3 Day Florence Itinerary: A Complete Guide to Italy’s Renaissance City

Spend three unforgettable days in Italy’s Renaissance capital with our comprehensive, independent 3 Day Florence itinerary. Covers all the city’s top sights, like the Duomo, Uffizi Gallery and Bargello, as well as local food tips, planning insights, and practical travel advice to help you make the most of your time.

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Florence is grand yet compact, bustling yet atmospheric. The entire historic centre is a World Heritage site, packed with lively piazzas, centuries-old churches, and breathtaking Renaissance art and architecture at every turn.

From Medici power statement palaces to family-run, hole-in-the-wall gelaterias, this is a city that blends the sublime with the everyday.

Whether you’re a first-time visitor, or returning for more Renaissance sleuthing, 3 days is just about enough time to take in the highlights, soak up the atmosphere, and eat very, very well. It’s more than enough to fall completely under Florence’s spell.

Visiting Florence can be overwhelming, but in the best possible way. It’s at times chaotic, crowded, intense. With so much to see and so many people drawn to it, it’s a city you need to plan for and, in the case of many galleries, museums and restaurants, to book well ahead for.

Pause for a moment though among the frescoes of art world heavyweights; find a quiet piazza corner to sit back in with a glass of vino; or watch the city’s red-tiled domes glow in the late afternoon light from a high viewpoint, and you’ll quickly get why Florence has been luring people to her storied streets for millennia.

We’ve been lucky enough to visit Florence several times now, squeezing in everything we can from Caravaggio to Chianti.

Our 3 Day Florence itinerary builds on each of these memorable trips, grouping the must-see sights and our favourite spots into a busy-but-balanced stay that showcases the city’s art, history, culture and, of course, Tuscan cuisine and wine.

This itinerary spans 3 full days in Florence and presumes an arrival the night before Day 1. This is just a guide though, designed to help you put together a trip that hits all the high notes of this unrivalled city. Over to you to create a Florentine foray you’ll never forget.

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Planning a Florence Itinerary

Getting to Florence

Florence’s Peterola Airport (FLR), also known as Amerigo Vespucci Airport, is around 6km from the historic city centre, with direct flights from cities in Italy, Europe more broadly, and the UK.

You can also travel to Florence via high-speed train from Rome, Milan or Venice in around 2 hours. If you’re flying into Pisa or Bologna, both cities have direct train connections to Florence in around an hour or so.

From the airport, a taxi or shuttle will get you into town in around 15-20 minutes, depending on your destination and traffic. There’s also the Volainbus which runs every half-hour from the airport to Santa Maria Novella station.

Perhaps the cheapest and most convenient option is the T2 tram. It runs every 5-10 minutes, costs just €1.50 and travels to Piazza dell’Unità Italiana, on the very edge of Florence’s historic centre.

If you want the certainty of a pre-booked transfer between the airport and Florence, check out Welcome Pickups. It takes the hassle out of navigating to your stay with luggage and valuables in tow.

Best time to visit Florence

We’ve visited Florence in spring, autumn and late summer. In our opinion, April to June and September/October offer the best balance of weather and crowds. The days are pleasant and the evenings warm enough for al fresco dining (with a long sleeve top handy), but without the peak season crush.

As with many parts of Italy (and Europe), summer in Florence can be stiflingly hot and packed with tourists. Unless you book well ahead, you may find you spend much of your trip queuing in the heat for galleries, museums and restaurants.

August is also when many Italians take their annual holidays, so some of the smaller restaurants and shops may close over this period.

Winter is a bit quieter and cheaper, though shorter hours may be in operation at certain museums and galleries, so it’s important to check ahead.

Getting around Florence

Florence is best explored on foot. Most of the major sights are clustered in and around the compact historic centre and the Oltrarno district on the other side of the River Arno. Wear comfortable shoes; there’s lots of walking in this itinerary and some of the older, more uneven paved streets can be punishing on the feet.

