Are you planning to visit Florence in June and are wondering if it’s a good time? Will it be too crowded or too hot? I recently spent some days in Florence in June so I’ll tell you my experience.
Florence in June
As you probably know, the high season in Italy goes from June to August. Meaning that June is right at the beginning of the high season.
Generally, I like to go on vacation during the low season to the countries I visit to avoid crowds. I had been before to other parts of Italy during the winter and autumn. They were great trips and it was never too cold and for sure places were not crowded at all (especially Puglia, an amazing destination if you are looking for something less touristy!).
Still, I wanted to get to experience Italy with a bit of a warmer weather. Florence in June has sunny and warm days, and very little chance of rain, so it was worth giving it a try.
So when my partner and I had the chance to be in Europe in June, we included Florence (where we had never been), in our new Italy itinerary.
Is Florence Too Crowded in June?
We arrived in Florence on the third week of June and stayed there for three nights. Even though we were in the high season we were hoping that it would not be too crowded yet.
We were wrong.
How Crowded Are Florence Streets in June?
Florence is such a beautiful city. Its buildings and bridges from the Rennaisance are truly gems. But because of the enormous amount of people visiting it, you can’t really appreciate the buildings and art surrounding you. People cover the buildings.
Walking around in the historic center, we constantly had to be aware of not bumping against other people. Between the narrow streets and the crowds, walking around felt actually stressful.
Some sidewalks were very narrow, so if someone would come from the opposite direction, sometimes there would be no place to go, since there were cars on the road.
But even on the wide streets and plazas it felt really crowded. There were big groups of travelers everywhere. Groups of like 30 or 40 people, some from high school or university students, besides other people doing group tours. It was hard to walk leisurely, and it was not possible to walk straight.
Also, it was the first time that I was walking in a city and not seeing any local in a range of two or three blocks (at least this was my impression).
If you are looking to stay in a less crowded neighborhood, you could book your accommodation in Florence in the area of San Frediano. San Frediano is the closest area to the city center that is not overrun by crowds, and it’s a great place to explore and walk around.
How Crowded is the Duomo in Florence in June?
The Duomo, a stunning building in the middle of the city and one of the most famous cathedrals in Europe, is of course something that most travelers will want to visit. It’s also free, so naturally it draws more people than other attractions.
So lines to enter the Duomo were HUGE. I had never seen lines so big to enter any monument or museums (and I have been to 30+countries!). Actually, it did remind me of lines at Disneyland when I was a kid.
I have marked in a red rectangle the size of the average line at the Duomo, so that you get an idea of how it is.
The positive part is that lines were advancing fast, so if you are able to get in line in a moment of the day were they are smaller, it’s not a problem.
But you don’t feel like walking several minutes to reach the end of the line and stand there, you can admire the Duomo from the outside. The interior, in my opinion, was not nearly as stunning as the outside.
Are Restaurants Crowded in Florence in June?
I had read somewhere that during the high season, it was very hard to find a table in a restaurant, or you had to stand in long lines.
Luckily, that was not our experience in the restaurants in Florence in June. In July or August it might be different, but our experience eating out was overall positive.
Since the city is big, there’s a big amount of restaurants. Of course, if you are planning to eat at a popular restaurant I suggest to book ahead. A couple of restaurants were we ate were actually completely full, but this was not the case for the majority of places.
On the other hand, supermarkets in and near the historic center were very crowded before lunch or dinner time. Again, completely full of tourists, because locals must surely be avoiding these supermarkets.
Is Florence Too Hot in June?
The weather in Florence is very hot in June. The days that we spent in Florence (during the third week of June), were around 32°C-36°C (90°F-97°F) during the day.
Walking during the day was ok in the early morning, late afternoon and night. In the late morning or early afternoon, it can be a good idea to maybe be indoors at a museum or resting at your hotel.
Piazzale Michelangelo is one of the top turistic spots in Florence. It’s a big square on top of a hill where you get beautiful views of Florence. But in June, avoid Piazzale Michelangelo during the hot times of the day. The walk up there can be tiring under the sun, and once you get to the top, there’s no shadow.
