seen from a green, lush perspective. Love it.
Thank you so much!
Hi Kate and Jeremy,
Between duomo in Milan and Florence, which would you recommend going to more?
Hi Yan!
Both Duomos are amazing, but we prefer Florence over Milan in general. 🙂