Italy, Europe

Florence in April

Tuscany in bloom. Easter week and April 25 bring surges and holiday closures; the rest of the month is superb.

BestLovely, highs near 66F (19C), some showers

Florence Duomo, Italy — FlorencePhoto: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0

The straight answer

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: 4 of 5
Prices: 4 of 5

What April is like in Florence

April is Florence at its prettiest. Highs near 66F (19C), fresh green hills, blooming gardens, and long, light evenings. A few showers pass through. Crowds and prices rise to the high side, with extra surges around Easter week and the April 25 national holiday, when many Italians travel and some places close.

This month suits nearly everyone: first-time visitors, families on spring break, and anyone planning day trips into Tuscany. The trade-off is booking. Museum slots and good hotels go early. If you want April weather with fewer people, aim for the weeks away from Easter and April 25, or come in late September instead.

Make the most of April

What is especially good about Florence this month.

Tuscany in bloom

The hills around Florence turn green and the gardens flower. It is the best month for a countryside drive or a day trip to Siena or Lucca.

Scoppio del Carro at Easter

In years when Easter falls in April, the Easter Sunday cart explosion fills the Duomo square with smoke and cheers. Go early and stand well back.

Sunset at San Miniato

Mild evenings make the walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo easy. Keep going ten minutes to San Miniato al Monte for the quieter view.

Comfortable dome climb

Mild temperatures make the 463 steps far easier than in summer. Book early, as slots sell out.

What to pack for April

A packable rain shell for passing showers
Light layers for warm afternoons and cool nights
Broken-in walking shoes for long days on stone
A small day pack for day trips

Our timing tip

Book the Uffizi, Accademia, and dome weeks ahead, and avoid Easter week and April 25 if you want the calmest version of the month.

Book Florence for April.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Florence
Opens a hotel search for Florence in April, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for April
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Florence
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Florence
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Florence for April. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in April

Scoppio del Carro (Explosion of the Cart)

Easter Sunday morning, March or April depending on the year

A centuries-old cart of fireworks is detonated in front of the Duomo. Genuinely singular, and packed by 9am.

Things to do in Florence

Full guide

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 ↗Tickets and tours →

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 ↗Tickets and tours →

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 ↗Tickets and tours →

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.

Tickets and tours →

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.

Tickets and tours →

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 ↗Tickets and tours →

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.
Cross the Arno: the Oltrarno's workshops, Santo Spirito's piazza, and San Miniato absorb almost none of the tour-group flow just five minutes from the Ponte Vecchio.

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.
Fixed holidays to plan around: January 1 and 6, April 25, May 1, June 2, June 24 (Florence only), August 15, November 1, and December 8, 25, and 26.

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).