How to Experience Florence Like a Local: 5 Authentic Secrets
- Sierra Busch
- Oct 16
- 11 min read
Forget the tour buses idling outside the Duomo and the crowds jostling for selfies at the Ponte Vecchio. If you want to discover the real Florence—the one where locals actually live, eat, and gather—you need to venture beyond the typical tourist trail.
The best things to do in Florence like a local aren't found in guidebooks. They're hidden in back-alley artisan workshops, tucked into hillside villages, and woven into daily rituals that Florentines have perfected over centuries.
Want to know how Florentines actually expereince their city? Here's your insider's guide...
Table of Contents:
Hidden Gems in Florence Only Locals Know About
Start Your Evening the Florentine Way: Apericena
While tourists are searching for dinner reservations at 6 PM, locals are settling into their favorite neighborhoods away from the city center (think San Niccolò, San Frediano, and San Marco) for apericena—the beloved ritual that blends pre-dinner drinks with an array of small plates, enough to skip dinner.
Think of it as the Italian version of happy hour, but elevated and more abundant. You're not just ordering a drink; you're getting an entire spread of olives, cheeses, bruschetta, and more, all while soaking in the early evening atmosphere. It's social, it's delicious, and it's quintessentially Florentine.
You might call it "girl dinner" perfected—a variety of snacky bites and small plates that you get to share with a drink and your besties. You'll find authentic apericena in neighborhood bars throughout Florence, particularly in the Oltrarno and Sant'Ambrogio districts where tourists rarely venture. The key is arriving between 6:30-8:00 PM when Florentines finish their workday and gather with friends before heading home for a late dinner.
This tradition embodies everything that makes Florence special: quality food, social connection, and the understanding that the best moments aren't rushed. It's not about grabbing a quick bite; it's about lingering, conversing, and savoring both the food and the company.
Discover Hidden Artisan Workshops Off the Beaten Path
One of the most authentic Florence experiences happens behind unmarked doors in the city's quieter streets. While crowds pack into luxury boutiques on Via de' Tornabuoni, locals slip into hidden workshops where master artisans have been perfecting their crafts for decades—sometimes for generations.
These aren't tourist shops selling mass-produced "Made in Italy" souvenirs. These are living ateliers where you can watch skilled hands working leather using medieval techniques, crafting jewelry with methods passed down through families, or creating marbled paper with patterns that have graced Florentine books for centuries.
In workshops tucked throughout the Oltrarno district—Florence's traditional artisan quarter—you'll find bookbinders, goldsmiths, framemakers, and leather craftspeople who still work the way their ancestors did. Many blogs will send you to the Oltrarno district to wander into artisan workshops on your own, but the truth is that most of the artisans speak minimal English and may not willingly pause their work to show you what they're doing. There are also artisan workshops hidden throughout the city, not just in the Oltrarno area– but they're not easy to spot. That's why we arrange artisan walking tours for our guests and arrange visits based on their specific interests. Instead of feeling like they're interrupting the artisans, they get a warm welcome, demonstration, explanation of the history of their craft, and even assistance personalizing any items they may wish to buy. (This Artisan Walking Tour is part of our Treasures of Florence small group tour and our Extension in Florence tour, a 4-day add-on to your own itinerary or to the end of our Living Slow in Tuscany tour.)
Visiting these workshops isn't just shopping; it's witnessing living history and supporting the traditional craftsmanship that makes Florence unique. The best part? It's a chance to connect with the soul of Florence in a way no museum visit can replicate.
Authentic Florence Experiences Beyond the Tourist Trail
Escape to the Hills for Real Tuscan Hospitality
Tourists dine in the piazzas. Locals? They head into the hills above Florence for intimate dinners at friends' homes, where the conversation flows as freely as the wine. Picture yourself at a private residence, lingering over multiple courses of homemade pasta, sharing stories with friendly hosts who treat you like family. This is where you'll find the heart of Italian hospitality. There's no menu. Instead, you'll linger over multiple courses of homemade pasta, seasonal vegetables from the garden, local wine that never made it to any store, and desserts made from grandmother's recipes. The conversation flows as freely as the wine, touching on everything from Italian politics to family traditions to the best place to find wild mushrooms in autumn, offering an intimate look into modern Florentine culture that most tourists don't get.
These dinners can stretch for three or four hours, not because the service is slow, but because rushing would miss the entire point. This is where you'll understand why Italians say "a tavola non si invecchia"—at the table, you don't grow old. Time spent sharing food and conversation with others is time well spent, not time wasted.
This tradition of home hospitality is so central to Florentine and Italian culture that many locals maintain networks of friends specifically for these gatherings. It's an honor to be invited into someone's home, and the warmth you'll experience is genuinely transformative. This is Italy at its most authentic—generous, warm, and unforgettable.
The biggest problem for most tourists? Getting an invite to dinner! That's where Creative Edge Travel comes in, serving as the bridge directly to the heart of the Italian culture. We'll connect you with locals who are excited to host you for a meal that will surely be the highlight of your trip!
