Florence itinerary in one day

One day stop in Florence
Yes, the time available is short, but you can still organize a nice complete itinerary in what is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy ! The historic center is quite small, you can easily walk around it, and it is really rich in works of art, we could define it as an open-air museum! Obviously you will have to make some selections, but there are some must sees that absolutely cannot be overlooked! Here is our itinerary of Florence in one day !

SEE ALSO : What to see in Florence

One day itinerary in Florence
The itinerary includes the main stops in Florence, excluding museums and attractions that would take too long!
We start from one of the must see par excellence of Florence: the Duomo complex . The queues are always impressive, so if you want to visit the interior of the Cathedral with Brunelleschi’s Dome, the only option is to book the tour with skip-the-line entrance, otherwise you have to have an external overview of the whole complex. Then pass through Piazza della Repubblica, until you reach the marvelous Piazza della Signoria , stopping to admire the Palazzo della Signoria and the Loggia dei Lanzi from the outside. Finally, reach Ponte Vecchio , one of the symbols of Florence.
Lunch break would be a must with a schiacciata from the Antico Vinaio, a real institution! Here too, however, the lines are incredible, so eventually opt for the Prosciutteria, almost opposite, and it’s worth as much as. As a first stop, reach the Uffizi, but here too what has been said for the Duomo applies. The lines are very long , and keep in mind that a complete visit takes at least half a day. The only option to include it in the itinerary is a guided tour with priority entrance, with entrance scheduled at 2.30 pm and lasting 1 h 30 min.
Then reach the Basilica of Santa Croce . At the end of the visit, cross the Ponte alle Grazie and go up from the Rose Garden to arrive in the wonderful Piazzale Michelangelo, the most famous viewpoint in the city!
End the day in the Santo Spirito district , a favorite area for young people and nightlife, thanks to the numerous clubs!

• Morning : Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and Brunelleschi’s Dome (tour with skip-the-line entrance from € 50.00), Piazza della Signoria (free), Ponte Vecchio (free)
• Afternoon : Uffizi Gallery (tour with priority entrance from € 27.00), Basilica Santa Croce (€ 8.00), Rose Garden (free), Michelangelo Bridge (free)
• Evening : Santo Spirito district (free)
• Distance covered : 5.4 km
• Where to eat: Lunch at La Prosciutteria, Via dei Neri 54R (Get directions) / Dinner at Trattoria 4 Leoni, Via dei Vellutini 1r (Get directions)

First time in Florence
To optimize time and have a first approach to the city, we recommend that you book a free walking tour with a local guide or a tour in a panoramic open-top bus.

1 – Cathedral and Brunelleschi’s Dome
The morning can only start from one of the symbols of Florence : the wonderful complex of the Duomo! It consists of the Cathedral with Brunelleschi’s Dome, Giotto’s Bell Tower and the Baptistery of San Giovanni. To visit the whole complex, between queues and the actual time of the visit, it would take half a day, so we advise you to see the Cathedral and the Dome; again, the only option is to book the tour with skip-the-line admission, otherwise an external overview of the whole complex must be sufficient.
The Duomo, whose full name is the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, is the fourth largest church in Europe ! The interior is a real marvel, with a great cycle of monumental frescoes by Vasari and Zuccari. Brunelleschi’s Dome is, without a doubt, one of the most important beauties of the Cathedral : it is the largest masonry dome ever built, richly decorated!

Info on the visit : Cathedral 10: 00-16: 00, Brunelleschi’s Dome 8: 15-19: 30. Timetables are subject to change according to the day and season, consult the official website. Cathedral admission free, full dome € 20.00, reduced € 10.00.

