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Florence in 3 days
Florence is small and best explored on foot, but it needs planning: the most important museums run on timed bookings and close on Mondays. This guide spreads the centre, the museums and the Tuscan day trips across the days so you never meet a closed door.
3 days · Italy ·
How many days will you spend in Florence?
Choose the length of your trip and the itinerary adapts.
With 3 days you can see the main sights and also discover a few less obvious corners. If you're planning a trip and have 3 days to explore Florence, I've put together this itinerary so you can make the most of your time, see the most important places and add a few Civitatis activities that are well worth it. The idea is to combine self-guided walks with guided visits, so you get to know the city without rushing from one place to another the whole trip.
- Day 1
Duomo, Baptistery and the Historic Centre of Florence
Florence's monumental heart fits into a two-kilometre walk. Start at the Duomo before the crowds arrive, and book ahead if you want to climb the dome.
- 9:00
Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral: entry to the cathedral is free, although there is usually a queue. Look at the white, green and pink marble facade, from the 19th century, and at Brunelleschi's dome, the largest masonry dome in the world. Climbing the dome requires a booked time slot and is around 460 steps, with no lift.
- 11:00
Giotto's Bell Tower and Baptistery: the bell tower has about 410 steps and gives a close-up view of the dome. The bronze doors of the Baptistery, Ghiberti's famous Gates of Paradise, are replicas: the originals are kept in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo.
- 12:30
Piazza della Repubblica: this 19th-century square was built over the ancient Roman forum. It has historic cafés and an old carousel, and is a good place to rest.
- 13:30
Lunch in the historic centre: try ribollita (bread and vegetable soup), pappa al pomodoro or a lampredotto panino from a street stall. Bistecca alla fiorentina is sold by weight and is usually ordered for at least two: ask the price per kilo before ordering.
- 15:00
Piazza della Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio: the square is an open-air museum: the Fountain of Neptune, a replica of David and, under the Loggia dei Lanzi, sculptures such as Cellini's Perseus. If you have time, you can climb the tower of the Palazzo Vecchio to see Florence from above.
- 17:00
Ponte Vecchio: the bridge has housed jewellers since the 16th century, when the Medici evicted the butchers who occupied the shops. To see it from outside, walk to the nearby Ponte Santa Trinita: it is the classic view.
- 9:00
- Day 2
Accademia Gallery, Central Market and Uffizi Gallery
A day of art with advance booking: David in the morning and the Uffizi in the afternoon. Both museums are closed on Mondays, so do not schedule this day for a Monday.
- 9:00
Accademia Gallery: book in good time: without a timed ticket the queue can last several hours in high season. Michelangelo's David is over five metres tall and stands at the end of a gallery lined with the Prisoners, unfinished sculptures by the same artist. Allow an hour.
- 11:00
Basilica of San Lorenzo and Central Market: San Lorenzo was the Medici family church. Next to it, the Central Market has the traditional market on the ground floor and a large food hall upstairs.
- 13:00
Lunch at the Central Market: try lampredotto, Florence's classic sandwich made with the fourth stomach of the cow, as well as Tuscan cured meats, pecorino or fresh pasta. Upstairs there are plenty of food stalls where you can sit down at leisure.
- 14:30
Piazza della Signoria and Uffizi Gallery: book a timed ticket. Its halls hold Botticelli's Primavera and Birth of Venus, Leonardo's Annunciation and Michelangelo's Doni Tondo. Allow around three hours and do not try to see everything: pick the rooms that interest you most.
- 17:30
Piazzale Michelangelo: cross the Arno and walk up through the rose garden (about 20 minutes uphill from the river) or take a bus. It is the best viewpoint for sunset, but it fills up: arrive early to find a spot. Close by, the church of San Miniato al Monte offers another view, a quieter one.
- 9:00
- Day 3
Pisa and Lucca
A full-day trip by train, no car needed. Pisa and Lucca are linked by a direct line of about 30 minutes, so you can combine both cities and be back in Florence in the evening. Check the timetable before you leave.
- 8:30
Departure from Florence: by train from Santa Maria Novella to Pisa Centrale, around an hour. From the station it is a 25–30 minute walk to Piazza dei Miracoli, or a city bus. An organised tour combines both cities without you worrying about timetables.
- 10:00
Piazza dei Miracoli and the Tower of Pisa: it brings together the Cathedral, the Baptistery, the Camposanto and the Leaning Tower, about 56 metres tall. To climb the tower you must buy a timed ticket (it is around 250 steps) and children under 8 are not admitted, so book in advance.
- 13:00
Stroll through the historic centre of Pisa: cross the old town to the Arno. On the way you will pass Piazza dei Cavalieri and the small Gothic church of Santa Maria della Spina, beside the river.
- 14:00
Lunch in Lucca: try tordelli lucchesi, filled pasta with a meat sauce, and zuppa di farro, spelt soup: two classics of the area. Lucca is an ideal city for a leisurely meal.
- 15:30
Historic centre of Lucca: this is Puccini's home town. Do not miss Piazza dell'Anfiteatro, oval in shape because it was built on a Roman amphitheatre, and the Guinigi Tower, with holm oaks growing on its roof.
