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At the beginning of the year, I made a resolution to get more photos of myself traveling throughout Europe. I’m a big fan of making memories and creating things like photo albums.

I think that unique keepsakes from one’s travels are the best souvenirs.

I COULDN’T CREATE THESE KEEPSAKES WITH A BUNCH OF SELFIES, THOUGH. I KNEW I NEEDED HELP.

About four weeks prior to my trip to Florence, I began scouring Instagram for a photographer.

I came across Katerina Chebo’s work and really loved her photos and how she captured her subjects as they traipsed through Florence.

I put together a short list of spots I wanted to have pictures taken at, and a few Instagram-worthy places in Florence immediately made the list. (After the photoshoot, there were a few spots I added to the list for my next trip.)

If you’ve ever considered having a photo session during a vacation to Europe, I would 100% recommend it.

Especially in a city like Florence, where the beauty of the architecture, the outdoor art, and the natural scenery will result in beautiful photographs that you’ll treasure for a very long time. And if you are planning a trip to Florence specifically, I suggest getting in touch with Katerina. She was so much fun to work with and was able to coax out my inner supermodel 🤭.

Whether you’re planning for a do-it-yourself photo tour of Florence, or preparing a shot list for a professional photo shoot, here are my favorite photo spots in Florence:

The 10 Most Instagrammable Spots in Florence

1. Duomo di Firenze

Florence’s grand cathedral, the Duomo, is the stunning centerpiece of Piazza del Duomo. Walking into this public square feels like stepping into the beating heart of the city.

I love it best in the early morning hours when it’s a bustling constellation of vendors setting up their stands, locals on their way to work, and savvy travelers starting their day earlier than most.

Piazza del Duomo is anchored by the Duomo, also known as the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, as well as St. John’s Baptistery, and Giotto’s Bell Tower.

The exteriors of all three buildings are adorned with marble panels in alternating colors of white, green, and red (though the red marble looks in some areas like a light pink or mauve.)

THE COMBINED EFFECT IS SIMPLY MESMERIZING!

Photos in front of the Duomo di Firenze are a must - it’s one of the most iconic places in Florence - and it looks absolutely stunning in picture backgrounds.

Don’t forget to take a few photos from the side of the Duomo so that you’re able to capture its imposing dome.

Known as Brunelleschi’s Dome, it’s still the largest masonry dome in the world, despite being completed in 1436.

I RECOMMEND GETTING TO PIAZZA DEL DUOMO AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE FOR THE BEST PHOTOS.

That means sunrise if you truly want to keep your photos free of background extras, but more like eight o’clock in the morning if you’re ok with a little bit of activity showing up in the background of your pictures.

2. Grand Hotel Minerva

I love a good design hotel, and the Grand Hotel Minerva has been one of the chicest stays in Florence ever since its 1957 renovation by Carlo Scarpa. (Scarpa's legacy as a Maestro of 20th-century design is marked by his ability to infuse modern architecture with a deep respect for history and context.)

With beautifully appointed rooms and an art collection that would make The Galleria dell'Accademia di Firenze sweat, Grand Hotel Minerva is one of the most photogenic places in Florence.

But the hotel’s best-kept secret are the breathtaking views to be seen from its rooftop pool and bar.

*The skyline of Florence is on full display at Grand Hotel Minerva.*

The skyline of Florence is on full display in its panoramic glory - from Brunelleschi’s Dome to the Palazzo Vecchio, along with the rolling hills of Tuscany languishing in the background.

Glance to the left and the façade of Santa Maria Novella cathedral is so close that you feel as though you could reach out and touch it.

Since we’re on the topic of rooftop views, I need to mention the Social Hub Florence Lavagnini. It’s situated slightly northeast of the main station, Firenze Santa Maria Novella, which is especially convenient for those arriving into Florence by train.

I really love the vibe of Social Hub hotels! Their properties are for travelers who want more than just a hotel room, with each one offering a blend of hospitality, community, and modern conveniences. Though they were originally founded to provide accommodations for students, they’ve expanded to cater to young professionals, business travelers, and digital nomads with their mix of coworking space, conference facilities, and strong wifi. Leisure travelers are drawn to their central locations and design decor.

