Explore Florence in 3 days

Often people visit Florence as part of a wider Italian or European trip. Maybe you've been to Rome or Venice and are stopping in Florence en-route to your next location, or have just a few days before or after a cruise.

Exploring Florence in 3 days is a delightful challenge, brimming with the promise of art, history, and culinary delights.

Your visit will be a combination of visiting various museums, galleries, churches, palaces, taking stunning photos of the bridges over Arno River, tasting delicious food and wines, shopping from small artisanal shops. Plus, you can explore Tuscan countryside to enjoy nature and get to know food and wines of the region.

When it comes to best time for visiting Florence, we must say that Florence is destination for all seasons. However, for most people, the best time would be spring and autumn, while the temperatures are pleasant and the city is not overcrowded.

But, Florence is also great in the summer when the nights are warm which is ideal for a late-night stroll through the city.

🏠 For a great place to stay in Florence, we recommend Casa di Chiara, the stylish and cosy apartment equipped with every comfort to make you feel at home! We're sure you'll love staying here!

A few useful tips for visitors...

Crowds of tourists at Piazza della Signoria

Florence is one of the most visited destinations in Italy all-year round, especially from April until November so keep in mind that it will be very busy. This is the good reason to book skip-the-line tickets for some major sights such as the Uffizi Gallery, Brunelleschi Dome, Opera del Duomo Museum, the Accademia Gallery, the Palazzo Vecchio, Medici Chapels...
You won't waste your precious time and quickly enter the sights. If booking a guided tour, it's good to book in-advance to get the date and time you want.
As well, you'll need to be aware that if one of your days is a Monday, most of the museums will be closed.
Florence Card doesn't cover anything at the Duomo (Dome, museum, baptistry, etc) and you still have to make advance timed-entry reservations for the Uffizi, Accademia and Brancacci Chapel if using the card.
The good news for scheduling that if you buy the one of the Duomo passes or the combo ticket for the Pitti Palace and the Bobili Gardens they are good for several days so you have some freedom about the day and time you visit.
Walking is the easiest way to get around the city center. If you are staying outside the historic centre, there are regular buses and trams (tickets cost €1.70 and can be purchased from automatic vending machines, at tabacchi shops - only in cash, or with Autolinee Toscane app). Avoid driving as most of central Florence is a limited traffic zone. Taxis can be found at designated stands or called by phone to any location.
Consider buying Florence Pass, which gives you priority entrance to the Uffizi Gallery and Accademia Gallery, the Duomo and Brunelleschi's Dome. Plus, it also includes an audio guide app for easier sightseeing and 10% on many other sights and activities.

You'll love staying at Casa di Chiara, a cosy and stylish Florence apartment

Florence in 3 days - Day 1

MORNING

The best way to start your day - enjoying an espresso and freshly baked brioche (Italian style croissant) from one of cafés in the historic centre. Some of the places with decent coffee and tasty pastries are: Rivoire in Piazza della Signoria, Caffe Gilli in Piazza della Repubblica and Serafini on Via Gioberti.

After the treat, the best would be to spend an hour or two exploring the Centro Storico, wandering the streest, passing the squares and Florence sights. This is the way to get understand where all sights you want to visit later on are situated.

Don't forget to take a stroll along the Arno River. Start near the Ponte Vecchio and walk down to Ponte Santa Trinita, then turn to Via de' Tornabuoni, until you reach Piazza di Santa Trinita. From here all streets leads to somewhere important.

AFTERNOON:

Start your exploration of Florence with beautiful Piazza del Duomo and all sights dotted on it. First walk around and capture some amazing photos of Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral which stands out from other white-coloured sights - the Baptistery of Saint John and Giotto's Tower. There is also Opera del Duomo Museum (many visitors skip this but it has wonderful artworks of great artists of the Renaissance).

We don't recommend visiting the whole Duomo Complex, just choose some of them. Make a short visit to the Cathedral then climb to the Dome to enjoy stunning views of Florence (for this you'll need skip-the-line tickets!).

