We’re asked all the time about the best way to visit Florence in a day.
In an ideal world, you’d spend a lot more time than that in this incredible city, and we think you’d be wise to allocate at least 4 or 5 days to Florence when planning a trip to Italy. But we know that’s not always feasible, and if you really do only have 24 hours to play with in the City of the Medici you can still experience much of the best of what Florence has to offer.
You won’t be able to go in-depth or see some of the more off-the-beaten-path parts of the city, but it should be enough time for you to at least get a good introduction to the highlights. Consider the following suggested one day itinerary in Florence to be something like the trailer to a feature-length movie: you’ll still need to come back in the future to see the whole film, but you’ll at least have a good sense of what it’s about!
Read on for our guide to the best way to spend one day in Florence.
Florence Tours
Experience the Magic of Florence
MORNING
We’ve got a long day ahead of us, and so we’ll need to prime our engines the Italian way before we get going – with plenty of caffeine and sugar! No day in Florence can be said to have begun before your morning cappuccino and cornetto, and whatever area you’re staying in (more on that here in our guide to where to stay in Florence) you’ll be sure to find a quality local neighborhood bar or cafe to fit the bill.
Hip Melaleuca, an Australian-inspired cafe and bakery located right on the Arno, is a firm favorite. If you’re looking for something more classic, then venerable and elegant Cibrèo, located by the Sant’Ambrogio market, is for you. For old world charm and top-notch pastries right in the center of town, try Caffè Scudieri.
Suitably caffeinated, it’s time to meet the greatest figure of the Italian Renaissance. Yes, you’ve got it – first stop is Florence’s Accademia gallery, home to Michelangelo’s iconic David. As a savvy traveler on a tight schedule you’ll have purchased your timed entrance tickets in advance online, meaning you’ll breeze past the queues and come face-to-face with the magnificent marble hero. You could easily spend a few hours in the museum, but we’ve got a lot to get through today so an hour here should suffice – you’ll have to save the deep-dive for your next visit to Florence!
In Florence, all roads eventually lead to the next stop on our itinerary. This is Piazza del Duomo, where the city’s enormous cathedral, set alongside the no less impressive baptistery and bell tower, dominate the skyline. We don’t have space to recount the fascinating history of Santa Maria del Fiore here – suffice to say that the massive church was built in the Middle Ages to reflect the power and influence of the city. When Brunelleschi finally managed to finish the surmounting dome, it was one of the most important moments of the early Renaissance.
Time will probably be too tight for you to enter the cathedral. Instead, admire the incredible Baptistery next door, where the Lorenzo Ghiberti-designed Gates of Paradise shimmer in gold as they recount scenes of the Old Testament. If you have time, whilst here you should also consider climbing the church’s Campanile, or Bell Tower.
The brainchild of proto-Renaissance master Giotto, the campanile soars over 84 meters into the sky; its red, white and green marble pattern is a vivid statement of the aesthetic ideals of 14th-century Florence. After successfully navigating the 414 steps to the top, you’ll be rewarded with an extraordinary view of Florence and a unique close-up look at Brunelleschi’s cathedral dome, looming so close to you that you can almost touch it!
AFTERNOON
By the time you’re done at the Duomo, it will be ticking over towards lunch o’clock. Thankfully, this is a great area to find yourself in for refueling. If you are in need of a relaxing sit-down lunch with all the trimmings, then head to the renowned old-school Trattoria Sergio Gori, where the classics of Tuscan cuisine are turned out with impeccable quality. The only problem is that you’ll likely be so replete that you’ll lose your sightseeing energy for the rest of the day. Perhaps better, then, to trust yourself to Florence’s enviable street-food culture.
Iconic All’Antico Vinaio will make you a sandwich to die for alongside a glass of wine that you can munch on the street, although the queues can be intimidating. Just as good is the less alla mode but equally lip-smacking I Fratellini – try their fabulous schiacciate (a type of flatbread sandwich) with raw sausage, or anchovy and salsa verde. If you’re feeling adventurous however, you need to make a beeline for one the many trippai, or tripe stalls, in the area to taste the fabulous Florentine lampredotto – a delicious tripe sandwich that’s a lot tastier than it sounds. The go-to destinations in this area are L’Antico Trippaio and Trippaio del Porcellino.
Now you’ve refueled, it’s time to push on into the most historic area of central Florence. As you make your way south towards the river Arno you’ll be exploring the neighborhood where Dante and Giotto, Michelangelo and the Medici lived. Stop off at the church of Orsanmichele, collaboratively built by the most powerful guilds in Florence, to admire sculptures by Ghiberti, Donatello, Orcagna and many more.