The narrow roads here aren’t particularly car-friendly and parking is a serious challenge. Regardless, the historic centre of Florence is a Zona Traffico Limitato (ZTL), which means there are restrictions on which vehicles can enter the ZTL at certain times. You can be fined for entering a ZTL at the wrong time, so if you plan on driving to Florence and you’re staying within the ZTL, this is worth investigating further (your stay will likely be a good starting point for advice).

For longer hauls (like the uphill hike to Piazzale Michelangelo and Basilica San Miniato al Monte), taxis and the city’s Autolinee Toscane buses are available, as is the Hop-on Hop-off City Tour bus.

Where to stay in Florence

Florence has a wide range of accommodation options ranging from B&Bs to self-contained apartments, historic hotels and boutique guesthouses.

Being as popular as it is though, low-cost stays are few and far between; you may have to share a dorm or a bathroom, or stay further from the centre, if you want to get your nightly cost into budget stay territory.

We’ve always managed to snag fairly central places to stay when visiting Florence, which made the city feel very walkable. If you’re planning to explore on foot as we’ve done, we suggest looking for somewhere within 10-15 minutes’ walk of the Duomo.

We loved the quiet, spotless rooms at Le Camere Dei Conti, just minutes from Santa Maria Novella station and a short walk to the Duomo. It’s an ideal base for exploring Florence on foot. Rooms are bright and spacious, and the thoughtful extras like free water and coffee, along with super friendly staff and a smooth check-in process (even late at night), were an added bonus.

We also have fond memories of a short stay at Hotel Balcony, another great spot just a few minutes’ walk from the Duomo. The compact rooms here are basic but the staff are extremely friendly, making this a decent-value stay in central Florence. The rooftop terrace with partial Duomo views was the icing on the cake for us.

Other options that get consistently good reviews include:

• Good value: Stradivarious Guesthouse – lovely renovated guesthouse | spacious, clean and comfortable rooms | quiet neighbourhood | close to tramline between city and airport | friendly and responsive host
• Good value: Melody House – simple, clean rooms | friendly owner | easy self-check-in | close to train station | 15-minute walk to Duomo
• Mid-range: The Moon Boutique Hotel & Spa – stylish, comfortable rooms | quiet location | 20-minute walk to historic centre | spa and sauna facilities | decent breakfast included | friendly staff
• Mid-range: The Social Hub Florence Lavagnini – cool, modern hotel | compact, well-designed rooms | rooftop terrace with pool and bar enjoying views across Florence | communal areas and co-working space | gym facilities | 15 minutes’ walk to Duomo
• Spend a bit more: Hotel La Gemma – boutique 5-star hotel | stylish, comfy rooms | attentive, professional staff | fine dining restaurant and lounge bar | spa and sauna facilities | central location
• Spend a bit more: Palazzo dei Conti Residenza d’Epoca – historic palazzo | close to Duomo | spacious rooms with comfy beds | some rooms have balconies with Duomo views | top-notch staff.

Booking tickets in advance

Flexibility is essential in the planning stages of a Florence itinerary. We’ve provided a suggested running order for each day of this itinerary, however it’s absolutely critical to check opening days and hours for the specific dates you plan to visit. Especially Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays when closures or reduced hours are typical.

While many places open daily in Florence, there are lots of variations to site opening times. These can vary by season, month or day, sometimes there are late openings, early closures, or temporary closures for special events or works. Some museums have free entry on select Sundays. In August, many businesses close for annual holidays.

It’s also important to note that most places have a ‘last entry’ time, usually 30 minutes to an hour before the site closes.

Below we’ve outlined when some of the sites we’ve included in this itinerary are closed, or have early or late opening. Specific openings hours are included in the entry for each site under the day-by-day itinerary for Florence further on. Things can change though, so it’s always best to confirm before you go.

You may need to reorder the days or sites in this itinerary depending on what’s open and when on the dates you visit.

