How Many Days in Florence are Enough for a Perfect First Visit? (+ Sample Itineraries)
That is the million-euro question.
The so-called Cradle of the Renaissance has enough attractions to last a lifetime. As with many other destinations, how many days you spend in Florence will depend on your interests and pace of travel.
I have spent the best part of thirty years unearthing its cultural, historic and artistic treasures and there is still much I want to see. But these multiple visits have given me a good sense of how many days in Florence you will need to meet your travel expectations without feeling frazzled in the process.
Whether you spend one, two, three, four or five days in Florence, there’s an itinerary for you.
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How Many Days in Florence are Enough for a First-time Visit?
Let’s cut to the chase. Whilst there is no size-fits-all answer, for the average first-time visitor the sweet spot is between three and four days in Florence.
Manage your expectations. You won’t be able to do it all in this timespan. But you will be able to hit Florence’s highlights with ease.
Stay three days in Florence if you want to squeeze as much into your city break as possible. Stretch this to four days if you prefer a more relaxed itinerary or want to fit in a day trip.
What you can see in 3 days in Florence
Duomo Complex
Comprising the Duomo (Florence Cathedral), Duomo Museum, Giotto’s bell tower and the Baptistery, this area is Ground Zero of the Italian Renaissance. Buy a ticket to climb either Brunelleschi’s dome or Giotto’s Tower for views that you will never forget.
Piazza Signoria
This sensational pizza has been Florence’s political and social heart since the days of the mighty Medici. Here you’ll find Palazzo Vecchio as well as the Fountain of Neptune and Loggia dei Lanzi, Florence’s free open-air sculpture gallery.
Uffizi Galleries
Whether you are spending one, two or three days in Florence, the Uffizi Galleries are unmissable. From Giotto’s early stabs at realism and perspective to Caravaggio’s magnificent Medusa, this is home to the greatest collection of Italian art in the world.
Ponte Vecchio
Gracing many a postcard and Instagram feed, Ponte Vecchio is the most famous of the bridges across the River Arno.
Accademia Gallery (Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze)
Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze is home to one of Michelangelo’s most famous sculptures: David. Crafted from gleaming white marble and standing 17 feet high, this buff biblical shepherd is a symbol of both the Renaissance and the city of Florence.
Bargello Museum (Musei del Bargello)
Housed in a former palazzo, the collection of statues in the Bargello Museum takes you on a journey through 150+ years of Florence’s artistic heyday.
Santa Croce
The 14th Century Franciscan Santa Croce Church is the final resting place of the great and the good of Florence, including Michelangelo, Dante, Galileo, Machiavelli and Rossini. It is also famous for its fresco cycle by Giotto, depicting stories from the Life of St. Francis.
Pitti Palace & Boboli Gardens
The former home of Cosimo I de’ Medici is today divided into four museums and has the world’s finest collection of Raphael Madonnas, as well as Titian portraits. Stretching over 11 acres, the Boboli Gardens are its backyard.
Piazzale Michelangelo
Climb to Piazzale Michelangelo for the classic postcard view of Florence.
Rose Garden
This peaceful refuge just below Piazzale Michelangelo is my pick of the best Florence photo spots.
San Miniato
Continue for five minutes uphill to San Miniato al Monte, the oldest church in Florence. It is another spot for the best views in town.
What you can see in 4 days in Florence
If you spend four days in Florence, you will be able to visit more of the city’s highlights or take a day trip out of town.
Other places to visit in Florence
- Brancacci Chapel in Santa Maria del Carmine – renowned for its jaw-dropping fresco cycle by Masaccio, the first great painter of the Italian Renaissance.
- San Marco – home to the finest collection of frescoes by Fra Angelico, one of the most important painters of the Early Renaissance.
- Orsanmichele – this former grain market-turned-church for Florence’s guilds and merchants is famous for its statues.
- Ricardi Medici Palace – visit the former home of Lorenzo the Magnificent (1449 – 1492), for the Benozzo Gozzoli frescoes decorating its tiny Chapel of the Magi.
