Florence has introduced new outdoor dining rules that ban restaurant and bar seating on 60 streets and restrict it on 73 others, with fines of up to €500 for those who break the regulations.
The measures came into force on February 11, 2026, following an agreement between the Municipality of Florence and the city's heritage authorities. They cover parts of the UNESCO-recognised historic centre and include locations close to some of Florence's best-known landmarks.
Restrictions across the historic centre
Among the areas affected by the outright restriction are Ponte Vecchio, Piazzale degli Uffizi, Via Roma and Via dei Calzaiuoli, according to the agreement between the city and the Superintendency. Other famous locations, including Piazza del Duomo and Piazza Santa Croce, are among the streets and squares where only certain types of outdoor structures are permitted.
Florence is home to landmarks including Florence Cathedral, the Uffizi Gallery, Palazzo Vecchio and the Ponte Vecchio. It is a relatively small city by European standards, with 363,475 residents recorded at the end of 2025.
Tourism pressure and enforcement
More than four million tourist arrivals were recorded in the first 10 months of last year alone, according to figures from the Centro Studi Turistici Firenze. Those figures underline why Florence has been trying to manage the pressure created by tourism, particularly in its historic centre.
Simon Hood, travel expert and executive director of John Mason International, is urging British visitors to check the rules before travelling: "The new regulations created by the Municipality of Florence and the Superintendence for Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape, aim to preserve the city centre as more and more tourists visit the area. Locals have complained that over-tourism is ruining the beauty of the historic streets and busy traffic is causing a nuisance for daily life."
Fines and allowances
Within just 20 days of enforcement, authorities had already issued 30 fines to restaurateurs caught breaking rules, and more penalties are expected throughout the summer months. Perpetrators face fines of up to €500 in municipality fines, as stated by Vacations & Travel.
Such restrictions do not mean tourists are prohibited from eating anywhere outside in Florence. Instead, the rules vary according to the street, with some locations allowing limited outdoor tables and others permitting more substantial structures subject to specific requirements.
