Fl
We love Florence. It isn’t just a destination, it’s a lively buzzing city with a wealth of history, art, and culture. Originally called Florentia in Latin, then Fiorenza in Old Italian, Florence’s real name is Firenze. We believe this fabulous city is a must-do trip for anyone travelling through Italy, so for those with limited time we want to help you make every minute enjoyable. In this blog we unravel the secrets to making the most of Firenze in just one day.
Squeezing all of Florence's treasures into a single day requires some serious planning finesse. So this post (with an accompanying summary vlog and extended-version podcast for alternative media options) is here to provide you with all the dos and don'ts, tips and tricks for maximising your time in this magnificent city. We’ve designed the post as your personal compass, guiding you through the maze of must-sees and pre-booking essentials, insider tips, cautionary tales of what not to do, and a sprinkle of our own recommendations. Along with practical advice and links, we’ve added a couple of sample itineraries to ensure you make the most of your whirlwind day in Florence.
We’ve learnt all of this the hard way. We attempted Florence In A Day and we were most definitely NOT successful, so we want you to learn from our mistakes. Although we planned out the best route to take us to all the spots recommended by a local, we totally underestimated the queues, and the need for advanced bookings in the more popular locations. Although it was early morning when we arrived in the Piazza del Duomo it was already crowded, and straight away we knew that we were not going to be able to complete our list in a day. So it took us a bit of time to replan, and then more time to work out which queues to stand in. We wrongly assumed that because it was the off-season (beginning of February) we’d be safe to improvise - but we now believe Florence doesn’t actually have an off-season!
Getting around Florence:
Hotels in the city centre can be very expensive, so if you are on a tighter budget, you might want to consider accommodation out of the city. We stayed out in the suburbs and caught the public bus into the old town, which was fairly simple to do and only a few euros per trip. It’s a quick tap-on-tap-off system, so you don't need to buy tickets in advance and the buses into the city were very regular even on weekends.
Warning: Bear in mind that you will need an electronic form of payment as cash was not accepted and the driver does not deal with ticketing.
Trains: the main station has many ticket machines which feature a range of languages. All up we were impressed by the quality and service of the trains in Italy. The majority of trains we rode were on time, clean and comfortable, colourful, light and airy. On longer routes you have the option to select private seats, and there are vending machines for snacks. They are fairly straight forward although it is not uncommon to get one that is out of order or doesn’t take cash.
Warning: the machines will automatically give you, as the first option, a ticket to a train that is leaving in three minutes but could actually be a seven minute walk from the ticket machine. So check the time before you click purchase and make sure to leave yourself time to find the platform.
Warning: We were a little bit confused about validating the train tickets. The tickets state that you must validate, and there are little machines on the platforms to do it at, but we seemed to be the only ones doing it (and some of the machines were out of order). So we recommend that you are at least aware of this and try to ask an attendant if you can.
Recommendation: You can also buy tickets on the trainline app to book them in advance, which is fairly easy to do and served us well for longer trips (eg: Venice to Florence, Florence to Milan etc, which require advance bookings as they sell out fast).
Once you are in the city centre all the major attractions are within walking distance. You’ll need good shoes because you’ll walk a lot. Pedestrians seem to rule the road (apart from the horse and carts) and in fact traffic has been restricted to prevent pollution damaging the historical buildings.
Warning: don’t rely on google map’s estimation of how much time it will take you to walk anywhere. You’ll be dealing with crowds walking at a slow pace, so add a few minutes on for that. Plus you’ll want to stop and look around you as you go. Florence is one of those places with a treasure around every corner, so give yourself time to enjoy your stroll.
So what are the main attractions to see?
This is where planning becomes essential. Florence is full of tourist delights, so if you want to make the most of a day then you’ll need to do some research and narrow down your own personal preferences.
