Spending an extended period of time in any city in Europe allows you immerse yourself in the culture and landscape of your destination. You can move beyond the fast and furious pace of a tourist and embrace a more relaxed schedule. 
We spent 14 nights at an Airbnb in Florence. We didn’t want to be the outsiders looking in, especially for that long of a time, so we tried to do things differently than we had in the past. It was both an interesting and enlightening experiment. It allowed us to really compare the difference between a short term and a long term stay and try our hand at “living like a local”. Here’s what we found.
Before you leave do some research into the cultural norms of the area where you will be staying. For example, we found that the coffee culture in Italy is robust so we stopped to enjoy an espresso at an outdoor cafe whenever we could. Most locals get out and walk or stroll, the passeggiata, during the early evening to relax. Perhaps they will meet up with family and friends to enjoy an aperitif. Dinner is eaten much later so space your meals out and enjoy your dinner closer to 9 pm.
Embrace a different pace. If you are staying in the city you are not bound by a cruise or tour schedule. Get up early to visit the most touristy squares. We arrived at the Duomo when the square around it was essentially empty. It was a great time to take advantage of the morning golden light to take pictures. Later we ordered cappuccino and pastries from a nearby cafe and watched the area come to life. We then returned much later in the afternoon to go inside the Duomo after most of the tours and cruise ships had left.
Change how and when you eat. Restaurants close between 2 and 7 pm in Florence. If you missed lunch grab a sandwich from the market. Plan to eat much later in the day and take the time to really enjoy the leisurely service. Try visiting a local favourite more than once and get to know your servers by name.
Don’t just visit, participate. Attend a church service instead of touring the church, or book a concert or an evening at the opera to experience the music. Try your hand at a cooking class. Attend a local sporting event or watch the game in a pub or bar with other locals, and cheer on their favourite teams.
Change the rhythm of your days. Don’t be afraid to take a morning or evening off to relax and rejuvenate. This was the hardest part for me to accept as we have always been a steady go on any of our travels. Then one morning we woke up to pouring rain. With nothing scheduled other than a walk around the old town we decided instead to sleep in before catching up on our emails and journals. When we did go out later in the day it was with renewed energy.
Take joy in the mundane chores. Visit a laundromat or hang hand washed clothes from the balcony to dry. Visit the local market to pick up the ingredients necessary to prepare your own meals. Have a bed picnic. Not only can this be fun but it’s a great way to stick to a budget, allowing you to splurge when you do eat at a restaurant.
Even after two weeks we had not seen all of Florence, but we left feeling like we had enjoyed the best the city had to offer. We left feeling like locals and Florence will always be our home away from home in Italy.