- Palazzo Vecchio – visit the lavish apartments of Cosimo I de’ Medici (1519 – 1574) or climb Arnolfo’s Tower for some of the best views of Florence.
- Basilica of Santa Maria Novella – this 13th Century Dominican church is a peaceful refuge in the centre of Florence and is home to The Trinity by Masaccio and crucifixes by Giotto and Brunelleschi.
Day trips from Florence by train
Florence is the best base for exploring Tuscany by train. Here are my suggestions for easy day trips on public transport:
Pisa – Famous for its leaning tower and it was the birthplace of Galileo.
Siena – Florence’s erstwhile rival has one of the most beautiful piazze in Italy and a medieval masterpiece of a cathedral.
Lucca – A city of soaring medieval towers featuring a charming centro storico.
Arezzo – The birthplace of Giorgio Vasari and home to one of the greatest fresco cycles in Renaissance art.
Bologna – Visit handsome Bologna for some of the best food in Italy. Enough said.
Orvieto – This Etruscan hilltop town has a long and rich history and is one of the most spectacular cathedrals in the country (Orvieto is also an easy day trip from Rome).
Venice – Take the fast train from Florence to Venice for a long but rewarding day trip.
READ THIS NEXT: An Easy Day Trip from Florence to Venice by Train
Organised day tours from Florence
Explore the Tuscan countryside by joining an organised tour.
Tuscany Day Trip with Optional Lunch and Wine | MORE INFORMATION HERE
Visits Siena, San Gimignano and Pisa with the option of tasting four Chianti region wines in a traditional wine estate.
Chianti wineries tour from Florence | MORE INFORMATION HERE
If you are more interested in wine tasting – and who would blame you – take a look at this tour that includes visits to two vineyards and tasting up to five wines in each.
Is One Day in Florence Enough?
One day in Florence is not enough to do it justice. However, if that day is your only opportunity to visit Florence, grasp it with both hands.
To make the most of your day, start early, have a plan and book your tickets in advance.
Sample 1-Day Florence itinerary
Hit the ground running with this list of things to see in Florence in one day.
- David at the Accademia
- Duomo complex
- Piazza Signoria
- Uffizi Galleries
- Ponte Vecchio
- Piazzale Michelangelo
- Rose Garden
- San Minato al Monte
READ THIS NEXT: How to Spend One Day in Florence: Itinerary & Tips for Your First Visit
Are 2 Days Enough to See Florence for the First Time?
With forward planning, you can hit Florence’s highlights in two full days. However, this will be a fast-paced visit you will have to content yourself with scratching the surface of its historic and cultural attractions.
Sample 2-Day Florence itinerary
DAY ONE
- David at the Accademia
- Duomo complex
- Piazza Signoria
- Uffizi Galleries
- Santa Croce
DAY TWO
- Ponte Vecchio
- Pitti Palace & Boboli Gardens
- Piazzale Michelangelo
- Rose Garden
- San Miniato al Monte
Are 5 Days Too Long in Florence?
Not at all!
Spending five days in Florence will result in a more relaxed itinerary and allow you to take a day trip from the city.
Tips for Deciding How Many Days You Need in Florence
To determine how many days to spend in Florence and to make the best of your time there, consider what you would like to see, how you will arrange your sightseeing and your preferred pace.
Determine the actual number of days in Florence
Unless you are arriving on a red-eye, day one in a city is rarely a full day. If your flight arrives at midday, for example, your first day in Florence is half a day at best.
If you are on a silly o’clock flight to Florence, check that your accommodation will be able to store your luggage. Most hotels offer this service but don’t take it as a given. It may be more challenging if you are renting an apartment.
The same applies on the day of your departure.
Create a Florence bucket list
This is not a city to wing it on a first visit. Having a Florence wish list will focus the mind and give you a feel for how many days it will take to explore the city.
