How To Spend 1 Day In Florence: The Complete Itinerary
If there is one thing I know about Florence after spending 1+ years living here, it is that this enchanting city straight out of the Renaissance is impossible to see in one day. However, if you happen to be short on time, that doesn’t mean you can’t still try to “see it all” in just 24 hours! To help you make the most of one day in Florence, I’ve selected my favorite museums, churches, landmarks, and restaurants to create the perfect 24 hour itinerary (complete with helpful tips!). I hope that this itinerary helps you fall in love with Firenze as much as I have!
Note: This itinerary requires a lot of walking and can be tiring, particularly if you are stopping in Florence as part of a larger Italy trip. Don’t be afraid to cut back on some of the museums or make the itinerary your own. If you have questions, feel free to contact me!
8:00 AM: See David at the Galleria dell’Accademia
For those hoping to see the most famous man in Florence, you’ll want to purchase tickets online in advance! The lines to see Michelangelo’s masterpiece are always long, and you won’t want to spend hours waiting to get in. I recommend shopping for tickets at least a couple of days in advance and getting your day off to an early start by heading to the museum as soon as it opens.
9:30 AM: Mercato Centrale & Mercado di San Lorenzo
Mercato Centrale is Florence’s famous central market. Today, the top floor is filled with trendy (and yummy) eateries, while the lower level is home to traditional stalls with vendors selling fresh fruits and vegetables, cheeses, meat, and other goods. Stop inside and pick up a snack before venturing outside.
Just outside the Central Market lies the San Lorenzo leather market. This outdoor section is where many of Florence’s famous leather goods are sold. The atmosphere is a fun frenzy of buying and selling, and you are sure to discover a souvenir or two worth taking home. Just be sure to check the quality of the leather before you buy, and don’t forget to bargain!
10:30 AM: The Duomo or Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
The Duomo di Firenze is one of the most stunning and iconic cathedrals in the world. The church itself is free to visit, but you will need a €15 ticket to climb the cupola (the dome section), the bell tower, visit the baptistry, site beneath the church, and the newly re-opened Museo dell’Opera del Duomo. During high season, the lines to climb the Duomo can be hours long, however the view is incredible! For more tips on visiting the Duomo, click here. If you are facing terrible lines, you may want to just enjoy the Duomo from the ground, and try hitting one of Florence’s scenic rooftop bars instead.
12:30 PM: Piazza della Repubblica
Heading from the Duomo to the Piazza della Repubblica will take you past some of Florence’s best shopping. You’ll know you’ve made it to the right piazza when you spot a carousel adding a touch of whimsy to the historic plaza. Spend some time perusing the shops nearby, hop on the carousel, or grab a coffee at Caffe Gilli, Florence’s oldest cafe (it opened in 1733!).
1:00 PM: Lunch At Salumeria Verdi
For lunch, I’d suggest heading to my favorite panino place in town, Salumeria Verdi, also known as Pino’s. The panini here are simply amazing, and you are likely to eat one made by Pino himself! Pino’s is an institution for locals and visitors alike. If you happen to drop by, be sure to say hello from me!
1:45 PM: Basilica di Santa Croce
If you are still on schedule, try stopping by the Piazza di Santa Croce. The church is absolutely stunning, both inside and out, and is the site of the city’s annual calcio storico event (pictured above) . If you are ahead of schedule or really love visiting churches, then consider heading inside. You’ll be able to see funerary monuments erected to the likes of Dante, Galileo, and Ghiberti, among others! There is also a leather shop attached where you can observe the handmade production of quality leather goods.
2:00 PM: Gelato/Coffee on Via Dei Neri
If you can only visit one of the top 10 gelaterias in all of Florence, make it Gelateria dei Neri. The gelato there is simply incredible. Be sure to try a sample of the dei Neri carmel. My favorite combo? Dark chocolate & cream. If you aren’t in the mood for gelato, consider an afternoon coffee from Ditta Artigianale, their capuccino are to die for!