Closed Mondays	Uffizi Gallery Galleria dell’Accademia (Michaelangelo’s David) Palazzo Pitti Boboli Gardens (first and last Monday each month)
Closed Tuesdays	Medici Chapels Museo del Bargello
Thursdays	Palazzo Vecchio closes at 2pm
Sundays	Duomo Cathedral is closed (other parts of Duomo Complex are open but with varying hours) Santa Croce opens at 12.30pm Bargello closes at 1.50pm

So should you book tickets in advance?

3 Day Florence Itinerary – Day by Day Guide

Day 1: City Insights, Captivating Frescoes & Uffizi Masters

Highlights: Historic Centre Walking Tour or Street Food Tour | Piazza della Signoria | Palazzo Vecchio | Uffizi Gallery

Get to know Florence on a Guided Walking Tour

Start the first full day of your 3 Day Florence itinerary with a guided walking tour of the historic centre.

This is our favourite way to get oriented in a new city, and gain some insights about the history, culture and highlights of the destination (as well as the best eating and drinking spots) from a local in the know.

There are many options for guided tours in this wonderful city, from general tours showcasing Florence’s key sites through to special interest tours around art, history and food.

We usually like to start with a broad introductory tour, like this well-rated 1.5 hour Guided Walking Tour, which takes in major sites such as the Duomo, Piazza della Signoria and Ponte Vecchio, while sharing stories about the city’s rich past and former residents. A great way to get your bearings and uncover stories behind Florence’s most iconic streets and landmarks.

If you want to save your feet, another option is this private Guided City Tour by Rickshaw. You’ll explore pedestrian-only zones and lesser-known laneways with a guide as you visit key locations over an hour or 90 minutes.

Both of these tours have a range of departure times so you can organise your day to suit.

Fancy a food-oriented Florence introduction?

If your preferred approach to getting to know a city is via your tastebuds, then a food tour might be the way to go.

This top rated 2.5 hour, small-group Street Food Tour with Wine & Local Guide will have you sipping Tuscan wine and filling up on a range of street food like schiacciata (a crunchy Tuscan bread), handmade pasta, local biscotti and more, as you explore San Lorenzo Market and other local landmarks.

It sets off several times throughout the day, so you could potentially visit Palazzo Vecchio first thing, do a street food tour over lunch and visit the Uffizi in the afternoon.   

Search out the sculptures of Piazza della Signoria

Walking tours often start in or near to Piazza della Signoria, Florence’s enduring civic centre and social nucleus.

This is the city’s central hub and, if you’re anything like us, you’ll regularly find yourself back in this large and bustling square throughout your Florence trip.

The buildings lining Piazza della Signoria span 500 years, some dating back to the 14th-century.

One of the oldest and most unusual of these is the Loggia dei Lanzi, an arched outdoor gallery abutting the Uffizi Gallery. It’s adorned with ancient Roman sculptures and several Renaissance sculptures commissioned by Florence’s one-time ruling elite, the Medici family.

Other sculptures in the square to look out for include the Fountain of Neptune, a statue of Medici mogul, Cosimo I, and a replica of Michelangelo’s David.

Keen eyes might also spot the mysterious profile of a man carved into the façade of the Palazzo Vecchio. This is known as the ‘Importuno di Michaelangelo’, and it’s said to have been engraved by the great artist himself.

Wonder at Palazzo Vecchio’s Hall of the Five Hundred

Rising high above Piazza della Signoria is the imposing, medieval Palazzo Vecchio (the Old Palace), with its lofty tower. Built more than 700 years ago to house the Florentine government, the palace went on to become a ducal residence for the Medici before returning to its civic roots: today it is Florence’s town hall. 

There’s much to see within the fortress walls of Palazzo Vecchio: medieval and Renaissance architecture; courtyards, secret rooms and passageways; and a sizeable art collection.

You can visit Palazzo Vecchio independently, which is what we did, but guided, small-group tours like this 75-minute Secret Passages Tour will get you into the hidden passages, private chambers and tucked-away staircases once used by the Medici. This ticket includes entry to the palace and time to explore on your own afterwards.

