Wondering how many days in Florence you need? You only need One day in Florence to stroll through the historic center, capture stunning photos, and savor authentic Florentine gelato. If you’re not planning on attending walking tours, visiting museums, or climbing the cathedral’s dome, a day trip is sufficient. For breathtaking photos, Florence offers several spots with fantastic panoramic views, though good weather is essential for the experience to be worthwhile.
Morning to Evening Itinerary: A Day in Florence
| TIME | PLACE | INFO/PRICES |
|---|---|---|
| 11:00 | Cathedral’s Square | Free entry; entrance to the cathedral is also free. |
| 11:30 | Gelato at Edoardo’s | 4€. |
| 12:00 | Photos in Signoria Square | Free; features the main square with a replica of Michelangelo’s David. |
| 12:30 | The Ponte Vecchio | Free; the oldest bridge with jewelry shops. |
| 13:00 | Lunch with Lasagna at Pizzino Caffe | 10€; vegetarian lasagna available. |
| 14:30 | Best Panoramic Photos at Bardini Gardens | 10€; last admission at 3 PM. |
| 16:30 | Boboli Gardens | Included with Bardini Gardens ticket. |
| 17:30 | Grab a Sandwich/Pizza Slice Anywhere | 7€. |
| 18:00 | Santa Maria Novella (Oldest Perfumery) | Free; merchandise starts at 20€. |
| 18:30 | Back to the Train Station | A 5-minute walk from the perfumery. |
Tip: Mornings in Florence are often foggy, so plan to take your panoramic photos after lunch. Avoid wasting time standing in lines if you only have one day, and remember that many attractions are closed on Mondays.
What to Do in Florence on a Rainy Day?
If you’re visiting Florence for just one day and it happens to rain, the Palazzo Vecchio is your best bet. This historical government building offers plenty to see indoors, including the option to climb the Arnolfo Tower, where you can enjoy panoramic views sheltered from the rain. A visit to the Palazzo Vecchio and the tower climb will take about 2.5 hours. Afterward, treat yourself to some Florentine gelato. If the rain stops before sunset, head to the Ponte Vecchio for some beautiful post-rain sunset photos.
Rainy Day Itinerary: Best Spots to Stay Dry
| WHEN TO GO | WHERE TO GO | INFO/PRICES |
|---|---|---|
| 11:00 AM | Start with the Cathedral | Line is 15 minutes; entrance is free. |
| 12:00 PM | Signoria Square | You are covered from rain where the statues are and inside the Vecchio Palace; free. |
| 12:30 PM | Get a Sandwich at Ino | The only good sandwich place with space to sit inside; 10€. |
| 1:00 PM | Vecchio Palace + Arnolfo Tower | 10€ + 10€. |
| 3:00 PM | Walk Along the Uffizi and Arno River | Both places offer shelter from the rain; free. |
| 4:00 PM | Visit Jewelry Shops on Ponte Vecchio | Best place to hide from the rain; prices start at 50€. |
| 5:00 PM | Gelateria La Carraia | One of the best gelatos in Florence; 4€. |
| 5:30 PM | Sunset Photos from One of the Bridges | If the rain stops, you can capture stunning sunset photos. |
| 6:00 PM | Ognissanti Church | Features a fresco by Botticelli and Amerigo Vespucci’s tomb. Closed on Tuesdays; free. |
| 6:30 PM | Santa Maria Novella Perfumery | The oldest perfumery in the world; free entry. |
| 7:00 PM | Back to the Train Station | A 5-minute walk from the perfumery. |
Tip: On a rainy day, focus on visiting landmarks and shops that offer shelter. Avoid Michelangelo’s Square when it’s raining.
How Many Days in Florence Can Be Enough To Cover the Basics?
You need two full days in Florence if you would like to visit the Uffizi gallery, see the David by Michelangelo, climb the dome of the Cathedral, and attend a free walking tour that explains the main landmarks in the city. If you’re traveling during the high season, Uffizi and the dome of the Cathedral need to be booked at least one week in advance.
The best way to see Florence in 2 days is to attend a morning free walking tour on your first day, have lunch, and visit the Uffizi gallery in the afternoon. On the second day, you can start climbing the Cathedral dome. After lunch, you can see David by Michelangelo in the Accademia gallery. Or the other way around. Going to Michelangelo’s square is unnecessary if you’ve climbed the dome.
The full day you have Florence: See Michelangelo’s David, Botticelli’s Venus, learn about the Medici family, take pictures on the Old Bridge (Ponte Vecchio)
Day 1 Itinerary: Art and Culture
| TIME | PLACE | INFO/PRICES |
|---|---|---|
| 08:15 | David in the Accademia | Entry fee applicable. |
| 09:45 | Breakfast | Typical Italian breakfast at a local café. |
| 10:30 | Medici and Michelangelo Tour | Free walking tour; tips appreciated. |
| 13:00 | Grab a Sandwich | 7-10€ for an authentic Florentine sandwich. |
| 14:30 | Uffizi Gallery | Entry fee applicable; minimum 3 hours for a thorough visit. |
| 18:00 | Aperitivo on a Rooftop Terrace | Cost varies; enjoy panoramic views during sunset. |
| 19:30 | Dinner | Traditional Italian dinner at a local restaurant. |
Day 2 Itinerary: Climb and Discover
| TIME | PLACE | INFO/PRICES |
|---|---|---|
| 08:30 | Breakfast | Start your day with an Italian breakfast. |
| 09:00 | Climb the Cathedral’s Dome | Pre-booking required; entry fee applicable. |
| 10:30 | Gelato at Edoardo’s | 4€ for a delicious gelato. |
| 11:00 | Visit The Bargello Museum or Church of Santa Croce | Entry fee applicable; discover Florence’s rich history. |
Tip: If you’re short on time, consider the Geniuses of the Renaissance Tour in the afternoon, followed by a visit to the Aqua Flor Perfumery and sunset photos along the river.
Our Advice: Three to Four Full Days Is Ideal to Understand Renaissance
You need three days in Florence to see the most important sights and get a complete city overview. In addition to the Uffizi Gallery, the Accademia, and the cathedral, there are three other sights that you should visit to get a complete overview of Florence. Those sights are:
- The Bargello – the most important museum of sculpture.
- The Pitti Palace – the most epic of the Medici palaces in Florence.
- The church of Santa Croce, where Michelangelo, Machiavelli, and Galileo are buried.
You should combine the Bargello museum and Santa Croce in one day, as they are a 5-minute walk from each other. Bargello will take you about 1,5 hours and Santa Croce around 40 minutes.
Pitti Palace can be seen right before dinner as it is a 5-minute walk from Santo Spirito Square, where you have plenty of great restaurants to choose from.
If you’re an art history nerd and want to understand the Renaissance in art technically and see all the firsts, you need four days to see Florence. You must add visiting Santa Maria Novella church, the Medici chapels, and Palazzo Vecchio to the list of landmarks from the three-day trip.
Plan to Explore All of Florence? Book a Week-Long Trip
With 78 museums in the city, you need a whole week in Florence if you’re planning to see everything, attend three or four tours, and also do some shopping. But we’re talking about just the city of Florence, not the whole of Tuscany; this means excluding cities like Pisa and Siena and doing a bunch of stuff in the Tuscany region.
