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Florence in October 2025

October brings Florence back to life with cooler weather and a calendar of exhibitions and film fests. You’ll stroll easier without summer heat, and locals return from holidays, bringing buzz to restaurants and galleries. Expect golden leaves in Boboli Gardens, and warm hues across Tuscan hills. Tip: book key museum tickets in advance—weekends still get busy.

Florence in October 2025 at a glance

🌧️ Weather

21 °C / 70 °F highs, 11 °C / 52 °F lows. Rain is frequent—carry an umbrella.

☀️ Daylight

11 h; sunset around 6:30 pm.

🎉 Key events

Florence Biennale (Oct 18–26), 50 Days of Cinema (starts mid-Oct).

👥 Crowds

Medium. Still busy, especially mid-month.

🛋️ What to pack

Layers, light jacket, waterproof shoes, and a travel umbrella.

🍽️ Seasonal treats

Truffle pasta, vin santo, roasted chestnuts.

How October compares

CategorySeptemberOctoberNovember

Weather

Warm days (~27 °C), light rain later

Cooler (21 °C), frequent showers

Chilly (15 °C), heaviest rain

Crowds & vibe

High early, then relaxed

Medium; cultural and local

Low; quieter, authentic

Key events

Grape festivals, Carro Matto

Biennale, film fests

Truffle & oil fairs nearby

Best for

Wine lovers, countryside tours

Art buffs, indoor/outdoor mix

Museum-goers, budget seekers

Book early?

Yes—especially early Sept

Yes for museums, mid-Oct hotels

Not critical, except Nov 1

Transport notes

Few delays; city full

Wet roads; normal trams/buses

Florence Marathon, minor reroutes

Budget

Still high, easing late month

Moderate; some hotel deals

Low-season prices resume

Top things to do in Florence in October

Explore the Uffizi on a rainy morning

  • When: Daily, early mornings best
  • Tags: Cultural experience, Tour
  • Fall rains? Perfect excuse to linger inside this world-class gallery. Wander early to avoid school groups and tour clusters. Book your 9 am ticket online for Botticelli, da Vinci, and Michelangelo, then pause at the Arno-view café upstairs.

Recommended experiences:

  • Uffizi Gallery Tickets
  • Uffizi Gallery Skip-the-Line Guided Tour
Browse Uffizi Gallery tickets & tours

Climb Brunelleschi’s Dome

  • When: Daily, last climb 5:30 pm
  • Tags:  Outdoors, Cultural experience
  • October’s mild temps make the 463-step climb more manageable. Book online and arrive early to beat mid-day groups. The reward? Unmatched views over golden Tuscan roofs.

Recommended experiences:

  • Florence Cathedral Guided Tour (Optional Dome & Bell Tower Climb)
  • Florence Cathedral VIP Guided Tour with Secret Terraces & Optional Dome Climb
Explore Brunelleschi’s Dome ticket options

Catch a film at 50 Days of Cinema

  • When: Mid-Oct through early Dec
  • Tags: Cultural experience, Seasonal
  • Florence hosts this acclaimed global film series with screenings across indie venues. From Iranian shorts to Argentine dramas, it’s a passport to world cinema.

See Michelangelo’s David at the Accademia

  • When: Daily except Mondays
  • Tags:  Tour, Family-friendly
  • Less sweaty crowds mean a calmer look at the most iconic marble man in art. Reserve timed entry to skip queues, and don’t miss the museum’s Medici instruments room.

Recommended experiences:

  • Accademia Gallery Reserved Entry Tickets
  • Accademia Gallery Reserved Entry Tickets
Explore Accademia Gallery tickets & tours

Walk the Oltrarno artisan streets

  • When: Year-round
  • Tags: Explorer, Cultural experience
  • Wander Via dei Serragli and Borgo San Frediano for hand-tooled leather, vintage prints, and local designers. Cool weather means you can linger longer in small workshops and cafés.

Watch sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo

  • When: Clear evenings, daily
  • Tags: Outdoors, Romantic
  • October skies often glow pink-orange over the Arno. Bring a bottle of Chianti, or grab a gelato and join the crowd at golden hour. Bundle up—it chills fast after dusk.

