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Best Parks in Florence
Timings, Things to do, Tips & More

Florence is the one place on the planet that has done a great job preserving the flavor of the Renaissance period in the modern world. The city is chockful of galleries and museums. However, that’s not all. Despite the overwhelming amount of tourist attractions, the parks and gardens of Florence shine through. Read on to know more about the best parks in Florence.

Best Parks in Florence

The parks in Florence are just as brilliant and intricately designed as the castles and fortresses. You can read a book while leaning against a tree, choose the ideal bench to relax on, or pack a picnic and spend the afternoon lounging on the grass.

1. Giardino Delle Rose

Garden | Leisure

More than 30 different rose kinds, together with lemon trees and a Japanese garden, are planted in this Giuseppe Poggi-designed landscape, which is one hectare (2.5 acres) in size. Additionally, the park recently received 12 sculptures created by the late Belgian artist Jean-Michel Folon.

Timing: Mondays to Saturdays 9 AM to 8 PM, Sundays 10 AM to 8 PM

Location: Viale Giuseppe Poggi, 2, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy Find on map

Things to do: Meditation, picnic, walking, sightseeing, photography

Best Time to Visit: April, May, September, and October

Handy Tip: You will be able to take in the magnificent views of Florence that extend in front of you from the vantage point of the Giardino Delle Rose, nestled among rose bushes and carpets of green grass.

Transport: By Bus: Get down at Piazzale Il David bus stop

2. Giardino di Boboli

Garden | Sightseeing

Since the 15th century, behind the imposing Palazzo Pitti in Oltrarno, Florence's most popular city park, the elegant Boboli Gardens, has waltzed gently over terraced flowerbeds, box hedges, and shady cypress corridors. Niccol Pericoli, an architect, created the original gardens for the arrogant Medici family.

Timing: Daily 8:15 AM to 6:30 PM

Location: Piazza de' Pitti, 1, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy Find on map

Things to do: Meditation, walking, sightseeing, photography

Best Time to Visit: April, May, September, and October

Handy Tip: Give yourself at least a half-day to see the decorative ponds, fountains, and sculptures of Jupiter, Apollo, and a variety of other prominent Greek gods.

Transport: By Bus: Get down at Porta Romana bus stop

from €16

3. Giardino Torrigiani

Garden | Nature

The ultimate secret garden, this Tuscan haven is shielded by tall walls and features English-style lawns encircling a pair of villas from the 16th and 19th centuries. Early in the 19th century, at the height of the Romantic movement, these gardens were created.

Timing:

Location: Via Dei Serragli, 144, 50124 Firenze FI, Italy Find on map

Things to do: Walking, sightseeing, photography

Best Time to Visit: April, May, September, and October

Handy Tip: Numerous rare tree species, herb and vegetable gardens, sculptured lions, a Neo-Gothic Masonic tower, and gorgeously renovated greenhouses may all be seen during private tours, which you can request in advance.

Transport: By Bus: Get down at Petrarca Casone bus stop

4. Giardino Bardini

Garden | Picnic Spot

Tuscan vibe is evident in the artificial grottoes, orangery, marble statues, wisteria tunnel, and fountains of Giardino Bardini. The 17th-century home, which bears the name of 19th-century art collector Stefano Bardini, holds an art museum with works by Italian painter Pietro Annigoni from the first half of the 20th century.

Timing: Daily 10 AM to 7 PM

Location: Via de' Bardi, 1, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy Find on map

Things to do: Walking, picnic, sightseeing, photography

Best Time to Visit: April, May, June, September, and October

Entry: from €10

Handy Tip: La Leggenda dei Frati, a Michelin-starred establishment serving fresh produce with extremely lovely city views from its stone loggia, is a great place to get a lunchtime seat in the garden.

Transport: By Bus: Get down at Serristori Demidoff bus stop

5. Giardino dell’Iris

Garden

This is a park in the Piazzale Michelangelo devoted to the iris flower and has served as Florence's emblem since 1251. The 6.2-acre garden, which was first established in 1954, is home to 250 species of iris flower that are at risk of extinction. It provides a place to sit for those who are visiting or strolling on Florence's cobblestone streets.

Timing:

Location: Via Michelangelo Buonarroti, 82, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy Find on map

Things to do: Walking, picnic, sightseeing, photography

Best Time to Visit: April and May

Handy Tip: The garden is only open for 20 days a year in the Spring. The grounds of the yearly International Botanical Competition, which is held nearby and provides for a fantastic, combined visit each May, are close by.

Transport: By Bus: Get down at Piazzale San Miniato bus stop

6. Giardino Dei Semplici

Botanical Garden

The walled garden, which features antique greenhouses and themed walks, was built in 1545 to provide the Medici family with medicine. As you go through the gardens, be sure to take in the majestic yew tree, which was established in 1720, and the decorative cork oak, which dates from 1805.

Timing: Tuesdays to Sundays 10 AM to 7 PM

Location: Via Pier Antonio Micheli, 3, 50121 Firenze FI, Italy Find on map

Things to do: Walking, picnic, reading, sightseeing, photography

Best Time to Visit: April, May, June, September, and October

Entry: from €3

Handy Tip: Pick up a piece of Schiacciata from the excellent Pugi bakery in the nearby Piazza San Marco, spiced with salt and rosemary or covered with delectable seasonal treats, to enjoy on a bench in the park.

Transport: By Bus: Get down at La Marmora bus stop

Tips for Visiting Parks in Florence

Gardens like Giardino di Boboli and Giardino Bardini include a visit to the adjoining palaces and castles, so make sure you book your tickets well in advance.
Enquire beforehand whether the park allows outside food as some parks and gardens have eateries within its limits.
Reach the parks at least 1 hour before the closing time to have any time to explore the grounds.
If you are planning to relax at a park during day time, bring a book with you. Parks and gardens in Florence are the best places to get some reading done.
Find out offbeat and less popular parks like Parco Delle Cascine to visit if you are in Florence in spring, as the popular ones are likely to see a tourist overload.
Giardino Torrigiani can only be visited with private tours, so plan early and get your tickets secured.
Take advantage of discounted tickets and free entry for children and the elderly offered by many parks in Florence.

Florence Travel Tips