*The rooftop pool at the Social Hub Florence Lavagnini includes cheeky tile work declaring that “The Beach is Boring.”*

The rooftop pool at the Social Hub Florence Lavagnini is one of the best photo spots in Florence.

It offers a full view of the rooftops of Florence and the city’s most iconic domes and towers, while the pool’s cheeky tile work proudly declares “The Beach is Boring.” (I may disagree, but it’s an understandable position for a landlocked hotel.)

4. Piazza della Repubblica

Piazza della Repubblica has been a major city square in Florence for centuries, and has served different purposes over the years, but today it is a magnet for travelers thanks to its central location and wealth of cafés. It’s also home to Florence’s merry-go-round, an antique carousel that has become a popular Florence photography location.

GO IN THE MORNING TO TAKE PHOTOS ON THE CAROUSEL BEFORE IT’S IN OPERATION OR MOBBED BY CROWDS.

Be sure to visit Piazza della Repubblica later in the day, too.

One of my favorite things in Florence was coming upon the Old Florence Jazz Band playing in front of the Rinascente Firenze department store, across from Piazza della Repubblica, each day around 11:30 am.

5. Foto Automatica

Remember when Instagram was just starting out and everyone applied filters to their photos to make them look nostalgic and vintage?

I say go for the real thing, instead, and seek out one of the many Foto Automatica booths sprinkled throughout Florence.

Photo booth pictures are one of my favorite travel souvenirs, and no Instagram tour of Florence would be complete without a strip of black and white photos from one of these cool vintage booths.

6. Loggia dei Lanzi

The political heart of Florence, Piazza della Signoria is home to the city’s town hall, Palazzo Vecchio. It’s a common meeting place for locals and tourists alike, especially those meeting up for a tour of the Uffizi Gallery, which is just a short walk nearby. There are a lot of photo opportunities in Piazza della Signoria, from the Fountain of Neptune to the statues near the entrance of Palazzo Vecchio.

My favorite photo spot in Piazza della Signoria, though, is in the Loggia dei Lanzi.

This pavilion - three wide arches long and one arch deep - sits adjacent to the Palazzo Vecchio and is essentially an open air sculpture gallery, with figures from the Renaissance and antiquity.

AS A PHOTO SPOT, IT’S ONE OF THE HIDDEN GEMS IN FLORENCE.

Imagine pictures in which you’re dwarfed by the scale of colossal works of art - what better way to commemorate your time in this city of art and history than that?!

There’s only one hitch.

Photographs are actually allowed inside the Loggia dei Lanzi.

The trick is to take your mark inside the pavilion while your friend or photographer stands outside of the pavilion to take the picture. You might have to hurry though, as staff have been known to shoo away those trying to conduct elaborate photo shoots next to the Loggia dei Lanzi.

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7. Ponte Vecchio

Confession time: I didn’t originally have the Ponte Vecchio on my list of Florence photography locations.

We were walking from Piazza della Signoria towards Piazzale Michelangelo, and while walking down Piazza dei Giudici, about to cross the Arno River, we figured “Hey, why not?” And decided to grab a quick picture with the Ponte Vecchio.

But as often happens while traveling, learning the history of a place that looks unassuming allows you to see it in an entirely new context…

*The Ponte Vecchio is one of the best photo spots in Florence.*

The Ponte Vecchio is actually the only bridge in all of Florence that wasn’t destroyed during World War II.

This medieval stone bridge also houses several shops and merchants along its path, similar to the Rialto Bridge in Venice, though the tenants have changed over the centuries from butchers and farmers to souvenir shops and jewelers.

I think my hesitation came from the fact that the Arno River is perhaps not the most scenic river in Europe? Give me the Danube or the Seine or the Spree any day. But in the end I was so glad that we snapped a photo with one of the most famous landmarks in Florence.

I THINK THE ARNO RIVER SHOWS HER BEST SIDE - AND THE PONTE VECCHIO’S - FROM PONTE SANTA TRINITA.