The top attractions include:
Piazza del Duomo
- Featuring: Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Brunelleschi's dome (Cupola del Brunelleschi) and Giotto's Bell Tower (Campanile di Giotto)
Just a few minutes walk from the main train station (Santa Maria Novella) the Piazza del Duomo is an absolute must. Actually it’s one of our favourite features about Florence - you walk out of the train station and it pretty much looks like any other city in the world, but just a few hundred metres walk down the main street (just follow the crowd) and the incredible backdrop of the dome and the tower come into view. It almost looks like a painted film set. Immediately you get this wonderful sense of awe and the feeling that you are somewhere special.
You are also suddenly aware of the crowds, and the hustle and bustle of the place. I liken it to Disneyland, because like the big theme parks you can expect to be waiting in very long queues to get into any of the attractions.
First stop: the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. The entry into the main cathedral is actually free. It’s one of the few places in Florence that is, so consequently the line is very long. You’ll probably need to plan 30 - 60 minutes just to wait in the line if you want to enter.
Warning: - make sure you are in the right queue! We made the mistake of joining the first queue we saw, not realising that there are several entrances into the cathedral, and only one of them doesn’t require a timed ticket. To work it out, check the fabulous signs at each entrance which give a detailed map and explanation in Italian and English.
Tip: before entering the dome or tower, you need to store your backpack (or any luggage you might have that’s bigger than a handbag) so you will need to account for time to do this, and invariably there will be a queue involved. In the main museums (eg: Uffizi and Academia) you will have to go through a security scan (think airport security - no water etc) but this will happen after you’ve entered and doesn’t affect your ticket entrance time.
Around the back of the cathedral is a luggage storage facility which (if you have an entry ticket) you can use for free during opening hours. Otherwise there are plenty of 24hr storage locker companies around the city which charge a reasonable price, are very secure and simple to use.
Recommendation: We used “Stow Your Bags” and found one medium locker was enough for two small suitcases and a backpack. You can book in advance (recommended during the height of the tourist season) or take a risk on the day. There is also a luggage storage facility at the Santa Maria Novella train station, but we thought it was over priced, plus it wasn’t operating at the time we needed for our early morning train.
Brunelleschi’s dome / Giotto’s Tower
If you want to climb the Dome or the Tower you are going to need tickets, and they are more than likely going to be sold out. It’s best to book at least a couple of weeks in advance. We were extremely lucky to be able to get tickets on the day, but this was because by then we had abandoned our other plans so we could take the few remaining available spots. This worked well for us because we were able to climb the dome in the mid morning, and the tower at night - and if you are planning on doing both we recommend separating them out so you get the different views at different times of the day.
Each climb will give you something different. The dome has 463 steps and is narrow and twisting. The Tower has 414 steps, and is a slightly wider stairwell. In each, the same stairway serves for up and down traffic, but you’ll be glad when you bump into someone coming in the other direction - it gives you a chance to pause and breathe! Plus there’s a bit of camaraderie - people will assure you “don’t give up, not far now” as you huff and puff while they pass by.
Warning: If you have any issues with heights or closed spaces then this is not the adventure for you. You’ll need a good fitness level - your tickets are timed to 45 minutes entry: 15 minutes climb up, 15 minutes to enjoy the view, and 15 minutes down again. Another thing to note is that Giotto’s bell is loud and it does strike regularly. We happened to be right next to it when it chimed. I loved it, Darryl found it “a bit deafening”.
To see the stairwells, and the views you can expect check out our video:
Recommendation: We both thoroughly enjoyed both climbs, and were stunned by the views. However, if I had to choose only one, I think I would pick the Dome, simply because the Tower is enclosed in a wire mesh cage, which does distract a little from the view, and makes it really hard to take photos. Darryl also enjoyed the Dome slightly more, as he was fascinated by the interior frescos and the double-dome construction. Having said that, we were happy that we got to see the city from both high points and at different times of the day as the sunset view was fabulous.
MAJOR Warning: A word of caution when buying tickets to the attractions - this is where we want to give you some very important advice because we discovered the hard way that not all of the ticket sellers are legitimate.
