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Florence in September 2025

September eases Florence from its summer crush into a golden lull. Long, warm days invite late gelato strolls; locals return, art shows reopen, and the countryside brims with vendemmia (grape harvest) joy. Aim for early morning museum slots and cool evenings across the Arno. Many artisan studios resume full hours this month.

Florence in September 2025 at a glance

🌧️ Weather

Average highs 27 °C / 81 °F; cool evenings and light early showers.

☀️ Daylight

12.5 h; sunrise ~6:45 am, sunset ~7:15 pm.

🎉 Key events

Rificolona (Sept 7), Carro Matto wine parade (Sept 28).

👥 Crowds

Busy early month; eases mid-September.

🛍️ What to pack

Light layers, walking shoes, a jacket for evenings.

🍽️ Seasonal treats

Schiacciata all’uva (grape focaccia), early porcini, Chianti novello wines.

Top things to do in Florence in September

Florence Duomo dome with visitors on secret terraces, cityscape in background.

Climb Brunelleschi’s Dome at sunrise

  • When: Mornings, best early in month
  • Tags: Tour, Outdoors
  • Cooler dawns and softer skies make September ideal for the 463-step climb. Book the first time slot to beat crowds and bask in golden Arno views.

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 tickets
Tourists enjoying wine tasting in a Chianti vineyard at sunset.

Sip Chianti on a Tuscan wine tour

  • When: Weekends, during vendemmia season
  • Tags: Seasonal, Cultural experience
  • September is harvest time. Join a day trip to vineyards near Greve or Radda to taste freshly pressed wines and watch grape sorting.

Recommended experiences:

  • From Florence: Chianti Wine Tasting Tour
  • From Florence: Pisa, San Gimignano, Siena & Chianti Day Trip with Lunch & Tuscan Tastings
Explore Chianti on a Day Trip from Florence
Leather bags displayed in a shop.

Stroll artisan Oltrarno workshops

  • When: Weekdays, mid-to-late month
  • Tags: Explorer, Cultural experience
  • As locals return from summer break, Oltrarno’s artisans reopen. Browse handmade paper, mosaics, and leather goods in quiet lanes near Santo Spirito.
Statue of David replica at Piazzale Michelangelo, Florence, with surrounding trees and clear sky.

Catch sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo

  • When: Clear evenings
  • Tags: Outdoors, Family-friendly
  • Florence glows gold in September light. Bring a bottle and sit with locals as the city blushes under sunset hues — arrive 1 hour before sundown.
Boboli Gardens with view of Florence and Pitti Palace in the background.

Wander Boboli Gardens in late bloom

  • When: Midday, early-to-mid Sept
  • Tags: Outdoors, Tour
  • Less heat means longer garden walks. Explore citrus groves, Renaissance fountains, and panoramic paths above the city.

Recommended experiences:

  • Pitti Palace & Palatine Gallery, Boboli & Bardini Gardens Skip-the-Line Tickets
  • Pitti Palace, Palatine Gallery & Boboli Gardens Guided Tour
Browse all Boboli Gardens tickets & tours
Schiacciata alla Fiorentina cake slice with powdered sugar and cocoa design.

Feast on seasonal schiacciata all’uva

  • When: Bakery hours, early-to-mid month
  • Tags: Family-friendly, Seasonal
  • Florentine bakeries bring out sweet grape focaccia in September. Try it fresh from the oven with morning espresso or an afternoon spritz.
Visitor admiring Renaissance paintings in a red-walled gallery at the Uffizi Gallery, Florence.

Explore the Uffizi with fewer queues

  • When: Weekdays after Sept 15
  • Tags: Tour, Cultural experience
  • Crowds thin mid-month. See Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and da Vinci pieces with breathing room. Prebook for weekday late mornings.

Recommended experiences:

  • Uffizi Gallery Tickets
  • Uffizi Gallery Skip-the-Line Guided Tour
Explore Uffizi Gallery tickets & tours
Ponte Vecchio spanning the Arno River in Florence, Italy.

Cruise the Arno by barchetto boat

  • When: Warm afternoons
  • Tags: Tour, Family-friendly
  • Skip the gondola envy. Florence has its own flat-bottomed barchetti. Glide under Ponte Vecchio and past riverside palazzi before the season ends.

Offbeat experiences in September

Carro Matto

See the Carro Matto roll into town

A wine-loaded cart led by white oxen Florence welcomes Chianti novello with this quirky September parade. Barrels are stacked pyramid-style and blessed near the Duomo.
📍 Where: Piazza del Duomo

sunrise from Fiesole hilltop

Photograph sunrise from Fiesole hilltop

Etruscan views and golden fog Take the #7 bus to Fiesole pre-dawn. The Arno valley below glows pink in early fall light — a favorite for photo buffs.
📍 Where: Fiesole Belvedere

Crowd exploring fresh produce at Rome's San Cosimato Food Market.