2:30: Piazza della Signoria
The Piazza della Signoria is one of Florence’s most beautiful piazzas. There you’ll find Neptune’s fountain, the Palazzo Vecchio, or “old palace”, a fake statue of David (in case you couldn’t visit the real one), and a free, yes free, open air museum! The piazza is also popular among Florence’s street performers, so you can probably enjoy some life music as you enjoy the art around you.
3:00 PM: Uffizi Gallery
Art lovers won’t want to miss this opportunity to visit the world famous Galleria degli Uffizi. With works by Botticelli, Giotto, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci, the museum is a must-see when in Florence. Just be sure to purchase tickets a few days early, otherwise you will most likely face extremely long lines. If you are unable to get a ticket, instead consider hopping over to the Bargello museum, its smaller and less well known, but certainly worth seeing.
5:00 PM: Ponte Vecchio & Ponte Santa Trinita
The “Ponte Vecchio” or old bridge is considered one of the most beautiful sights in Florence, and it truly is a must see. Walk across the bridge itself and shop for jewelry at the shops on the bridge, or head to the Ponte Santa Trinita for the best view of the bridge itself.
6:00 PM: Sunset At Piazzale or Rooftop Aperitivo
I love catching sunset at the Piazzale, but sometimes a busy day calls for rooftop drinks!
If your feet aren’t killing you yet, you won’t want to miss sunset at the Piazzale Michelangelo. Just be sure to check what time the sun goes down so you arrive on time! Every day, locals and tourists gather to watch the sun set over Firenze and the streets below begin to light up for the evening. You’ll have to walk up quite a few steps, but the view is unforgettable.
If you’ve had enough walking for the day, then you can find an equally beautiful view from the Westin Excelsior rooftop bar (pictured above). Aperitivo there begins at 7 and for €20 you’ll get a delicious cocktail and snacks.
7:00 PM: Dinner
If you head to Acqua Al 2 be sure to get the blueberry steak and share a pasta sampler!
There are so many delicious places to eat & drink in Florence that it is difficult for me to suggest just one! For dinner I’d recommend dining at Osteria Santo Spirito. The food is delicious, and this restaurant happens to be locate don the same side of the river as the Piazzale Michelangelo. Other great places closer to the city center include Acqua al 2 and the charming and romantic La Giostra. No matter which of these you choose, you’ll want to make a reservation in advance as each of these restaurants are quite popular!
Download the FREE printable!
To gain access to the FREE printable version of this post & my exclusive library of travel resources, subscribe today!
The Map
Use this color-coded map to help you navigate around the city! Just start with Red and work your way through the rainbow!
What is on your list of must-does in Florence? Let me know in the comments!
Planning your own trip to Florence? Be sure to check out all of my Florence posts here!
You might also like these helpful posts:
- 30 Great Places To Eat & Drink In Florence
- Two Incredible Weeks In Italy: The Complete Itinerary
- 50 Travel Tips For Visiting Italy
Pin this post for later!
Hi, I’m going to Florence soon and recently started working on my own blog. Just wanted to say this is an amazing post with so much detail. I hope to try one of those rooftop bars on my trip 😉 thank you for all of the great tips!!
Hi Kaitlynn! How exciting-I hope you love the city as much as I do! You should definitely head to one of these rooftop bars-they are incredible! My personal favorites are the Westin and Hotel Cavour. I’m so glad you found this post before your trip, I hope you have an excellent time in Florence! Happy travels, and congratulations on starting a blog! You’ll have to let me know how your trip goes!
Hi Catalina,
Great blog post! Although I’m Canadian, I lived in Napoli for years and travelled to Firenze multiple times. I think you absolutely nailed it on what to do in 1 day. (*side note* mercato, not mercado.)
Hello Cheryl! Thank you so much! I only visited Napoli once for a few days! How amazing that you lived there. I’m glad you enjoyed the post, and thanks for pointing out Mercato! (My Italian professor would be horrified!)