If your time in Palazzo Vecchio is limited, head straight to the Salone dei Cinquecento (Hall of the Five Hundred). This cavernous room is covered in vast, intricate battle scenes by the artist Vasari, rumoured to hide a lost work by Leonardo da Vinci beneath their layers. Film fans might also recognise the space from the films Hannibal and Dan Brown’s Inferno.

Munch on tasty Florentine panini

For lunch today, swing by one of Florence’s sandwich shops, like Panetteria e Stuzzicheria De Neri or All’Antico Vinaio. Both are a short walk from Piazza della Signoria along Via dei Neri.

Pick up some classic, stuffed-full-of-goodness Italian panini and enjoy as you slowly make your way to the next stop, the Uffizi Gallery.

Get your Renaissance art fix at the Uffizi Gallery

Give the rest of your afternoon over to the Gallerie degli Uffizi (Uffizi Gallery), home to one of the most important art collections in the world.

Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Primavera are here, as well as masterpieces by Caravaggio, Michaelangelo, Rafael, Leonardo da Vinci and many others.

The Uffizi is one of the most popular things to do in Florence, so unless you want to spend a couple of hours queuing, book your tickets to the gallery well in advance. When you book online, you can select a specific entry time.

Our tips for the Uffizi: have a strategy for your visit, know what you want to see in advance, and don’t try to do it all. The Uffizi collection is vast and art fatigue is real (one reason we suggest tackling it on Day 1). Here’s a link to the official Uffizi visitor map so you can plan ahead.

If you’d rather have an expert steer you to the gallery’s masters, as well as some of its less obvious treasures, you might consider this highly-rated 1.5-hour Uffizi Guided Tour. It includes skip-the-line entry and you can opt for a smaller group tour if you prefer.

Walk the path of the princes in the Vasari Corridor

If you’re doing a tour of the Uffizi, you can now also add on a walk through the recently reopened Corrodoio Vasariano (Vasari Corridor).

The ‘Prince’s Path’ is a not-so-secret passageway that runs from within the Uffizi Gallery, over the Ponte Vecchio, to the Boboli Gardens in the Oltrarno district.

The corridor was built by the Medici clan in the mid-1500s to provide a private walkway between the business salons of the Palazzo Vecchio and the family residence in the Palazzo Pitti on the other side of the river. No mingling with the masses for this grand lot.

After eight years of renos, the Vasari Corridor reopened to visitors in late 2024 and while we haven’t toured it yet, it’s definitely on our list of Florence highlights for a future visit.

Tours start from within the Uffizi and can only be done as part of a visit to the gallery. This top rated Uffizi Gallery & Optional Vasari Corridor Guided Tour showcases the Uffizi’s treasures with a professional guide, then gives you the chance to journey through the Vasari Corridor from the Uffizi to the Boboli Gardens. 

Itinerary Tip: If you do opt for a trip through the Vasari Corridor as part of your Uffizi visit, it might be worth reordering your Florence itinerary to spend the morning of Day 3 at the Uffizi Gallery (and visit the Bargello Museum today instead), as you’ll pop out of the Vasari Corridor in the Oltrarno District, where you’ll spend the rest of Day 3 exploring Palazzo Pitti and other sites on that side of the river.

We would note though that we’ve deliberately put the Uffizi Gallery and Palazzo Pitti on different days in our Florence 3 Day itinerary as it’s a lot of art gazing to attempt in one day.

Feast on Tuscan fare and vino

Tonight, search out a delicious Tuscan dinner at one of Florence’s many osterie – relaxed, traditional eateries serving up tasty regional fare and vino.

One spot where we’ve enjoyed a very memorable antipasti and Florentine steak is at Osteria e Vinaino Cicalone, a cozy establishment in the north-west of the historic centre, near Piazza di Santa Maria Novella.

Florence sightseeing from the River Arno

If you have a chance to get out on the River Arno while you’re visiting Florence, this is a lovely, serene way to see the city (and the iconic Ponte Vecchio) from a very different perspective.