Browse Sant’Ambrogio Market midweek

Local chatter, fresh figs, no tour groups
More authentic than San Lorenzo, this is where locals shop. September figs, cheeses, and porcini are at their peak.
📍 Where: Piazza Lorenzo Ghiberti

Guests observing paintings at an art gallery.

Watch artisans restore ancient art

Behind-the-scenes at the Opificio delle Pietre Dure
This lab isn’t a museum — it’s where Florence repairs its masterpieces. Book a guided visit to see real restorers at work.
📍 Where: Via Alfani 78

Musicians performing modern jazz on stage with audience dancing.

Evening jazz in cloisters

Cool sounds under Renaissance arches Venues like Cenacolo di Fuligno host autumn jazz sets in hushed refectories. Check local listings for one-night shows.
📍 Where: Varies – Fuligno or Museo del Bargello

Festivals and events in Florence this September 2025

kids holding handmade paper lanterns

Rificolona Festival

  • Dates: 7 September 2025
  • Event type: Cultural Festival
  • Location: Piazza Santissima Annunziata
  • Kids parade with handmade paper lanterns through Florence’s streets, celebrating the Virgin’s birthday. Best seen after dark; buy a lantern from local stalls.
Wine glasses on a table during a tasting session in Plastovo.

Carro Matto Wine Parade

  • Dates: 28 September 2025
  • Event type: Parade
  • Location: Piazza Duomo to Piazza della Signoria
  • White oxen pull a pyramid-stacked wine cart into Florence. Expect medieval pageantry, drummers, and novello wine tasting stalls.
Musician playing trombone at Reduta Jazz Club concert.

Firenze Jazz Fringe Festival

  • Dates: 12–15 September 2025
  • Event type: Music Festival
  • Location: Oltrarno district
  • Live jazz flows through streets and hidden cloisters. Free sets by the Arno after dark; reserve tickets for indoor headline acts.
Wine being poured into a glass during a Chianti tasting on a Florence day trip.

Chianti Wine Expo (Expo del Chianti Classico)

  • Dates: 5–8 September 2025
  • Event type: Food & Wine Festival
  • Location: Greve in Chianti (1 h south)
  • Tents pour hundreds of wines; local food stalls and live music complete the vibe. Catch the bus from Florence for a full-day outing.
Visitors discussing paintings at an art exhibition.

Estate Fiorentina Finale

  • Dates: Until mid-September
  • Event type: Cultural Festival
  • Location: Citywide
  • End-of-summer concerts, theater, and film screenings wrap up this city-sponsored arts fest. Some events require RSVP; check the city portal.

Highlights for different traveler types

Couple with map in Florence near Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, part of sightseeing ticket package.

Couples

  • Share sunset picnics at Piazzale Michelangelo with seasonal wine and cheese.
  • Book a private vineyard tour near Greve for a romantic harvest escape.
  • Dine al fresco along the Arno as lanterns reflect in the water.
Florence guided tour group exploring the historic Ponte Vecchio bridge.

Culture vultures

  • See Botticelli, Giotto, and da Vinci with elbow room at the Uffizi.
  • Attend Firenze Jazz Fringe sets in Oltrarno cloisters.
  • Join a guided tour of art restoration labs at Opificio delle Pietre Dure.
Friends enjoying pizza at a restaurant in Movie Park Germany.

Foodies

  • Taste schiacciata all’uva still warm from the bakery.
  • Sample porcini-laced pasta at neighborhood trattorie.
  • Sip new-release Chianti at Carro Matto and countryside wine events.

Your perfect 3-day Florence in September itinerary

Visitors walking towards Pitti Palace through Boboli Garden in Florence, Italy.
  • Morning: Climb Brunelleschi’s Dome right after opening.
  • Breakfast: Espresso and cornetto near Piazza San Giovanni.
  • Midday: Cross Ponte Vecchio and visit artisan workshops.
  • Lunch: Tuscan plate at Trattoria La Casalinga, Oltrarno.
  • Afternoon: Explore Boboli Gardens and Bardini Terrace.
  • Evening: Watch sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo with wine.
Visitors observing paintings and sculptures in the Rubens Niobe Room at Uffizi Gallery, Florence.
  • Morning: Uffizi Gallery , prebooked for 10:30 am.
  • Breakfast: Sit-down at Caffè Gilli near Piazza della Repubblica.
  • Midday: Browse Sant’Ambrogio Market; snack on focaccia.
  • Lunch: Cheese & salumi board with wine at La Prosciutteria.
  • Afternoon: Visit Opificio delle Pietre Dure or nearby Accademia.
  • Evening: Catch jazz at Cenacolo di Fuligno or riverside set.
Vineyards and cypress trees in the Chianti region landscape, Tuscany, Italy.
  • Morning: Head to Greve in Chianti by bus (~1 hr).
  • Breakfast: Cappuccino and brioche in town square.
  • Midday: Tour a Chianti Classico estate during harvest.
  • Lunch: Winery lunch with seasonal pairings.
  • Afternoon: Return to Florence; stop at gelateria.
  • Evening: Aperitivo near Santo Spirito, then stroll.

