Florence Itineraries from One to Five Days
Plan your trip to Florence, Italy, with travel itineraries spanning one to five days. For ideas on what to do in Florence, pick up a copy of Rick Steves' Florence & Tuscany travel guide.
Planning your time
Plan your sightseeing carefully: Opening hours can be erratic, and crowds can cause long lines. Before heading into Florence, carefully check all the opening and closing times of your must-see museums at the TI, by phone, or online. This is especially true if you'll be in town for only a day or two during the crowded summer months.
The Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia (starring Michelangelo's David) — are closed on Monday and nearly always have long ticket-buying lines, especially in peak season (April–Oct) and on holiday weekends. Crowds thin out weekdays in the off-season. Whatever time of year you visit, you can easily avoid the wait by making reservations. In general, Sundays and Mondays are bad, with many museums either closed or with shorter hours.
Set up a good itinerary in advance. Do Rick's recommended Renaissance Walk (with his Florence guidebook or as an audio tour) in the morning or late afternoon to avoid heat and crowds. Stop often for gelato.
Florence in One Day
8:30 Accademia (David); reserve in advance.
10:00 Renaissance Walk through town center, climb the Campanile.
12:00 Bargello Museum (best statues), lunch afterwards at Cantinetta dei Verrazzano (closed Sun) or in market neighborhood.
14:00 Shopping around San Lorenzo.
16:30 Uffizi Gallery (finest paintings); reserve at least a month in advance (with your hotel's help, by phone, or online).
19:30 Dinner on or near Piazza della Signoria, or walk through Oltrarno (best local color) and have dinner across the river at 20:00.
Florence in Two Days
Day 1
8:30 Accademia (David); reserve in advance.
10:00 Museum of San Marco (art by Fra Angelico).
12:00 Medici Chapels (Michelangelo, closes early in winter).
14:00 Lunch, market, wander, shop.
16:30 Baptistery (closes earlier on Sun).
17:00 Climb the Campanile.
18:00 Renaissance Walk through heart of old town (Duomo interior closed in evening, but skippable).
20:00 Dinner near Piazza della Signoria.
Day 2
9:00 Bargello (greatest statues).
11:00 Duomo Museum (intriguing statues by Donatello and Michelangelo) or Galileo Science Museum.
13:00 Lunch, free to wander and shop.
15:00 Church of Santa Maria Novella (Masaccio painting) and old perfumery.
17:00 Uffizi Gallery (best paintings); reserve a month in advance (through your hotel, by phone, or online).
19:00 Oltrarno Walk.
20:00 Dinner in Oltrarno.
Florence in Three (or More) Days
Day 1
8:30 Accademia (David); reserve in advance.
10:00 Museum of San Marco (Fra Angelico).
12:00 Markets, shop, wander.
13:00 Lunch.
14:00 Medici Chapels (Michelangelo).
15:00 Church of Santa Maria Novella and old perfumery.
16:30 Baptistery (closes earlier on Sun).
17:00 Climb the Campanile.
18:00 Renaissance Walk through heart of old town.
20:00 Dinner on or near Piazza della Signoria.
Day 2
9:00 Bargello (top statues).
11:00 Galileo Science Museum.
13:00 Lunch, free to wander and shop.
16:30 Uffizi Gallery (unforgettable paintings); reserve a month in advance (through your hotel, by phone, or online).
19:00 Sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo (consider a dinner picnic).
Day 3
9:00 Duomo Museum.
11:00 Santa Croce Church (opens later on Sun).
13:00 Lunch.
14:00 Pitti Palace, Boboli and Bardini Gardens.
18:00 Oltrarno Walk.
20:00 Dinner in Oltrarno.
Day 4
Side-trip to Siena (sights open daily; 1–2 hours away by bus), or consider an overnight stay to enjoy the town at twilight.
Day 5 (or more)
Visit your pick of Pisa, Lucca, and Tuscan hill towns.
For up-to-date specifics, see the latest edition of the Rick Steves' Florence and Tuscany guidebook. We also offer free-spirited Italy tours.