Italy, Europe

Florence in March

Spring stirs, prices stay soft. If Easter falls late March, the crowds arrive with it.

GoodMild and changeable, highs near 61F (16C)

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

The straight answer

March is a good month to visit Florence. Spring stirs, prices stay soft. If Easter falls late March, the crowds arrive with it.

Weather: Mild and changeable, highs near 61F (16C)
Crowds: 2 of 5
Prices: 2 of 5

What March is like in Florence

March is when Florence starts to wake up. Highs near 61F (16C) make for pleasant walking, though the weather flips between sun and showers. Prices stay soft for most of the month and crowds are still moderate. The Boboli Gardens and hillsides begin to green up, and outdoor tables reappear on sunny afternoons.

This is a smart month for couples and families who want mild weather at lower prices. The catch is Easter: when it falls in late March, crowds and prices jump that week and the Scoppio del Carro packs the Duomo square. If you want the same mild feel with more bloom and longer days, look at the first half of April or at May.

Make the most of March

What is especially good about Florence this month.

Scoppio del Carro, if Easter is early

When Easter Sunday lands in March, a cart of fireworks is set off in front of the Duomo in the morning. Arrive well before 9am if you want to see it.

Spring prices, spring light

Hotels still charge off-season rates for most of the month. The softer light on the Arno makes early walks along the river a real pleasure.

Boboli and Pitti before the rush

The Medici gardens start to turn green and you can wander them without tour groups. Pair them with the Oltrarno workshops nearby.

What to pack for March

A light waterproof jacket
A warm layer for cool mornings and evenings
Comfortable walking shoes
Sunglasses for bright afternoons

Our timing tip

Check the date of Easter before you book, and plan around that week if you want the calm, cheaper version of March.

Book Florence for March.

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Opens a hotel search for Florence in March, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
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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.
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Tours and tickets in Florence
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Florence for March. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
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What's on in March

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.