Florence in 3 days. What to see and do + tons of tips
Most travelers spend 3 days in Florence during their trip to Italy. I personally think it’s the minimum duration to visit the city, but you could also spend five, seven or twenty days in Florence, and there would still be many things to do and see.
If you don’t know where to start planning your trip, don’t worry, I have prepared a 3-day itinerary that includes all the museums, churches and unmissable places in the city. And it’s packed with smart and useful tips that only a local tour guide knows.
Ciao! My name is Claudia, I am a licensed tour guide in Florence with over 10 years of experience. Learn more about me and my private guided tours in Florence.
Of course you can change the plans according to your needs and interests. For example, if you think there are too many churches in my program, you are free to remove one in favor of something else that interests you more.
- Also read my planner for a trip to Florence
Florence in 3 days. What to see and do
Before we get into it, here are some general tips:
Plan ahead. The sooner you organize yourself, the better, especially in high season (April to October).
Check the closing days and opening hours of museums and churches. National museums such as Uffizi and Accademia Galleries are closed on Mondays. So if your three days in Florence include a Monday, move the third day’s schedule to Monday. Things to do on day three are open 7 days a week.
Book tickets for museums and for the climb to the Duomo as soon as you can. Once booked they cannot be modified, so the dates and times of those visits cannot be changed.
If you want to take guided tours, book those in advance too, especially if they include tickets. They could sell out.
A note on food and restaurants
Please notice that in my itinerary I didn’t mention any specific restaurant or place to eat. This is because where and what to eat during a trip to Florence depends on you, your budget, your dietary needs and your tastes. It also depends on the area you are in at the moment, and how much time you want to dedicate to the meal (a sandwich takes less time than a full lunch at a restaurant).
In any case, no problem. The city is literally packed with places to eat excellent food of all kinds.
To find restaurants read:
- Where to eat in Florence
- Florentine steak and where to eat it
- Best gelato in Florence
Day 1 in Florence
The first day is dedicated to a first knowledge of the city, and to two of the most important and famous attractions, David by Michelangelo and the stunning Cathedral, the Duomo. It’s a start with a bang, David and then the Climb to the dome of the Cathedral will literally leave you breathless.
Morning: walk the historic center and see David
Get up early, have a nice breakfast and set off to discover the historic center, with a walk that passes by the most important squares and monuments of the city, such as Piazza della Signoria, the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio. It’s the first thing to do as soon as you arrive in Florence because it is an excellent way to understand what the city is like, what the distances are and where the attractions you want to visit are located.
If you want to optimize your time and see as much as possible in a couple of hours, take a guided walking tour in the historic center. A local tour guide knows all the routes and will tell you the history of the places you are seeing.
- Learn more about my private walking tour of Florence
If you prefer a guided group tour, take a look at these, but keep in mind that for 4 people and up, private tours are generally more convenient.
After walking through the squares and alleys of Florence, reach the Accademia Gallery Museum, where the original David by Michelangelo is housed, together with other sculptures by the same artist and many Renaissance and medieval paintings.
Book your tickets in advance for around 11.30 am so you’ll finish just in time for lunch. The visit to the museum takes about an hour, much less if you only want to see the David.
- Tips for visiting the Accademia Gallery. There is everything you need to know: how to book, what to see, and much more.
- My private Accademia gallery tour
Afternoon: the Duomo
The whole afternoon is dedicated to the Cathedral complex. The most famous building is the Cathedral, and the most beautiful experience is the climb to Brunelleschi’s dome. But the Duomo complex also includes the Baptistery, the Bell Tower (you can climb that too), the Opera del Duomo museum and the crypt. If you want to visit all these buildings inside, it will take you the whole afternoon.
Many ones skip the Opera del Duomo museum, but it has wonderful artworks by Michelangelo, Donatello, Giotto and other great artists of the Renaissance.
The climb to the dome is the most popular experience in Florence, and since places are limited, it ends up sold out many days in advance. So book your tickets as soon as possible. When booking, you’ll be asked to choose a time slot: choose the one that matches the sunset time! In summer this is not possible because the sun sets after closing time.
- My guide for visiting the Duomo of Florence (everything explained, from tickets to dress code).
- Tips for climbing Giotto’s bell tower.
Please note: I put the climb to the Duomo on the beginning of my 3 days itinerary in Florence, because due to bad weather the dome could be closed without warning. In this case you’ll have to change your plans and reschedule for the next day.
Evening: food tour!
To discover all the flavors of Florence, I recommend you take a food and wine tour! The best time is around 5 or 6 pm, in the evening, so you’re already set for dinner. Food tours usually include at least 4 stops to taste typical dishes and products such as cheeses, salami, truffles, seasonal ingredients and much more. and of course is also including a wine tasting experience!
Check this evening wine and food tour, which is one of the best ones and has an excellent value for money.
Day 2 in Florence
The second day is dedicated to the discovery of two important museums. The first is the Uffizi Gallery, where the most famous Renaissance paintings are housed, from Botticelli to Leonardo da Vinci. The second is Palazzo Vecchio, the heart of city life and seat of various governments since the 14th century, with its beautiful frescoed rooms. And then the magnificent church of Santa Croce, a relaxing walk in the Oltrarno district, and a final with a bang admiring the sunset from above.
