Florence is one of the most popular cities in Italy to visit. There is an infinite number of things to see and do there. However, it can get a little overwhelming when trying to plan out your visit.
The most important thing when visiting Florence is not to try and see everything in a single trip. Pick three attractions you would like to see each day and go from there.
Since this was our first time visiting the city, we focused mainly on the top attractions. This guide will help give you an idea of how you can plan out your 3 days in Florence.
Day 1: Exploring the City Center
Florence was our third stop in Italy. We started in Rome and then spent a couple of days in Siena for the famous Palio horse race.
From there, it was just a quick train ride to Florence. The train for Siena took us to the Santa Maria Novella station on the outskirts of the city.
You can buy your tickets ahead on Italiarail, but we chose to purchase them at the Siena train station. Since we had a bunch of luggage with us, we decided to take a taxi from the station to our Airbnb.
There is a taxi stop right outside the train station. A line of drivers was already waiting when we got off the train.
The taxi took us to our Airbnb, where we would be spending the next three days of our trip. We went back and forth deciding between a hotel and an Airbnb to stay at.
Ultimately, we chose an Airbnb because of the price and amenities. This particular one was right next to the Ponte Vecchio and had a private rooftop terrace overlooking the Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens.
One of the best parts of our stay was waking up in the morning, making a cup of coffee, and sitting outside looking over the terracotta rooftops.
Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens
Since we were no more than a block away from the Pitti Palace, we started our day there. Their ticket office sells the Firenze Museum Passes, which we both bought.
The Pitti Palace was first home to Cosimo I de Medici and his wife before being passed on to the Habsburg-Lorraine and Savoy families. The Palace is a combination of museums that exhibit works of art acquired from the royal families that lived here, as well as their personal possessions.
The Gallery of Modern Art focuses more on works of art from the 1800s to the 1900s. After spending some time in the palace, we went outside to see the extensive gardens.
The Boboli Gardens are beautifully kept and full of things to explore. When you walk out of the Pitti Palace, the path takes you straight to the Amphitheatre.
Past the Amphitheatre, there are many hidden areas to discover. Near the back of the gardens is a double staircase that you can climb to the Giardino del Cavaliere.
There you will find the silver museum and a beautiful flower garden with spectacular views of Florence.
Near the entrance of the Boboli Gardens is the Grotto built by Buontalenti in 1583, which took ten years to construct.
The Grotto is composed of three different rooms filled with carvings and remnants of frescoes. The entrance is flanked by carved stalactites and adorned with the Medici family crest. This was one of the most unique parts of the gardens and worth a trip to see!
We spent about two hours wandering around the gardens taking in the beautiful sculptures and landscape. I highly recommend picking up a map at the entrance for some information on each monument within the gardens.
Dinner in Piazza Santo Spirito
For dinner, we walked over to Piazza Santo Spirito. It is a quiet little square with lots of restaurants. We had not made any reservations for our first night in Florence but were able to get into Ristorante Borgo Antico without waiting long.
The servers were very hospitable and gave us a glass of Limoncello while we waited to be seated outside. We ordered pizza and linguini with mussels, both of which were delicious.
The square itself is was pretty lively. Many families and couples sat around listening to a band that had set up in front of the church, playing music.
Explore the Ponte Vecchio and City at Night
Florence was one of the destinations we had been looking forward to seeing the most. We wanted to spend some time during our stay exploring the picturesque streets. After dinner, we ended up wandering the city.
The Ponte Vecchio was almost directly outside our door, so we started there. It is a beautiful and unique bridge over the River Arno. Lining the bridge on either side are a variety of jewelry and novelty shops.
The Ponte Vecchio is a popular tourist attraction, so I do not recommend buying anything there. You will be paying much more than if you went to some of the local shops in town. The bridge itself, however, is a must-see attraction during your visit.
From early in the morning until way past sunset, it is full of people shopping or sitting around enjoying the views of the river.
