Florence in September: Warm Afternoons, Estate Fiorentina and the Uffizi

Yes, September is a good month for Florence if you want museums, markets and afternoons warm enough for a garden, with highs of 81°F (27°C). The summer festival season, Estate Fiorentina, is still running through September 30.

The month has its limits. About six days bring rain, mornings start cool, and the Uffizi and the Accademia have queues that form before the ticket offices open.

At a glance

• Afternoon high: 81°F (27°C)
• Night low: 59°F (15°C)
• Rainy days: 6 in the month
• Rain: 3 inches (67 mm)
• Daylight on September 15: 12 hours 35 minutes
• Events: Estate Fiorentina runs through September 30; free museum admission on the first Sunday of the month

What is the weather like in Florence in September?

*Long-term monthly averages.*

September in Florence is warm without the heat of summer. Afternoons reach 81°F (27°C) and nights drop to 59°F (15°C), so you can walk the streets in daylight in short sleeves and still want a layer early in the morning.

Rain falls on six days of the month, with 3 inches (67 mm) in total. Keep an umbrella or a light jacket in the bag, and plan the Uffizi or Palazzo Vecchio for a wet day. Daylight lasts about 12.5 hours in mid-September, which leaves a full afternoon for outdoor sights once the morning museum visit is done.

The month sits between a hotter, drier August and a cooler, wetter October. August has highs near 90°F (32°C) and about four rainy days. October falls to 71°F (22°C) in the afternoon, with nine rainy days and 11 hours of daylight in mid-month. September is the middle step on all three counts.

What to do in Florence in September

The Uffizi and its collections

The Uffizi holds paintings from the 14th century and the Renaissance by Giotto, Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo and Caravaggio, along with an ancient collection of Medici statues and busts, many of them Roman copies of lost Greek sculptures.

A queue forms every day, and it starts before the ticket offices open. Booking is suggested at busy times, especially for single visitors. Audioguides cost €6.00 and come in eight languages, and the radio whisper service at the entrance costs €1.50. With about six rainy days in the month, keep this visit for the first wet morning.

Boboli Gardens on a dry afternoon

The Boboli Gardens have grottos, the most important of them by Bernardo Buontalenti, and fountains such as the Fountain of Neptune and the Fountain of the Ocean. Two garden buildings are worth a stop: the 18th-century Kaffeehaus pavilion and the Lemon House, built by Zanobi del Rosso between 1777 and 1778.

These are outdoor sights, so pick a dry day. A mild afternoon of 81°F (27°C) suits a slow walk, and a hat helps in the open stretches.

Palazzo Vecchio and its tower

Palazzo Vecchio stands on Piazza della Signoria. Inside are Donatello’s Judith, Bronzino’s paintings in the Chapel of Eleonora and Michelangelo’s Genius of Victory. The tower gives a view of Florence from the top and at intermediate points on the climb. The Tracce di Firenze section on the ground floor is free to visit.

The palace often hosts events and meetings that close the museum route partly or entirely. Check the day you plan to go. A clear September afternoon is a good moment for the tower view, since daylight lasts about 12.5 hours.

Estate Fiorentina and the markets

The market of the Pulci spreads outdoors under the loggia around the Sant’Ambrogio market building every last Sunday of the month.

The Mercato Nuovo, known as the Porcellino market, is among the markets most frequented by tourists, thanks to its central position. The Mercato Centrale opened in 1874 and draws residents and visitors looking for food and wine. Go to the markets earlier in the day if you want room to browse.

Is Florence busy in September?

Estate Fiorentina is still on, and the markets draw residents and many tourists alike. The queues at the Uffizi and the Accademia form every day and start early in the morning, before the ticket offices open.

Book Uffizi tickets ahead, since booking is suggested especially at extremely busy times and for single visitors. When attendance is high, staff may close some rooms or itineraries for a while. Admission is free on the first Sunday of every month, with no reservations possible, and on free days there is no priority access except for specific groups such as disabled visitors and their caretaker, pregnant women and European Union school groups within the daily quota.

What to pack for Florence in September

September asks for light clothes by day and one warm layer, plus something for the rain.

• A light jacket or sweater for mornings and evenings, when the low is 59°F (15°C).
• A compact umbrella or rain jacket for the six or so rainy days of the month.
• Comfortable walking shoes: the Uffizi and the Accademia are roughly 1 to 1.5 miles (1.5 to 2.5 km) apart, and the Boboli Gardens add more walking.
• A hat and sunglasses for afternoons near 81°F (27°C) in the gardens and on the tower.
• A small daypack: museum cloakrooms take umbrellas, small backpacks and large bags free of charge, and backpacks are carried by hand along the visit route.

What to know before visiting Florence in September

Plan around closures and tight spots. Palazzo Vecchio is often the venue of events that close part or all of the museum route, and the Uffizi may close rooms when attendance is high. Free admission on the first Sunday of the month cannot be reserved, so arrive early.

The Accademia Gallery is near Giotto’s Bell Tower and the Duomo, in the heart of Florence. It is reachable by bus from the Uffizi, 0.9 miles (1.5 km) away. The historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with over seventy museums and about a dozen monumental churches, so choose two or three highlights per day.

Is September a good time to visit Florence?

Yes, September suits travelers who want museums, markets and gardens in warm but not hot weather. Afternoons stay near 81°F (27°C), and Estate Fiorentina is still running.

Compared with August, you give up the long, hot days (highs near 90°F or 32°C) and gain gentler afternoons. Compared with October, you gain about 1.5 more hours of daylight in mid-month and roughly three fewer rainy days. Shifting four weeks later brings highs near 71°F (22°C) and nine rainy days.

If you plan on museums, the indoor galleries cover the rainy days. The Uffizi alone has paintings, sculpture and a cafeteria with a panoramic terrace.

With children, the parks help. Parco di Villa Vogel has a water basin with cascades and jets, a play area, a skating rink and picnic tables, and the area near Ponte all’Indiano has playgrounds, trekking trails and little lakes.