Traditional boats ply the river throughout the day on mini-cruises like this Guided Gondola Boat Tour, which lasts 45-minutes and includes a chilled vino for sunset and evening guests.

Or take it up a notch and consider a one-hour evening Arno River Cruise with Aperitivo, aboard a quiet electric boat with some tasty snacks and white wine: a beautifully ambient way to experience Florence by night. 

Day 2: Marble Icons, Heavenly Monuments & Hallowed Tombs

Highlights: Michaelangelo’s David | Duomo Complex | Il Mercato Centrale Firenze | Medici Chapels | Santa Croce Basilica

Get up close to Michaelangelo’s most famous sculpture

The second day of our Florence 3 Day itinerary is a big day, so aim for an early start with a visit to Michaelangelo’s David for opening.

Standing over five metres tall (17 feet), this extraordinary marble sculpture was carved by Michaelangelo at the start of the 1500s and originally graced the entrance to Palazzo Vecchio. Today, it’s housed in a purpose-built domed hall within the Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze (Academy Gallery of Florence).

There are other works to see in the gallery, including Michaelangelo’s four unfinished sculptures, The Prisoners. There are also Florentine artworks and a musical instruments museum.

The Galleria dell’Accademia is open every day, except Monday, from 8.15am to 6.50pm. Tickets are available at the door but this is one of the busiest Florence attractions, so to avoid long queues, we would definitely recommend that you book your timed entry well ahead (with this ticket, you’ll get priority entry and access to a digital audio guide app). If you’re following our itinerary for Florence, go with the earliest entry you can get and aim to spend around 1.5 hours here.

You can also explore the Galleria dell’Accademia under your own steam, but tours are available, like this top pick Accademia Gallery Guided Tour, which includes skip-the-line entry and a one-hour guided experience.

Marvel at the largest stone-and-brick dome ever built at the Duomo

From Michaelangelo’s David, it’s just 5-10 minutes’ walk down Via Ricasoli to Florence’s most iconic site: the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore (Cathedral of the Lady of the Flower), more commonly known as the Duomo.

The red, white and green marble façade of the Duomo rises high above the Florentine skyline; a spiritual beacon for the city for more than 550 years.

The scale of this religious house is monumental: Brunelleschi’s gravity-defying, double-shell dome was a marvel when it was raised in the 15th-century, and remains to this day the largest stone-and-brick dome ever built.

Entry to the cathedral itself is free, and it’s open Monday to Saturday from 10.15am to 3.45pm (it’s closed to visitors on Sundays and for religious celebrations when worship is taking place).

This is also one of the most popular things to see in Florence, so try to get there before opening to avoid the long queues that build throughout the day. Visitors are required to cover shoulders and knees.

Itinerary Tip: One tip for avoiding the long cathedral queues is to buy one of the Duomo Complex passes and enter the Duomo via the Santa Reparata Crypt (this does require paying for entry instead of queueing for free access to the cathedral but you will get to see other parts of the complex, though you will need to enter the crypt at a selected time).

Book your Duomo Complex pass well in advance as tickets can sell out, especially in peak.

Depending on how much you plan to do and see within the Duomo Complex you can easily expect to spend a couple of hours here.

Sample regional specialties at Il Mercato Centrale Firenze

After leaving the Duomo, head 10-minutes north-west and pause for a tasty lunch at the covered Il Mercato Centrale Firenze (Florence Central Market).

Housed in a 19th-century glass-and-steel building, the market is packed with artisan stalls offering everything from traditional Tuscan lampredotto panini (not a personal favourite) to meats, cheeses, pizza and fresh pasta (yes to all of these).

While the fresh produce market stalls on the ground floor are open Monday to Saturday and close around 2pm, the first floor food market is open every day from 9am till late, so it’s also an option for a casual dinner if you want to keep things simple.

In the surrounding streets, you’ll also find the outdoor San Lorenzo Market, where you can pick up leathergoods, souvenirs and more.