Morning: Uffizi and Palazzo Vecchio
The first thing on the schedule is a visit to the Uffizi Gallery: once again book your tickets in advance, and allow at least two hours for the visit. The museum is very large, packed with works of art, and time flies.
The Uffizi Gallery opens at 8.15 and this is definitely the best time to visit it. Both because it is less crowded and because there is an early bird discount on tickets until 8.45am. And also because you will also have enough time to visit Palazzo Vecchio before lunch. These two museums are next to each other, which is why I put them together on the same morning, to minimize travel time.
- Here you will find all my tips for visiting the Uffizi Gallery
- Here is my private tour of the Uffizi Gallery
Although less crowded than the Uffizi, Palazzo Vecchio can also sell out in high season, so I recommend you to book the tickets in advance. The visit on your own (without a guide) lasts about an hour, but of course it depends above all on you!
At Palazzo Vecchio you can also climb the the 14th century tower, see the cells where Cosimo the Elder and Savonarola were emprisoned, and enjoy the stunning view of the city from above. The climb to the tower requires a separate ticket and about 30 extra minutes.
- Learn everything about how to visit Palazzo Vecchio (and my private tour of it).
Tip for lunch
If you want to try the world famous sandwiches of All’Antico Vinaio, this is the right time, because there are 3 shops right behind the Uffizi, in via de’ Neri. Be patient because there is always a long queue at lunchtime. In via de’ Neri there are many other food places, sandwich shops and little restaurants where to have a board of cheese and salami with a glass of wine.
But there is also another All’Antico Vinaio shop very close to the Accademia Gallery Museum (at the corner between Piazza San Marco and via Ricasoli), which can be an option for a quick lunch on the first day.
Afternoon: Santa Croce and the Oltrarno district
Right after lunch head to Santa Croce church for a visit. The church dates back to the 14th century and is very rich in artworks of art by great names such as Donatello, Giotto and Cimabue. But there are also the tombs of the greatest personalities of Florence, such as Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei and Niccolò Machiavelli. And don’t forget the Pazzi chapel, designed by Brunelleschi! The visit takes a little less than an hour, and you can take the audio guide to listen to the explanations.
Then cross the Arno river to reach the Oltrarno district, one of the most authentic and characteristic remaining in Florence. Take a walk through its streets, looking at the windows of antique and vintage stores while eating a gelato. Oltrarno is the perfect area to take a sunset food and wine tour!
Finally, about an hour before sunset head to Piazzale Michelangelo, to enjoy the show of the sunset over Florence. Piazzale Michelangelo is a panoramic terrace located on a hill, very close to the historic center: you can get there from Ponte Vecchio in about 25 minutes of walking uphill. If you don’t want to walk that far you can take a taxi or a bus. Find more information in the following blogpost:
- How to use public transport in Florence
- All the best viewpoints in Florence
Day 3 in Florence
The plan for the third and last of the 3 days in Florence is visiting the Boboli Gardens and Pitti Palace to have a glimpse of the magnificence of the Florentine Renaissance gardens and palaces.
Finally, a visit to the beautiful medieval church of Santa Maria Novella, full of masterpieces, and its ancient pharmacy. And to leave Florence with a wonderful memory, an unforgettable aperitivo!
Morning: Boboli Gardens and Pitti Palace
The whole morning is dedicated to the complex of Palazzo Pitti, which also includes the Boboli Gardens. The gardens alone require at least two hours of walking, often uphill, and often under the scorching sun (in summer).
To visit Pitti Palace in depth it takes at least an hour and a half: inside there are several museums, some dedicated to painting, but not only. If you are not particularly passionate about art, you don’t necessarily have to visit it. Alternatively you can visit the nearby Bardini Gardens (you can enter with the same ticket as Boboli), with a gorgeous panoramic view of the city.
Bear in mind that in summer it’s really hot, and walking outdoors can be exhausting. A way to escape the heat could be to visit the Boboli Gardens as soon as they open, at 8.15am. But don’t feel too guilty if you decide to skip the gardens because it’s too hot or the weather is bad.
Afternoon: Santa Maria Novella church and pharmacy
After lunch reach the church and museum of Santa Maria Novella, a 14th century Dominican convent, rich in artworks. Brunelleschi, Giotto, Masaccio and Paolo Uccello, just to make a few names. Don’t forget that in addition to the church you can visit the beautiful cloisters of the convent and the museum rooms, where other artworks are exhibited.
Before leaving, take a (short) trip to the ancient pharmacy of Santa Maria Novella, next to the church. It was founded in 1221 and still today produces perfumes, cosmetics and self-care products. The rooms of the shop have decorations ranging from the Middle Ages to the 18th century, and beautiful and fragrant arrangements of dried flowers. You can come in for a tour even without buying anything, but it’s hard to resist this kind of shopping!
More info here:
Evening: aperitivo in a rooftop bar
Finally, to leave Florence with a beautiful memory and an unforgettable experience, have an aperitivo in one of the city’s rooftop bars, while enjoying the sunset over the red terracotta roofs. A glass of wine at sunset, on the top of an ancient tower or a fancy palace, facing the sparkling Arno river. What do you say?
- Here you will find all the best rooftop bars in Florence.
That’s all, I hope this post is useful for planning your 3 days in Florence and I wish you a wonderful travel experience in Italy!
If you have other tips to add to mine, leave me a comment and share your itinerary in Florence with other travellers.