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 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 (see related article). The Museum of San Marco closes at 13:50 on weekdays and at 16:50 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 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 at 14:00 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 at 14:00 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 at 13:00 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.
Updated for 2010. For lots more information, check out our best-selling Rick Steves' Florence & Tuscany guidebook — or join us on one of our free-spirited Italian tours.