by August Otto
Visiting Florence is about more than seeing the Duomo, walking through the Uffizi, and checking famous landmarks off your list. Some of the best parts of being in Italy come from experiencing the culture that is part of everyday life.
From stopping for a quick coffee at the bar to meeting friends for aperitivo, sitting down for a long dinner, or simply remembering to say buongiorno when you walk into a shop, there are plenty of little traditions and customs that shape daily life in Florence.
Food, coffee, shopping, and even the way you order and pay at a restaurant can feel a little different from what you may be used to. Understanding some of these traditions can help you experience Florence beyond its famous sights and get a better feel for the culture of the city.
As the afternoon turns into evening, you will see bars around Florence begin to fill up for aperitivo.
Aperitivo usually takes place before dinner and is as much about socializing as it is about eating or drinking. Order a spritz, Negroni, glass of wine, or another drink, and it may be served with small snacks such as olives, chips, nuts, crostini, or other bites. Some places offer a more generous spread, while others keep it simple.
Unlike the American idea of happy hour, aperitivo is not necessarily about discounted drinks. It is a chance to slow down, meet with friends, and ease into the evening before dinner.
If you want to experience the tradition for yourself, Accord’s Aperitivo at Sunset offers another way to experience this part of Italian culture while taking in Florence as the city transitions into the evening.
Coffee is a large part of everyday Italian life, but coffee culture looks a little different from what many American travelers are used to.
In Italy, a bar is often a place to stop for coffee during the day, although some also serve alcoholic drinks in the evening. Walk into one, and you will likely see people standing at the counter, enjoying a quick espresso before continuing with their day. Sitting at a table is usually a more leisurely experience and, particularly in busy tourist areas, may cost more than having your coffee at the counter.
Espresso is the everyday coffee of choice in Italy, whether it is enjoyed after lunch, after dinner, or during a quick break. Rather than carrying a large coffee around for hours, Italians typically drink their espresso in just a few moments before moving on. Some prefer it without milk or sugar, although adding sugar is also common.
Coffee sizes are also much smaller than what you might be used to in the United States. While Americans often order large takeaway coffees, drinks of that size are not typical in Italian cafés.
Cappuccinos are traditionally enjoyed in the morning, usually with breakfast, and it is uncommon for Italians to order one after 11 a.m., especially after a meal.
Iced coffee is also much less common than in the United States. You can find cold coffee drinks at some cafés, but the large iced coffees you might be used to at home are not a typical part of Italian coffee culture.
Dinner in Italy generally starts later than it does in the United States. Many restaurants do not even begin dinner service until around 7:00 or 7:30 p.m., and eating at 8:00 or 9:00 is completely normal.
Once you sit down, meals tend to move at a more relaxed pace. Your server may not check on you every few minutes, and they probably will not bring the bill as soon as you finish eating.
This is not bad service. It is normal to sit, talk, and take your time without feeling rushed out of the restaurant.
When you are ready to leave, simply ask for the bill: “Il conto, per favore.”
One of the first differences American travelers may notice is tipping.
Tipping is not expected in Italy in the same way it is in the United States. You do not need to automatically add 20% to your bill at a restaurant. If you receive particularly good service, leaving a few euros or rounding up the bill is a nice gesture, but large tips are generally not expected.
You may also notice a charge called coperto on your restaurant bill. This is a small, fixed cover charge per person that is common at restaurants throughout Italy. The amount is usually listed on the menu, so don’t be surprised when you see it added to your final bill.
Italian cuisine varies considerably from region to region, so being in Florence is an opportunity to try dishes that are specifically Florentine and Tuscan.
One of the most famous is bistecca alla Fiorentina, a thick T-bone steak traditionally grilled and served rare. You will often see it priced by weight, and it is typically large enough to share.
For a quicker lunch, try schiacciata, Tuscan flatbread often filled with prosciutto, salami, cheese, vegetables, or other ingredients.
If you are feeling adventurous, look for lampredotto, one of Florence’s most traditional street foods. It is made from slow-cooked cow’s stomach and is commonly served as a sandwich from small street stands around the city.
Other Tuscan dishes to look for include ribollita, pappa al pomodoro, panzanella, and crostini toscani.
Food can be one of the easiest ways to learn more about the city itself. Accord’s Eat & Go Food Tour takes you through Florence with stops along the way to try local favorites. Along the way, a local tour leader shares stories and insights about the traditions behind what you are eating.
For something more hands-on, you can also learn how to make fresh pasta yourself with an Italian pasta cooking class. It is a chance to experience Italian food as more than something you order at a restaurant and take a little piece of the culture home with you.
There are restaurants everywhere in central Florence, which can make choosing one surprisingly difficult.
There is no single trick for identifying a tourist trap, but there are a few things worth noticing.
A restaurant with an enormous menu offering every Italian dish imaginable may be more focused on pleasing tourists than specializing in local food. Menus covered in photographs, oversized signs advertising “authentic Italian food,” and restaurants directly beside the city’s biggest attractions can also be clues.