Online options - there are a few websites that look perfectly valid and offer package entrance tickets to the museums, the dome and the bell tower. We spent a lot of time doing the budget calculations and purchased the FirenzePass. Big Mistake. The website and transaction process all seem perfectly legitimate, until you get to the final stage of downloading your tickets when everything disappears. Fortunately for us we realised this very quickly, and we were able to put a hold on our online transaction and get the payment reversed.
It turns out, at least according to the internet, that there is only one reputable online site for buying package deals and that is the FirenzeCard. We didn't try it however, and we decided to avoid the package deals and buy directly from the locations themselves. So for our visit to the Dome and the Tower we were able to purchase on the day from the ticket booth, but you will most likely need to book in advance from their official website. For the Uffizi and Academia we booked in advance from the Uffizi official website, as it is possible to get tickets for both on this site. If you choose to buy a packet deal from an external supplier please learn from us and check Reddit or TrustPilot first.
Extra Note: Some package tickets will say they are open for up to three days, however on Mondays many museums are closed so that’s essentially a day lost.
Budget Option: Piazzale Michelangelo
Another way to get that fabulous view, without the entrance price or the 800-something stairs, is the Piazzale Michelangelo. Because we had by then decided that just one day wasn’t enough for us, we had time to slowly wander around the quieter streets, which was really pleasant. On the way to the Piazzale Michelangelo we got to see many lesser known, but just as impressive, pieces of architecture, and away from the crowds we could start to enjoy the relaxed feel of daily life.
The walk was uphill, obviously, but not a steep climb. There is a public bus that will take you up there if you don't want to walk, and we also saw some fun-looking tourist-carrying golf carts going up and down. Once up there you'll find a large concrete space, which had a few stalls when we were there, but which we imagine is packed with market booths, food stalls and entertainers in the summertime.
Recommendation: Make sure you have a spare Euro or two just in case you need the visit to the toilet
Warning: Google Maps tried to take us through the Rose Garden but as it was January they were partially closed. We ended up going into the gardens that weren’t in bloom, and circling around back to the beginning without getting any closer to the Piazzale Michelangelo.
The Uffizi Museum
If you have any interest in art you are going to want to visit the Uffizi Museum which houses a stunning collection of Italian masterpieces. They’ve got Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, Caravaggio’s Bacchus, pieces from Leonardo da Vinci, Giotto, the list goes on and on: a literal wealth of paintings and sculptures.
If you only have a day in Florence you are going to need to book your tickets a few weeks in advance, and the best way to do this is directly on the Uffizi museum website. It’s not exactly as simple as that - so let me talk you through it. Firstly you’ll need to pick a 15 min time slot. This is your window of time to enter the museum. Once you are in, you can spend as long there as you like, and you’ll probably want to give yourself an hour. If you want to take photos you’ll have to wait your turn, and this all takes time.
But first, you need to pick up your tickets in a 15 mins slot BEFORE your 15 min entry slot. The confirmation you got from the website is only a receipt and still needs to be exchanged for the tickets. So if you booked a 10:15-10:30 entry slot, you need to line up at the “pre-booked ticket door” at 10:00 to get your ticket so that you can then walk over to the entrance to wait in the 10:15-10:30 entry queue. Don’t try to do it earlier, they will just kick you out of the queue.
Recommendation: If you are going to both Uffizi and Galleria Academia on the same day, you can book both through either museum website and pick up all the tickets at the first location you go to. That way you don’t have to do the double queue at the second location.
We also recommend you give yourself some time between each museum, not just travel time but ‘thinking space’. Each museum is absolutely brimming with artistic gems, and if you pack them close together, you run the risk of overloading yourself and not being able to truly appreciate each collection.
The Galleria Academia.
The Galleria Academia is the museum you need to go to if you want to see the “real David”. He is impressive, and worth a visit, and thus is extremely popular. The queues here were pretty crazy, despite the fact that everyone had a prebooked, timed entry ticket. It's no good turning up early, they will simply push you to the side of the road to wait with everyone else. Here’s how entry works: every 15 mins or so the security guards flip a card showing the next time-slot and then calls out for everyone with those times on their tickets to start lining up.
