{"id":22116,"date":"2022-04-27T16:16:06","date_gmt":"2022-04-27T16:16:06","guid":{"rendered":"\/?p=22116"},"modified":"2022-04-27T09:19:13","modified_gmt":"2022-04-27T09:19:13","slug":"sustainable-travel-florence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/devourtours.com\/blog\/sustainable-travel-florence\/","title":{"rendered":"Sustainable Travel in Florence: The Complete Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

When we talk about sustainable travel, the assumption is usually that we\u2019re talking about eco-friendly travel\u2014and that\u2019s true. But sustainability also means making sure the travel experiences we get to have today are still available for future generations. In a city like Florence, with so many world-class sights, that\u2019s especially important.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What if we expanded the concept even more, though, to include things like making sure the locals who make the city so colorful could still afford rent? Or that the shops selling unique made-in-Florence crafts were more numerous than the ones hawking cheap tchotchkes?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What if sustainable travel in Florence meant, essentially, helping to make sure that Florence stays Florence?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Visiting Florence responsibly means respecting its rich cultural heritage and the hundreds of thousands of people who call the city home. Photo credit: Taylor Wilcox<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Some cities (<\/span>Lisbon<\/span><\/a> comes to mind) have reached a breaking point from overtourism. While the pandemic was like a massive reset button for the travel industry around the globe, it\u2019s going to be important to keep sustainability in mind if we\u2019re to avoid over-tourism in the future, in Florence and elsewhere.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s not all doom and gloom, though! The good news is that it can be really easy to make your visit to Florence more sustainable in all senses of the word, from planning an off-season trip to finding out what foods are local to learning the city\u2019s recycling bin color-coding. Here are some sustainable travel tips to get you started.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When to Go<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

The \u201chigh season\u201d in Florence has grown substantially, now stretching from April through October. You may think you\u2019re being clever by planning a November trip\u2014until you get there and find large groups of Italian kids on field trips from school.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In other words, Florence is busy nearly all year.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are, however, a few months when Florence isn\u2019t <\/span>as<\/span><\/i> busy. The \u201clow season\u201d is roughly from November through March, with the exception of the Christmas and New Year\u2019s holidays. The weather is often colder, yes, but you\u2019ll be able to experience a city that isn\u2019t bursting at the seams\u2014which is often easier on your wallet and good for the city, too.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are a few of our favorite things to do in Florence when it\u2019s raining.<\/span><\/i><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Visiting Florence in the winter months helps eliminate overcrowding in the historic center\u2014and may even provide a more enjoyable experience for you as a visitor. Photo credit: Jackie Jabson<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Getting Around<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Florence is made for walking. With notable exceptions (like the hill in the Oltrarno that takes you up to Piazzale Michelangelo, San Miniato al Monte, and points beyond), Florence is predominantly flat. Staying in the historic core means you\u2019re a short walk away from most everything on your must-see list.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Florence is also one of the Italian cities that has a ZTL, or \u201cLimited Traffic Zone,\u201d and cars without a ZTL permit aren\u2019t allowed to drive through them at any time. (If you\u2019ve ever wondered why Florence is so pedestrian-friendly, this is the reason.) Rental cars don\u2019t come with a ZTL permit, and don\u2019t think your rental car company won\u2019t pass fines along to you if you drive through one anyway\u2014there are cameras all over them.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The main train station is located in the city center, closer to the big sights than in many cities, so luckily you don\u2019t need to bother with a rental car. You may even be able to walk to your lodging from the station.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Florence was also an early adopter of the <\/span>RideMovi<\/span><\/a> e-bike rentals. With the RideMovi app, it\u2019s easy to rent e-bikes in cities all over Italy, including Florence, if you\u2019d like to explore a bit more on two wheels.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Biking is a fun and eco-friendly way to get around Florence. Photo credit: James Beedham<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Accommodation<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

We all love the luxury of renting an apartment in the heart of a city when we travel. And we are also becoming increasingly aware of how locals can no longer afford (or even find) places to live because of sites like Airbnb. At the same time, most of us may not be eager to book a stay in a cookie-cutter chain hotel.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Luckily, there are plenty of small, family-run hotels and B&Bs in Florence, and the vast majority have websites so you can book with them directly. Don\u2019t overlook the hostels, either. Most of them are no longer just for backpacking students, and many even have private rooms.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are also some guest houses where the owner lives on the premises and rents out a room or two. These allow you to get a peek at life as a local while helping someone afford their city center home at the same time.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cross-Pollinate<\/span><\/a> is a site listing apartments and guest houses in eight European cities, including Florence. It was started by two U.S. expats living in Rome, and the properties listed were carefully curated by real people who visited each one. When you browse the listings, look for a note saying the owner lives on the premises.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

No matter where you stay, there are a few things you can do to minimize your impact on Florence:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n