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Wed / Jan 27
Although Florence may not fit the traditional mold of a raging European social scene, its small community feel and highly fashionable bent still offer up many things to do, from intimate live music venues to open-air concerts to bumping bars and clubs.
Among the Renaissance basilicas and Michelangelo sculptures, the young and stylish tend to relish the relaxed pace of the buzzing sidewalk cafés and restaurants, bountiful boutiques, and picturesque piazzas.
But in Florence, the real party starts after the time-honored tradition of aperitivo (aperitif hour), when the throngs of outgoing locals and international students begin jumping between the piazzas and the bars, clubs, and lounges to mix, mingle, and bask in the Florence nightlife.
Sports? Pub crawls? Rowdy bars? Good beer? Then check out these suggestions from Lucas:
Eclectic crowds? Authentic bars? Live music? Nothing mainstream? Then check out these suggestions from Jonah:
Amazing drink deals? Unpretentious crowds? Karaoke with friends? Dancing all night? Then check out these suggestions from Emma:
The most socially active district of Florence, Santa Croce is frequented nightly by an international mix of amiable party-seekers who pour out of the winding roads lined with leather shops and other Florentine novelties and into the enormous Piazza Santa Croce.
The arrangement of the bars, clubs, and cafés makes the area perfect for a pub crawl, and the crowds often overflow into the streets.
On weekends, Santa Croce’s main strip along Via de’ Benci can
... read full Santa Croce descriptionThe most socially active district of Florence, Santa Croce is frequented nightly by an international mix of amiable party-seekers who pour out of the winding roads lined with leather shops and other Florentine novelties and into the enormous Piazza Santa Croce.
The arrangement of the bars, clubs, and cafés makes the area perfect for a pub crawl, and the crowds often overflow into the streets.
On weekends, Santa Croce’s main strip along Via de’ Benci can
... read full Santa Croce descriptionJust a short walk across Ponte Vecchio is Oltrarno, a diverse neighborhood populated by hipsters and alternative types that offers the best snapshot of young Florentine life.
One of the more vibrant nightlife hotspots for locals, this area is home to a few upscale dance clubs, cafés with aperitivo, live music venues, chic lounges, and classic neighborhood bars.
Two key piazzas add to Oltrarno’s diversity: the laid-back, bohemian Piazza Santo Spirito
... read full Oltrarno descriptionThe neighborhood surrounding the Duomo, one of Italy’s largest cathedrals, is packed during the day with Florence tourists marveling at Renaissance masterpieces and historical treasures, and well-to-do shoppers browsing the high-end stores for designer goods by the likes of Ferragamo, Cavalli, Gucci, and Prada.
By night, the hordes of Duomo visitors venture out to meeting places like Piazza della Repubblica, which are filled with families enjoying gelato
... read full Around the Duomo descriptionSan Lorenzo is a sacred destination, literally. Named for the 3rd Century Christian martyr, the neighborhood is home to the famous Basilica di San Lorenzo, one of the largest churches in Florence, which also happens to be the final resting place of several prominent members of the infamous Medici family.
History buffs will have a field day here exploring the many tombs, great domed chapels, and famous museums like the Laurenziana Library with its famous
... read full San Lorenzo descriptionAn incredibly diverse corner of Florence, Santa Maria Novella is home to many quiet cafés, neighborhood pubs, and riverside wine bars, not to mention a couple of raging discos and some biker bars that add a touch of edgy energy to the area’s otherwise laid-back vibe.
Stretching from the magnificent façade of the Basilica di Santa Maria Novella to the bars on the river Arno, the district offers a range of cultural and nighttime attractions that draw all
... read full Santa Maria Novella descriptionRoughly twenty miles south of Florence, the Chianti region is thought by many to be the most beautiful area in all of Italy, though one could argue that their judgment might be impaired by the emenso amount of vino one can drink here.
Famous for its eponymous red wine, the region contains numerous vineyards – roughly 18,000 acres of them, to be exact – both world-famous and new-to-the-scene, where visitors can take tours and sample different varietals
... read full Chianti description