Before heading back to our Airbnb, we went to explore the city center. Florence is beautiful by day, but it is absolutely magical at night.
We spent the night wandering around the city center, popping into shops and souvenir stores. We grabbed some chocolates from a local chocolatier on our travels and familiarized ourselves with the winding streets and spectacular architecture before calling it a night.
Day 2: Touring the Museums
The Uffizi Gallery
We started our second day off by visiting the Uffizi Gallery. On the way to the gallery, we grabbed some coffee and a pastry from a small bakery.
This particular one did not have any seating, so we ate while we enjoyed our early morning stroll through the streets.
Since we arrived at the Uffizi at 9:30 in the morning, the line to get in wasn’t too bad. We waited about 10-15 minutes to get in.
I do recommend getting an audio guide if you are doing a self-guided tour. The Uffizi also has some great guided tours that allow you to skip the line and give you more historical information on many of the main artworks.
There are 101 rooms in the gallery, so it is a good idea to plan what specific works of art you want to see. Two of the most famous paintings in the gallery are the Birth of Venus and Madonna of the Goldfinch.
The Accademia Gallery
From there, we went to the Accademia Gallery. This art gallery is best known for being the home of Michelangelo’s David, but it has some other amazing works of art as well.
Just like with the Uffizi, I highly recommend booking a guided tour or purchasing an audio guide. It is great just looking at the art, but you will appreciate it so much more learning about the history behind it. The Accademia Gallery is much smaller and can easily be seen during one visit.
San Lorenzo Market
You can get anything from fresh meat to fruits, vegetables, sweets, and bakery items. The second floor is full of small restaurants. We arrived right in the middle of lunchtime but were thankfully able to find a free table to eat.
The Duomo
Next, we got ready to visit the Duomo and our hike up the dome. The Duomo is probably the most famous and recognizable building in Florence and is in the heart of the city. The cathedral of the Duomo is free to everyone, so we started there.
Every inch of the 14th-century cathedral is intricately designed. From the mosaic floors to the frescoes, it is one of the most beautiful cathedrals I have ever seen. After spending some time inside of the cathedral, it was time for our hike up the dome.
There are only a certain number of people that can climb at a time, and you have to book an appointment. The times book up fast, so make sure to buy tickets before your visit.
Climb to the Top
The climb to the top was definitely a workout, but well worth it. You climb a total of 463 steps to the top. The tower is tight, and the stone steps are very steep. During parts of your hike up, you will have another tour trying to make their way down. Therefore, it can be very claustrophobic at times.
The final steps to the top are the toughest, but you will be rewarded with the most spectacular views of Florence. We sat on the dome’s terrace for quite a while enjoying the city before making our way back down. Of all the adventures we had over the three days we spent in Florence, that was by far my favorite.
Explore the City
After dinner, we took a stroll along the river Arno and stumbled across Gelateria la Carraia. We almost didn’t go in because of the line, but I am so glad we did. It was by far the best gelato I have ever had. The lines moved quickly, and we looked at the menu while we waited.
My favorite flavor was the Baccio (chocolate and hazelnut). It tastes just like the Italian chocolates I grew up eating. We loved it so much that we went back the next night.
We spent the remainder of the night exploring the Spirito Santo area. It is further away from the city center and therefore not very touristy. Further down from the Gelateria la Carraia, we found a couple of outdoor bars next to the river.
Both were full of locals who were sitting outside, listening to live music. It was a nice change from the hustle and bustle from the last couple of days.
Day 3: Last Day in Florence
Palazzo Vecchio and Piazza Della Signoria
We started the day by walking to the Palazzo Vecchio, known as the symbol of political power in Florence. The medieval building sits on the ruins of an ancient Roman theater, which you can visit during your tour.
Inside the Palazzo is the beautiful Hall of Five Hundred. This impressive hall has the most beautiful paneled ceilings decorated with frescos, sculptures, and gold embellishments.
