What To Do in Florence Italy - 3 Day Itinerary
- Laura
- 3 minutes ago
- 9 min read
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With its open-air galleries and green and white Duomo, the historic center of Florence is a treasure trove of Renaissance art and architecture. Its narrow lanes, lined with wooden stalls reminiscent of a medieval marketplace, invite discovery. Use our itinerary to learn what to do in Florence Italy in 3 days.
Known as the cradle of the Renaissance, Florence is packed with frescoed churches and palaces. History and art are everywhere; from the statues in Piazza della Signoria to the golden Baptistry doors. With a compact historic center, it is a great city to discover on foot. Our Florence Italy itinerary is a pleasing mix of museum time and city strolls.
Follow the itinerary to climb Brunelleschi’s Dome and to view Michelangelo’s David. Visit the Pitti Palace, Boboli Gardens, and Medici Chapels. Then get outside the city to explore Tuscany. Our article will help you explore all the top things to do in Florence Italy.
DAY TRIPS FROM FLORENCE TO TUSCANY
FLORENCE ITALY WEATHER
Florence has a temperate climate with hot humid summers (average 90’s F in July) and cold rainy winters (average 40’s F in January). The rainiest month is November; the driest month is July.
TIP: There is little shade in city. Pack sunscreen and a hat. In the hottest months, adjust your itinerary so outside activities are in the morning, and afternoon activities are indoors (i.e., in air-conditioned museums).
BEST TIME TO GO TO FLORENCE ITALY
Midsummer in Florence brings high heat and big crowds. The winter months are colder, rainy, and many sites close for refurbishment. We think the best time to go to Florence is between April and early-June, September, and October.
TIP: Avoid major fairs and festivals when large crowds will gather.
TRUSTED TRAVEL RESOURCES
FLORENCE ITALY HOTELS
We recommend you book accommodations in Florence’s historic center. It takes about 40 minutes to walk from one end of the historic center to the other, and most of the attractions are in the area. Hotel rates are higher than in other neighborhoods, but you will save money on parking and transportation costs in this location.
Here are a few well-reviewed Florence Italy hotels in the historic center:
Hotel Firenze Pitti Palace al Ponte Vecchio: Clean, affordable. Good location. Roof terrace and restaurant.
Hotel Pendini: Modern hotel in the romantic heart of Florence.
Hotel Calimala: Two restaurants and rooftop bar in historic neighborhood.
Hotel Balestri: On the Arno River. Close to Ponte Vecchio and shopping.
FLORENCE ITALY GUIDED TOURS
Florence is the capital and beating heart of Tuscany. The city’s location makes it a terrific base for day trips into the rolling green hills and vineyards of Tuscany. Here are a few well-reviewed Florence Italy guided tours to locations outside of the city.
FLORENCE ITALY MAP
WHAT TO DO IN FLORENCE ITALY
Florence is celebrated for its role in the birth of the Renaissance. During this era, the powerful Medici family ruled the city and fostered advances in the arts, science, and philosophy. Today, the city is home to many of the masterpieces produced by Michelangelo, Donatello, Leonardo, and others.
The city’s entire historic center has been designated at a UNESCO World Heritage site. Follow our Florence Italy itinerary to see the city’s most renowned locations. Visit the Galleria dell Accademia, Uffizi, Pitti Palace, Boboli Gardens, Museum San Marco, Ponte Vecchio, Florence Duomo, Piazza della Repubblica, Mercato Centrale, and Piazza della Signoria.
FLORENCE ITALY ITINERARY: 3 DAYS
DAY 1 (Major Museums & Piazzas)
Begin your day at the Florence Duomo complex. The largest Florence attraction is also the most popular. Queueing lines are outdoors in the hot sun, so plan to do this attraction in the morning while it is still cool (or purchase skip the line tickets).
The Florence Duomo consists of several monuments that sit in the center of the historic district. While touring the site see the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. Its striking white and green marble exterior is covered in geometric patterns. Inside the cathedral, see Brunelleschi’s dome covered in scenes from the Last Judgement. Then climb 463 steps to the top of the dome.
While at the site, you can also climb Giotto’s Bell Tower. It is 414 steps to the top of the tower. However, unlike the dome, between flights of stairs there are platforms with windows for great photos (and rest). Other monuments at the complex include the octagonal Baptistry of St. John with its golden Ghiberti doors as well as the Opera del Duomo Museum.
From the Florence Duomo, walk to the nearby Galleria dell Accademia. The museum’s collection of paintings and sculptures is one of the world’s finest. The museum boasts sculptures by Michelangelo (included the famed David) and an notable collection of early Italian paintings.
From the Galleria del Accademia, walk to Piazza della Repubblica. One of Florence’s main squares, the piazza was originally the site of the town’s forum (center). Many of the city’s main avenues intersect at this marketplace. Have lunch at one of the restaurants in the piazza, and take a ride on the square’s colorful carousel.
When you are refreshed, stroll to the Mercato Nuovo. The covered “straw” market dates back to the 11th century. Today, vendors set up their stalls under a loggia (corridor) and rectangular hall. Shop the market and seek out the Fontana del Porcellino. Legend has it, if you rub the nose of the bronze wild boar, you will have good luck.
