Are you thinking of coming to Florence in January?
Yes, it's cold but it's also quiet and almost tourist-free, so January is a great time to explore Florence.
Read on to find out what you can expect!
January is one of my favorite months to be in Florence.
It's pretty simple - there are virtually no crowds! At least after the 6th...
Here's what you need to know about coming to visit Florence this time of year:
January is one of the coldest months in Florence, but while it will feel cold, winters here tend to be on the milder side.
At the start of the month it's possible it will snow in Florence, but if it does, the snow will not be heavy.
The average temperature starts to slowly climb as the month progresses into February, so it's much more unlikely for it to snow at the end of January.
The chance of rainfall is at its highest in January so you will definitely want to come prepared (see below for what to pack.)
The weather in Florence in January is on the cooler side, with lows (at night) averaging 38-40 Fahrenheit/3-4 Celsius, and
highs during the day of about 48-50
Fahrenheit/9-10 Celsius.
The days are still pretty short, being winter, but they are already getting longer after the winter solstice on December 22.
Check out our top tips for making the most of your time in Florence:
Packing for Florence in January is easy as the weather is pretty consistently wintry cold.
It can be surprisingly warm for a short few hours during the middle of the day when the sun is out, but it gets cold quickly, which is why you should pack plenty of layers.
Think
jeans or cotton pants and long-sleeved tops, waterproof jackets and a heavier cardigan or pullover - it's definitely not shorts and t-shirt weather!
I would also recommend carrying a warm scarf and gloves with you, ready for the afternoons and evenings when the temperature drops fast.
These are my personal recommendations for packing for Florence in January:
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It’s essential to be prepared for rain (and possibly even snow) in Florence this time of year, so I would recommend including a rain hat, a sturdy umbrella and good quality waterproof shoes on your packing list.
What else do you need to consider when packing for Florence in January?
These are a few of my essential packing recommendations, any time of year:
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Finally, travel insurance isn't something to pack per se, but it is something you should not forget!
It is not uncommon these days for visitors to have to deal with lost luggage or cancelled or delayed flights, and your credit card coverage may not be as extensive as you think.
Chances are you are not covered for what you need when these things happen!
Being prepared for your trip isn't just about packing the right clothes and accessories, it's also about planning ahead.
There's so much to do that it can be overwhelming sometimes to decide what Florence attractions to include in your itinerary, so why not leave it to the experts?
Take a look at some of the top Florence tours available for a deeper insight into one of the world's most popular cities!
So how should you dress when you visit Florence in January?
You will probably be walking a lot, so you need comfortable shoes.
My number one rule for sightseeing in Florence, at any time of year: be comfortable.
This is most important when it comes to your shoes, it is crucial to wear good walking shoes, and good quality socks.
I would recommend only bringing shoes you have already broken in, and don’t worry about looking like a tourist - that’s exactly what you are!
The next rule, which is especially relevant for January is: dress in layers.
Since the weather can change significantly throughout the day, and it sometimes rains unexpectedly, it's necessary to wear layers that you can remove/put on easily such as cardigans/pullovers/jumpers and waterproof jackets.
Also, when you go inside a museum or restaurant with heating, you'll want to take off a layer or two.
It's a good idea to wear a backpack as you travel around Florence, so you can have a place to stow your layers if you take them off.
Bottom line, when packing for Florence in January, don't forget to:
If you are planning to go to an event, for example a wedding, opera or dinner at a special restaurant, then you may wish to bring something elegant to wear.
Otherwise, it is fine to wear more casual clothes to eat out at many restaurants in Florence so you do not need to pack much, if any, evening-wear.
And besides, don't you want to shop?
Once the festive season ends on January 6, Florence becomes much quieter, with low visitor numbers, so exploring the different parts of the city center is easy.
It's one reason I love Florence in January, as mentioned at the top of this page.
While it's definitely winter-cold, it's not so extreme as to stop you from exploring.
I just bundle up and happily walk around.
You might expect January, being a winter month, to be pretty quiet in Florence.
That depends on which part of January you are here.
The first week of January is high season in Florence, and very crowded.
First of all, it's still part of the New Year's Eve and general holiday season.
January 6 is a national holiday in Italy and other Catholic countries: it's the Day of the Kings (the day the Magi brought gifts).
In Italy, this national holiday is mostly about kids, and is known as Befana, which is the name of a not-very-pretty witch, who is actually nice, and who flies around bringing gifts to the kids.
The Christmas holiday season officially ends on the 6th of January (although you will still see some lights up around Florence through late January) so there are still Christmas markets and a festive atmosphere in early January.
Most major tourist and historic sites, and even shops, are open on January 6.
However, schools and a lot of offices are closed through that date.