Insider Tip: Secret Uffizi Gallery Photo Spots

In addition to my photo tour of Florence, I also had my heart set on seeing the two most significant museums in town: the The Galleria dell'Accademia di Firenze and the Uffizi Gallery.

Rather than finding two separate tours for each museum, I took this combined tour which offered the continuity of having the same tour guide for both museums, and ensured us skip-the-line tickets at each institution.

We also had an hour-long break for lunch.

(Travel Tip, Florentine sandwich edition: 🐖 If you go to All'Antico Vinaio on Via dei Neri, don’t wait in the first huge line that you come to. There are multiple locations of this iconic Florentine sandwich shop in Via dei Neri, just keep walking down the street. 🐖)

IT WAS DURING THE UFFIZI GALLERY TOUR THAT I CAME ACROSS THESE 2 SECRET PHOTO SPOTS…

You can find the full Uffizi Gallery map here.

And if you’re looking for a way to see both of Florence’s major museums in one day, then I highly recommend this Florence in a Day: Michelangelo's David, Uffizi and Guided City Walking Tour.

8. Plaza Hotel Lucchesi

Sitting atop a historic hotel that dates back to 1860, the rooftop pool at Hotel Plaza Lucchesi is renowned as one of the most Instagram-worthy places in Florence due to its unrivaled views of the Oltrarno district south of the Arno River.

I love to see the rolling hills of Tuscany that sit outside of Florence, and this rooftop offers a unique vantage point of Oltrarno’s hillside highlights, with its magnificent gardens, like the Giardino Bardini, the Giardino di Boboli, and the Giardino delle Rose, as well as the terraced Piazzale Michelangelo.

There’s also a bird’s eye view of the Basilica of Santa Croce, right next to the hotel, and a completely different view of the Duomo di Firenze than the one you’ll see from its northern side.

9. Giardino delle Rose

Speaking of the gardens of Oltrarno, I am obsessed with a good rose garden!

I grow my own roses on my balcony (though some fare better than others 🙃) and I love to see how they can be used in landscapes and manicured gardens.

There are a lot of fantastic gardens in Florence, like the Medici’s Giardino di Boboli, but it’s imposing in size and I didn’t have that much time for my own photo tour of Florence.

I was hoping to get a few pictures in Giardino delle Rose, a small garden that sits below Piazzale Michelangelo and offers an outstanding view of the city, but due to our early start, there was a chance that the park would not yet be opened by the time we walked past.

But luck was on our side, and Giardino delle Rose was in fact open. It was a sunny day, and not all of the photos we took were winners (I’m a squinter,) but these were some of my favorite photos of the day. If you have a soft spot for roses, like me, then you should definitely add Giadino delle Rose to your own list of Florence photography locations.

Try a few different photography points in the garden to find the best view of the city.

There are sometimes construction cranes hovering close to the Duomo dome and other sights, so be mindful of your background. And I love the trick of photographing a foreground element, like a rose, to add depth to the overall photo.

10. Piazzale Michelangelo

Ok, so I saved this one for last, because…

IT IS HANDS DOWN THE BEST PHOTO SPOT IN FLORENCE.

No other vantage point can offer the kind of aerial view of Florence the way that Piazzale Michelangelo can.

It’s gorgeous.

Swoon-worthy.

And you still have those beautiful Tuscan hills in the background.

We took the last photos of our shoot at Piazzale Michelangelo, at around 9:30 in the morning, and it was only then starting to get a little bit busy.

*If you can only take one photo in Florence, take it from Piazzale Michelangelo.*

Some folks worry about the walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo, since it sits atop a hillside, but it was manageable in the early morning temperatures. It may not be the best choice at midday or on especially hot days.

A magical time to enjoy this iconic place in Florence is at dusk - come to watch the sunset and enjoy the din of the city as day turns into night.

IF YOU CAN ONLY TAKE ONE PHOTO IN FLORENCE, TAKE IT FROM PIAZZALE MICHELANGELO.

That’s all for now,

xx,

Angela

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