Florence in April
April is one of the best months of the year to visit Florence. Tuscany in bloom. Easter week and April 25 bring surges and holiday closures; the rest of the month is superb.
Weather
Lovely, highs near 66F (19C), some showers
Crowds
Prices
What's on in April
Easter Sunday morning, March or April depending on the year
Scoppio del Carro (Explosion of the Cart). A centuries-old cart of fireworks is detonated in front of the Duomo. Genuinely singular, and packed by 9am.
Things to do in Florence
- 1
Uffizi Gallery. Closed Mondays. Book a timed slot weeks ahead in season and take the first entry; the Botticelli rooms are a different experience at 8:15am. official site ↗
- 2
The Duomo and Brunelleschi's dome. The cathedral floor is free; the dome climb requires a timed reservation that sells out days or weeks ahead. 463 steps, no elevator, worth every one. official site ↗
- 3
Galleria dell'Accademia. Closed Mondays. It is essentially David plus a strong supporting cast, so a booked one-hour visit does it justice. official site ↗
- 4
Ponte Vecchio at dawn. By midday it is a moving crowd between goldsmith windows. At 7am it is yours, with the Arno mirror-still below.
- 5
Piazzale Michelangelo and San Miniato. The classic city panorama. Walk up for sunset, then keep going ten minutes to San Miniato al Monte, the most beautiful church view in Florence.
- 6
Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens. The Medici's second act, across the river in the Oltrarno. Pair it with the artisan workshops of the surrounding streets. official site ↗
- 7
Mercato Centrale and Sant'Ambrogio markets. Central Market's ground floor is the real market in the morning; Sant'Ambrogio is where Florentines actually shop. Lunch at either beats most sit-down tourist menus. official site ↗
- 8
A Chianti or Siena day trip. Regional buses and tours reach the wine country in about an hour. October harvest season is the dream window.
Beat the crowds
- →Book the Uffizi and Accademia for opening time and do one per day; back-to-back headline museums is the classic Florence mistake even without crowds.
- →The Duomo's exterior, the Ponte Vecchio, and the piazzas are the free Florence: see them before 8:30am, then spend midday inside timed-entry sights or across the river in the Oltrarno.
- →Day-trip crowds flow in from cruise ports and Rome roughly 10am to 4pm. Structure your days as early-morning and evening Florence with an excursion or long lunch in between.
Know before you go
- !Mondays are the Florence trap: the Uffizi and the Accademia both close, and several other state museums do too. Plan Monday as your Duomo, Oltrarno, or day-trip day.
- !August around Ferragosto (August 15): a real share of family-run trattorias, leather workshops, and small shops close for two to four weeks. Major museums stay open.
- !Holy Week reshapes the city when it falls: Easter Sunday centers on the Scoppio del Carro, and Easter Monday is a full national holiday with heavy domestic travel.
Florence in April: quick answers
Is April a good time to visit Florence?
April is one of the best months of the year to visit Florence. Tuscany in bloom. Easter week and April 25 bring surges and holiday closures; the rest of the month is superb.
What is the weather like in Florence in April?
Lovely, highs near 66F (19C), some showers.
Is Florence crowded in April?
Florence is busy in April, though mornings and late afternoons stay workable.
What is happening in Florence in April?
Scoppio del Carro (Explosion of the Cart) (easter sunday morning, march or april depending on the year).