Pet-Friendly Florence: Tips for Traveling with Your Pet

Those who love traveling and vacationing with their pets can often encounter challenges.

Problems due to areas inaccessible to four-legged friends, which complicate the entire experience in the Tuscan capital.

That’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive guide that will tell you everything about pet-friendly Florence.

Pet-Friendly Florence: Ideal Places for Everyone

Among the most appealing locations for pets and their owners, the city center certainly stands out.

It is largely pedestrianized, allowing you to safely bring your pet along as long as it is kept on a leash and its waste is picked up.

Among the most popular places are:

Piazza del Duomo and Piazza della Signoria: the most important squares can be visited with your dog on a leash;
Ponte Vecchio: walkable on a leash, but be careful during peak times;
Piazzale Michelangelo: perfect for a pleasant stroll while enjoying the most beautiful views of Florence;
Forte di Belvedere: a historic site offering numerous outdoor areas, spacious and accessible to dogs on a leash.

Pet-Friendly Hotels and Restaurants

When traveling with your pet, it’s important to find hotels and restaurants in advance.

Here are the best pet-friendly hotels in Florence.

Eco Urban B&B: An elegant and welcoming bed and breakfast with a garden patio and an organic breakfast buffet. Located at Via Fiume 5;
My Forte Relais de Charme B&B: A property with rooms and suites, some with vaulted ceilings, a spa, and a pool. Located at Viale Antonio Gramsci 16/3;
Solo Experience Hotel: A decidedly refined 4-star hotel with attention to every detail. Breakfast and Wi-Fi are included. Located at Via del Canto dei Nelli 4;
Riva Lofts Florence: A 4-star hotel with a garden, outdoor pool, breakfast, parking, and bike rental. Located at Via Baccio Bandinelli 98;
Hotel Indigo Florence by IHG: A 4-star hotel with a garden, private parking, restaurant, rooms, and suites. Located at Via Jacopo da Diacceto 16/20.

The Tuscan capital is also an excellent destination for lovers of good food, offering traditional dishes and classics with unique flavors.

Here are the best pet-friendly restaurants in Florence:

Osteria del Giglio: A typical Florentine osteria with signature dishes. Located at Via del Giglio 59r4;
Osteria Del Gatto e La Volpe: The perfect place to enjoy pasta, pizza, and classic Florentine steak in a welcoming, family-friendly setting with exposed brick walls. Located at Via Ghibellina 147/r4;
Lorenzo de’ Medici Gluten-Free Restaurant in Florence: Refined and elegant, it serves traditional Florentine dishes and numerous gluten-free options. Located at Via del Giglio 49/51r;
Vivandaio: A young and dynamic venue offering burgers, pizza, and appetizers. Located at Via Generale C.A. dalla Chiesa 14;
Agriturismo Fattoria Il Milione in Florence: A casual restaurant with an outdoor pool, terrace, and gym. Serving traditional dishes, it’s located at Via di Giogoli 123.

The best parks and green spaces for four-legged friends in Florence

The city is full of green spaces where you can spend some quality time with your pet.

Here is a list of the best dog parks in Florence:

Cascine Park: This is the largest park in the city, as well as one of the oldest. It lies along the Arno River and is ideal for walking, running, and playing outdoors. It is located in Piazzale delle Cascine;
Boschetto Dog Park: Inside the Boschetto Park, there is a space designed specifically for dogs. It features an off-leash play area where dogs can run freely. It is located at Via Pisana 77;
Pettini Burresi Park: In the Cure area, there is a large park that is particularly popular with families. It boasts a dedicated dog park, with a bar and pizzeria;
Don Renzo Forconi Garden: This particularly well-kept park is located in the northern part of the city and has a particularly large space reserved for dogs.

Museums that Allow Dogs and Animals

Florence’s pet-friendly museums allow you to experience the city’s culture and rich artistic heritage in the company of your pet.

However, the most important museums often do not allow dogs, with the exception of guide or assistance dogs.

This does not mean that culture is closed to those traveling with a four-legged friend.

In fact, there are many dog-friendly museums in Florence:

Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella: a museum-shop within the Santa Maria Novella convent complex. It is the oldest historic pharmacy in Europe;
Giardino dei Semplici Botanical Garden: the second oldest botanical garden in the world, with unique historical collections. It is part of the University Museum System of the University of Florence. It is located at Via P.A. Micheli 3;
Museo dell’Opificio delle Pietre Dure: one of the most important institutions for the restoration and maintenance of works of art. It’s located at Via degli Alfani 78;
Boboli Gardens: one of the city’s historic parks and among the most important examples of Italian gardens in the world, as well as an open-air museum.

The Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia Gallery are a different story: they don’t allow pets, but there are companies that offer tour packages that include a certified dog sitter to look after your dog while you visit the museum.

Useful services for those traveling to Florence and the surrounding area with pets

Those traveling to Florence with their pet may need to take advantage of important services to ensure a relaxing and enjoyable vacation in every way:

Dog daycare: essential for those who want to explore the city and visit locations that don’t allow pets. These include Travel Dog Sitting such as Le Cat and Dog Sitter; dog daycare such as BAU Il circolo delle Coccole and TuscanHound; and dog-sitting platforms such as Rover, Pawshake, and PetBacker;
Veterinarians and 24-hour emergency services: such as Clinica La Veterinaria, VetHospital H24 Florence, Emergency Veterinary Services Florence, and Home Veterinarian (Veterilandia, Dr. Cerchiai);
Grooming and hygiene services such as TuscanHound;
Pet Taxi and Transportation services such as PetBacker.