Well, the weather is finally getting warmer and all this sunshine is making me crave the rolling hills of Tuscany, Aperol Spritz on the balcony of my Florence apartment, and, most importantly… Gelato! One of the highlights of living in Italy last year was finishing dinner and asking my roommates to walk across the city to our favorite gelato spots. I made it my mission to try as many places as possible during my stay.

Before I dive in I’m gonna let you all in on a little secret… In case you’re planning on visiting Italy this summer, you have to know about one of the biggest tourist traps when it comes to gelato:

If you can see the gelato, it’s probably not good. Many cafes and bars will pile the gelato 2 feet high and decorate it with nuts and chocolate but it’s all for show. It looks fancy but the best gelato is either laying low in long tins or it’s hidden in a container, covered with a lid. 

The fake stuff is over priced and not nearly as good as all of the really authentic places you can find all over the city! You will find most of the disappointing gelato in the city center, near tourist attractions so do not be afraid to take the road less traveled to find some truly delicious gelato!

Without further ado, here are my favorites:

Cb Beduschi

This is a tiny little stand located on the first floor of the Mercato Centrale. All of the food there is known for being the highest quality and freshness and this gelato was no exception!

My favorite flavors: Rum and raisin and Marsala. I hate raisins but the rum flavor was absolutely delicious despite them! All I know about marsala is that it’s a wine, often used with chicken, and it was amazing! I’m still not sure how that one worked so well… The flavors here change all the time though! I wish I would’ve gone more because there are just too many creative flavors they come up with.

La Carraia

This one is known for being a hot tourist spot but, trust me, its authentic. You’ll probably have to wait in line but it is very much worth it! They have a couple locations in Florence because they are one of the most popular. The location on Piazza Nazario Sauro, 25, is the most popular and always has a line but they have another location on Via de’ Benci, 24 and I’ve never seen a line because it is a little more secluded.

My favorite flavors: Caramel, cheesecake, and coffee. Both the cheesecake and caramel flavors paired perfectly with their coffee gelato. You’ll find a cafe flavor at almost every gelateria but the one here had a much stronger espresso flavor than most places and that’s why I enjoyed it. 

My Sugar

I lived across the street from this one for 4 months and it wasn’t until the end of my stay that my roommate recommended we try it because she heard about it from a blogger. I was incredibly mad when I found out some of the best gelato in Florence had been right under my nose for my entire second semester in Florence… You can find it on Via de’ Ginori, 49.

My favorite flavors: Peanut cream and stracciatella. Peanut butter flavors are pretty rare with gelato because most gelaterias focus on hazelnut flavors but I prefer peanuts much more! Stracciatella is a very common gelato flavor and MySugar had the best in my opinion!

Edoardo

Right next to the Duomo in Piazza del Duomo, 45, the fresh, local, and organic ingredients has made this place very popular! Good luck finding it without a long line out the door… Unlike La Carraia, it only has one location and is also a hot tourist spot. It has always been one of my favorites because you can really taste the fresh ingredients in the gelato! This place has some of the richest tastes. They also offer different vegan options and their flavors change every week depending on what’s in season.

My favorites flavors: Pistachio and hazelnut chocolate. I’m not a hazelnut fan but this flavor won me over whenever I had a strong craving for chocolate…  

Gelateria Della Passera

This one is a hidden gem! My roommate showed me this one down a small side street across the Ponte Vecchio. It’s much cheaper than the tourist traps and they are also known for local and organic ingredients. The scoops are small but they are each worth the precious one euro. It’s located on Via Toscanella, 15.

My favorite flavors: Coffee and pistachio. I think pistachio is my favorite flavor no matter which gelateria produces it… 

Il Percopio

I saved the best for last! This was a crowd favorite among my roommates and I during my first semester and it is also more highly recommended by locals. It’s definitely off the beaten path but can be found closer to the club scene, near the Arno, on Via Pietra Piana, 60.

My favorite flavors: Don Raffae (a coffee flavor with chocolate hazelnut chunks) and fudge. Let me just clarify that their fudge flavor is a rich chocolate gelato with gooey fudge swirled within it! My mouth is watering just from thinking about it… And they always serve it with a cone sticking out the top!

If any of you are planning on a Florence vacation this summer then definitely give these places a shot! Did I miss any of your favorites? Let me know!