Winter is one of our favourite times to welcome guests to Florence. The summer queues are gone, the late-afternoon light turns the stone golden, and the city feels lived-in again. It is colder and wetter than the postcards suggest, so here is our honest guide to Florence from November to February.
Florence weather in winter, month by month
Long-term averages, rounded:
- November: highs around 15°C (58°F), lows around 5°C (41°F). Usually the wettest month.
- December: highs around 11°C (52°F), lows around 3°C (37°F). Often crisp and bright; dark by about 5pm.
- January: the coldest month. Highs around 11°C (52°F), with nights that can drop close to freezing.
- February: a little milder, with highs around 13°C (55°F) and noticeably longer afternoons.
Snow in the centre is unusual. Damp cold is what to plan for.
Crowds and prices
From November to February, Florence is at its quietest. The exceptions are the weekend around 8 December (the Immaculate Conception, a public holiday), Christmas to New Year, and big trade fairs. Pitti Uomo, the menswear fair, runs 12 to 15 January 2027, and accommodation fills up that week.
Outside those dates, January and February are the calmest months, with shorter queues, easier restaurant bookings and better apartment availability.
What’s open in winter
Nearly everything. The main closures to know about:
- 25 December and 1 January: most museums are closed, and many restaurants close too or need a booking.
- Mondays: the Uffizi and the Galleria dell’Accademia are closed every Monday.
- Some family-run restaurants take a winter break, often in January.
Christmas markets and lights
Florence’s main Christmas market is the German-style Weihnachtsmarkt in Piazza Santa Croce. In 2026 it runs 14 November to 20 December, open 10:00–22:00 Monday to Thursday and 10:00–23:00 Friday to Sunday, according to the city’s official tourism site. Entry is free. Expect wooden stalls with crafts, mulled wine and Central European food. December weekends get very busy, so try a weekday evening.
The Christmas tree in Piazza del Duomo is usually lit around the 8 December holiday. In recent years the city has also run Florence Lights Up, with light projections on landmarks such as Ponte Vecchio and Palazzo Vecchio from early December to early January. For more detail, read our Christmas in Florence guide.
New Year’s Eve and Epiphany
On 31 December Florentines usually have a long dinner, often with lentils for luck, and the city traditionally puts on concerts in the main squares (programme announced in December). Book New Year’s Eve dinner well ahead.
The Christmas season ends on 6 January, Epiphany, a public holiday in Italy. In Florence it is celebrated with the Cavalcata dei Magi, a costumed procession through the centre to the Duomo.
Winter food to look for
Winter is when Tuscan cooking is at its best.
- Ribollita: a thick soup of bread, beans and cavolo nero (Tuscan kale).
- Olio nuovo: freshly pressed olive oil from the autumn harvest, poured over toasted bread as fettunta.
- Hot chocolate: Italian cioccolata calda is thick enough to stand a spoon in. The historic cafés around Piazza della Signoria are a classic spot to warm up.
- Vin brulé: mulled wine, sold at the Christmas market.
Museum tips for winter
- Book ahead anyway. A timed ticket for the Uffizi or the Accademia saves queuing in the cold.
- Free first Sundays. State museums are free on the first Sunday of the month (6 December 2026, 3 January 2027, 7 February 2027). You can’t book on those days, so queues can be long. If you’d rather not wait, go on a normal day with a ticket.
- Save museums for rainy days and keep bright days for Piazzale Michelangelo and the Boboli Gardens.
What to pack for Florence in winter
- A warm, waterproof coat and a compact umbrella
- Layers: museums and restaurants are warm, the streets are not
- Comfortable shoes with good grip, since wet stone paving gets slippery
- A scarf and gloves for evenings
Why a cosy apartment makes sense in winter
When it gets dark at five, it helps to have a real home to go back to: make ribollita with vegetables from the Sant’Ambrogio market, open a bottle of Chianti and spread out on a proper sofa.
Three of our apartments are a two-minute walk from the Christmas market in Piazza Santa Croce. Our Borgo dei Greci two-bedroom, with terracotta floors, stone walls and wooden beams, is perfect for couples or a small family. The historic two-bedroom on Via dei Benci is in a building that dates back to the 1200s. For bigger groups, Florence Palace in Santa Croce sleeps up to nine, with four bedrooms, three bathrooms and a living room with a fireplace. More in our Santa Croce neighbourhood guide.
Book direct and save 10%
December dates go first, so book early. Book direct at likehomeflorence.com and save 10% with code DIRECT10. The discount applies to the accommodation price, not the cleaning fee. Please note that the City of Florence charges a tourist tax of €6 per person per night, paid separately.