Stand among Florence’s dynastic greats at the Medici Chapels

We’ve long been fascinated by the Medici family, Florence’s power dynasty for 300 years from the 15th-century.

Much of Florence’s art and architecture is a legacy of this great house, and it all culminates in their extraordinary self-tribute, the Cappelle Medicee (Medici Chapels).

Located just 2 minutes from Il Mercato Centrale Firenze within the 14th-century Basilica di San Lorenzo, this is one of our favourite Florence attractions.

The Medici Chapels are a showcase of dynastic ambition rendered in marble. Forty-nine family members lie entombed within the sumptuously designed Chapel of the Princes, the crypt, and Michaelangelo’s New Sacristy.

The Medici Chapels are open every day, except Tuesday, from 8.15am to 6.50pm. Secure your timed entry in advance with online booking.

If you’re keen to get the inside story on the lives of those interred within, and the stunning artworks that decorate them, you can also sign up for a 1.5 hour Medici Chapels Guided Tour, which includes fast-track entry. 

Michaelangelo’s Hidden Room

Fifty years ago, a small storage space was discovered beneath the Medici Chapels. Restoration soon uncovered a series of sketches on the walls that are now believed to have been made by Michaelangelo while he hid out in the room during a period when he was in the Medici bad books.

Michaelangelo’s Hidden Room opened daily to the public in 2024 but for the protection of the sketches, entry is strictly limited and timed, and it books out far in advance.

We haven’t had a chance to do this yet and it’s very high on our list of things to do in Florence next time we visit!

If you want this to feature in your own itinerary for Florence, make it one of the first things you look into when you start planning and book your ticket as far in advance as possible.

Pay homage to Renaissance legends at Santa Croce Basilica

From the Medici Chapels, wander around 15-20 minutes via the Duomo to Santa Croce. It’s an even better stroll with a gelato in hand.

Santa Croce is a slightly less polished but characterful corner to the east of Florence’s historic centre. The streets around here are home to leather workshops, boutiques and quiet cafés.

Our focus here, the Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross), is also known as the Temple of the Italian Glories as within its frescoed walls, soaring arches and vaulted ceiling, it houses the tombs of Florentine heavyweights like Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli and more.

There’s quite a lot to explore within the Santa Croce monumental complex, including chapels, cloisters, the museum and crypt. Entry can be purchased at the complex, or you can buy tickets online in advance.

The complex is open daily from 9.30am to 5.30pm, with a 12.30pm opening on Sundays. The Santa Croce ticket will also give you reduced entry to nearby sites such as the Galileo museum, the Casa Buonarroti museum, and the Casa Vasari art museum, should you have extra time to explore.

Celebrate the Tuscan culinary scene

Tonight is another chance to experience some top notch Tuscan fare at one of the many osterie and ristoranti in and around Florence’s historic centre. This is an ever-shifting scene, so it’s worth checking the latest reviews and round-ups of best eateries in the city when you go.

Another stand-out Florentine feast for us was at Trattoria 13 Gobbi, on the western edge of the historic centre. This cozy local eatery is very popular, so book ahead.

Day 3: Sculptural Treasures, Medici Legacies & Sunset Vistas

Highlights: Bargello Museum | Ponte Vecchio | Pitti Palace (or cooking class) | Sunset at Piazzale Michaelangelo | Gregorian chant at San Miniato al Monte Basilica

Discover the best of Renaissance sculpture at the Bargello

Kick off your final day in Florence with the city’s finest collection of Renaissance sculpture at the Museo Nazionale del Bargello (Bargello Museum). Dating back to the mid 13th-century, this is Florence’s oldest public building.

As highlights of Florence go, the Bargello is our favourite, along with the Medici Chapels. We just love this beautiful, medieval space: it’s high, fortress-like walls hide a peaceful sanctuary within the lively historic centre.

In our experience, it’s also less busy than the Uffizi (though we would still recommend booking ahead to ensure you get in).

