Florence has a reputation for being expensive. The Uffizi costs €25. A hotel in the centro costs €120+. A bistecca alla fiorentina costs €50 for two. All true. All avoidable. Florence ALSO has: free churches containing Masaccio, Giotto, and Ghirlandaio frescoes that rival the Uffizi. A lampredotto sandwich (€4) that's better than most €15 restaurant lunches. Hostels in Santa Croce for €25/night. Wine in Oltrarno for €4/glass. And the first Sunday of every month, EVERY state museum is free — including the Uffizi, including the Accademia, including the Pitti Palace. €60/day in Florence sees the same art as €200/day. The difference is where you sleep and what you eat. Italy budget guide →
Plan my budget Florence →Sleep: €25-35. Hostel dorm: €20-30 (Plus Florence, Academy Hostel, Tasso Hostel in Oltrarno). Budget B&B: €50-70 (split = €25-35/person). Best budget areas: Santa Croce, San Lorenzo (close to sights, cheapest), Oltrarno (best neighbourhood feel). Filter "hostels Florence" on Booking →
Eat: €15-22. Breakfast: bar espresso + cornetto = €2.50. Lunch: lampredotto at Da Nerbone (€4) or schiacciata at Antico Vinaio (€5-7) or Trattoria Mario (ribollita €7, communal tables, cash only). Dinner: trattoria primo in San Frediano (€8-12) — Trattoria Sabatino (Via Pisana 2r — full meal with wine €8, the cheapest real restaurant in Florence). Wine: €4/glass at any Oltrarno enoteca.
Sights: €0-25. Free day strategy: San Miniato al Monte (free, better than Piazzale Michelangelo). All churches free — Santa Croce (Giotto frescoes), Santa Maria Novella (Masaccio's Trinity + Ghirlandaio chapel), Orsanmichele (Donatello, Verrocchio). Piazzale Michelangelo sunset (free). Ponte Vecchio (free to walk). First Sunday = ALL state museums free (Uffizi, Accademia/David, Pitti Palace, Boboli Gardens). One paid day: Uffizi €25 OR Accademia €16.
7 free churches with museum-quality art: Santa Croce basilica (Giotto's St. Francis cycle + Cimabue crucifix). Santa Maria Novella (Masaccio's Holy Trinity — invented single-point perspective in 1427). Orsanmichele (exterior niches with Donatello, Ghiberti, Verrocchio originals — an outdoor sculpture museum). San Lorenzo basilica (Brunelleschi's interior — perfect Renaissance proportions). Santo Spirito (Brunelleschi's last church, austere perfection). Brancacci Chapel (€10 but worth every cent — where the Renaissance STARTED). Total free art: more than most cities' paid museums.
Free views: Piazzale Michelangelo (sunset, bus 12/13). San Miniato al Monte (better view, 10 min above piazzale). Rose Garden (free, below piazzale). Ponte Santa Trinita (the Ponte Vecchio FROM the elegant bridge — the best photograph angle).
Free markets: San Lorenzo leather market (browse, negotiate, don't buy at first price). Mercato Centrale ground floor (browse the produce, smell the truffles, buy a €2 focaccia).