Florence packs the Renaissance into a walkable core: Brunelleschi's dome, Michelangelo's David at the Accademia and the Uffizi's Botticellis all sit within 15 minutes of each other on foot. Cross the Ponte Vecchio into the Oltrarno for artisan workshops and cheaper trattorias, then climb to Piazzale Michelangelo for the classic sunset view over the Arno.
3-day Florence itinerary
- Day 1: Duomo complex and Brunelleschi's dome climb (book a slot), Piazza della Signoria and Orsanmichele, sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo
- Day 2: Uffizi Gallery first thing on a timed ticket, Ponte Vecchio, afternoon in the Oltrarno's artisan workshops and aperitivo on Piazza Santo Spirito
- Day 3: Accademia Gallery for Michelangelo's David, market lunch upstairs at Mercato Centrale, Boboli Gardens or the Bargello sculpture museum
Where to stay: neighborhoods that make sense
- Centro Storico (Duomo area)steps from everything but touristy and the priciest place to sleep and eat
- Oltrarno / Santo Spiritoartisan workshops, wine bars and the best evening atmosphere; the local-feeling side of the river
- Santa Crocelively squares, the leather school and solid trattorias; central but a touch calmer
- San Marco / SS. Annunziataquieter streets near the Accademia; good value and still walkable to it all
What to eat in Florence
- Bistecca alla fiorentina at Trattoria Mario or Osteria dell'Enoteca - sold by weight, about 50 EUR per kg; one steak feeds two
- Lampredotto panino from Nerbone or a street trippaio cartabout 5 EUR, the classic Florentine worker's lunch
- Schiacciata sandwich at All'Antico Vinaioabout 7 EUR, expect a queue at lunch
- Gelato at Gelateria dei Neri or La Carraiaabout 3 EUR for a small cone
- Ribollita (bread and vegetable stew) at a traditional trattoria - about 9 EUR
Mistakes most first-timers make
- Turning up at the Uffizi or Accademia without a timed reservation - book official tickets days or weeks ahead, especially April-October
- Eating on the main squareswalk 10 minutes to the Oltrarno or Sant'Ambrogio and pay roughly half for better food
- Driving into the ZTL restricted traffic zonecameras issue automatic fines; park outside the center and walk
- Cramming Pisa, Siena and Chianti into one daypick one day trip and give Florence itself the time it deserves
Worth leaving the city for
- Siena (75-90 min by bus)Gothic rival city with the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo and striped cathedral
- Lucca (80 min by train)intact Renaissance walls you can cycle on top of, and a relaxed old town
- Pisa (60 min by train)the Leaning Tower and Piazza dei Miracoli; half a day is enough
Getting around
The T2 tram runs from Florence airport to Santa Maria Novella station in about 20 minutes for 1.70 EUR. The center is compact and mostly pedestrian - you will walk almost everywhere; buses/trams (1.70 EUR single) only matter for Piazzale Michelangelo or Fiesole.
Why this plan won't send you to a closed café
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