And often, this will stretch through whatever the following weekend is.
Then everything gets back to "normal" the following Monday, so until then, Italian families are traveling and visiting Florence.
And that makes it pretty crowded here!
And, finally, winter sales begin sometime at the start of January, and Italians will flock to their favorite stores that day, so it's yet one more reason you will see Florence's streets very busy in those first few days of January.
After that, Florence tourism drops to almost nothing, so you can count on having a lot of sites to yourself.
If you're looking to escape the crowds of people at the Duomo, Uffizi, Accademia Gallery and Ponte Vecchio, January is the perfect time of year to enjoy the city!
January is a great time to enjoy all the seasonal winter foods like artichokes, chicory, broccoli, cabbage, apples, pears, citrus fruits, and persimmons.
Some of my favorite seasonal things to eat in Florence in the winter include the hearty Tuscan ribollita soup, as well as everything truffle-based - truffles are everywhere this time of year!
Discover the best of Florentine cuisine on a Florence food walking tour, led by a local expert who will show you what to eat and what's in season!
Besides the obvious holiday dates of New Year's Day and January 6, there are a few other important Florence events in January to note:
January 1, New Year's Day, is a bank holiday as well as religious holiday.
Many shops are closed, but sites are generally open for visitors.
No matter what day of the week January 1 falls on, Florence is busy on the dates surrounding it and pretty much throughout the first week of January.
January 6 marks the end of the Christmas holidays.
In some countries, including Italy, it's known as the Epiphany or as the Day of the Kings.
In Italy, it's also known as the Befana, who is an ugly but good witch who goes around bringing toys to children.
In fact, many Italian children expect to open gifts on this day as opposed to December 25.
Epiphany is a particularly popular festival in Tuscany and Florence, with lots of events taking place to celebrate.
Every year there is a procession through the city center ending at the Piazza del Duomo recreating the journey of the three kings of the Magi (the wise men) to Bethlehem, complete with historic costumes and animals.
In Italy, we have big sales twice a year, once in summer and once in winter, look for the signs that say "Saldi."
Winter sales generally start on the first Saturday in January, running until the end of February.
The better stuff goes early so if you want to make the most of the sales, try and plan your trip for earlier in January.
Saint Zenobius (San Zanobi or Zenobio in Italian) was the first bishop of Florence. He lived from 337–417.
Several miracles that include bringing the dead back to life are attributed to him.
On January 26, 429, Saint Zenobi's remains were transferred from the basilica of San Lorenzo to the new cathedral of Santa Reparata (today underneath the Florence cathedral or Duomo where he is currently buried.)
According to legend, an old dying elm tree in Piazza San Giovanni miraculously sprang to life as the saint's remains were carried past it.
To commemorate this event, a column was erected in Piazza San Giovanni in 1384.
Every year on January 26, you can watch a parade and show by historical procession put on by the Florentine Republic, the Bandierai of the Uffizi and the city authorities.
They retrace that journey of centuries ago and lay a wreath at the base of the column in Piazza San Giovanni.
One of the best places to catch the show is in Piazza della Signoria, where we happened to be by chance one day when they came by to celebrate.
The cooler fall and winter months are a great time to see some of the limited-time exhibits in Florence.
Here are some of the events taking place in January 2025 around the city:
Check back for upcoming exhibits for 2025.
Check back for upcoming exhibits for 2025.
Check back for upcoming exhibits for 2025.
There are lots of concerts and other events available to book for your trip to Florence in January.
Take a look at some of our suggestions here:
Enjoy operatic pieces from famous Italian composers live in concert in the evocative surroundings of the Santa Monaca church.
Concerts take place every evening, booking highly recommended.
See the Three Tenors live in concert at the Santo Stefano al Ponte church.
You will be treated to some of the best-known arias from the operas of Puccini, Verdi and Rossini, as well as Neapolitan songs.
Takes place twice a week - why not book your tickets to include a special 3-course Tuscan meal for an extra special evening!
Enjoy a variety of concerts and events in Florence's oldest theater, Teatro Niccolini.
Teatro Verdi hosts many contemporary shows and concerts almost every day of the week.
On the first Sunday of each month you can access Florence's state-run museums, archeological parks and cultural sites for free - yes, completely free!
This includes the Uffizi Gallery, Palazzo Pitti, Boboli Gardens, Galleria Academia and many more.
These free entrance days are very popular events so plan to arrive early to be sure you get in.
Maybe it's your 2nd (or 3rd or 4th) time in Florence.
Or you have more than 3 days here.
Or you just want to see and do lots of fun things.
Besides the obvious must-see Florence attractions, there are lots of great things to see and do!
While you can of course look at a day trip to the Tuscan countryside, Rome or even Venice, here are some ideas for your visit:
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