Another thing to notice is whether someone is standing outside actively trying to convince people passing by to come in. Many great restaurants simply do not need to pull customers off the street.
You may have also heard that red-and-white checkered tablecloths are a sign of a tourist trap. The tablecloth itself certainly does not mean a restaurant is bad. But when it is combined with photo menus, aggressive hosts, a huge selection of dishes, and an exaggerated “Italian” atmosphere designed for visitors, it may be worth looking around before sitting down.
Try walking a few streets away from the busiest attractions, look for restaurants serving regional dishes, and pay attention to where locals seem to be eating.
You cannot come to Florence without having gelato, but not every gelateria is the same.
One of the best signs is gelato stored in pozzetti, the round metal containers built into the counter with lids on top. This storage method keeps the gelato protected from light, air, and temperature changes.
However, good gelato does not always have to be hidden under a lid. Many excellent gelaterias use open refrigerated display cases. What matters is how the gelato is stored and how it looks.
Be cautious of giant mountains of gelato piled high above the containers. Gelato should be kept consistently cold, and enormous sculpted piles are often designed more to attract attention than indicate quality.
Look at the colors too. Pistachio should be a more natural, muted shade rather than bright green, and banana should not be neon yellow. In general, extremely bright colors, elaborate decorations, fruit piled on top, and towering swirls are signs to look a little closer before ordering.
Sometimes the least dramatic gelato display is the one worth trying.
Florence also has its own special gelato flavor worth trying: Buontalenti, also
known as crema fiorentina. Named after Bernardo Buontalenti, a 16th-century Florentine architect who worked for the Medici family, this rich and creamy flavor is traditionally made with milk, cream, eggs, and sugar. Buontalenti is said to have created an early version of this frozen dessert for the Medici court, helping shape the gelato we know today. While the traditional ingredients are simple, different gelaterias have developed their own versions, so you may notice slight differences from one shop to another. It is a little taste of Florence's history that is definitely worth trying!
One of the easiest ways to have a more positive interaction in Italy is also one of the simplest: greet people.
When you enter a café, restaurant, shop, or small business, saying buongiorno during the day or buonasera later on is polite and appreciated. A quick grazie and arrivederci when leaving goes a long way too.
You do not need to speak perfect Italian, but learning a few basic phrases can make everyday interactions much easier.
Even if you only use a few of these phrases, making the effort to speak a little Italian shows respect for the local culture and can make your time in Florence feel more personal.
Florence is known for more than its art and food. The city also has a long history of fashion and craftsmanship, from leather and silk to jewelry and some of Italy’s best-known fashion houses.
Ponte Vecchio is famous for its goldsmiths and jewelry shops, while streets such as Via de’ Tornabuoni showcase another side of the city’s fashion identity. Throughout Florence, you will also find smaller workshops and artisans continuing traditions that have been part of the city for generations.
If this is a side of Florence you are interested in, Accord also offers shopping experiences focused on the city’s fashion and craftsmanship, including an experience connected to Florentine names such as Ferragamo and Gucci.
This is another reminder that experiencing Italian culture does not always mean visiting another museum. Sometimes it is found in what a city makes, wears, eats, and passes down.
Opening hours in Italy may look a little different from what you are used to. While major shops in central Florence often stay open throughout the day, smaller businesses may close for a few hours in the afternoon before reopening later.
At the same time, the day tends to stretch later into the evening. Many shops stay open later than you might expect, and restaurants often remain busy well into the night. Sundays, Mondays, and holidays can also affect opening hours, especially for smaller businesses.
If there is a particular shop, restaurant, or market you really want to visit, it is always a good idea to check the hours ahead of time.
There are plenty of smaller cultural differences that you may not think about until you encounter them.
Water at restaurants is usually ordered by the bottle rather than automatically brought to the table. You will typically be asked whether you want naturale (still) or frizzante (sparkling).
Free public bathrooms are also less common than many American travelers expect. You may occasionally need to pay a small amount to use a restroom, particularly in train stations or other busy public places.
Ice, free drink refills, and large takeaway drinks are also less common. Everyday life is simply structured a little differently, and adjusting to those differences is part of traveling.
Perhaps one of the biggest cultural differences you will notice is the pace of everyday life.
A coffee can be a quick stop at the bar, but dinner can last for hours. Aperitivo is an excuse to sit with friends before the evening really begins. People spend time talking in piazzas, standing outside cafés, and lingering over meals rather than immediately moving on to the next thing.
When visiting Florence, it can be tempting to fill every hour with museums, monuments, and reservations. But getting to know Italian culture also means leaving a little room in your schedule to simply be here.
If you want to see more of this side of Florence, Accord offers plenty of ways to connect with the city’s culture, from food tours and cooking classes to sunset aperitivo and shopping experiences. Find the one that fits your trip and see another side of Florence with Accord.
