Between grocery stores, sandwich shops, street food, bars, and apperitivo, you can find cheap food easily while still getting to experience the culture. Bars, as coffee shops are called in Italy, offer pastries and simple sandwiches for cheap if you’re looking to keep it low cost (€2-€4). Sandwich shops are also a great choice for low budget but tasty food. There are plenty of small places around Florence that will cost you €4-€7 for a larger, more filling and better quality sandwich.
Another option is aperitivo. Basically an Italian happy hour, there is an appetizer buffet included with the price of your drink, so you can really get your money’s worth. Like most cities, lunch is easier to find at a lower price than dinner, so maybe searching for a good set menu price for lunch and having a sandwich for dinner would let you save money while still getting a restaurant experience. Try to stick to places called trattoria, osteria, or pizzeria instead of places with the word ristorante in the name, as they tend to cost less. One of my favourite places for pizza in Florence is the Amici di Ponte Vecchio Da Stefano. One slice of pizza costs about €2.50 here. This is an ideal lunch or a quick snack while exploring Florence.
De Nerbone is a market stand at Florence’s Mercato Centrale which is popular among locals, especially during lunchtime. Da Nerbone is famous for its sandwiches which cost less than €4.00.
Staying away from tourist traps like restaurants with a view and the ones in or near the main piazzas can also save you money, and they generally offer better food. As a general rule, don’t pay more than €1 for an espresso (€1,10 max for a cappuccino), more than €8-€10 for a pizza, more than €9-€10 for something from the primo menu (pasta), or more than about €15-€22 for secondi (meat, fish, main dishes). A glass of wine can vary since it depends on the quality and brand, but just know that you can find a glass of wine for as cheap as €4-€7 at most non-touristy places.
There are public statues to see, piazzas to sit and people watch, and great window shopping. Churches are everywhere, and most of them are free. If you see church doors open, head in to see the stunning art and architecture. The cathedral’s main hall on the first floor is free to visit. It’s a stunning, Gothic, massive piece of art
If you plan your trip well enough, you could even get into some of the museums for free as they are open to the public on the first Sunday of every month
From Michelangelo Square, you will get a spectacular view of Florence from above, which locals claim to be the best viewpoint you can possibly find in the city. You can take several buses (e.g., number 12 or 23) from the centre directly to the square, and walk back down to the river banks.
If you plan on visiting multiple museums, look into purchasing a Firenze Card. The card costs €72.00, is valid for 72 hours and gives you priority access to 72 museums (including the Galleria dell’Accademia, Duomo Monuments and the Uffizi Gallery). As always, do the maths and see if the card is worth it.