Florence Itinerary
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 major sights — the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia (starring Michelangelo's David) — are closed on Monday. While many travelers spend several hours a day in lines at the Uffizi and Accademia, you can easily avoid this by making reservations (see page 34). A couple of Florence's popular sights — the Bargello and the Museum of San Marco — close at 13:50 (though the latter is open later on weekends). Other museums close early only on certain days (e.g., the first Sunday of the month, second and fourth Monday, etc.). 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 (in his Florence guidebook) 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 Giotto's Tower.
12:00 Bargello Museum (best statues), lunch at Cantinetta dei Verrazzano or in market neighborhood.
14:00 Shop 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/near Piazza della Signoria, or take the Oltrarno Walk (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 at 14:00 on Sun).
17:00 Climb Giotto's Tower.
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 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 at 14:00 on Sun).
17:00 Climb Giotto's Tower.
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 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
10:00 Duomo Museum.
12:00 Santa Croce Church (opens at 13:00 on Sun).
14:00 Lunch.
15:00 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.
Updated for 2008. For lots more information, check out our best-selling Rick Steves' Florence & Tuscany guidebook — or join us on one of our free-spirited tours in Florence.