THREE DAYS TOUR
What to do in Florence for 3 days? The city is so rich in art and culture that there are countless things to do. Here we propose a classic itinerary to discover the most important places and monuments of the city, ideal if you have never visited Florence before.
First tip: if you plan to dedicate your weekend in Florence to cultural visits, purchase the Firenzecard. It costs 85€ and allows you to visit museums, monuments, and exhibitions for 72 hours. The purchase is particularly convenient if you spend 3 days in Florence with children: museum entry is free for minors belonging to the family of the cardholder.
WHAT TO SEE:
Day 1:
- Piazza del Duomo
- Uffizi Gallery
Day 2:
- Piazza Signoria
- Accademia Gallery
Day 3:
- Ponte Vecchio
- Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens
WHERE TO EAT:
- Lunch break at Mercato Centrale
- Schiacciata at Antico Vinaio
- Aperitivo or dinner on the Arno River
- Fiorentina steak? At Perseus or I Toscani
- Pizza at Gustarium
- Typical dinner in a trattoria with locals
- Cantucci and vinsanto at Cantuccio di San Lorenzo
INSTAWORTHY SPOTS:
- Arnolfo Tower at Palazzo Vecchio
- Giotto’s Campanile
- Piazza Santo Spirito
- Mercato delle Pulci (Flea Market)
- Instafood at Mercato Centrale
- Sunset on the Arno River
- La Ménangère
- Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella
WHERE TO STAY
If you are staying in Florence for one night, you can check the website https://www.info-alberghi.com/en/tuscany/florence to choose a hotel or a B&B.
Day 1
Piazza del Duomo
Your visit to Florence begins at Piazza del Duomo, home to the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Baptistery of San Giovanni, Giotto’s Campanile, the Museum of the Opera del Duomo, and the Basilica of Santa Reparata. Except for the Cathedral, which is free to enter, all the other monuments require an entrance ticket. If you plan to visit them all, you can purchase the Brunelleschi Pass, which is valid for 3 days from the date of your visit to the Dome (the only monument that requires a reservation). The Ghiberti Pass and the Giotto Pass, on the other hand, include different visiting options. You can also book guided tours in Italian and English for the Cathedral, the Museum of the Opera del Duomo, the Dome of Brunelleschi, and the Baptistery of San Giovanni.
Uffizi Gallery
If you have 3 days available and want to explore the Uffizi Gallery in depth, you can spread out your visit over 2 or 3 days to avoid getting too tired and appreciate the artworks with the right clarity. You can purchase a single ticket or the PassePartout 5 days, which allows entry to Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens as well. In this case, the Uffizi Gallery should be your first museum to visit, and you need to book your time slot in advance. Tickets or passes can be purchased at https://www.uffizi.it/biglietti
Day 2
Piazza Signoria
It has been the center of the city’s political life since the 1300s. It houses the equestrian monument of Duke Cosimo I by Giambologna, the Fountain of Neptune, and the Loggia dei Lanzi. Many statues are displayed here, including Giambologna’s “Rape of the Sabine” and Cellini’s “Perseus with the Head of Medusa”. Overlooking Piazza Signoria is Palazzo Vecchio, currently the seat of the Municipality. To enter, you pass by the replica of Michelangelo’s David (the original is housed in the Accademia Gallery), Baccio Bandinelli’s “Hercules and Cacus,” and sculptures of Adam and Eve. The visit includes the archaeological path to the Roman theater excavations, the tower, and the walkway, as well as the monumental rooms, including the Hall of the Two Hundred.
You can purchase tickets online after checking for any closures on the official website of the Municipality of Florence: since it is an institutional site, Palazzo Vecchio may close to the public on special events and occasions.
Galleria dell’Accademia
It houses an extensive collection of both remarkable paintings and sculptures. Notable among the paintings are the gold-ground panels dating from the 1200s to the 1400s, as well as the altarpieces from the 16th century. Among the showcased masterpieces, there are works by Bronzino, Botticelli, Pontormo, Ghirlandaio, and Paolo Uccello. The sculpture collection is also very important, including Giambologna’s model of “The Rape of the Sabine Women,” some unfinished works by Michelangelo, and Lorenzo Bartolini’s plaster models. However, the most famous work is Michelangelo’s David, a marble masterpiece measuring 5.17 meters, created between 1501 and 1504.
You can purchase tickets online and book your time slot for the visit at https://www.galleriaaccademiafirenze.it/tickets/
Day 3
Ponte Vecchio
As a symbol of Florence, Ponte Vecchio has Roman origins. It has been destroyed and rebuilt several times, and the one we see today dates back to the mid-14th century. Originally, it had four merlons with balconies on each side, and from the mid-1400s, vegetable and butcher shops started to settle inside these buildings, allowing them to dispose of waste directly into the Arno River. In 1565, Vasari constructed an elevated corridor above the bridge, allowing Cosimo I de’ Medici to travel from Palazzo Vecchio, the heart of the city’s political life, to Palazzo Pitti, his private residence. On that occasion, to avoid bad odors reaching the corridor, the vegetable and butcher shops were replaced by goldsmiths’ workshops, which are still present today. Ponte Vecchio is always open and accessible to visitors, while the Vasari Corridor requires a fee for access. For more information: https://www.uffizi.it/en/corridoio-vasariano
Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens
Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens offer an immersion into the Renaissance court life, starting with the traces left by its first inhabitant, Cosimo I de’ Medici, who acquired it in 1550. It later passed into the hands of the Habsburg-Lorraine and finally to the House of Savoy. It houses various museums, including the Museum of Costume and Fashion, the Gallery of Modern Art, the Palatine Gallery, the Treasury of the Grand Dukes, the Imperial and Royal Apartments, the Palatine Chapel, and the Museum of Russian Icons. After visiting Palazzo Pitti, the tour continues to the Boboli Gardens, a splendid example of an Italian garden that served as a model for the main European courts. Visiting Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens takes at least half a day, but if you have more time available, it’s a good idea to spend more time in the garden, especially if you are traveling with children. Tickets can be purchased online at https://www.uffizi.it/en/tickets
Other things to see in Florence
Here is a list of other places you can visit in Florence: Santo Spirito Church, Medici Chapels, Santa Maria Novella Church, Basilica of Santa Croce, Palazzo Strozzi. You can find information about these places on the dedicated pages for churches and monuments in Florence.
