Guide to Solo Travel in Florence, Italy

Florence is a wonderful place to wander. To begin your journey, I recommend a city tour by a local guide. I like electric bikes (saves the feet a bit) or electric carts. Since my first day saw a lot of rain in the city, I found this a great way to get an overview of the beautiful city. It also gave me a taste of my week to come and I was able to take note of some off-the-beaten-path areas to revisit on foot.

Art: Be sure to pre-book tours of the main galleries such as the Uffizi and the Accademia (The David). Some other less visited galleries include The Bargello (the sculpture museum). It was not as crowded and easy to visit.

Stroll the runway: Be sure to stroll the streets and do some window shopping at beautiful shops such as the venerable Feragamo Atelier, Prada and Gucci.

Shopping: Be sure to visit the Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica Santa Maria Novella. The upscale Perfumerie was established in 1221 and it's worth the trip just to see their window display and a small museum dedicated to their artisanship.

Operatic performance: Enjoy a small opera performance in St. Mark's English Church. Check their schedule as space is limited in this intimate setting.

Lunch: Osteria Pastella: Hand-made pasta are the attraction here and also enjoy a beautiful setting. It's frequented by visitors and locals alike.

Dinner: Trattoria Sostanza: Reservations are a must at this local spot. One must try the butter chicken.

Wine tasting: Castiglion del Bosco Wine Lounge recently opened a tasting room in Florence, located on the Arno River. The main winery is located in the foothills of Tuscany and is owned by the Salvatore Ferragamo group so a visit to their museum is offered after your tasting.

Gelato: Gelateria Pasco is located on the Piazza Santa Maria Novella and it's top-rated.

Drinks: Plan to visit one of the many rooftop bars, overlooking the Arno River to enjoy an Italian aperitif.