As you climb 463 steps, you can admire wide arched structure above you and once inside, the wonderful frescoes of the Last Judgment. Note that staircase when climbing are steep and very narrow at times - this is not for those who are claustrophobic and scared of heights.

For visiting more in a short time, join this guided tour which in only 2.5 hour takes you to the Cathedral, then to Museo dell'Opera del Duomo and finally to the Dome.

Instead of joining the lines to climb the dome, head to Museo dell'Opera del Duomo (Piazza del Duomo 9, entry €6) where sculptures that once packed the Duomo and Baptistery are exhibited. Although just behind the Duomo, the museum is rarely crowded. At the top of the monumental staircase stands Michelangelo's radiant Pietà.

If you are still into sightseeing, then the Basilica di Santa Croce (a Gothic-style church from 14th century), situated close to the Duomo is well worth an hour to explore. The church is beautiful and well worth the visit (it houses the tombs of great people like Galileo, Michelangelo, Machiavelli and others).

EVENING

If still not tired, consider walking up to Piazzale Michelangelo, a wide piazza from where you can enjoy amazing views of the sunset over Florence (you'll need 20 minutes on foot to reach). This bike tour is ideal for exploring highlights of Florence in only 2 hours!

Finish your day with a strolling down Oltrarno streets or along Arno River and dining in one of many local restaurants.

Where to eat authentic Tuscan food:

Il Cernacchio (Via della Condotta 38R) is a cosy small place if you are looking for an affordable and yummy local dishes (near Piazza della Signoria). You can taste here tasty lampredotto panini, lasagna, pappa al pomodoro, meatballs in tomato sauce and other authentic Tuscan dishes. Not to mention that the owners are charming polite and very welcoming.

Recommended tickets for sights (and tours):

Florence Cathedral + Dome Skip-the-Line Tickets (for visiting on your own)
Florence Duomo Tour with Brunelleschi's Dome Climb (Museo dell'Opera del Duomo + the Duomo + Cupola) - Guided tour
Small-Group Palazzo Vecchio Guided Tour
Or buy Florence Pass (for multiple savings!)

Florence in 3 days - Day 2

MORNING

Get up early to reach the Uffizi Gallery (located near the Piazza della Signoria). The Uffizi Gallery opens at 8:15 and this is the time when it's not so crowded. This famous museum of Florence houses a huge number of paintings and sculptures from famous Italian artist (and some European ones).

Remember to book your entrance tickets in advance to avoid long lines (for exploring you'll need at least 2-3 hours). To make the most of the visit, we recommend taking a guided tour - we recommend this small group tour with local guides (you'll learn lot about the museum itself and about each art work).

AFTERNOON

Take Via dei Calzaiuoli to reach Piazza della Signoria, one of the most beautiful squares of Florence. Here you can admire amazing sculptures and palaces even without entering them.

The Palazzo Vecchio is the most famous one and important civic building through Florence's history (today it is home to the city hall). You can't miss it - it dominates the square. Inside the palace is museum where you can admire arts and the ceiling decorations from the time of the Medici.

The courtyard can be entered without paying anything, but if you want to visit the museum or climb the bell tower, you'll need to buy a ticket. We suggest taking this guided tour that focuses on the highlights of palace (plus, you see some extras bits that a regular entrance ticket doesn't cover).

Piazza della Signoria is also open-air museum, with amazing the Neptun Fountain (created in the 1500'), the sculptures of Michelangelo's David (the copy), the Hercules and Cacus. Loggia dei Lanzi is also pretty with all these sculptures you can admire for free.

EVENING

Walk to the Ponte Vecchio, cross it to reach the Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens. Pitti Palace houses significant museums in Florence, including the Palatine Gallery, the Royal Apartments, the Treasury of the Grand Dukes and the Gallery of Modern Art. Explore art and furnishings treasures from the 16th-20th century across the various museums.

Then, embrace the sunny skies of Florence in the esteemed and bright green Boboli Gardens, an ideal spot to relax after exploring. With a grand feel, it’s a great picnic area. Have a lunch at one of local restaurants and enjoy.

If you're staying right in the city, your accommodation (this lovely apartment is a great place to stay!) can be a lovely oasis to take an afternoon break.

