3 Days in Florence: The Complete Itinerary

Three days in Florence is the minimum time you need to truly experience the city - enough for the great museums, for getting lost in the less-touristy neighbourhoods, and for understanding why this place has inspired artists and travellers for centuries. If you want to know what to do in Florence in 3 days without wasting a single hour, this itinerary is for you.

Day 1: The Historic Centre and the Great Museums

The first morning is dedicated to the Uffizi Gallery. Booking online in advance is essential, especially from March to October - tickets sell out weeks ahead. The Uffizi opens at 8:15am and it’s worth being among the first visitors to enjoy the rooms before the crowds arrive. Spend at least two hours with the collection: Botticelli’s Primavera and Birth of Venus, Michelangelo’s Holy Family, and works by Leonardo and Raphael.

Leaving the Uffizi, Piazza della Signoria is just a few steps away. This is the political heart of medieval Florence: here you’ll find the replica of Michelangelo’s David, the Loggia dei Lanzi with its outdoor sculptures, and Palazzo Vecchio - worth climbing the tower for an extraordinary view over the city.

Lunch and afternoon

For lunch, avoid the restaurants immediately around Piazza della Signoria and walk towards the Mercato Nuovo, where you’ll find lampredotto (tripe sandwich) and other authentic Florentine street food at reasonable prices.

The afternoon is for the Duomo. The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is free to enter, but you need to book in advance to climb Brunelleschi’s dome. The ascent takes about 45 minutes and involves 463 steps - the effort is more than worth it for the view over Florence’s terracotta rooftops. Don’t miss the Baptistery with Ghiberti’s famous Gates of Paradise.

Evening in Santa Croce

In the evening, head to the Santa Croce neighbourhood. The basilica houses the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli. Nearby you’ll find some of Florence’s best trattorias, serving ribollita, bistecca alla fiorentina and pappa al pomodoro.

Day 2: Oltrarno and Piazzale Michelangelo

The second day is dedicated to the other side of the Arno. Cross Ponte Vecchio early in the morning, when tourists are still few: the goldsmiths’ shops open around 9:30am and the bridge is far more enjoyable in the early hours.

Palazzo Pitti is Florence’s largest museum by surface area. It houses the Palatine Gallery with works by Raphael, Titian and Rubens, plus the Boboli Gardens - one of the most beautiful historic parks in Italy. Allow at least three hours between the palace and the gardens.

The Santo Spirito and San Frediano neighbourhoods

In the afternoon, explore Piazza Santo Spirito, the heart of the Oltrarno: bars, artisan shops, Monday market. The San Frediano neighbourhood is even more authentic, with its restoration workshops, trattorias frequented by locals and quiet streets far from the main tourist flows.

In the late afternoon, head up to Piazzale Michelangelo. You can walk there from the Oltrarno in about 20 minutes, or take bus 13 from the station. The sunset from up here is one of Florence’s most famous spectacles: the red rooftops, the Duomo, the Chianti hills in the background.

Day 3: Accademia, Mercato Centrale and local neighbourhoods

The third day starts at the Galleria dell’Accademia, home to Michelangelo’s original David. Online booking is essential here too. Arrive as it opens, at 8:15am, to see the masterpiece without the late-morning crowds. The full visit takes about an hour and a half.

Mercato Centrale and the San Lorenzo neighbourhood

A few minutes from the Accademia is the Mercato Centrale di San Lorenzo, one of Florence’s most vibrant markets. On the ground floor you’ll find vegetables, cheeses, cured meats and fresh fish; upstairs, the covered market with quality street food. It’s the ideal spot for your third-day lunch.

In the afternoon, spend time in the Santa Maria Novella neighbourhood near the station. The basilica of Santa Maria Novella has one of Florence’s most elegant Renaissance facades and houses frescoes by Masaccio, Ghirlandaio and Filippino Lippi.

Practical tips for 3 days in Florence

Planning a 3-day Florence trip requires some logistical thought. The main museums - the Uffizi and Accademia above all - need to be booked weeks in advance from April to September. The official sites are uffizi.it and accademia.org. Combined tickets for the Duomo complex (Cathedral, Dome, Campanile, Baptistery, Museum) cost around €30 and can be purchased online.

For getting around, central Florence is almost entirely walkable: from Santa Maria Novella station to the Uffizi takes 15 minutes on foot. Tram T1 connects the station with Peretola airport in about 25 minutes.

Wear comfortable shoes: Florentine cobblestones are beautiful to look at but demanding on the legs after a full day’s walking. Avoid the central hours of August, when the heat is intense and museum queues are at their longest.

Where to stay

For an intensive three-day itinerary, the location of your accommodation is crucial. Homelink The Key is at Via Cittadella 22, just 5 minutes’ walk from Santa Maria Novella station and 10 minutes from the Duomo, the Uffizi and Ponte Vecchio - a perfect base for reaching every corner of the centre without wasting time on transport.