SEE ALSO: Visit to the Duomo of Florence: how to get there, prices and advice

Book a tour with no queue entry : the queues at the entrances are crazy, you risk losing half a day only in line. If you want to include the Duomo and Dome in your itinerary, book a skip-the-line guided tour. Start at 9:30, duration 75 min. Info and costs here

2 – Piazza della Signoria
In less than 5 minutes on foot, from the Duomo you can reach one of the most beautiful and important squares in the city , Piazza della Signoria. Historic square, and dominated by the wonderful Palazzo Vecchio, while on one side you can admire and sit inside the wonderful Loggia dei Lanzi, full of statues.
The Palazzo Vecchio stands imposing with its tall tower, the Torre di Arnolfo, 94 m high. A marvelous work of fourteenth-century civil architecture , today it is the residence of the First Citizen of Florence and there are several municipal offices, but also several exhibition halls. Unfortunately, time is short, so we advise you to admire it from the outside!

SEE ALSO : Visit to the Palazzo Vecchio: opening hours, prices and advice

Rub your nose at the Porcellino Fountain : behind the square is this particular fountain. According to legend, you must first rub your nose, then put a coin in your mouth and drop it, if it falls into the water through the grate it will bring good luck!

3 – Ponte Vecchio
Conclude the morning by reaching another of the symbols of Florence, the Ponte Vecchio, certainly one of the most beautiful bridges in the world ! From Piazza della Signoria it is only 3 minutes on foot!
In the past this bridge was mainly the seat of butchers and greengrocers, while today it has a completely different offer: it hosts several goldsmith shops and you can admire the windows full of wonderful jewels! As you cross it, make sure you stop in the center: there is in fact a large opening that allows you to admire the Arno and the city !

Schiacciata All’Antico Vinaio
Another time: it’s true, for many going to Florence also means making a stop at Antico Vinaio, one of the most famous clubs in Italy! But there is always too much, too much line, and if you want to include more stops in the itinerary, you will have to do without them. But trust me, the Prosciutteria almost opposite is worth as much as, and you won’t have to wait too long!

4 – Uffizi Gallery
After lunch, we recommend that you reach the nearby Uffizi Gallery, just 3 minutes from the Prosciutteria. It is one of the most beautiful museum complexes in Italy and in the world . Really unmissable on a trip to Florence, but the lines are very long , and keep in mind that a complete visit requires at least half a day.The only option to include it in the itinerary is a guided tour with priority entrance , with entrance scheduled at 2.30 pm and lasting 1 h 30 min.
Here you will see some of the best known works in the world ! Just to name a few: Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Spring, Titian’s Venus of Urbino, Leonardo da Vinci’s Annunciation.

Take part in a guided tour : the only option to include the Uffizi in a one-day itinerary is by booking a guided tour, with scheduled admission without queuing and a guide who will take you to discover the truly unmissable works! Start 2.30 pm, duration 1 h 30 min, so that you can then continue the tour of the city. Info and costs here

5 – Basilica of Santa Croce
In just 7 minutes on foot, from the Uffizi then you can reach another of the must see in Florence, truly unmissable: the beautiful Basilica of Santa Croce. Located in the homonymous square, it is one of the oldest and most impressive Franciscan basilicas ever built in Italy!
In the Basilica you will find a large collection of works of art and Michelangelo’s tomb . Inside also rest other illustrious personalities, of art and culture, besides Michelangelo, for example Galileo Galilei. We also advise you to stop and admire the beautiful Pazzi Chapel, one of the most famous Renaissance buildings.

Info on the visit : open Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri and Sat 11: 00-17: 00, Sun and religious holidays 13: 00-17: 00. Full admission € 8.00, reduced € 6.00.

SEE ALSO : Visit to the Basilica of Santa Croce: how to get there, prices and advice

6 – Piazzale Michelangelo and Giardino delle Rose
At 17:00, once the visit to the Basilica of Santa Croce is over, treat yourself to an aperitif with calm, between good wine, appetizers and cold cuts. Reach the most beautiful viewpoint in Florence : Piazzale Michelangelo. You can easily reach it on foot (18 min), crossing the Ponte alle Grazie and climbing from the wonderful Rose Garden. It is a little known garden , but it is absolutely worth a visit for its beauty and incredible views of the city!
Once you get to the top, you will find yourself in the beautiful Piazzale Michelangelo, from where you can take the typical postcard photo of Florence! Obviously, one of the best moments to reach it is the sunset , even if it is one of the busiest hours, but it is definitely worth it!