Orsanmichele Church and Museum in Florence

For a quick sightseeing, we recommend visiting Orsanmichele Church and Museum, that can be found between the Duomo and Piazza della Signoria. The church is beautiful inside and outside and from the museum's top floor, you can admire amazing views of the Florence (wooden benches you'll find there are ideal for making a short break). Museum features bronze and marble sculptures of saints made by great Italian masters.

End your day with exploring city's vibrant food scene and join an evening food tour (in Oltrarno neighbourhood). Eat local specialities such as schiacchiata, ribollita and of course Florentine steak (and much more!).

Florence in 3 days - Day 3

Start the day with a visit to the Accademia Gallery which is renowned as the home of Michelangelo’s sculpture David and features many of his other sculptures. It’s also home to a vast range of paintings by local Florentine artists across the 1300-1600 period. It opens at 8:15am.

After the visit, head to Sant'Ambrogio market, where you'll find most gorgeous produce, fresh meat, seafood, cheese - and more! It is both inside and outside of a big warehouse just a block from Piazza Sant'Ambrosia (near Santa Croce). Taste some local foods and drinks and pick up some fruits.

While there, visit Basilica di Santa Croce, a Gothic-style church that dates back to the 14th century and holds many artistic masterpieces, including stunning frescoes by Giotto. Santa Croce is where Michelangelo and Galileo Galilei, amongst many others, were buried.

Visit Bargello Museum with stunning architectural building full of sculptures, paintings and antiquities of centuries ago from Florence. The biggest starts of this museum are the Michelangelo and Donatello rooms that showcase Michelangelo's first major sculpture, Bacchus, Donatello's Bronze David and many other masterpieces of these two artists.

Quieter than the other museums and cool to sit out of the heat and hustle and bustle of the city. A must visit for sure.

There are so many charming piazzas to sit and chat with your family or read a book with a cappuccino. One of them is Piazza della Repubblica, one of the largest squares in Florence.

Located only 2-3 minutes from the Duomo, this piazza has iconic carousel in the centre (great fun if you are with the kids). You'll find also numerous shops surrounding the square (including La Rinascente and Le Feltrinelli book store).

End your night with a stroll through Florence's most beautiful piazzas - Piazza della Signoria, Piazza del Duomo and Piazza della Repubblica. Enjoy a meal or treat yourself to gelato from one of many gelaterias.

So, since your itinerary for visiting Florence in 3 days is ready, discover your dream place to stay with our Florence apartments and hotels collection.

Florence guided tours you'll love

If you want to optimize your time and see as much as possible in a couple of hours, taking a guided tour would be a great choice. A local tour guide knows all the routes and will tell you the history of the places you are seeing.

Later on, you'll have more time for exploring hidden Florence streets, eating local food and shopping quality goods. Of course, you can explore Florence countryside, which is famous for beautiful nature and vineyards.

These are the most popular tours covering the best of Florence in a few hours:

Joining a guided tour is a great way to explore Florence

Florence in day guided tour - For a completely hassle-free exploration of Florence and visiting the most important sights and museums (Academia Gallery and Uffizi Gallery included) in only 5 hours, join this guided tour (starts at 9:45am).
Best of Florence small-group tour - This 3-hour tour takes you to view Michelangelo's David in the Accademia Gallery, then you'll hear the secrets of the Duomo (skip-the-line tickets). Afterwards, you'll explore several other top spots in Florence to learn more and take amazing photos. Ideal for seeing a lot in a short time!
Highlights & Hidden gems of Florence (private tour) - On this tour you can create an itinerary that focuses on the main highlights of places that interest you. Your private guide will teach you a lot about the history of Florence in a short time.
Florence sightseeing tour for kids & families - This 2.5 hour walking tour is ideal for families with kids. Your guide will take you through the streets of Florence (to see the highlights) and keep your kids engaged with interactive activities using iPads and flash cards. A great way to get an overview of the city!

Florence in 3 days (more fun things to do)

We mentioned the highlights of Florence (mostly museums and galleries) but if your interest span over the art and architecture, you may skip some of museum visits and dedicate your time to other fun activities.