What to Wear in Florence in June
If you are wondering how to dress in Florence in June, the answer is: light! Wear tank tops, shorts or thin dresses if you are a woman, and shorts and T-shirts if you are a man.
You can take a look at the picture above to get an idea of more or less what people are wearing.
Notice also how many people are wearing a cap or a hat. Don’t forget to pack one! I regretted not doing it.
You will not need a jacket at all, at least from the third week onward. You might want to pack a very light long sleeve shirt, just in case, if you are visiting earlier in the month.
Just take into account that some churches in Italy have a dress code. This is the case of the Duomo of Florence. You are not allowed to enter with your shoulders uncovered, so wear a T-shirt or bring a light shawl with you to enter. You are also not allowed to enter with short shorts either.
Though, actually, they were not enforcing neither of these things at the moment that we visited.
Tips for Visiting Florence in June
So, taking into account that Florecen can be very crowded and hot in June let’s see some tips that can be useful.
Walk Around Florence at Night
It was at night when I could see how gorgeous Florence actually is.
The historic center is still full of people walking around, hanging out at the plazas and walking leisurely back home after dinner. It has a very lively ambiance, but it’s not crowded. The weather is warm but not hot. It feels just right.
The buildings, streets and bridges are beautifully illuminated and there are street musicians here and there. It’s at night when Florence feels truly magical!
Take a look at this post to see all the things you can do in Florence at night, including going on evening tours at museums or climbing the Duomo for views of Florence at night.
So I recommend you not to tire yourself too much during the day so that you still have some energy to walk around when it’s dark.
Visit Off-the-Beaten-Path Attractions
Getting away from crowds will imply skipping some of the main touristic attractions, but that’s ok, because there are many unique and unusual places in Florence that can be as interesting as the most popular attractions.
Actually, my favorite place in Florence was an attraction that is off-the-radar for most travelers: the Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy. The pharmacy has been open since 1221, making it not only the oldest pharmacy in Italy, but very likely the oldest operating pharmacy in the world.
The pharmacy is divided in two parts. There’s one a small exhibition room, were they had a beautiful and relaxing multimedia exhibition when we visited.
And then there’s the main pharmacy area, where you can find perfumes, colognes, soaps and scents, all of delicious aromas. Some of the recipes they use to elaborate their perfumes are original recipes that are hundreds of years old!
Visiting the Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy during the day felt like a peaceful and refreshing oasis in the midst of hot and crowded Florence.
Other off-the-beaten-path attractions in Florence that you can include in your itinerary are visiting the museum where they display Galileo’s middle finger, or the Museum of Natural History, Geology and Paleontology, where you can see a colossal skeleton of a mammoth from the Ice Age.
Visit the Duomo at Less Crowded Times
At least on the days that we were in Florence, we saw shorter lines to enter the Duomo at lunch time and in the afternoon. We visited it at lunch time, when we miracously saw a short line that was advancing very fast. We were in in less than 10 minutes.
Mornings were very crowded.
Go on a Day Trip
A good plan can be to visit a nearby town during the time of the day when Florence can be most crowded.
There are lots of beautiful towns around, but if you are looking to escape the crowds, maybe avoid places like Siena or Chianti. They might be very appealing, but will be similarly crowded.
Instead explore lesser-known cities or towns. A good option can be Prato, which is just a half hour train ride from Florence. It’s a really pretty city with a very authentic local vibe.
Same for Pistoia, another cute town with basically no foreign tourists, just a 45-minute train ride away.
If you don’t mind traveling a bit further (1 and a half hours away by train), I highly recommend Modena. It’s a nice colorful town, where you can take a balsamic vinegar tour (balsamic actually comes from Modena), or go to the Ferrari or Pavarotti museums.
And if you are looking for places that are not that far from Florence where you can spend a couple of days, I invite you to read my post about the best weekend trips from Florence.
Final Words
As you can see, Florence can be very crowded and hot during June. Famous and touristic cities in Italy, like Florence or Venice will be like that at that time of the year.
But if you can only visit Florence during the high season, don’t skip it! It’s a really beautiful city.
If you are visiting Florence in June as a part of a larger Italy itinerary, then I would recommend including cities or towns that are less touristic, so that you can also get a feel for the local and less hectic Italian life.
