If you are short of time: the Duomo with the climb to the dome, the Uffizi, Ponte Vecchio and sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo. With one more day: the David at the Accademia and the Oltrarno. Book anything with a timed entry, at least a week ahead.
Florence is a city to walk, and almost everything that matters is inside the walls. The problem is not the distances, it is the queues: knowing what to book and when to go makes the difference between a full day and half a day in line. Below are the seven places we always recommend, each with the time it really takes.
| Place | Why go | Who for | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duomo and dome | The view over the whole city | All | 2–3 hours |
| Uffizi | Botticelli, Leonardo, Caravaggio | Art | 2–3 hours |
| Ponte Vecchio | The symbol of the city | First-timers | 30 minutes |
| Piazzale Michelangelo | Sunset over Florence | Couples, photos | 1 hour |
| Galleria dell’Accademia | Michelangelo’s David | Art | 1 hour |
| Oltrarno and Boboli | The Florence of the artisans | Return visitors | Half a day |
| San Lorenzo and the market | Medici Chapels and food | Food lovers | 2 hours |
1. The Duomo and Brunelleschi’s dome
The cathedral is free to visit, but the thing to do is climb the dome: 463 steps, narrow in places, running between the two shells built by Brunelleschi. Halfway up you walk beneath the frescoes of the Last Judgement; at the top you see all of Florence. The climb is booked with a time slot, together with the ticket that also covers the Baptistery and the Opera del Duomo Museum.
The experience we recommend
2. The Uffizi
This is the museum many people come to Florence for: Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Primavera, Leonardo’s Annunciation, Caravaggio’s Medusa. There are many rooms, one after another: without a plan you reach Botticelli already tired. It is closed on Mondays.
A short walk away, in Via dei Neri, is All’Antico Vinaio: the most photographed schiacciata in Florence. The queue is long but moves quickly.
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3. Ponte Vecchio
The only bridge in Florence to survive the war, with the goldsmiths’ workshops hanging over the water. You cross it in two minutes; the beauty is in looking at it from outside.
4. Piazzale Michelangelo
The terrace above the Oltrarno from which you see the whole city: the Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio, the bridges over the Arno. It is a twenty-minute walk up from the riverside, by the ramps. At sunset it is packed.
5. The Galleria dell’Accademia
You come for Michelangelo’s David, and it is worth it: seen in person it is something else. Before you reach it you pass the Prisoners, the statues left half-finished. It is closed on Mondays.
6. The Oltrarno and the Boboli Gardens
On the other side of the river is the less crowded Florence: Palazzo Pitti with the Boboli Gardens, Piazza Santo Spirito, the workshops of San Frediano. In the evening this is where you have dinner: at Il Santo Bevitore, for example, in Via Santo Spirito.
7. San Lorenzo and the Mercato Centrale
The basilica of the Medici, with the Medici Chapels and Michelangelo’s New Sacristy. Next door is the Mercato Centrale: stalls on the ground floor, places to eat on the first floor. Try lampredotto at Da Nerbone, on the ground floor; for lunch in a real trattoria, at shared tables, there is Trattoria Mario, just behind.
If you have more days
With three days you can see everything at an easy pace and leave the city for half a day, in Chianti or in Fiesole. We have written it out day by day: 3 days in Florence, the itinerary. And to end the day, an ice cream at Vivoli, behind Santa Croce.
The experience we recommend
Where to stay
To see Florence on foot it is best to stay inside the walls or near the tram. Our Loft di Via della Scala is six minutes from the Duomo; Rifredi House is on the tram line, eleven minutes from the centre.
Our homes in Florence
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need to see Florence?
Two full days are enough for the seven places in this article. With three you can see everything at an easy pace and get out for half a day, to Chianti or Fiesole.
Do you need to book the Uffizi and the dome?
Yes. The climb to the dome is booked with a time slot; for the Uffizi and the Accademia, booking avoids queues that in summer run to more than an hour.
What is the best day to visit the museums?
Avoid Mondays: the Uffizi and the Accademia are closed. Early morning and late afternoon are the quietest times.
Can you get around Florence without a car?
Yes, and it is the better way: the centre is a limited traffic zone and everything can be reached on foot. To get out of town there are buses and trains.