The rest of the Palazzo makes you feel like you are on a treasure hunt. It is full of secret routes to the most beautiful rooms and apartments of the families that lived here.
Even the grand hall is full of secret clues hidden in some of its paintings. It was one of the many filming sites of the movie “Inferno” based on Dan Brown’s book.
After visiting the Palazzo Vecchio, I would go back as part of a tour for the full experience. Viator is a widely-used tour group within Florence and offers an amazing tour of the Palazzo.
The Palazzo Vecchio sits in the Piazze della Signoria. This square is home to some exquisite sculptures, including a replica of Michelangelo’s David and Bandinelli’s Hercules and Cacus. Lots of tourists like to sit on the steps under the sculptures and enjoy the view of the busy square.
Lunch at All’Antico Viniao
For lunch, we got sandwiches from All’Antico Viniao. The sandwiches here are some of the best I have ever had, and all with fresh ingredients.
We watched one of the employees continuously walk from the bakery across the street with fresh bread. There are multiple lines of people just waiting to order.
Although the lines were pretty long, they went quickly. The restaurant has a handful of sandwiches to choose from, all for around 5€. This location has no seating, so most people sit along the road eating their lunch, as did we. If you are looking for a quick bite, this is the perfect place.
Bargello and Medici Library
The Bargello and Medici Library were the final museums that we visited. The building was used as a prison before being converted to a museum in 1865. It is known for housing a large collection of art from the Renaissance and Middle Ages. The museum is separated into three floors.
The first floor has the Michelangelo Room with sculptures from famous artists such as Buonarroti. The museum has some other wonderful rooms that include works from Michelangelo, Bandinelli, and other famous artists from the 1500s.
From the Bargello, it was just a short walk to the Medici Library. The library is home to the most prestigious collection of books in Italy.
The collection of books began with Cosimo the Elder and ended up in the hands of the Medici family. In 1523, Michelangelo was asked to construct a library in Florence to house these precious books.
The library is one of the best examples of Renaissance influence as its design in construction all happened during this time. During your visit, you will able to see some of the books and manuscripts on display, as well as Michelangelo’s impressive staircase.
Dinner and Sunset
For dinner, we decided to try out the Ristorante Frescobaldi wine bar. The owners are from a long line of winemakers and had a lovely assortment of wines to try.
We ordered some delicious pasta to go with our wine tasting. From there, we went to enjoy the sunset that everyone had been telling us about. The two main places that people go to view the sunset are the Piazzale Michelangelo and the Ponte Vecchio.
We started at the Ponte Vecchio but then ended up walking to one of the other bridges over the river Arno for a less crowded place to view the sunset. This was definitely a wonderful way to end our trip to Florence.
Conclusion
Three days in Florence is a good amount of time to experience the main attractions. Although you will only be able to see a portion of what the city has to offer, you will learn a lot from your trip and hopefully will be inspired to come back again!
If you do have a couple more days to spend in the area, make sure to visit the Tuscan countryside as well. There are lots of smaller cities and lovely vineyards to explore.
Enjoyed this post? Here are some other Italian destinations!
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- Ultimate Travel Guide to Lake Como, Italy
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Rome
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Florence
- Visit Florence Italy: Best Places to See, Stay, and Eat
- Travel Guide: How to Spend 3 Days in Florence
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Tuscany
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Other Italian Destinations
Travel Planning Resources
BOOK YOUR FLIGHT
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Booking.com is one of the best sites to book hotels and vacation rentals. They offer some of the cheapest rates and different payment options.
SCHEDULE YOUR TOURS
Get Your Guide is one of the top sites for tours, excursions, and activities. Viator is another terrific website for all types of experiences.
GET YOUR TRAVEL INSURANCE
World Nomads is one of the top travel insurance companies. It will cover you if you must cancel your trip or if something unexpected happens.
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