You’ll find sculptures here by masters such as Michaelangelo, Donatello (look out for his groundbreaking bronze sculpture, David), Giambologna, Cellini and many more.

It’s also a showcase of applied decorative arts like medals, ceramics, tapestries, weapons and armour.

The Bargello is open every day, except Tuesday, from 8.15am to 6.50pm (1.50pm on Sundays). Book your timed Reserved Entry Ticket and skip the queue.

Cross the ancient span of Ponte Vecchio to Oltrarno

From the Bargello, make your way to the River Arno and the Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge). By now, there’s a good chance you’ve already spent some time on this iconic building-covered span. Today, you’ll cross over to the other side.

There’s been a bridge here since Roman times, but the current bridge dates back to mid-1300s and is the oldest bridge still standing in Florence.

Ponte Vecchio originally housed Florence’s meat market. However, the Medici nobles – who regularly crossed the bridge along their private Vasari Corridor above and were perhaps less than pleased with the sensory side-effects of the trade below – moved the butchers out in the late 1500s and encouraged jewellers to set up on the bridge instead. Jewellery merchants still trade on the bridge today, along with art and souvenir shops.

Itinerary Tip: If you’re planning to visit the Uffizi as part of your Florence itinerary and want to include a trip through the Vasari Corridor, you may want to swap out this morning’s visit to the Bargello with the Uffizi – have a look at our notes on this on Day 1.

Lunch in the Oltrarno

On the far side of the River Arno, you’ll find the leafier, more low-key Oltrarno district. This area is noted for its traditional handicrafts like jewellery, leatherwork and bookbinding – it’s a great area for picking up some lovely handmade Florentine gifts and souvenirs.

Before launching into this afternoon’s art fix, we recommend grabbing a bite to eat.

We lingered over a delicious pizza and a couple of beers by the river at Pizzeria Riva D’Arno Firenze, around a 5-10 walk from the Ponte Vecchio past the historic bridges of Ponte alla Carraia and Ponte Santa Trinita (both of which serve up great views back towards the historic centre).

Another very popular pizza option in the area is Gustapizza, or the quick and tasty paninis at Amici di Ponte Vecchio.

Roam regal apartments and masterpiece galleries at Palazzo Pitti

After lunch, make your way to the vast Palazzo Pitti (Pitti Palace), former residence of the Medici grand dukes, followed by Italy’s royals.

The Pitti is truly immense, and houses a number of museums within its fortress-like walls. Unless you have days to spare, the best approach today is to focus your time on just a couple of sections.

Our primary goal at the Pitti was to search out Caravaggio in the Palatine Gallery. We were still waylaid by the other Renaissance and Baroque masters to be found here, including Raphael, Rubens, Titian and more.

Other museums within the palace include the lavish Royal Apartments, a gallery of Modern Art, a museum of costume and fashion, a museum of Russian icons, and treasures of the Medici grand dukes.

Behind the Pitti, the expansive Giardino de Boboli (Boboli Gardens) stretch away up the hillside in a Renaissance flourish of sculptures, fountains and grottos.

The Pitti Palace is open Tuesday to Sunday from 8.15am to 6.30pm (it’s closed on Mondays, while the Boboli Garden are closed every first and last Monday of the month). As with all of Florence’s major sites, it can get busy, so it’s worth booking your tickets online in advance.

This combined Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens Ticket gets you into the palace museums and Boboli Gardens, as well as the gardens at nearby Villa Bardini. It also includes eBooks packed with expert insight to guide you through the art, history and views.

Art Overload? Swap the Pitti Palace for a Tuscan Cooking Class!

If the idea of another couple of hours gazing at oil paintings makes your head feel like it might explode, a great alternative to today’s Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens visit is to spend a couple of hours learning the art of Italian cooking. Best of all, you get to eat your creations – that’s lunch sorted.

