Your Perfect 3-Day Itinerary for Florence
Indulge in the Renaissance splendor of Florence, an artistic masterpiece of a city housing world-class galleries, magnificent architecture, and Tuscan culinary treasures.
Florence is easily reached by train from Rome, Milan, or Venice, or via Florence or Pisa airport. The historic centre is compact and walkable. April–May and September–October are ideal—summer can be very hot and crowded. Book the Uffizi, Accademia (for David), and Duomo complex in advance. Reserve popular restaurants for dinner. Use Florence as a base for day trips to Siena, San Gimignano, or the Chianti region. Leave time for long meals, gelato, and wandering the Oltrarno and market streets.
Discover the best landmarks, where to eat, and where to stay in Florence.
Best Time to Visit Florence
Spring
20°C / 9°C
Beautifully mild, perfect for walking
Summer
32°C / 18°C
Very hot and dry, peak season
Fall
22°C / 11°C
Warm and pleasant, harvest season
Winter
11°C / 3°C
Chilly and crisp, fewer tourists
Day 1
Uffizi Gallery
16th-century building housing vast collection of Primitive & Renaissance paintings & masterpieces.
Morning activity: Uffizi Gallery.
All'Antico Vinaio
Lunch nearby: All'Antico Vinaio.
Ponte Vecchio
Picturesque medieval arched river bridge with Roman origins, lined with jewelry & souvenir shops.
Afternoon sightseeing: Ponte Vecchio.
Trattoria Za Za
Tuscan restaurant with a bright dining room as well as brick-walled & frescoed interior rooms.
Dinner in the area: Trattoria Za Za.
Piazzale Michelangelo
19th-century piazza with a bronze replica of Michelangelo's David & panoramic views over the city.
Evening experience: Piazzale Michelangelo.
Day 2
Florence Duomo
Landmark 1200s cathedral known for its red-tiled dome, colored marble facade & elegant Giotto tower.
Morning activity: Florence Duomo.
Mercato Centrale
Gourmet food hall on top floor of historic market, with Italian & international fare & events.
Lunch nearby: Mercato Centrale.
Accademia Gallery
Art museum with Michelangelo sculptures, including David, plus Renaissance painting & Russian icons.
Afternoon sightseeing: Accademia Gallery.
Bistecca Fiorentina at Perseus
Buzzy place for classic Florentine steak & wine, with an enclosed terrace & huge mural of Florence.
Dinner in the area: Bistecca Fiorentina at Perseus.
Boboli Gardens
Formal gardens laid out in the 16th & 17th centuries, with Renaissance statues & ornate fountains.
Evening experience: Boboli Gardens.
Day 3
Palazzo Vecchio
Fortified, 13th-century palace housing lavishly decorated chambers & ornate courtyards.
Morning activity: Palazzo Vecchio.
Pitti Palace
Gallery complex in Renaissance royal palace housing vast Italian & European masters art collection.
Lunch nearby: Pitti Palace.
Basilica of Santa Croce
Neo-Gothic Franciscan church known for its Giotto frescoes, plus tombs of Michelangelo & Galileo.
Afternoon sightseeing: Basilica of Santa Croce.
Osteria Santo Spirito
Home-style Italian food in a rustic space with red walls, plus a terrace on a historic square.
Dinner in the area: Osteria Santo Spirito.
Chianti Wine Tour
Evening experience: Chianti Wine Tour.