Lunch break at Mercato Centrale
The Mercato Centrale of Florence is the perfect place for a lunch break as it offers a variety of food options that you can taste and enjoy on the spot: lampredotto, grilled meat, fish, schiacciata, pizza, hamburgers, vegetarian dishes, and much more. Thanks to this mix of flavors and choices, it’s perfect for those traveling in groups or with family as everyone can buy what they prefer and then choose one of the tables in the dining area to have lunch together.
Schiacciata at All’Antico Vinaio
For those who want to taste the ultimate street food of Florence, All’Antico Vinaio is a must-visit. You might find a line at the entrance, so be patient, especially during peak tourist seasons!
Aperitif or dinner by the Arno River
River Urban Beach is a beach club with sunbeds, loungers, and umbrellas, located on the Lungarno Serristori near Piazza Poggi. It offers various dining options: 180 Grammi for burgers, Sgrano for schiacciata (including gluten-free options), BBQ Chianina Station for Chianina meat dishes, and Fish&Chic for fish. The evenings are often accompanied by live music.
Florentina Steak? At Perseus or I Toscani
The Florentine steak is the cult dish of Florence. You can find it all over the streets of the city center, but many places are touristy and expensive. At Perseus (Via Don Giovanni Minzoni, 10/R) or I Toscani San Pancrazio (Piazza San Pancrazio, 2/R), you can be sure to enjoy a great steak. Remember: never ask for the steak to be well done, and pair it with a good red wine, preferably Chianti.
Pizza at Gustarium
If you love pizza and want to try a really good one, choose Gustarium, located at Via dei Cimatori 24/R. It has excellent reviews on Tripadvisor: 5.0!
Typical Dinner in a Trattoria with locals
At Da Burde, you can order a good pappa al pomodoro or ribollita; at Il Tranvai, you’ll find a charming location and delicious fried brain. At Trattoria La Casalinga, you can enjoy typical Tuscan crostini, fettunta with beans, pappardelle with black cabbage pesto or wild boar sauce, tripe, and peposo dell’Impruneta.
Cantucci and Vinsanto at Cantuccio di San Lorenzo
This small pastry shop with a visible laboratory is located at Via Sant’Antonino 23/R. Here you can buy the typical Florentine biscuits, cantucci, prepared in various different variations. In addition to cantucci, you will also find Budini, Brutti ma buoni, Pan del Pescatore, Panforte, and, of course, good Vinsanto.
Arnolfo Tower at Palazzo Vecchio
Located next to Palazzo Vecchio, it is 95 meters tall and offers a marvelous panoramic view of the entire city. During the ascent (200 steps), you can see a cell called “Alberghetto,” where Cosimo the Elder was imprisoned in 1433 and later, in 1498, Girolamo Savonarola.
Visualizza questo post su Instagram
Visualizza questo post su Instagram
Giotto’s Campanile
The bell tower of the Cathedral is open to visitors; to reach the top, you have to climb 414 steps, but there is no shortage of photogenic views.”
Visualizza questo post su Instagram
Visualizza questo post su Instagram
Piazza Santo Spirito
Piazza located in the Oltrarno area, is a landmark for Florentines thanks to its liveliness. During the day, it attracts art students and hosts markets, while at night, it comes alive with nightlife.
Visualizza questo post su Instagram
Visualizza questo post su Instagram
Flea Market
Appreciated by locals and tourists alike, this market takes place in Piazza dei Ciompi and is open every day, morning and afternoon. It offers antiques and crafts, making it the perfect place for all the curious, dreamers of all ages, and collectors.
Visualizza questo post su Instagram
Visualizza questo post su Instagram
Instafood at Mercato Centrale
Visualizza questo post su Instagram
Visualizza questo post su Instagram
Sunset on the Arno River
Visualizza questo post su Instagram
Visualizza questo post su Instagram
La Ménagère
In Via de’ Ginori, there is a magical place where you can eat, drink, and buy flowers. It’s called “La Ménagère,” and it is one of the most Instagrammed spots by tourists. The establishment is so well-maintained and uniquely decorated that every corner is perfect for a charming photo.
Visualizza questo post su Instagram
Visualizza questo post su Instagram
Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella
Today, this pharmacy, one of the oldest in the world, is a magical place where time has stood still. Its history dates back to the 13th century, thanks to the Dominican friars, although the actual foundation is placed in 1621 when alchemical activities for the preparation of medicines began. The visit allows you to appreciate the frescoed ceilings dating back to the first half of the 19th century, 40 vases from the 17th century, and the furnishings from the 18th and 19th centuries. You can purchase niche perfumes and high-quality products, starting with the iconic “Acqua di Rose” (Rose Water). It is located at Via della Scala 16, about ten minutes away from Florence’s Santa Maria Novella Train Station.
Visualizza questo post su Instagram
Visualizza questo post su Instagram