- 17:00
Walls of Lucca: the Renaissance walls, about four kilometres long, have become a raised park lined with trees. You can walk or cycle the full circuit in under an hour.
- 19:00
Return to Florence: the train from Lucca to Florence takes around an hour and twenty minutes. Check the last train before deciding how long to stay.
Civitatis activities for this day
- 8:30
- Day 4
Siena, San Gimignano and the Chianti Countryside
It is best done on an organised tour or by car: the towns of inland Tuscany are poorly connected to one another by public transport. It is a long day that combines a medieval city, a town of towers and vineyards.
- 8:30
Departure from Florence: an organised tour takes care of the transfers between Siena, San Gimignano and Chianti. If you go on your own, the bus to Siena is faster than the train from Florence, and for San Gimignano you have to change to another bus.
- 10:00
Siena: the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo hosts the Palio, the horse race held on 2 July and 16 August. The Gothic cathedral, with its decorated marble floor, is one of the most spectacular in Italy. To see the square from above, climb the Torre del Mangia.
- 13:00
Lunch in Chianti: this is Chianti Classico country, whose symbol is a black rooster on the bottle. Some tours include a winery visit with a tasting. Also try the local pecorino and cured meats.
- 15:30
San Gimignano: it still has fourteen medieval towers out of the more than seventy it once had, hence its nickname, the medieval Manhattan. Climb the Torre Grossa, the tallest you can visit, and try Vernaccia, the local white wine.
- 18:00
Return to Florence: check the tour's return time or the last bus before leaving the town.
Civitatis activities for this day
- 8:30
- Day 5
Pitti Palace, Boboli Gardens and the Oltrarno District
The last day crosses the Arno to a quieter, more local part of the city. Remember that the Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens are closed on Mondays, and that it is worth booking in high season.
- 9:30
Pitti Palace: the Medici bought this Renaissance palace in 1549 and made it their residence. Today it houses the Palatine Gallery, with works by Raphael and Titian, and other museums. Allow about two hours.
- 11:30
Boboli Gardens: 16th-century gardens with an amphitheatre, statues, fountains and an artificial grotto designed by Buontalenti. Climb to the highest level for views of Florence and the hills. Wear comfortable shoes, as there are slopes.
- 13:30
Lunch at Piazza Santo Spirito: a lively square in Oltrarno, with terraces and trattorias that are more local and cheaper than those in the centre. Try the fresh pasta or a board of Tuscan cured meats.
- 15:30
Basilica of Santo Spirito and the streets of Oltrarno: the basilica was designed by Brunelleschi and is an example of austere, harmonious Renaissance architecture. Afterwards, wander the streets of Oltrarno, where artisans' workshops can still be found.
- 17:00
Artisan workshops of Florence: step into workshops devoted to leather, bookbinding, restoration and marbled paper, one of the city's typical crafts. Many let you watch the work and buy directly from the craftsperson.
- 20:00
Farewell dinner: one last Tuscan dinner: pappardelle al cinghiale (with wild boar), ribollita or bistecca. Book, especially at the weekend. To finish, an artisan gelato: look for the ones in natural colours and without huge mounds of cream.
Civitatis activities for this day
- 9:30
My recommendation
If I had to choose just three Civitatis activities for this trip, I'd book:
- Guided tour of the Duomo and the dome (Opens in a new tab)
- Guided tour of the Uffizi Gallery (Opens in a new tab)
- Day trip to Pisa (Opens in a new tab)
They are experiences that complement exploring on your own really well.
Can you add one more day?
I'd spend it on this: Siena, San Gimignano and the Chianti Countryside. It's well worth it.
Other Civitatis activities you can add to your trip
If you have more time or want to swap a visit, these are other interesting things to do in Florence:
| Activity | Approximate duration |
|---|---|
| Free walking tour of Florence (Opens in a new tab) | 2 h |
| Day trip to Cinque Terre (Opens in a new tab) | 12 h |
Activities, times, languages and prices may vary depending on the date. See all options on Civitatis Florence
A few tips for planning your trip to Florence
- Book the Uffizi and the Accademia in advance, as well as the climb to the Duomo's dome, which is only done with a time slot. In high season the most convenient slots sell out.
- The Uffizi, the Accademia and the Pitti Palace are closed on Mondays. Check opening hours and days before fixing your itinerary.
- The climb to the dome (about 460 steps) and to the bell tower (about 410) has no lift. If you have mobility problems, choose only one of the two.
- Do not miss the sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo, but arrive early: it fills up.
- If you visit Pisa and Lucca on your own, check the train timetables and leave a margin for the return.
- Tours to Siena, San Gimignano and Chianti take up almost the whole day. If you prefer a more relaxed pace, spend a full day on just one area of Tuscany.
- If you hire a car, avoid driving into the ZTL in the centre: fines arrive at your home weeks later.
- Leave some free time to wander through Florence without a plan, step into its little shops and enjoy its cafés and gelato shops.
More itineraries in Italy
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