Best Things to Do in the Tuscan Countryside Like a Local
Know When to Leave the City Behind
Ask any Florentine about their perfect Saturday, and chances are it involves leaving the city. While tourists fight crowds at the Uffizi, locals know that true Tuscan magic lives in the countryside—and they've been escaping there for centuries. The Medici family used to head to the Mugello, a beautiful valley away from tourists where our Living Slow in Tuscany small group tour takes place.
The landscape that surrounds Florence isn't just scenery; it's a living museum of agricultural traditions that date back to the Etruscans. Those rolling hills covered in vines and olive groves represent generations of families working the same land, perfecting their wines and oils, making cheese the way their great-grandparents did.
Locals head to family-owned farms in the Elsa Valley, where pecorino cheese is still made by hand and you can meet the sheep providing the milk. They visit hilltop abbeys like Badia a Passignano—founded in 890 AD—not just for history but for the stunning views and peaceful atmosphere. They know the small wineries where three generations work together during harvest, and where a "tasting" means sitting at a family table with proper glasses and homemade food.
This isn't wine tourism in the commercial sense. It's about connection—to the land, to the people who work it, and to traditions that have survived because they matter. You'll taste the difference between wine made for export and wine made for family celebrations. You'll learn that truly excellent olive oil shouldn't cost $5 but should taste like liquid sunshine. You'll understand why Tuscans describe their relationship with the land as a romance.
These countryside experiences offer something increasingly rare: authenticity without performance. The cheese maker isn't putting on a show; she's doing what she does every day and allowing you to witness it. The winemaker isn't following a script; he's sharing his passion with someone who's genuinely interested.
For locals, these escapes to the countryside aren't just about the food and wine—though both are exceptional. They're about remembering that despite Florence's urban sophistication, Tuscany's soul remains agricultural, connected to the seasons and the soil.
How to Experience La Dolce Vita in Florence
Embrace the Art of Doing Nothing
Florentines understand something that many visitors miss: the most precious moments aren't always on a checklist. They're found in the practice of dolce far niente—the sweetness of doing nothing.
This isn't laziness; it's a philosophy. It's sitting by the Arno River in late afternoon, watching the light change on the Ponte Vecchio while enjoying gelato from your favorite gelateria. It's taking a quiet morning walk through back alleys before the crowds arrive, when you can hear your footsteps on the ancient cobblestones and smell fresh bread from the bakery. It's finding a bench in a lesser-known garden and simply sitting, letting the incredible history surrounding you settle into your soul.
These moments might seem simple, but they're essential to understanding Florence. The city reveals itself not just through its museums and monuments, but through its rhythms. Locals build their days around these rhythms. They don't rush. They don't try to see everything in three days. They understand that truly experiencing Florence means leaving room for spontaneity, for getting lost, for those unplanned moments that become your favorite memories.
So yes, see the David. Visit the Uffizi. Climb the Duomo. But also build in time to simply be in Florence, without an agenda. Capture your favorite spots in a journal or sketchbook. Strike up a conversation with a shopkeeper. Get intentionally lost in the Oltrarno neighborhood. These are the moments that transform you from a tourist into a traveler. And Creative Edge Travel is here to help.
Women-Only Tours in Florence: Small Group Authentic Travel
Experience Florence Like a Florentine—With Your Tribe
Finding authentic local experiences in Florence can be challenging, especially when you don't speak Italian or know the right connections. How do you access those hidden artisan workshops? Who can introduce you to families offering home-cooked meals? Where are the non-touristy spots that locals actually frequent?
This is where thoughtfully designed women-only tours transform your experience. Unlike massive tour groups that announce their arrival with the growl of a bus engine, small group travel with just 7 women allows for genuine immersion and meaningful connections with locals.
The Treasures of Florence Small Group Tour, Women-Only Edition (May 2-10, 2026) is designed specifically for women seeking authentic Florence experiences beyond the beaten path. This isn't a checklist tour racing from monument to monument. Instead, it balances free time to explore famous highlights at your own pace with curated experiences that locals actually enjoy—and that celebrate women's contributions to Florence's incredible history.
What Makes This Tour Different?
This women-only, small group tour experience includes everything mentioned in this guide and more:
Authentic Local Connections: You'll share that multi-course dinner in the hills with friendly Florentine hosts, Lucia and Maurizio. You'll visit working artisan workshops where master craftspeople demonstrate traditional techniques. You'll step inside family-owned farms where cheese, wine, and olive oil are made the way they have been for generations. And more!
Celebrating Women's Stories: On a guided walk through Florence's back alleys, you'll discover the stories of pioneering poetesses, groundbreaking female artists like Artemisia Gentileschi, and powerful women who shaped Renaissance Florence but are often overlooked in history.
Restorative Experiences: A spa day at Grotta Giusti—featuring thermal pools, saunas, and Europe's largest thermal grotto—acknowledges that meaningful travel should nourish you, not exhaust you. This is followed by a group dinner at "Osteria Belle Donne" (Tavern of the Beautiful Women) for a proper girls' night out.
