Florence Travel from Canada: The Complete Guide

Canadian citizens do not need a visa to visit Florence: a valid passport covers a tourist stay of up to 90 days in any 180-day period within the Schengen area. There are no direct flights from Montreal or Toronto to Florence. The simplest route is a direct flight to Rome, about 8 hours 15 minutes from Montreal (YUL) and about 8 hours 20 minutes from Toronto (YYZ), followed by a high-speed train to Firenze Santa Maria Novella station in as little as 1 hour 32 minutes. You can also fly with one European stopover to Florence-Peretola Airport (FLR), for a total journey of 10 to 13 hours. The best months are April to June and September to October: in July and August, temperatures often top 35°C in this valley city and crowds at the Uffizi and the Duomo reach their peak. As a guideline, plan on $220 to $340 CAD per day per person at a mid-range level, flights excluded; the currency is the euro (€1 ≈ $1.62 CAD in July 2026).

The essentials at a glance

Why Florence

Florence packs the essentials of the Renaissance into a few hundred metres. Its historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage site, gathers the Duomo with Brunelleschi's dome, Piazza della Signoria, the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia Gallery, home of Michelangelo's David. Unlike most art capitals, the whole city can be visited on foot: no metro to figure out, no long transfers, just a few minutes' walk from one masterpiece to the next.

Florence is more than an open-air museum. On the left bank of the Arno, the Oltrarno district around Santo Spirito is home to artisan workshops where leather, gilding and bookbinding are still done by hand. The San Lorenzo quarter and the Mercato Centrale add a lively food-market side to the trip. This mix of world-class museums and neighbourhood life is what sets Florence apart from other cities in Italy.

The city is also an excellent base for exploring Tuscany: Siena, Pisa and the Chianti wine region can all be reached by train or on a day trip. And since Rome is only 1 hour 32 minutes away by high-speed train, many Canadian travellers combine the two cities in a single itinerary, often adding Venice in the north.

When to go

If your dates are flexible, aim for April to June or September-October: walking the city is comfortable and lines at the major museums stay manageable. In midsummer, plan indoor visits for the hottest hours and reserve every timed ticket well before departure.

Getting there from Canada

There are no direct flights from Canada to Florence. For most travellers, the simplest option is the direct flight to Rome: about 8 hours 15 minutes from Montreal with Air Canada or Air Transat, and about 8 hours 20 minutes from Toronto, where Air Canada, Air Transat and ITA Airways all fly the route. From Roma Termini, the Frecciarossa and Italo high-speed trains reach Firenze Santa Maria Novella in as little as 1 hour 32 minutes, with dozens of direct departures every day. Many clients take the opportunity to visit Rome for a few days before heading up to Tuscany.

The second option is a one-stop flight through a European hub (Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Munich or Zurich) to Florence-Peretola Airport (FLR, "Amerigo Vespucci"), for a typical total of 10 to 13 hours. The airport is linked to the city centre by tramway (line T2). Another possible gateway is Pisa (PSA), about one hour from Florence by train.

Neighbourhoods and highlights of Florence

The Duomo and the Renaissance centre

The cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and Brunelleschi's dome tower over the UNESCO-listed historic centre. Note that climbing the dome requires a timed-entry ticket, and slots sell out quickly in high season, so book before you leave Canada. A few minutes away on foot, Piazza della Signoria has been the civic heart of the city for centuries. The entire district is covered on foot, no transit needed: it is one of Florence's great pleasures.

The Uffizi and the Accademia Gallery

The Uffizi Gallery holds one of the world's great collections of Renaissance painting, and the Accademia Gallery draws the crowds for Michelangelo's David. For both museums, skip-the-line reservations are strongly recommended, in summer and shoulder season alike. In July and August, crowds at the Uffizi reach their peak: without a reservation you risk losing half a day in line or being turned away. A travel advisor can book your time slots along with your flights and hotels.

The Oltrarno and its artisans

Cross the Arno and the scenery changes: the Oltrarno, around Santo Spirito, is the artisans' quarter. Behind modest storefronts, you can still watch hands working leather, gilt and bookbindings, just a few streets from the busiest tourist routes. This is the place to slow down, linger on a café terrace and bring home something made on the spot rather than a mass-produced souvenir.

Ponte Vecchio, San Lorenzo and the Mercato Centrale

The Ponte Vecchio, lined with jewellers' shops, links the Renaissance centre to the Oltrarno: cross it early in the morning to enjoy it before the crowds. On the other side of the centre, the San Lorenzo quarter and the Mercato Centrale are the city's food hub: stalls of Tuscan products, counters for a quick bite and a genuine market atmosphere. It makes an excellent midday stop between two museums.

Day trips into Tuscany

Florence is an ideal base for exploring Tuscany without changing hotels. Siena, Pisa and the Chianti wine region can be visited by train or on a one-day excursion from the city. Your advisor can build one or two day trips into your itinerary, with transportation and a guide if you wish. Plan at least three nights in Florence if you want to combine the city and the Tuscan countryside without rushing.

Your budget, in Canadian dollars

These figures are cautious estimates, provided as a guideline: prices vary with the season and the exchange rate (quick reference: €100 ≈ $162 CAD in July 2026). Add the municipal tourist tax, collected by your accommodation: roughly €3.50 to €8 per person per night depending on the category, generally capped at 7 nights. Attraction prices are subject to change, so confirm rates when you book.

Entry requirements and health for Canadian citizens

• Passport: valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned departure from the Schengen area; in practice, 6 months of validity is recommended.
• Visa: none required for tourism, up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the entire Schengen area.
• EES: in effect in 2026. On first entry into the Schengen area, the system records your facial image and fingerprints; nothing to do beforehand, simply allow a few extra minutes at the border.
• ETIAS: not yet in effect in July 2026 (launch expected in the last quarter of 2026); applications are not open. Beware of unofficial websites already "selling" an authorization.
• Health: keep routine vaccinations up to date and visit a travel health clinic 4 to 6 weeks before departure.
• Travel insurance: coverage for medical care abroad is strongly recommended.
• Official advice: the Government of Canada advises exercising a high degree of caution in Italy due to the threat of terrorism; check travel.gc.ca before you leave.
• Cash: a customs declaration is mandatory if you carry €10,000 or more when entering or leaving the European Union.

One last tip: in Florence, everything comes down to booking ahead. Rome-Florence train tickets, the Duomo dome climb, the Uffizi, the Accademia: the earlier you reserve, the better your time slots and the shorter your waits.

Ready to see the David without the lineup? An AquaTerra advisor can build your entire Tuscan itinerary: flights, trains, hotels, skip-the-line tickets and day trips, with a single point of contact before and during your trip. 450-628-6241 | 1-866-628-6241 | info@voyagesaquaterra.com

Voyages AquaTerra holds a Québec travel agency permit.