Then make a detour to Palazzo Strozzi, arguably Florence’s finest Renaissance palace built by one of the city’s most powerful families. These days the palazzo is a great exhibition space, although you won’t have time to visit the exhibition spaces on your whistle-stop one-day tour of the city. Content yourself instead with poking your nose into the courtyard, a Renaissance banger that had a big influence on the development of Italian architecture.
Located right in the heart of Florence’s historic center, Piazza della Signoria has been the focal point of political and cultural life in the city for centuries. The imposing brick-clad Palazzo Vecchio, a crenelated medieval fortress and town hall, dominates the square’s skyline and stands as a symbol of Florentine civic power. A fantastic collection of sculpture awaits those who venture in. As with Palazzo Strozzi, you probably won’t have time to explore the palace this time, and save your energy instead for the free-to-enter Loggia dei Lanzi nearby.
This beautiful 14th-century arcaded gallery doubles as an open-air sculpture garden that’s home to masterpieces by artists including Benvenuto Cellini and Giambologna. The highlight is Cellini’s Perseus, a monumental bronze rendering of the Greek hero pictured in the aftermath of decapitating Medusa, whose lifeless body lies at his feet. The sculpture took fully nine years to complete, and remains perhaps the pre-eminent exemplar of the bronze caster’s art in Florence.
Normally we would recommend you devote at least half a day to the Uffizi Galleries, but when you’ve only got 24 hours to play with sometimes you’ve got to make compromises. You can’t come to Florence without visiting the Uffizi – there are simply too many must-see paintings here – but you can cut some corners. Make sure you’ve booked your entrance time in advance so you can skip the queues, then hit the ground running by heading straight for the highlights.
You’ll want to stop off in the early rooms to admire some early Renaissance masterpieces by Giotto, Cimabue, Lorenzo Monaco and others, but leave enough time for the meat of the collection – we’re talking Botticelli and Uccello, Raphael, Michelangelo, Titian and Caravaggio. Even if you chart the quickest course you can, bank on spending at least two hours here.
It’s time for some fresh air, so leave the gallery and make your way south towards Ponte Vecchio – Florence’s most iconic bridge. Lined with goldsmiths shops and jewelers, this ramshackle stunner has been standing since the Middle Ages. It was the only bridge to survive the brutal Nazi occupation of Florence, and will be sure to wow you with its picturesque charm.
Evening
Cross the bridge onto the south side of the Arno river and you’ll arrive in the charming neighborhood of Oltrarno. We think Oltrarno is the perfect place to while away your one evening in Florence, as this is a part of the city where you can still rub shoulders with the locals. Packed full of artisans workshops, atmospheric wine bars where Florentines still outnumber tourists and historic trattorie refreshingly resistant to the passage of time, visiting Oltrarno feels like stepping into the Florence of the past.
Although there are plenty of top-tier cultural sites to visit here, including the Boboli Gardens, Palazzo Pitti and the Brancacci Chapel, it’s likely that you’ll be all arted-out at this stage of the day. Better to save those destinations for when you have more time in the city, and focus on soaking up the evening atmosphere instead.
Depending on the time of year, the sun might be beginning to make its descent towards the distant horizon by now. Luckily for you, we’re in the perfect area to enjoy the best sunset view Florence has to offer. Make the short climb up to Piazzale Michelangelo (a replica of the David will tell you you’re in the right place) to witness the city’s wonderful Renaissance skyline in all its glory, bathed in the pink and orange hues of twilight. This is the most memorable, and most photographed, panorama in the city for good reason – and something you don’t want to miss even if you only have 24 hours in Florence!
Evening is here and it’s time to take it easy! Make your way back down the hill from Piazzale Michelangelo to enjoy aperitivo hour in one of Florence’s liveliest districts. Oltrarno is also chock full of great restaurants and wine bars, and it’s also one of the few areas of Florence where the locals tend to outnumber the tourists. You’ll be spoiled for choice around here, but first port of call should be Piazza di Santo Spirito – a lovely leafy square located in the shadow of the church of the same name designed by Brunelleschi that’s ringed by wine bars and cocktail haunts frequented by all walks of Florentine society enjoying a well-earned sundowner. Click here for our guide to the best bars in Oltrarno.
Florence is a bastion of excellent cuisine, and you’ll find fantastic restaurants all across the city, but many of our favorites are located in Oltrarno, meaning you can roll straight into dinner. Great options in the area include traditional and always reliable Trattoria Casalinga and elegant All’Antico Ristoro di Cambi, where a swoon-worthy interior provides the perfect backdrop for Tuscan classics like Bistecca alla Fiorentina and fried lamb brain (trust us on this one!). If you want to get a real locals experience, then head to no-frills Trattoria Sabatino a little way down the river in San Frediano. The food served at communal tables here is excellent and shockingly cheap.
Florence Tours
Immerse Yourself in the Magic of Florence!