Warning: It might be late, for example, our 2:30 - 2:45 time slot was actually called at 3:15, but there is no way they will let you into an earlier queue regardless of the actual time on the clock. And remember, just booking your tickets online isn’t actually your ticket. Whatever you printed off is just your receipt to line up 15 mins before your booked time to collect your real tickets. We saw a few people wait on the side of the road for 30 mins or so, then line up in the timed queue when it was announced, only to be kicked out as they finally reached the door because they hadn’t collected the actual tickets.
The Galleria and the Uffizi are not the only museums in Florence. There are in fact, if you include private collections and exhibits in museums, you have 72 galleries to choose from, each with their own specialty. So if you are really interested in art you most definitely need to research in advance and plan out more than a day to enjoy it all.
Budget Art Options
Search the #Domenicalmuseo initiative - you’ll get a list of museums that are open for free on every first Sunday of the month, including the Uffizi and Academia. Also, the statues in the Loggia dei Lanzi, along the front of Palazzo Vecchio and in Piazza della Signoria turn the square into an open-air museum that is completely free where you can admire works by greats such as Michelangelo, Giambologna, Cellini, Bandinelli and Ammannati. Plus, for a free look at pre-Da Vinci “Last Suppers” check out San Salvi, Sant' Apollonia, Convitto della Calza and Ognissanti.
The Ponte Vecchio
The Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge") is a mediaeval stone closed-spandrel segmental arch bridge over the Arno river. Walking across the Ponte Vecchio can be quite an experience. It is nearly always jam-packed with people, all of whom stop in the middle to take a photo of the view. Building shops on such bridges was once a common practice and the Ponte Vecchio was originally lined with local traders such as butchers, tanners, and farmers. However, now it is fully occupied by jewellers, art dealers, and souvenir sellers. For Darryl, this commercial aspect did somewhat detract from the experience of crossing the bridge, but personally I loved the mediaeval feel of structure.
The bridge maintains its authenticity, as it was the only bridge in Florence not destroyed by the German army during their retreat at the advance of the British Army on 4 August 1944. The story goes that this was because of an express order by Hitler. And though it was severely damaged in the 1966 flood of the Arno, the city has taken extreme measures to take care of it since then. In fact, between 2005 and 2006, 5,500 padlocks, (or love locks) which were attached to the railings were removed by the city council who considered them “aesthetically displeasing.”
Dining in Florence
Obviously, you're going to get hungry after all that walking and steps. You'll probably want to experience a restaurant or some sort of cafe. The Italian hospitality didn’t disappoint, but you're going to need some deep pockets if you want to enjoy a lovely glass of Tuscan red (which Darryl always recommends). Be prepared to pay quite a significant amount of money for restaurants within the central city close to the main attractions. If you have time (or you’ve researched in advance) you will find plenty of variety and good quality restaurants in the smaller side streets at a much more reasonable price.
The main dish of Florence is bistecca alla fiorentina, or “Florentine Steak”. When made to perfection, 1.2 kilograms of tenderloin is first kept at room temperature from 2 to 10 hours, then roasted over oak or olive coals, 5 minutes on one side and 5 minutes on the other. If you’re vegan you may find it unpleasant to see most restaurants have cuts of meat openly displayed in their front windows. The HappyCow app is a great way to find vegan options around the city.
Another special Florentine food is schiacciata. Upon first glance, schiacciata (pronounced skee-ahch-chyah-tah) and focaccia may seem similar but there are some key differences. Typically, schiacciata is made with more flour than focaccia and has a shorter rising time. A local had recommended we go to All'Antico for our schiacciata.
They have two locations in central Florence, each with long queues. But it was well worth the wait and the happy bustling atmosphere of the cafe was an experience in itself. One sandwich was big enough, and tasty enough, for two of us. We got the roast beef with artichoke cream, rocket and tomato for 12 Euro, but there are vegan options available too.
