One day in Florence
If you're passing through on a wider Italy trip, a single day is enough to see the highlights without feeling like a sprint — if you book ahead and accept you'll skip some things.
- Morning: Duomo complex first thing (cathedral, and the dome if you booked a slot), then a short walk to Piazza della Signoria.
- Midday: the Uffizi Gallery (book a timed slot in advance) or the Accademia to see the David — realistically, choose one for a single day.
- Afternoon: cross Ponte Vecchio into Oltrarno, wander the quieter streets, and climb to Piazzale Michelangelo for the view before it gets busy at sunset.
- Evening: dinner in Santo Spirito or San Niccolò, away from the main tourist strip.
Two to three days
This is the sweet spot for most first-time visitors. Day one follows the one-day plan above at a slower pace. Day two adds the Accademia or Uffizi (whichever you skipped), Santa Croce, and the San Lorenzo market. A third day is best spent on a single day trip — Siena or Pisa are both under 1.5 hours away by train; see our day trips guide.
A full week
A week lets you slow right down: two or three days in the city itself covering every major sight without rushing, plus two or three day trips (Siena, Chianti wine country, and either Pisa or Lucca), with a rest day built in — Florence in summer heat rewards a slower pace more than an ambitious one.
| Days | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1 day | Duomo, one major museum, Ponte Vecchio, Piazzale Michelangelo |
| 2–3 days | Above, plus Santa Croce, San Lorenzo, Oltrarno, and one day trip |
| 1 week | All major sights at an easy pace, plus 2–3 day trips and a rest day |