Stroll Boboli Gardens in fall color

  • When: Daily, last entry 4:30 pm
  • Tags: Outdoors, Family-friendly
  • Maples and oaks turn bronze through October, and the garden paths feel quieter post-summer. Bring walking shoes for gravel alleys and hillside views.

Try Tuscan truffle pasta

  • When: Peak season Oct–Nov
  • Tags: Seasonal, Foodie
  • October is prime time for tartufo. Order pici or tagliolini with fresh-shaved black truffle at a trattoria and savor autumn’s richest flavor.

Offbeat experiences in October

Catch the Florence Biennale art fair

Contemporary works from 80+ countries, all under one roof.
Hosted at Fortezza da Basso, this international show blends sculpture, painting, and tech-based art. It’s walkable from SMN station and has shorter lines than museums.
📍 Where: Fortezza da Basso

Climb to San Miniato al Monte for vespers

Gregorian chants and golden hour over Florence.
Fewer visitors make the hike past Piazzale Michelangelo. Time your arrival for 5:30 pm vespers—the acoustics and sunset are sublime.
📍 Where: Via delle Porte Sante 34

Explore Florence’s English Cemetery

Shelley and Barrett Browning rest here.
Stroll tree-lined graves with autumn leaves underfoot. Peaceful and a touch gothic, it’s ideal for quiet reflection.
📍 Where: Piazzale Donatello

Get spooked on a ghost tour

Medieval murders and haunted alleys.
October’s darker evenings make Florence’s ghost walks extra atmospheric. Local guides share centuries of strange stories.
📍 Where: Meet at Piazza della Signoria

Festivals and events in Florence this October 2025

Festivals & EventsDatesEvent typeLocationWhat to expect

Florence Biennale

18–26 October 2025

Art Exhibition

Fortezza da Basso

Global artists gather for one of Europe’s top contemporary art fairs. Skip weekends to avoid crowds; weekday mornings are best.

50 Days of International Cinema

Mid-October–December 2025

Film Festival

Cinema La Compagnia

An acclaimed showcase of indie films from around the world. Check screening times online—some include English subtitles.

La Fierucola delle Lane di San Martino

26–27 October 2025

Artisan & Food Market

Piazza Santissima Annunziata

Autumn fair featuring wool goods, natural dyes, and traditional sheep cheeses. Bring euros—most stalls don’t take cards.

Halloween at Palazzo Vecchio

31 October 2025

Family Event

Museo di Palazzo Vecchio

Spooky storytelling, treasure hunts, and late-night museum hours for kids. Check museum website for language and age group info.

Highlights for different traveler types

Couples

  • Sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo – Toast the view with Chianti, then wander downhill for dinner by candlelight.
  • Wine bars in the Oltrarno – With cooler nights, cozy enoteche shine. Try Enoteca Pitti Gola for aged reds and Florentine bites.
  • Photo strolls in Boboli Gardens – Fall foliage adds romantic flair to your snapshots. Visit mid-morning for soft light.

Culture vultures

  • Uffizi Gallery early entry – Quiet halls, clearer views, and the Botticelli room nearly to yourself.
  • October is cultural jackpot month. Alternate galleries with world cinema.
  • Visit Santa Croce or San Lorenzo and take time with their frescoes and tombs.

Foodies

  • Order anything tartufo-topped. Ask if the truffle is fresh (not oil-based).
  • Duck into places like Trattoria Sostanza or Da Ruggero for ribollita and roast chicken.
  • A classic Tuscan pairing. Most cafes will offer a glass to end your meal.

