3 days in Florence: itinerary for a first visit
Florence packs more Renaissance art into a few streets than almost anywhere else. In three days you can climb the Duomo, see the Uffizi and Michelangelo's David, and cross the river to the quieter Oltrarno for gardens and views.
Best timeApril–June and September–October
Getting aroundOn foot; the centre is small and mostly closed to cars
AirportFlorence Airport, about 20 minutes to the main station on the T2 tram
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Day 1: The Duomo and the old centre
- Florence Cathedral (Duomo) – The cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, with its green, white and pink marble front.
- Brunelleschi's Dome, Florence – Climb the 463 steps inside the dome; book a time slot.
- Florence Baptistery – The octagonal baptistery with the bronze Gates of Paradise.
- Piazza della Signoria, Florence – The main square, with Palazzo Vecchio and a copy of the David.
- Ponte Vecchio, Florence – The old bridge lined with jewellers' shops; best at sunset.
Day 2: Uffizi and David
- Uffizi Gallery – Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo and Raphael; book ahead and plan at least 3 hours.
- Galleria dell'Accademia, Florence – Home of Michelangelo's David.
- Mercato Centrale, Florence – Food market with a food hall upstairs, good for lunch.
- Basilica of Santa Croce, Florence – Burial place of Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli.
- Piazzale Michelangelo, Florence – The classic view over Florence at sunset.
Day 3: Oltrarno
- Pitti Palace, Florence – The Medici family's palace, with art collections inside.
- Boboli Gardens, Florence – Large Renaissance gardens behind Pitti Palace.
- Basilica of Santo Spirito, Florence – Brunelleschi's last church, on a relaxed square with cafés.
- San Miniato al Monte, Florence – Romanesque church above the city, quieter than Piazzale Michelangelo.
Tips
- Book the Duomo dome, Uffizi and Accademia online before your trip.
- Do not drive into the centre: the limited traffic zone (ZTL) is camera-controlled.
- Pisa is about one hour away by train and makes an easy extra day.
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