Are you planning a short weekend getaway or a longer trip to Italy and want to spend a day in Florence? You're absolutely right, because this city truly deserves a visit. Indeed, thanks to its historical heritage (Florence was the city of the Medici), it boasts a wealth of architectural, cultural, and artistic treasures.
In addition, Florence is a perfect tourist destination for a short day trip. Indeed, this city, which only has a little over 400 inhabitants, is not very large and can be explored quickly in a day.
To help you optimize your day, here is a guide to visits and ideas for itineraries to follow to visit Florence in one day and not miss anything of this magnificent Italian city.
Tips for making the most of your day in Florence
To make the most of your day in Florence, here are some practical tips:
- Check the opening times of museums and attractions to plan your itinerary.
- Buy your tickets in advance to avoid long lines.
- Allow plenty of time to relax and soak up the city's atmosphere.
- Start your visits as early as possible in the morning.
What are the visits not to be missed in Florence?
Florence is a city rich in architectural, cultural, artistic and gastronomic heritage. From magnificent cathedrals and renowned museums to picturesque bridges, gardens and restaurants, this city offers a wealth of tourist attractions.
Among the most emblematic of all, here are the visits not to be missed if you spend one day in Florence:
- The galerie des Offices
- The Basilica of Santa Croce
- The Galleria dell'Accademia
- The Museum of San Marco
- Piazza del Duomo
- Florence Cathedral (the Duomo)
- The Piazza della Signoria
- The Palazzo Vecchio
- The Ponte Vecchio
- Michelangelo's Esplanade (Piazzale Michelangelo)
Program and itinerary to visit Florence in 1 day
And even though Florence deserves at least 2 or 3 days, many tourists choose to make a 1-day visit (sometimes even departing from Rome ) to discover the essentials of Florence.
To make the most of your day in Florence, it is essential to have good planning and an itinerary that can be done in 1 day.
I recommend you follow my walking tour which takes you around the most beautiful sites and monuments of Florence. It's a 5 km walking route which should be spread over the whole day: 2,6 km in the morning + 2,4 km in the afternoon.
Discover the program and itinerary for a day of visits to Florence below:
- In the morning, you will visit the Uffizi Gallery, the Basilica of Santa Croce, the Galleria dell'Accademia, the monastery and the San Marco Museum;
- At midday, you can stop to eat at the restaurant Osteria Nuvoli (remember to book in advance) very close to the cathedral;
- In the afternoon, you will continue the visits to the Piazza del Duomo, the Cathedral (the Duomo), the Piazza della Signoria, the Palazzo Vecchio, the Ponte Vecchio and the Piazzale Michelangelo.
Map of this circuit to visit Florence on foot
Florence is a magical city that deserves to be explored in depth. Although a day may seem short, you can still discover the city's must-see sites by following this Google Maps route on foot:
Morning visits to Florence
To complete this circuit and make the most of it, I recommend that you start very early in the morning before the tourist buses arrive.
The Office gallery
The Uffizi Gallery is a splendid Florentine palace which houses the Uffizi Museum, one of the most beautiful museums in Florence. He counts, among others, among his most famous works:
- The birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli
- The Annunciation by Leonardo da Vinci
- Virgin of the Goldfinch of Raphael
- The Adoration of the Magi by Leonardo da Vinci
Try to arrive when it opens (9 am). And for a visit of just 1.5 hours, I recommend the following booking (with skip-the-line tickets): Guided tour of the Uffizi Gallery
The Basilica of Santa Croce
My morning tour continues with the largest Franciscan church in the world: the Basilica of Santa Croce.
The Santa Croce Church is renowned for the beauty of its sculptures and the size of its architectural complex. It contains 300 tombs including those of famous people like Galileo and Michelangelo.
Galleria dell'Accademia
I chose to visit this museum because it's one of Florence's must-sees. Moreover, since it's quite small, you can visit it quickly and admire, among other things, one of the most famous sculptures of all time: Michelangelo's David.
Di San Marco Museum
If you have enough time, the San Marco Museum is well worth a visit. Indeed, it is one of the most important museums in Florence, located within the walls of the former and magnificent San Marco convent.