There is a huge choice of things to do, from exploring Florence in a company of foodie guide, learning how to make fresh pasta on a cooking class, rafting on Arno River, biking to the Tuscan hills or even taking a hot air balloon flight.

1. Joining a foodie tour (group or private)

For foodies, we recommend taking a food tour or cooking class while in Florence.

On the food tour, your group will walk down the streets of Florence, stop at best food places to taste local food while hearing fun stories from the guide. You'll have the change to taste for example, schiacciata with salami, lampredotto or pappa al pomodoro. Not to mention loads of wine, dry cantucci cookies and creamy gelato, enjoyed on most tours!

Tourists love this morning food tour of historic centre and this private food tour that takes you to local food market and other great places.

2. Taking a cooking class (pasta, gnocchi, sauces, tiramisu...)

On a cooking class the chef will teach you how to make a variety of pasta (from scratch), such as ravioli, fettuccine or tortellini as well as sauces. Or maybe appetizers, gnocchi, tiramisu and other local dishes. The best part is enjoying wonderful food you made! Kids will love these classes!

One of the most popular cooking classes are these (include cake and limoncello in the end) and these small-group classes held in cooking school on the other side of Arno River.

3. Florence e-bike tour (explore historic centre + Piazzale Michelangelo)

See the major tourist attractions of Florence during this 2-hour bike tour. You'll stop at spots such as Piazza della Signoria, the Duomo, Piazza della Repubblica and explore narrow lanes of the Oltrarno, an artisan neighbourhood of Florence. The tour also takes you up to Piazzale Michelangelo for seeing amazing view of the whole city. Choose from several departures daily!

4. Florence hills e-bike tour (explore Tuscan countryside)

Explore Florence hills with a lots of fun on guided 2 hour e-bike tour. Start from the heart of Florence, then follow your guide from the city to the hills. Once outside the city, immerse yourself into the sound and scents of Tuscan countryside. Pass through olive groves and small vineyards, then end this tour with tasting one of the best gelato in the city. We highly recommend this fun experience!

5. Rafting on Arno River (a unique adventure)

This panoramic 2-hour ride includes the descent down the Arno River that flows through the historic centre of Florence. The river offers a truly unique perspective giving you the opportunity of taking amazing photos of the famous buildings and monuments. This is a perfect mix of activity and culture. Your guides will tell you anecdotes about the river and the city itself. An unforgettable experience!

6. Private photo walking tour in Florence

See Florence’s unique Renaissance atmosphere through a photographer’s lens on a customized photography tour. Bring along your camera (even a cellphone) and walk with a professional photographer guide through the medieval city streets and piazzas, to capture unique and beautiful views of the city’s most iconic sites and hidden charms. Get tips on composition and other photo techniques to create a collection of frame-worthy images that memorialize your trip.

7. Horseback ride and poolside day chillout (with Tuscan lunch)

To escape from crowded Florence, take this full-day trip that takes you to the Florence hills. Once there you'll have plenty of time to chill out by the swimming pool of an elegant country resort. You'll experience guided horse riding, have a full Tuscan lunch (freshly-made pasta dish, a platter or cheeses, cold cuts and bruschettas and wine, of course).

The rest of the day you'll relax and sunbath by the pool and before returning to Florence, you'll visit a local producer of Chianti wine and olive oil. A heavenly experience in Tuscan countryside!

8. Tuscany hot air balloon flight - Private (with transport from Firenze)

Get an unbeatable view of Tuscany’s gorgeous countryside on a private hot air balloon flight from Florence. Float on the breeze above rolling hills, vineyards, and medieval villas for a romantic experience that's perfect for proposals, anniversaries, and other special occasions.

Toast your adventure with a glass of sparkling wine back on the ground, and relax as a driver transports your group between the launch site and your Florence hotel.

Florence in 3 days with kids (best activities)

Piazza della Repubblica

Visiting Florence with kids can be fun if you plan in advance and adjust the itinerary to them. Florence is compact city and everything is accessible on foot. However, you might need to skip one or two museums, as they might become boring for young children.