All up, apart from the main attractions, we loved Florence for the “buzz”.. It doesn't feel like a place that people just come to take photos of. It feels like a place where people live and they enjoy their life. And one of our favourite ways to do that was at the wine windows. You could be walking down the street and you might see a bunch of people joyfully congregating, and you’ll know you’ve hit a wine window. Simply knock on the little door in the middle of the exterior wall. Somebody will open it up, you tell them what you want, hand them your money and stand on the side of the road to wait. Next thing you know, a glass of wine has been handed to you through the little door.
The buchette del vino (wine windows) have an interesting history. Back in medieval times, wine was actually considered more important, and better quality, than water. Benedictine monks were assigned to drink a certain amount of wine per day. But the streets weren't always safe, especially around the times of plague, so the wine windows allowed you to get your wine without having the dangers of medieval life. The windows were actually closed for many years, but the enterprising (and thirsty) Florentines saw an opportunity to bring them back to life during the Covid 19 pandemic, and now that tourists have returned to the city the windows have become extremely popular. There are now 172 wine windows operating in Firenze. Many thanks to Michelle Altenberg for creating this map.
Map to Wine Windows: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1nFk3p6ViY7MWofNJQdbWJowuMfHDCjh5&femb=1&ll=43.780938044777415%2C11.244240350000023&z=12
In a whirlwind day in Florence, you're constantly surrounded by jaw-dropping architecture at every turn. Whether you're peeking into tiny alleyways or strolling through the main squares, there's always something incredible to see. Yet, amidst the marvels, there's a reminder: time is fleeting. If you’re determined to get through Florence in a day - it is possible, just keep in mind the ticking clock. The well-organised queues and peaceful crowds are proof of Florence's enduring popularity, and the city does a decent job of keeping everything in order.
So, can you see it all in a day? Yes, if you're super organised, and don't mind a bit of hustle, we’ve given a sample itinerary below, put together by local Pistoian, our good friend Rachele (@lontre_ontheroad).
But should you do Florence in a Day? We think not. Florence isn't a place to rush through—it's a city that deserves to be savoured, one marvel stop at a time.
Sample Itinerary:
If you follow the advice above and book tickets in advance here is a possible Florence In A Day itinerary. Subscribe to our YouTube channel, and click the little bell to get notification of our upcoming Assassin’s Creed Tour of Firenze (which can also be done in a day, if you really want to :).
Recommended by a Local: Rachele’s favourite places in Florence:
In a (kinda)circular walking order from Santa Maria Novella:
Piazza del Duomo: Cathedral / Dome & Tower
Borgo San Frediano: This was named by Lonely Planet as one of the world's coolest neighborhoods to explore. It is a street located on the bank of the Arno river in the district where the artisans' workshops were once located, and where the Florentine vernacular was most widespread.
Boboli Gardens: The Medici were the first to create this model of the Italian garden which became exemplary for many European courts. The vast green surface is populated with ancient and Renaissance statues and large fountains, such as that of Neptune and of the Ocean. (NB: possibly not so magnificent during the winter period).
Ponte Vecchio
Uffizi Gallery
All'Antico Vinaio, Via dei Neri, (to taste the best schiacciata in Florence)
Piazza della Signoria / Palazzo Vecchio. Piazza della Signoria has been the center of Florentine political life since the Middle Ages. The square is surrounded by some of the most famous buildings in the city. With its famous group of sculptures, the Loggia has the air of an outdoor art gallery.
Giunti Odeon Library: A unique library-cinema - a multicultural space centre for the meeting of arts in their various expressions.
La Sinagoga di Firenze (one of the most beautiful synagogues in Europe)
Accademia Gallery (to see the real David)
San Lorenzo market (Mercato Centrale) Upstairs, in the evenings, is a fabulous place for a reasonably priced evening meal.
If you are looking for some quieter places to visit in Italy check out our other videos - Vinci, home of Leonardo da Vinci, and Pistoia, as featured in Dante’s Commedia.
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