When thinking about Italy, which is one of the first things you have in mind? We have ice cream, of course! Keep reading and get ready to discover where to find the best gelato in Florence.

First of all, you have to know that Italy is the birthplace of gelato, which is credited to the Sicilian chef Francesco Procopio dei Coltelli (in the XVII century).

That’s why a quality gelato is a serious matter in this country, and when living your experience abroad in Florence, you can’t miss the chance of trying this heavenly delicious food while strolling through the historic and narrow alleys.

But be careful, since we are talking about one of the most famous cities in the world, finding the best gelato in Florence can be a little more difficult than it looks. The city (especially in the centre) has plenty of touristy ice cream establishments: they sell a non-artisanal product, with food coloring and preservatives, in order to prioritize quantity and profits over quality and integrity of the real gelato.

Therefore, we decided to take you for a virtual talk throughout the recommended spots where you can find the best gelato in Florence.

What to know about the real Italian gelato “artigianale”

If you’re a newbie in the gelato world, here we have a couple tips for your order.
Whether you prefer eating the ice cream in a cone or in a cup (we would suggest the cone, tho), in general sizes are: small, 2 flavours, medium, 3 flavours and large, 4 flavours. In some cases whipped cream is included in the price.

Now, when it comes to picking the flavours, you should know that the very traditional ones are: chocolate, hazelnut, vanilla, pistachio, stracciatella, cream and fior di latte. Later on, many fruity flavours have been added (such as lemon, strawberry, raspberry etc.) or also the modern ones, like cookie dough, tiramisú, kinder, etc.

But there’s a good chance that in an artisanal gelato shop you will find only the very traditional flavours.

The question is: how to find the best gelato shop in Florence? And how to avoid tourist “scams”? First of all, bear in mind that places with huge neon signs are most probably non artisanal shops. You should look for a “gelato artigianale” signboard, that means homemade production.
Then, stay away from the very historical and touristy places, such as Ponte Vecchio or Piazza del Duomo: you will have a very nice Instagram shot, but you will pay so much for an unworthy gelato!

Last, but not least, tip: if everything is mostly in English, be careful, because it means that the ice cream shop is mainly meant to be for international customers with a little knowledge of the real Italian gelato culture.

Where to get the best ice-cream and gelato in Florence

Must-try gelato shops in Florence: classics and unique flavours

Badiani

In the modern and residential Campo di Marte area, close to the city stadium “Artemio Franchi” you will find Badiani, a ice cream and pastry shop which became popular after an ice cream competition in 1970 where the gelato makers created a unique creamy flavour. The place offers both an indoor and an outdoor space, so customers can enjoy their gelato during the hot Florentine summer or taste it in the winter months. Since Badiani is a very good pastry shop as well, you can come here to enjoy a breakfast (a typical Italian cappuccino and croissant one) or an afternoon snack. 

Location:  Viale dei Mille, 20 (very close to the stadium and few steps away from these nice accommodations)

Vivoli

Right in the heart of the historical centre, close to Piazza Santa Croce, you will find Bar Vivoli, one of the best gelato in Florence. It seems that this artisanal ice cream shop was the first opened in town, back to 1929. It first was popular for being a café where locals used to meet and later on, in 1930, the owners decided to get specialised in homemade gelato. 

Interesting fact: Vivoli decided to bring their very own Italian artisanal gelato tradition straight to the USA; therefore they opened two gelato shops, one in New York and one in Orlando in 2013.

Location: Via Isole delle Stinche, 7r (close to Santa Croce church)

Gelateria de' Neri

If you find yourself in Via de’ Neri, between Palazzo Vecchio and Santa Croce Square, you will spot the famous Gelateria de’ Neri, one of the best gelato in Florence! They offer a huge variety of flavours, both creamy and fruity ones, in addition to an amazing granita (an Italian traditional drink made of ice, water, sugar and frozen fruit...perfect for hot summer days). 

Here you will be able to try the very original gelato flavours and even some innovative one, such as rose or chocolate with chili.

Location: Via dei Neri 9/10r

Gelateria La Carraia

Only a few meters away from Ponte Vecchio, on its west side it rises Ponte alla Carraia, home to the specialty ice cream shop “Gelateria La Carraia”. Here you will definitely meet one of the best gelato in Florence: interesting new flavours and big quantities of product for a very good price!
Beside the traditional options, this shop offers specialty flavours such as salted peanuts, cookies, mousse tiramisù, cheesecake and many others. 

Location: Piazza Nazario Sauro, 25/r

And here our brief guide about the best gelato in Florence is over. If you’re visiting Florence or you’re living in Florence for your experience abroad, an artisanal gelato can’t be missed in your must-try list!