There are numerous activities your kids will love. Start with visiting Boboli gardens (right behind Pitti Palace), a nice spot for strolling and picnic. When in historic centre, you can stop in Piazza della Repubblica and take one or more rides on the carousel in the square (a great fun for kids).

Your kids will adore amazing gelato from one of gelaterias in the city (we love Venchi gelato). A visit to a museum can also be fun for kids. You and your kids will love this guided family tour of Uffizi Gallery (fun and interesting).

If you are looking for an introduction to Florence tailored for kids, this 2.5-hour tour would be the right choice for you (starts from Piazza Santa Croce in historic centre).

One of the museum kids will for surely adore is Leonardo Da Vinci Museum. Here they'll discover the amazing machines that Leonardo da Vinci designed and take part in interactive workshops and build things. A true fun!

A cooking class is another great activity for kids. You'll be surprised at how much children will enjoy making fresh pasta! Most cooking classes welcome children!

Getting to Florence is easy (by train, plane or car)

Travelling to Florence in Italy is possible in so many different ways.

The Florence Airport has many connections from Europe all-year round, but if you fly in from the US or Canada, you will most likely fly to Rome, Milan, Venice or Bologna, then take a train to Florence.

Florence also has great train connections with Pisa, Bologna, Venice, Milan, Rome and Genoa. The fastest trains from Rome to Florence, for example, take around 1 hour and 30 minutes.

From Florence Airport you can easily reach the city by public transport, the tram (line T2; 20 minutes ride; costs 1.70 Euros) or bus.

You can also take a taxi or pre-book private car transfer if you like more comfort and get directly to your accommodation.

Or opt for renting a car if you plan to visit other cities in Tuscany or explore the countryside. Be aware that Florence has a restricted traffic zone (ZTL) in the city centre, and non-residents are not allowed to drive within this areas.

Visitors usually combines a visit to Florence with exploring Pisa, Siena, Lucca, Cinque Terre or Chianti region. Most of these places are accessible by train from Florence.

For a hassle-free visit, choose one of many organised trips from Florence, like Vespa roadtrip or wine tasting.

Where to stay in Florence in 3 days

You'll love staying at Casa di Chiara, a beautiful and cosy Florence apartment

The historic centre of Florence is a compact little gem so wherever you choose to stay, you are never going to be too far from the main sights and a variety of restaurants, bars and great shops.

You just need to decide whether you want to be in the very centre of the action in the city centre, or stay in less crowded Oltrarno, between quirky osterias and independent boutiques or to escape to the hills, which is great during hot and humid summer months. There's something for everyone in Florence.

We recommend Casa di Chiara, a beautiful and stylish apartment only 20-minute walk from historic centre. Super comfortable and equipped with anything you may need and amazing hosts, this super comfortable apartment is a great base for exploring Florence.

You'll love staying at Globus Urban Hotel, 4-star Florence hotel with prime location. It's a short walk from Santa Maria Novella train station as well as, short walk from the Duomo and other sights and museums such as the Uffizi and Palazzo Vecchio can be reach on foot. Super friendly and helpful staff is what makes difference for this Florence hotel. Hotel offers modern and spacious rooms and rich breakfast (including vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options).

Alba Palace Hotel is another great hotel in Florence, just around the corner from Santa Maria Novella train station. From the hotel, you can easily walk to the historic center (in only 5 minutes). Rooms are very comfortable and clean offering a pleasant stay. The breakfast buffet had a wide selection and the staff were friendly and accommodating.

Exploring beyond Florence

We don't think 3 days in Florence is enough to take a day trip because this is the city that can be explored for months.

However, if you still want to explore beyond the Florence, there are many options available. From here you can easily reach other Tuscan cities, such as San Gimignano (beautiful hilltop town), Siena (famous for its cuisine, art, museums, medieval cityscape and the Palio, a horse race), Pisa (famous for Leaning Tower of Pisa) or Lucca (famous for its many towers) by train or taking a day tour.

You can also visit Bologna, which is also interesting city, with interesting architecture and super tasty food (famous for tagliatelle and tortellini pasta, mortadella, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, balsamic vinegar). If you are a foodie, you should visit this city!