Afternoon tours of Florence
After taking the time to enjoy a good pizza, a bruschetta or a bistecca alla fiorentina, you will have to go to Piazza del Duomo. It is here, in the heart of the historic center of Florence, that you will begin my afternoon walking tour.
Piazza del Duomo
This is Florence's most iconic square: Piazza del Duomo . Indeed, when you're there, you'll enjoy a view of the Cathedral, Giotto's Campanile, and the Baptistery of San Giovanni. The perfect souvenir photo of Florence!
Florence Cathedral (the Duomo)
The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is the cathedral also known as the Duomo. It dates from the 13th century and is located in the historic center of Florence, adjoining Giotto's campanile , opposite the Gates of Paradise of the Baptistery of Saint John and the Loggia del Bigallo.
With its immense dome and bell tower, Florence Cathedral measures 160 meters long by 43 meters wide. Its cupola inside reaches a height of 100 meters!
If you have the courage, you can climb the 463 steps to enjoy a splendid view of Duomo Square, Brunelleschi's dome, the Baptistery and the rooftops of Florence.
The Piazza della Signoria
Piazza della Signoria is the most important square in Florence and probably the busiest. It is located between Piazza del Duomo and the Arno River.
On this square, you can discover:
- La Lanzi Loggia (Loggia della Signoria) with its arcades where there are beautiful sculptures;
- La Neptune fountain ;
- La Equestrian statue of Cosimo I ;
- The famous Palazzo Vecchio (see detail below).
The Palazzo Vecchio
With an appearance reminiscent of the palaces of Venice , the Palazzo Vecchio represents one of the visits I most enjoyed in Florence.
The Ponte Vecchio
A 4-minute walk from Piazza della Signoria, spanning the Arno River, the magnificent and surprising Ponte Vecchio is famous for its buildings built on either side of the bridge. Its hanging houses were originally occupied by butchers and then by jewelers and goldsmith shops.
In the 16th century, the Vasari Corridor was built to create a protected and covered passageway that connected the Palazzo Vecchio to the Palazzo Pitti.
In recent years, tourists have taken to placing padlocks on this bridge, just as lovers do on the Pont des Arts in Paris.
Piazzale Michelangelo
Only 20 minutes walk from Ponte Vecchio, Piazzale Michelangelo is the stopover that ends my walking tour of Florence. I selected this place to visit at the end of the day because it is one of the most beautiful viewpoints in Florence at sunset.
Ideas for visits if you stay more than one day in Florence
Florence is full of off-the-beaten-path attractions and hidden gems that don't always appear in tourist guides. These are ideas for visits that you might have the chance to do if you spend one more day in Florence.
Here is the list of these more original and off-the-beaten-track visits:
- One of Florence's hidden treasures is the Laurentian Library, located in the San Lorenzo Basilica complex. This library houses an extraordinary collection of ancient manuscripts and rare books, as well as magnificent frescoes.
- Visit to artisan workshops: Florence is renowned for its traditional crafts. With this tour, you will have the opportunity to visit the workshops of local artisans and attend demonstrations of ancestral techniques, such as making gold jewelry or painting on ceramics.
- Florence Gardens Tour: Florence is surrounded by beautiful gardens where you can relax and escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Some of the most popular gardens include the Boboli Gardens, the Bardini Gardens and the Villa Gamberaia Gardens.
- Finally, don't miss the Oltrarno district, located on the other side of the Arno. This bohemian neighborhood is home to many artist studios, artisan boutiques and traditional trattorias. It's the perfect place to experience the authentic side of Florence and escape the tourist crowds.
Where to stay to visit Florence on foot
To visit Florence on foot, it goes without saying that you absolutely must choose a hotel very well located in the historic center! See my article: Best neighborhoods to stay in Florence
My top tip is the Relais Piazza Signoria aparthotel, which has an exceptional location: on the corner of Piazza della Signoria and just steps from the Uffizi Gallery . This location is ideal for my walking tour!
More info about this hotel in Florence
Stay in Florence – Apartment
If you're staying in Florence for several nights, you'll likely want to stay in an apartment. Here's a great place I can recommend: Martelli 6 Suite & Apartments
This is a very nice accommodation 100 meters from Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral and 500 meters from Strozzi Palace and Piazza della Signoria.
More info about this apartment in Florence
Another city tour in Europe?
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