The Freedom to Explore: Multiple free days let you visit the highlights that matter most to you, at a pace that avoids overwhelm—whether that's Michelangelo's David, the Uffizi Gallery, or simply sitting by the Arno River with gelato and a sketchbook. Your trip leader provides recommendations but respects that everyone has different interests.
Insider Access Without the Logistics: You get all the benefits of local knowledge—the best apericena spots, hidden artisan workshops, countryside connections—without spending years perfecting Italian or navigating complicated logistics. Your English and Italian-speaking trip leader handles everything while teaching you about the culture and being that insider connection bringing you deeper into the authentic culture most tourists barely skim.
Why Women-Only Makes a Difference
Women-only tours create a unique dynamic that many solo female travelers and groups of friends find transformative. There's an ease to the conversation, a willingness to be vulnerable, and a supportive atmosphere that encourages trying new things—whether that's ordering in broken Italian or tasting the Florentine street food specialty, lampredotto.
The group size of just 7 women means everyone's voice is heard, dietary restrictions are easily accommodated, and the pace can adapt to the group's energy. You're not dragging behind a flag-waving guide with 40 people; you're exploring with a small tribe of engaged, like-minded women who become friends.
Past guests consistently mention the friendships formed is one of their favorite aspects of the trip. There's something special about sharing these authentic experiences with other women who value meaningful travel, cultural immersion, and stepping outside their comfort zones together.
Ready to Experience Authentic Florence?
Now you know the secrets: the aperitivo ritual that defines Florentine evenings, the hidden artisan workshops where traditions survive, the hilltop dinners where hospitality means family, the countryside where Tuscan soul lives, and the art of slowing down enough to truly absorb it all.
But knowing about these experiences and actually having them are two different things—especially when you're navigating language barriers, logistics, and limited time.
Join the Treasures of Florence Small Group Tour, Women-Only Edition
May 2-10, 2026 | Small Group (Maximum 7 Women)
This exclusive 9-day journey takes you beyond the typical tourist experience and into the authentic heart of Florence. Every element of this itinerary is designed around the local experiences shared in this guide:
✨ Welcome apericena at a favorite local spot
✨ Hidden gems walking tour celebrating Renaissance women
✨ Artisan workshop visits with master craftspeople
✨ Multi-course dinner in a local home in the hills
✨ Full day in the Tuscan countryside (cheese farm, historic abbey, winery)
✨ Restorative spa day at thermal springs
✨ Cooking class in the countryside
✨ Group dinner at "Osteria Belle Donne"
✨ Free time to explore Florence's highlights at your pace
✨ Surprise hidden gem experience
✨ 24/7 Italian and English-speaking trip leader
All accommodations, most meals, activities, and insider recommendations are included. You'll stay at a charming B&B in the historic center with a rooftop terrace overlooking the city—perfect for morning cappuccinos and evening spritzes with your new sisterhood.
This isn't just a tour; it's an invitation to experience Florence the way locals do, with the support and camaraderie of like-minded women who value authentic travel.
Spots are limited to just 7 women. Payment plans available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the best hidden gems in Florence? Beyond the famous Duomo and Uffizi Gallery, locals love visiting hidden artisan workshops in the Oltrarno district, attending apericena in neighborhood bars, exploring the Sant'Ambrogio market, and escaping to the Tuscan countryside for authentic farm experiences at family-owned wineries and cheese makers.
Q: How can I experience Florence like a local without speaking Italian? Join small group tours led by bilingual Italian experts who can facilitate meaningful connections and cultural exchanges. Focus on experiences rather than just sightseeing: participate in apericena, visit working artisan workshops, share meals with local families, and allow time for "dolce far niente"—simply being present without rushing.
Q: Are there women-only tours in Florence? Yes! Women-only tours in Florence offer unique experiences like restorative spa days at thermal springs, conversations with female artisans, and guided walks highlighting historical women figures often overlooked in traditional tours. Small group women-only travel (maximum 7 participants) creates a supportive atmosphere for meaningful connections and cultural immersion.
Q: What's the best time to visit Florence for authentic experiences? Spring (April-June) and fall (September-October) offer pleasant weather and fewer crowds, making it easier to connect with locals and enjoy authentic experiences. May is particularly lovely, with mild temperatures perfect for countryside excursions and outdoor dining.
Q: What should I do in the Tuscan countryside near Florence? Visit family-owned pecorino cheese farms where you can meet the sheep and watch the cheesemaking process, explore historic hilltop abbeys like Badia a Passignano (founded 890 AD), tour small wineries for tastings with the families who make the wine, and discover olive oil farms to learn about traditional pressing methods and taste exceptional oils.
Q: How is a small group tour different from regular tours? Small group tours (6-8 people maximum) allow for flexible pacing, intimate experiences with locals, personalized attention from your guide, and the ability to access places large groups cannot. You'll build genuine friendships with fellow travelers and have space for meaningful cultural exchanges rather than simply following a flag through crowded sites.
Have questions about experiencing authentic Florence? Contact us or learn more about the Women-Only Florence Tour.
