Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26, 2026.If you are thinking of swapping the family kitchen for a long weekend in Italy, Florence at the end of November is one of the best-kept secrets of the travel calendar, and this year the weekend ends with the Florence Marathon starting right outside our door.
Why Florence in late November
The summer crowds are long gone and the Christmas rush has not started yet. Museums and churches are easier to visit, restaurants are easier to book, and the city feels like it belongs to Florentines again. The days are cooler and shorter, but the low autumn light on stone and terracotta is beautiful.
Waking up in Piazza del Duomo
Hotel Duomo Firenze is the only hotel in Piazza del Duomo. We occupy the third, fourth and fifth floors of Palazzo Ranieri Gondi, right in front of the Cathedral, and our family has welcomed guests here since 1953.
Thirteen of our rooms look directly onto the Duomo. Three of them, rooms 31, 32 and 33, have a private balcony facing the Cathedral and Brunelleschi’s Dome. On a Thanksgiving morning, it is hard to imagine a better view with your first coffee.
In the afternoon our panoramic terrace and refreshment corner offer herbal teas, cakes, cantucci with Vin Santo and our own artisan gelato, free for guests: a small Florentine ritual between one visit and the next.
A Thanksgiving weekend itinerary
- Thursday:arrive, check in from 2 pm (free luggage storage if you land earlier), walk around the Cathedral, Giotto’s Bell Tower and the Baptistery. In the evening, Thanksgiving dinner (see below).
- Friday:Uffizi Gallery in the morning, Ponte Vecchio and the Oltrarno in the afternoon. Book museum tickets in advance.
- Saturday:climb Brunelleschi’s Dome or the Bell Tower, then the Christmas market in Piazza Santa Croce.
- Sunday:watch the Florence Marathon start in Piazza del Duomo, then visit the Accademia Gallery to meet Michelangelo’s David. Why not stay Sunday night too, and enjoy the square once the race is over?
Thanksgiving dinner in Florence
Florence has a large American community, and every year several restaurants offer a traditional Thanksgiving menu with turkey and all the trimmings, alongside Tuscan-style alternatives. The Florentine publishes an updated guide each November. Book early: these dinners fill up fast. Our reception, open 24 hours a day, is happy to help you choose and reserve.
The Florence Marathon on Sunday, November 29
This year the Thanksgiving weekend ends with the Firenze Marathon, which starts on Sunday, November 29, in Piazza del Duomo. Whether you are running or simply cheering, staying here means stepping out of the hotel straight into the start area. Read our guide:Florence Marathon 2026: Stay at the Start Line in Piazza del Duomo.
Christmas markets and the start of the festive season
In recent years the Christmas market in Piazza Santa Croce has opened in mid-November, so it should already be running over Thanksgiving weekend, about ten minutes on foot from the hotel. For more ideas, see ourguide to Florence at Christmas and New Year.
Getting here
Santa Maria Novella train station is 700 metres away, about 10 minutes on foot. Paid parking is available in a garage 150 metres from the hotel.
Book direct
Booking directly on our website gives you a better price than online travel agencies. Rooms with a Duomo view are limited, especially on Thanksgiving and Marathon weekend.
Paolo Gori, Managing Director