Cheap Florence from Edinburgh: an all-in weekend from ~£246
Photo: Unsplash · unsplash.com/photos/a-view-of-a-city-with-a-cathedral-and-mountains-in-the-background-NN_vPCzkU3MFlorence packs the Renaissance into a compact, walkable centre, which is exactly what makes it kind to a small budget. From Edinburgh it is about 3h16 by plane, so you can arrive, drop your bag, and be standing under Brunelleschi's Duomo the same morning. Much of the city's beauty is free to look at: the marble facade of the cathedral, the Ponte Vecchio lined with jewellers, and the sculpture-filled Piazza della Signoria cost nothing to wander.
The trick in Florence is knowing when to pay and when to just walk. World-class art sits inside the Uffizi and the Accademia, but the streets, churches, and river views are the real backdrop, and they are open to everyone. Book the big museums ahead, eat where the locals do, and Florence rewards you far beyond what you spend.
The all-in budget, line by line
Indicative estimate for 2 nights, 1 traveler. A range, never a firm price.
Getting there from Edinburgh
- From
- Edinburgh (EDI)
- To
- Florence (FLR)
- Mode
- Flight
- Est. duration
- ~3h16
- Distance
- ~1 700 km
Duration and distance are indicative (as the crow flies). Book early and target weekday departures to cut the transport cost.
Doing Florence on a budget
Many of Florence's landmarks cost nothing to enjoy from the outside, from the Duomo and Baptistery exteriors to Ponte Vecchio and Piazzale Michelangelo, which offers the classic rooftop view for free. For food, skip the piazza terraces and look for a stand-up counter or a market stall inside the Mercato Centrale, where a panino and a coffee stay cheap. If you plan to visit several state museums, note that Italy runs free-admission days at state sites on the first Sunday of the month, so timing a visit can save the entry fee entirely.
Getting around and where to stay
The historic centre is small enough to cross on foot in twenty minutes, so you rarely need transport once you arrive. Staying in the Oltrarno, across the river from the Duomo, tends to be quieter and better value while keeping you a short walk from everything, and it is where you will find artisan workshops and more local trattorias. If you land at the station, the sights fan out east and south, so a central bed near Santa Maria Novella or the Oltrarno saves you both time and bus fares.
When to go
Spring (April and May) and autumn (September and October) bring mild weather and lighter crowds than the peak summer months, making them the most comfortable times to walk the city. July and August get hot and busy, which pushes up demand for rooms, so travelling in the shoulder seasons usually means calmer streets and better prices. Winter is the quietest stretch of all, cold but clear, and often the cheapest time to visit if you do not mind bundling up.
What to do in Florence?
Museums, neighbourhoods, must-sees: here's what to see on site.
What to do in Florence: see the guide →Skip-the-line tickets and guided tours via our partners.
Best time to go
For Florence, aim for April, May, June, September, October: nice weather and still-reasonable prices.
Ready for Florence?
See the full guide: what to do, where to stay, and the all-in weekend budget.
See the full guide →Reach Florence from another city
Some bookings go through affiliate links: it keeps us running, at no extra cost to you. Prices shown are range estimates, never firm prices.