Free to enter
- The Duomo cathedral nave — the dome climb and museum are ticketed, but the main cathedral interior is free (a modest donation supports upkeep).
- Ponte Vecchio — always open, no ticket, best at the edges of the day.
- Piazza della Signoria — an open-air sculpture gallery in its own right, including a copy of the David and the Loggia dei Lanzi's Renaissance and classical statues.
- San Miniato al Monte — arguably Florence's most beautiful Romanesque church, and one of its least crowded major sights, above Piazzale Michelangelo.
- The Rose Garden and Iris Garden — both free, both near Piazzale Michelangelo, both a welcome break from stone streets.
- Santo Spirito and its piazza — Brunelleschi's understated masterpiece church in Oltrarno, plus one of the city's most relaxed local squares.
Free to experience
- Oltrarno's artisan workshops — many leatherworkers, framers and restorers keep their doors open to browsers; a wander down Via Maggio and the surrounding streets costs nothing and shows a side of Florence most day-trippers miss.
- The San Lorenzo and Sant'Ambrogio markets — browsing costs nothing, even if you don't buy; see our markets guide.
- Sunset from any of the Arno bridges — not just Ponte Vecchio; Ponte Santa Trinita and Ponte alle Grazie both offer excellent free views.
Free (or nearly) on specific days
Several state museums, including the Uffizi, participate in Italy's "first Sunday of the month" free admission scheme for parts of the year — advance booking for a time slot is still typically required even when entry itself is free, so this isn't a way to skip planning, just to save the ticket price. Check current participation before planning around it, since scheme details are set nationally and can change.
Good to know: "free" days are also the busiest days at participating museums — if crowds bother you more than cost, a paid weekday visit is usually the better trade.