I’d hate to rush Florence but if you must this is a great list of things to see and do. We loved it there. We ended up spending 6 days relaxing and enjoying the Firenze life. Great experience.
Hi Edgar! It is definitely best if you have more than 1 day in Florence, but I am glad you liked this list and were able to spend so much time in Firenze. It really is amazing!
Hi miss adventure,
I will be visiting Florence this October, and I have to say your blog is a great guide for people who can only be in Florence for a short time! Love the idea of the map!
I hope to have enough time to enjoy since I will be staying for 3 days only.
Hi Nicole! I am so glad you discovered my blog before your trip! I am sure you will have an amazing time. 3 days is a perfect amount of time to see many of Florence’s highlights. You’ll have to let me know how your trip goes!
Thank you for the information. Will be visiting Florence in October. We are planning on 2 days there. Your map is very helpful in our planning. Grazing!
I hope you have an amazing trip! October is a lovely time to visit! Let me know if you have any questions! 🙂
Hi Catalina!
I’m currently sitting in Salumeria Verdi enjoying a brasco panini–it’s delicious! Thank you for the tip! I’m loving all of your posts!
Hi Angela! I am so glad that you visited and enjoyed it! Hope you are having an amazing trip!
amazing post , It’s my first comment but I’m following this blog from a while …..many thanx
Hi Heba! I’m glad you enjoyed the itinerary! Thank you for stopping by, and happy travels!
Hi Catalina,
My mother, aunt and myself with coming from Rome to Florence, we are planning on doing your “Florence in 1 day trip.” Do you know of any good places to stay? Or what is the best area to stay in? We then will be heading to Pisa and then to Cinque Terra. We are going end of April.
Hello Jessica! I am so happy that you will be heading to my beloved Firenze for the day! Fortunately, most things in Florence are easily done by walking, so as long as you are within a 20-minute walk to the Duomo, you should be pretty conveniently located. If you aren’t sure and have a place to book in mind, you can feel free to e-mail the location you are looking at and I can tell you if I think it is central! I hope that you end up loving Italy as much as I do!
Hi Catalina. We will be visiting Florence in July 2018. We actually have a day and half to explore there. We are going to be there a half a day on a Monday and a full day on Tuesday. I know that some sites are closed on Mondays and some are closed on Tuesdays. Do you have a suggestion on how to do your itinerary with the time we have?
Thanks
Hello Debby, how exciting! Yes, that is quite true! As far as the main sites mentioned in this post, the Duomo is open every day, while the Uffizi and the Accademia are closed on Mondays! Therefore I’d do as much sightseeing as possible on Monday, and try hitting the museums on Tuesday! If you have time to squeeze in a museum on Monday, here is a list of the ones that are open! I highly recommend the Bargello-it’s one of my favorites in Florence! I’m sure that you will have an amazing couple of days! Enjoy!
Hi Catalina, I will be in Toscane for one week in May and I will definitely come to Florence for one day. I will be in car, I want to park it somewhere and then to walk the rest of the day. Do you have advice to where I should park my car? Thank you!
Hi there Sarah, thanks for stopping by! I haven’t had the need to park near Florence, but I found this article which might help you! Hopefully that will help lead you in the right direction! Enjoy your time in Tuscany!
Hello Catalina, I came across your blog on Pinterest and have enjoyed reading about your adventures. There will be 5 of us visiting Florence in early June. We are staying in Vinci and will be taking the train to Florence for 1 or 2 day trips. Is your 1-day itinerary a walking tour? Do you know when the “less busy” time is for the Uffizi? Thanks for your blogs – they are very helpful.
Ciao!
Hi Deb! I am so happy that you found my blog on Pinterest, I always start my trip planning there! How exciting that you will soon be in my favorite city! Yes, the 1-day itinerary can all be done on foot! Florence is quite compact and easy to walk around. The middle of the day tends to be more crowded, so I suggest going more towards opening hours or later in the afternoon. Glad you’ve found my posts helpful! I hope you have an amazing time! Feel free to reach out if any other questions pop up!