Three days are enough to get to know Florence, as long as you don't try to see everything. This itinerary strings the main sights together at a gentle pace: one major museum a day, plenty of walking and time to linger over meals. Distances are short and almost everything can be done on foot.
01Day 1: the classic centre
Start early in Piazza del Duomo, while the light is soft and the square still quiet. If you have booked, climb the dome or the bell tower, then step into the Baptistery or the Opera del Duomo Museum. Via dei Calzaiuoli takes you in a few minutes to Piazza della Signoria, with Palazzo Vecchio and the Loggia dei Lanzi.
After lunch, the Uffizi: with a booked ticket you avoid the longest waits and can give two or three hours to the main rooms. Afterwards, cross the Ponte Vecchio and make your way slowly up to Piazzale Michelangelo for sunset. Watching the city light up below you is the perfect end to a first day.
02Day 2: the David, the market and an evening in the Oltrarno
Spend the morning at the Galleria dell'Accademia with Michelangelo's David. The visit is shorter than the Uffizi and leaves time for San Lorenzo and the Medici Chapels, a few steps away. At lunchtime the Mercato Centrale is the natural stop: meat, cheese and produce stalls downstairs, and upstairs a large hall for a bite to eat.
In the afternoon, visit Santa Maria Novella with its marble facade and, if you have time, wander along the elegant streets towards Via de' Tornabuoni. In the evening, cross the river for dinner in the Oltrarno, between Santo Spirito and San Frediano, where Florence feels more intimate, with workshops, small squares and neighbourhood trattorias.
03Day 3: Pitti, Boboli and San Miniato
The third day belongs to the Oltrarno by daylight. Palazzo Pitti holds several museums: choose one, the Palatine Gallery for instance, and give the rest of the morning to the Boboli Gardens, among statues, fountains and views over the rooftops. On the way down, Piazza Santo Spirito is the right place for a simple lunch.
In the afternoon, walk up to San Miniato al Monte, one of the most beautiful churches in Florence, then wander back down by way of Piazzale Michelangelo. If you watched the sunset there on the first day, this time enjoy the afternoon light over the city.
04Or: half a day outside Florence
If you would like some countryside, split the third day: Pitti and Boboli in the morning, out of town in the afternoon. Fiesole, on the hill above Florence, is close by and offers a Roman theatre and a wide view over the valley. The Chianti hills, with their vineyards and villages, suit anyone who wants to taste wine where it is made.
Siena, Pisa, Lucca and San Gimignano deserve a full day instead; you will find them in our guide to day trips from Florence. For half a day, it is better to stay close and be back in time for dinner. We can also put you in touch with trusted partners for a private tour or a transfer.