Around 4:30 (two hours before closing), make your way to either the Uffizi Gallery or the Bargello Museum. Both are national museums within the historic center:
The Uffizi specializes in paintings and sculptures and features works by the Renaissance masters with paintings from Giotto, Lippi, Botticelli, Leonardo, Raffaello, Michelangelo and Caravaggio.
The Bargello Museum is known as the sculpture museum. Housed in an ancient Florence palace, the museum exhibits a large collection of sculptures including works by Donatello, Michelangelo, Brunelleschi, and Ghiberti.
As twilight descends the city, take a short walk (from either museum) to the Piazza della Signoria. This amazing open-air museum and city square is the perfect place to end your day. Once the political center of the city, today the piazza is a vibrant gathering place and home to the Palazzo Vecchio (town hall).
Rimming the piazza, there is a replica of Michelangelo’s David statue, and a dramatic Neptune Fountain. Also, find a gallery of statues in the Loggia dei Lanzi. The loggia’s wide arches and bays display an array of famous sculpture replicas. These include “Perseus” by Cellini, the “Rape of the Sabine Women” by Giambologna, and “Hercules Fighting the Centaur” by Bandinelli.
DAY 2 (Smaller Museums and Neighborhoods)
On day 2, our pace will slow (a bit). We will leave the larger museums and piazzas and focus on some of Florence’s lesser known, and less crowded – but just as splendid, smaller attractions. All of these sites are located in the historic district and within walking distance of one another.
Start the day with a visit to two small museums; the Museum San Marco Florence and the Medici Chapels. Both heritage sites are religious in nature, but there the similarity ends. One is magnificently opulent, and the other magnificently simple. Both are awe inspiring.
Try to arrive at the Museum San Marco Florence at opening time. While the museum’s exterior is unassuming; the interior is a delight. The San Marco Monastery was first occupied by monks in the 12th century. Visit the age-old monastery to see the frescoes decorating the monk’s cells.
Painted by Giovanni of Fiesole, aka “Fra Angelico,” and his team in the 1400s, the frescoes depict religious scenes meant to enhance meditation. Wander the monastery’s dormitories, corridors, and chapels taking in the art.
From the Museum San Marco Florence, walk to the Medici Chapels. The Medici’s were a powerful Italian family who ruled Florence for 300 years. As devoted patrons of the arts, they employed some of the most gifted artists and architects of the time including Michelangelo, Brunelleschi, and Donatello.
The Medici Chapels are the family’s mausoleums in the Basilica of San Lorenzo. There are two spaces to tour: the Sagrestia Nuova (New Chapel) and Cappella dei Principi (Prince’s Chapel). The chapels are considered to be Renaissance masterpieces, and some of Michelangelo’s finest work.
For a fun change of pace, leave the museums behind and head to the nearby Mercato Centrale. The massive two-story complex is a great locale for lunch. On the first floor, find traditional food stalls selling groceries, fresh foods, and other items. The upper floor is a food court with vendors offering wine, pasta, and Florentine fare.
After a sustenance break, walk across the historic district to the Pitti Palace. Constructed by the River Arno, the palace was once the Grand Ducal Residence of the Medici clan.
Peruse the museum’s map and decide which of the exhibition halls are of interest. There are five including the Treasury and the Museum of Russian Icons, Royal Apartments, Palatine Gallery, Gallery of Modern Art, and the Museum of Costume and Fashion.
At the end of your tour, exit the palace at the rear to enter the Boboli Gardens. The expansive park winds up the side of a hill. Along the way there are ornate fountains and sculptures to explore. At the top of the garden, see the city of Florence on one side, and the Tuscan countryside on the other.
This evening, head to the Ponte Vecchio, or “Old Bridge.” The sturdy stone expanse spans the River Arno. Since the Middle Ages, the bridge has been lined with wooden shops. There used to be many similar bridges in the city, but the Ponte Vecchio is only one that escaped demolition during World War II.
Try to time your walk so you hit the bridge around sundown. View the Ponte Vecchio from the neighboring Ponte alle Grazie bridge for stunning sunsets. Then, meander the Ponte Vecchio goldsmith, jewelry, and art stalls.
When you are done shopping, cross the bridge into the Oltrarno neighborhood, aka the “other side.” Visit the charming squares and churches of San Spirito. Explore the artisan galleries and workshops, and take in the local nightlife.
DAY 3 (Your Choice)
If you are a museum-o-phile, for your last day in Florence visit either the Uffizi or Bargello Museum (whichever you did not choose on Day 1). Or, consider visiting the Medici Riccardi Palace. The 15th century villa was designed by Michelozzo for the Medici family.
Then, in the afternoon dive into an activity of interest. Choose from a cooking class, an e-bike tour, a city hike, or a cruise on the River Arno.
Conversely, if you have not had a chance to visit the Tuscan countryside, we strongly suggest you take a day tour into the region. The following locations are beautiful drives:
Goodbye from the romance of Renaissance Florence, Laura and Randy
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