Italy, Europe

Florence in August

Ferragosto closures thin out the family-run places while heat and tour groups remain. The weakest version of Florence.

Think twiceHottest month, highs near 90F (32C)

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

The straight answer

August is a month to think twice about visiting Florence. Ferragosto closures thin out the family-run places while heat and tour groups remain. The weakest version of Florence.

Weather: Hottest month, highs near 90F (32C)
Crowds: 4 of 5
Prices: 3 of 5

What August is like in Florence

August is the hottest month, with highs near 90F (32C). Around Ferragosto on August 15, many family-run trattorias, leather workshops, and small shops close for two to four weeks while Italians head to the beach. The big museums stay open and tour groups keep coming, so you get heat and crowds with less of the local city.

This is the weakest month for Florence, and most travelers should choose another time. If August is fixed, keep your stay short, book an air-conditioned hotel, and plan early mornings and evening strolls. Better yet, spend more time on the coast and come to Florence in late September, when the heat breaks and the harvest starts.

Make the most of August

What is especially good about Florence this month.

Museums as a cool refuge

The Uffizi, Accademia, and Pitti stay open through August. A booked afternoon slot inside is a way to escape the heat.

A quieter local rhythm

With many Florentines away, some neighborhoods feel sleepy. Early-morning walks through empty back streets can be peaceful.

Evening at Piazzale Michelangelo

The hilltop catches a little breeze after sunset. It is the best place to be once the day's heat lets go.

What to pack for August

The lightest breathable clothes you own
A wide-brim hat and strong sunscreen
A refillable water bottle
A scarf or light layer to cover shoulders in churches

Our timing tip

Check that the restaurants you want are open before you go, since many family places close around August 15.

Book Florence for August.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Florence
Opens a hotel search for Florence in August, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for August
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 August. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in August

Ferragosto

August 15 every year

The national summer holiday; many family businesses close for surrounding weeks.

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 August, quick answers

Is August a good time to visit Florence?

August is a month to think twice about visiting Florence. Ferragosto closures thin out the family-run places while heat and tour groups remain. The weakest version of Florence.

What is the weather like in Florence in August?

Hottest month, highs near 90F (32C).

Is Florence crowded in August?

Florence is busy in August, though mornings and late afternoons stay workable.

What is happening in Florence in August?

Ferragosto (august 15 every year).