READ THIS NEXT: 25 Unmissable Items for your Florence Bucket List
Book tickets in advance
Don’t risk disappointment. For hugely popular sights, advance booking is essential.
Accademia – Buy your ticket from the gallery’s official website here. Failing that, try buying your skip-the-line ticket here.
Duomo – To climb Brunelleschi’s dome or the bell tower, you need to book a ticket in advance. These tickets also include admission to the Baptistery of St. John, Santa Reparta (in the bowels of the cathedral) and the Duomo Museum.
The cheapest way to do this is via the official website here. Failing that, try booking through GetYourGuide here.
Uffizi – Book your ticket well in advance through the gallery’s official website here.
Alternatively, buy your ticket through a 3rd party here. Although this is likely to be slightly more expensive, the booking interface is clearer and it comes with free cancellation within 24 hours of your visit.
Cluster sightseeing into areas
Be smart in how you arrange your Florence itinerary by clustering your sightseeing into geographic areas. For example; one day could be spent in the city’s historic core and another on the other side of the river in the Oltrarno.
Consider travel time
Grouping your sightseeing into neighbourhoods that you can navigate on foot makes sense. Whilst Florence is very walkable, you still need to factor in travel time.
Pace yourself
Florence can overwhelm you and not always in a positive way. This is one busy city. Pre-Covid pandemic, there were over 15 million overnight stays in Florence annually.
You rapidly tire of swerving around massive groups of bored teenagers on school trips, and of bumping elbows with others paying their respects to David.
Build in downtime. You will need it.
How to Get Around Florence
Florence is a very walkable city. Many of its most popular attractions lie on the north bank of the River Arno, within walking distance of the Duomo.
The only time that you might be tempted to jump on a bus is if you cannot face the uphill climb to Piazzale Michelangelo.
Another way of getting to Piazzale Michelangelo is on an e-bike tour of Florence, which attracts great reviews.
Here are a few other fun-filled ways of getting around Florence that caught my attention:
- Join an eco-tour by electric cart
- Take a guided bike tour of the historical centre
- Book a tour by electric scooter
- Take an electric bike tour at night with gelato tasting (that gets my vote)
Where to Stay in Florence
When choosing accommodation in Florence, you’ll be hard-pushed not to stay somewhere central. The exact location will be determined by the personality of the area and your budget.
Luxury Hotel – Hotel Lungarano
Have you dreamt of having a room with a view? If so, book a room at this 5-star hotel on the north side of the Arno River. The most expensive of its elegant rooms overlook the river.
>>> CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS & TO CHECK PRICES
Mid-range hotel – Hotel Globus
This modern 4-star hotel is a 5-minute walk from the train station. Reviews are very good.
>>> CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS & TO CHECK PRICES
Apartment – F1RST Suite Apartment & SPA
This apartment in the shadow of Santa Croce features a washing machine and hot tub in which to soak those aching limbs after a busy day in Florence.
>>> CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS & TO CHECK PRICES
Hotel with a swimming pool – Four Seasons Hotel Firenze
There are not many hotels with pools in Florence, but Four Seasons Hotel Firenze is the best. Splurge on this luxury hotel set in lush gardens with spacious rooms and suites for a trip to Florence that you’ll never forget.
>>> CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS & TO CHECK RATES
How Long Should I Visit Florence for the First Time?
As you can see, there is no definitive answer to how many days in Florence are enough.
Scratch the surface of this city’s remarkable historical and artistic heritage by spending two days in Florence. Visit Florence for three or four days for a more relaxed itinerary that includes its famous landmarks.
With five days or more in Florence, you can really start to get under the skin of the city and take a day trip from the city.
Regardless of how many days you spend in Florence, you can’t go far wrong. Whether you are looking David in the eye or sipping a prosecco in one of the city’s rooftop bars, it will be difficult not to fall under the city’s spell.
Find out more about the Cradle of the Renaissance, or be inspired to book your trip, with this pick of the best books about Florence.