Best day trips from Florence in September

People enjoying wine tasting in a vineyard in the Chianti region, Florence.

Greve in Chianti

🚌 Travel time: ~1 h by bus
Visit during the Chianti Wine Expo for tastings, live folk music, and autumn vineyard backdrops. Book vineyard visits ahead for harvest access.

San Domenico Fiesole view with historic buildings and lush landscape near Florence.

Fiesole

🚌 Travel time: ~30 min by bus #7
A quick escape with Etruscan ruins and sweeping views. In September’s softer light, it’s a calm spot for morning hikes or open-air lunches.

Aerial view of San Gimignano towers and surrounding Tuscan countryside.

San Gimignano

🚃 Travel time: ~90 min via train + bus
Medieval towers, gelato glory, and crisp countryside air. Fewer groups visit in September. Climb Torre Grossa for golden-hour vistas.

Go shopping in Florence in September

Purple figs in a bowl, some halved to reveal red interiors.
  • When: Year-round (best Tues–Thurs mornings)
  • Where: Piazza Lorenzo Ghiberti
  • Florentines shop here for daily produce, meats, and cheese. In September, figs, late peaches, and porcini dominate stalls.
Guests with shopping bags at American Dream mall near luxury stores.
  • When: Year-round
  • Where: City center
  • Florence’s fashion artery for luxury shopping. Window shop Gucci, Ferragamo, and Tod’s between gelato breaks.
Woman browsing colorful clothing in a store.
  • When: Sundays in September
  • Where: Piazza dei Ciompi
  • Hunt for retro finds — leather jackets, brooches, vintage denim. Arrive by 10 am for best selection.

Pro tips for visiting Florence in September

  1. Uffizi

    and Duomo dome slots go fast. Book online for mid-morning weekday visits — weekends still draw late summer crowds.

  2. Ride the tram from SMN station to Peretola Airport in 20 min — it’s cheaper and faster than taxis.

  3. Restaurants resume full hours post-summer. Still, book Friday/Saturday dinners in advance, especially in Oltrarno.

  4. Always validate ATAF bus/tram tickets onboard or at platform machines — fines are steep.

  5. Many vineyards offer harvest tours this month. Email ahead; walk-ins are rarely accepted during vendemmia.

  6. Schiacciata all’uva sells out early at top bakeries. Go before 10 am for warm slices.

  7. Most artisan shops close mid-afternoon (13:00–16:00). Time your Oltrarno wanderings around their rhythm.

  8. Sunset sets around 7:15 pm. Get to Piazzale Michelangelo or Fiesole by 6:30 for golden hour shots.

  9. September weather can swing — carry a compact umbrella and layered outfits.

Frequently asked questions about visiting Florence in September

Is September a good time to visit Florence?

Yes. You’ll get warm weather, harvest festivals, and thinner crowds after mid-month.

Do I need to book museums in advance in September?

Absolutely. Reserve Uffizi, Accademia, and dome climb tickets at least a week ahead.

What do locals do in September?

They return from summer break, reopen workshops, and celebrate vendemmia with wine and food events.

Is Florence crowded in September?

Yes, especially early in the month. Crowds ease from mid-September onward.

What should I pack for Florence in September?

Light layers, comfy shoes, a jacket for evenings, and a compact umbrella for showers.

Can I visit vineyards without a car?

Yes. Buses reach Chianti towns like Greve. Book vineyard tours that include transport.

Are shops and restaurants open all day?

Many artisan shops close 1pm–4pm. Restaurants are open for lunch (12pm–2:30pm) and dinner (7pm–10:30pm).

Is public transit reliable in Florence?

Yes. Trams and buses run smoothly; validate tickets and use the ATAF app for schedules.

Can I swim in Florence in September?

Not in the Arno, but rooftop hotel pools and nearby countryside resorts offer options.

Are there any local dishes only available in September?

Yes! Try schiacciata all’uva (grape focaccia) and porcini pasta at local trattorias.