Wear comfortable shoes : the ascent to the Piazzale can be a bit difficult, as in some places it is very steep, being on a hill, especially in summer and with the heat! Wear comfortable shoes or opt for the bus (line 12 to Piazzale Michelangelo stop) or the taxi.

Activities and ideas for alternative itineraries
Florence is one of those cities where things to do are never lacking! Museums, attractions, parks: a continuous surprise. If you are particularly fascinated by the Duomo of Florence, we recommend that you dedicate a whole morning to it, as well as for the Uffizi! In one day you can also add a visit to Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens.
Always talking about museums : don’t miss the Accademia Gallery (fast-track ticket recommended), and the Bargello National Museum (€ 8.00). For both, the visit is for a minimum of 2 hours.
There is no shortage of churches , to which you can dedicate at least 1 hour! In addition to those already mentioned, we find the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella (€ 7.50) and theBasilica of San Miniato al Monte (free), and also numerous chapels, such as the Brancacci Chapel (free) and the Medici Chapels (€ 9.00).
To discover the secrets of Tuscan gastronomy , don’t miss a lunch visit to the Central Market (free), where you can find the best dishes of Florence in one place!
If you are traveling as a family , with the little ones you could consider a visit to the Galileo Museum (€ 10.00) or the Leonardo da Vinci Museum (€ 7.00). Also very particular is the garden Gli Orti del Parnaso (free), with the Dragon Garden inside!

SEE ALSO : What to see in Florence: the best attractions and things to do

• City tour with the family : morning visit to the Orti del Parnassus with the Dragon Garden. Lunch at the Central Market. Afternoon visit to the Leonardo da Vinci Museum (alternatively Museo Galileo) and Piazzale Michelangelo with the Rose Garden. Evening historic center
• Itinerary of unknown places : morning Borgo San Frediano, La Specola (oldest scientific museum in Europe) and Borgo San Jacopo. Afternoon Villa and Bardini Garden and visit to the Underground Florence (with the remains of ancient Florentia under Palazzo Vecchio). Evening historic center
• Free attractions itinerary : morning Piazza Duomo, Piazza della Signoria and Loggia dei Lanzi, Ponte Vecchio and Brancacci Chapel. Afternoon Basilica and Monte San Miniato and Piazzale Michelangelo. Evening historic center
• Day at the Uffizi : Uffizi morning. Afternoon Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens. Evening historic center
• Itinerary in the Footsteps of Michelangelo : morning Accademia Gallery and Basilica of Santa Croce. Afternoon Casa Buonarroti and Piazzale Michelangelo. Evening historic center
• Itinerary among the churches of Florence : morning dedicated to the Duomo complex. Afternoon Basilica of Santa Croce, Abbey of San Miniato al Monte and Piazzale Michelangelo. Evening Piazza della Signoria

Before leaving: useful tips

1. Get around on foot : the historic center of Florence is very intimate and largely pedestrian, so the best solution is to get around on foot. Plus the attractions are all close together – find out more
2. Buy skip-the-line : Florence has some of the most visited attractions in Italy, so the lines can be really long. In order not to waste precious time, we recommend that you buy skip-the-line or skip-the-line tours or skip-the-line tours, such as the Uffizi (info and costs here) or the Duomo (info and costs here)
3. Evaluate the Firenze Card : based on the itinerary and the attractions chosen, evaluate the city card to save on admissions (from € 7.00 – see details)
4. Always bring a sweatshirt : even in summer, bring a light sweatshirt with you to visit places of worship such as the Duomo or Santa Croce and to contrast the air conditioning of museums and buildings
5. Evaluate the tourist bus : if you simply want to enjoy a panoramic tour of the city, without spending too much time on the individual attractions, then the right choice is definitely the tourist bus. Info and costs here
6. Enjoy a quick lunch : there are so many things to see, for this reason it is better to have a quick lunch, such as Schiacciata alla Prosciutteria, and stop calmly for dinner, sitting in a restaurant, perhaps biting into an original Florentine steak!