Your perfect 3-day Florence in October itinerary

Palazzo Pitti interior with classical statue and Renaissance paintings, Florence.
  • Morning: Beat the queues with an early ticket to the Uffizi. Spend 2–3 hours with Botticelli and da Vinci.
  • Breakfast: Coffee and cornetto at Ditta Artigianale (Via dei Neri).
  • Midday: Cross Ponte Vecchio and peek into goldsmith shops.
  • Lunch: Sit at Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco (Borgo San Jacopo) for pappardelle with boar ragu.
  • Afternoon: Climb the Duomo dome —book a timed slot online.
  • Evening: Aperitivo and people-watching at La Terrazza (Hotel Continentale).
Visitors enjoying a view of Florence's skyline from Boboli Gardens, featuring the Duomo and Palazzo Vecchio.
  • Morning: Wander the Oltrarno’s artisan workshops—Via Romana is a favorite stretch.
  • Breakfast: Try Schiaccia (Tuscan flatbread) at Forno Becagli (Piazza Tasso).
  • Midday: Climb to San Miniato for vespers and views.
  • Lunch: Grab a panino from I’Raddi (Via Ardiglione) and picnic at Piazzale.
  • Afternoon: Explore Boboli Gardens —fall color peaks mid-month.
  • Evening: Watch a subtitled film at Cinema La Compagnia.
Panoramic view of Rome at sunset from Pincio Terrace, featuring the dome of Basilica of Ambrogio e Carlo al Corso.
  • Morning: Stroll Sant’Ambrogio Market for seasonal produce and flowers.
  • Breakfast: Pastries and cappuccino at Cibreo Caffè.
  • Midday: Browse the English Cemetery or Libreria Brac.
  • Lunch: Vegetarian or vegan? Try Libreria Brac’s prix fixe lunch.
  • Afternoon: Head to Santa Croce for frescoes and Galileo’s tomb.
  • Evening: Dinner at Trattoria da Burde (Via Pistoiese) – old-school Florentine.

Best day trips from Florence in October

Fiesole

🚌 Travel time: ~25 min by ATAF bus #7
Cooler air makes this hill town ideal for walks. Visit Roman ruins and hike the Via Vecchia Fiesolana for city views.

Chianti wine villages

🚄 Travel time: ~1 h by regional bus or rental car
October = grape harvest wrap-up. Taste new vintages in Greve or Radda. Book winery tours ahead—this season draws food travelers.

Florence to Chianti day trips

San Miniato

🚄 Travel time: ~1 h by train
Famous for white truffles. Visit on a weekend to catch early truffle fair vendors setting up.

Arezzo

🚄 Travel time: ~1.5 h by train
Less crowded than Siena and still rich with frescoes and antiques. Great day to blend art and slow shopping.

Go shopping in Florence in October

Chiesa di San Martino with colorful houses and canal in Burano, Italy.
  • When: Oct 26–27, 2025 [TBC]
  • Where: Piazza SS. Annunziata
  • Shop handmade woolen goods, soaps, and shepherd-made cheeses. Autumn sun and rustic vibes.
Via de’ Tornabuoni street view with luxury shops in Florence, Italy.
  • When: Year-round
  • **Where: Centro storico
  • Designer fashion central. Early fall collections still in windows; shoulder season means less crowded boutiques.
Il Mercato di Forte dei Marmi stalls with shoppers in Tuscany, Italy.
  • When: Year-round, mornings
  • Where: East of the Duomo
  • Fresh produce, meat counters, vintage stalls, and cheap lunch spots. October brings piles of mushrooms and new olive oil.
Church of San Lorenzo with bell tower and rose window in Cordoba, Andalusia, Spain.
  • When: Year-round
  • Where: Around Via dei Ginori
  • Dig for silk scarves, old leather, and retro jackets—October’s cooler weather sparks wardrobe refreshes.

Pro tips for visiting Florence in October

  1. Rain is likely. Always carry a compact umbrella and waterproof shoes—many alleys flood after sudden showers.

  2. Museums may still have long lines on weekends. Book major sights online (Uffizi, Accademia, dome) even in shoulder season.

  3. Halloween events are growing but still low-key. Expect themed nights at bars; few street crowds.

  4. Watch for early closures. Some museums and churches start winter hours by late October (last entry ~4:30 pm).

  5. Take advantage of indoor gems during rain: Palazzo Davanzati, Museo Horne, and lesser-known cloisters.

  6. Outdoor restaurants keep heaters on hand but bring a scarf for late dinners.

  7. Locals return from vacation. October is great for meeting real Florentines at cafés and markets.

Frequently asked questions about visiting Florence in October

Yes—mild temperatures, fewer crowds than summer, and a packed cultural calendar make October one of the best months to go.