There are loads of cooking classes on offer in this foodie town, but a few highly-rated options include:

• Pasta Cooking Class – Learn to make three types of fresh pasta from scratch in this 3-hour, hands-on cooking class with wine inside a medieval Florentine tower.
• Pasta & Tiramisu Cooking Class – In this popular 3-hour session, you’ll make fresh pasta and classic tiramisu at a central Florence restaurant, also with wine.
• Premium Pizza and Gelato Preparation Class – Learn how to prep a tasty pizza and watch a gelato-making demo in this relaxed class led by a local chef. Enjoy the results with a glass of Chianti.

Ancient gateways and sweet treats

From Palazzo Pitti, make your way back down to the river and head to the right along Via de’Bardi to the Porta San Niccolò, a stone gate-tower that was once part of Florence’s medieval city walls.

You’ll pass a couple of gelato shops en route (our personal pick is Cantina del Gelato Il Gelato Artigianale) – a perfect excuse to quiet your art-frazzled mind with a sweet treat as you make your way up to the next stop.

Fun Fact: Gelato is said to have its origins in Florence, with the treat invented by Renaissance artist and architect, Bernardo Buontalenti, who had an apparent side hobby in dessert-making. He made the creamy creation for the Medici (of course). Like we needed any more reasons for a daily dose of gelato in this town.

Take in sunset and Gregorian chant overlooking Florence

From Porta San Niccolò, make your way up the ramps and via one of several pathways to Piazzale Michelangelo. This panoramic terrace offers spectacular views over Florence, and it’s particularly beautiful at sunset.

It’s around a 10-15 minute walk up to the Piazzale and a bit of a steep climb. There are various other routes to the top; you could walk along the kinder (but much longer) incline of Via Michaelangelo, a journey of around 40 minutes to an hour. Or walk 20 minutes from the Boboli Gardens’ Belvedere Fort exit along Via di Belvedere.

Bus routes 12 and 13 also service Piazzale Michaelangelo, from opposite directions. If you’re using the Florence Hop-on Hop-Off Bus Tour to explore, both routes stop here. Taxis are an option too.

Depending on the time of year, you might want to stop first at Piazzale Michaelangelo and watch as the sinking sun changes the light over Florence. It bustles up here at this time of day – we had a local busker providing an Ed Sheeran tribute soundtrack. Take a seat on the steps and soak it all in.

If sunset is later when you visit, or if you’re seeking a more ambient end-of-day experience, head up behind the Piazzale to the Basilica di San Miniato al Monte (Basilica of San Minias on the Mountain), one of Florence’s oldest and most peaceful spots.

You may have spotted the white Romanesque façade of this thousand-year-old church from the other side of the river. The views from here, and from its serene Porte Sante cemetery, are sublime.

The Basilica is open from 9.30am to 1pm and 3.30pm to 7pm daily (on Sundays it opens at 8.15am) and it’s free to go inside. You’ll find a dimly-lit space with a wooden trussed ceiling, decorated panels and frescoes, and a beautiful mosaic apse. 

Time it right (we haven’t yet), and you may get to experience the abbey’s Benedictine monks performing vespers in Latin and Gregorian chant. This is typically around sunset but, as we discovered, times vary so check the website in advance.

A final Florentine feast

Make your way from the heights of the Piazzale and San Miniato down to the streets of Oltrarno for one more Florentine dinner.

Perhaps some rustic ambience and tasty regional fare at the popular Trattoria Giovanni or another local ristorante with classic Tuscan dishes and informal charm.

Wrap up your 3 Day Florence itinerary with a final evening passeggiata along the Arno, or one last Chianti in the shadow of a centuries-old tower (our pick is the Tower Bar in the ancient Torre di Pagliazza)…and start planning your return to Italy’s finest Renaissance city!

Or get ready for more travels through this gorgeous part of Italy with a road trip through the hill towns of Tuscany, Umbria and La Marche.

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Sound like your kind of adventure? If you’ve got any questions about our 3 day Florence itinerary or visiting Italy, we’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

If you have more time in the region you might enjoy our Tuscany road trip or find some Italy travel inspiration on our Italy page.