Renaissance masterpieces by day, bistecca and Chianti by candlelight
Three unhurried days that move through Florence neighbourhood by neighbourhood: the Duomo and Uffizi on the north bank, the Oltrarno's artisan workshops and Pitti Palace across the river, and a final day of Michelangelo's David and the San Lorenzo food market. Key museums are timed for early, pre-booked entry so you spend your energy on the art, not the queues, and each evening ends at a trattoria worth crossing town for.
From
YOU
To
FLO
Weather
Florence is hot and crowded in July and August (often 33-36C) and cool and damp from November to February (8-12C, quieter museums). The best seasons are late April to early June and mid-September to October, when days sit at 20-26C and the light on the Arno is beautiful.
Arriving
From Florence Peretola airport (FLR), the T2 tram runs every 5-10 minutes to Unità stop by Santa Maria Novella station in about 22 minutes for 1.70 EUR; a taxi costs a flat ~25-28 EUR (more at night or with luggage surcharges). From Pisa airport, the PisaMover shuttle plus regional train or the direct bus takes about 70-80 minutes for 10-15 EUR. Arriving by train, Santa Maria Novella is a 10-minute walk from the Duomo.
Money & power
Euro (EUR). Plugs: Type C, F and L (Italian three-pin), 230V / 50Hz.
Trip checklist
The four things worth sorting before you fly. Tick them off as you go.
Book your stay in Santa Croce
Central, walkable and the best base for this itinerary. Free cancellation on most rooms.
Check hotel pricesReserve the must-book experiences
4 of your picks regularly sell out — secure your time slots early.
See tours & ticketsGet a Italy eSIM
Land with data for maps, rides and translations — about 5 GB fits this trip.
Get eSIMCover the trip with travel insurance
Medical, lost bags and delays covered — it takes a couple of minutes.
Get insuranceDay by day
Each day is grouped by neighbourhood so you spend time exploring, not commuting.
Duomo, Piazza della Signoria, Santa Croce
Morning
Climb Brunelleschi's Dome
Start at the Duomo complex with a timed climb of the 463 steps up Brunelleschi's dome, where you pass close to Vasari's Last Judgement frescoes before stepping onto the lantern terrace. Book the earliest slot to beat heat and crowds; the Brunelleschi Pass also covers the Baptistery, Giotto's Bell Tower and the excellent Museo dell'Opera del Duomo.
Afternoon
Piazza della Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio
Walk down Via dei Calzaiuoli to Piazza della Signoria for the open-air sculptures of the Loggia dei Lanzi, then go inside Palazzo Vecchio to see the vast Salone dei Cinquecento and the Medici apartments. If legs allow, add the Arnolfo Tower for a view straight back at the dome you climbed this morning.
Evening
Santa Croce stroll and aperitivo
Wander east to Piazza Santa Croce as the facade glows at sunset, then take an aperitivo at Le Volpi e l'Uva or a glass of Tuscan red on a piazza terrace. Finish with a gelato from Gelateria dei Neri on Via dei Neri, a locals' favourite.
Uffizi, Ponte Vecchio, Oltrarno, San Niccolò
Morning
Uffizi Gallery at opening
Enter at 8:15 with a timed ticket for Botticelli's Birth of Venus and Primavera, Leonardo's Annunciation and Caravaggio's Medusa. Allow three hours and pause at the rooftop café for a view of Palazzo Vecchio; note the Uffizi is closed on Mondays.
Afternoon
Ponte Vecchio and Pitti Palace
Cross the goldsmith-lined Ponte Vecchio into the Oltrarno, grab lunch, then visit Palazzo Pitti's Palatine Gallery for Raphael and Titian before walking off lunch in the terraced Boboli Gardens. Leave the gardens via the upper gate toward Forte Belvedere for the quiet back route to San Niccolò.
Evening
Sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo
Climb the Rampe del Poggi from San Niccolò to Piazzale Michelangelo for the classic sunset over the domes and bridges; for a quieter view, continue five minutes up to San Miniato al Monte, where monks sing Gregorian vespers most evenings around 6pm. Walk back down for dinner in San Niccolò.
San Marco, San Lorenzo, Santa Maria Novella
Morning
Michelangelo's David at the Accademia
Book an early timed entry to the Galleria dell'Accademia to see David up close without the crowds, along with Michelangelo's unfinished Prisoners lining the hall. It is closed on Mondays, and an hour to 90 minutes is plenty.
Afternoon
Mercato Centrale and Medici Chapels
Walk five minutes to the Mercato Centrale; graze the ground-floor stalls for pecorino, finocchiona salami and olive oil to take home. Then visit the Medici Chapels at San Lorenzo, where Michelangelo's New Sacristy tombs of Dawn, Dusk, Night and Day are one of the city's most moving rooms.
Evening
Santa Maria Novella and farewell wine
Pop into the Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, one of the world's oldest pharmacies, then end with a wine tasting by the glass at a historic buchetta wine window spot such as Babae in Santo Spirito. A relaxed last night before departure.
Where to stay
Chosen for your mid-range budget and this itinerary's route.
Duomo
The historic core around the cathedral and Piazza della Repubblica, busy all day and very walkable to every major museum.
Best for: First-timers who want the Uffizi, Accademia and Duomo all within ten minutes on foot
See hotels here
Santa Croce
Top pickA lived-in quarter of leather workshops, wine bars and trattorias around the Basilica di Santa Croce and the Sant'Ambrogio market, lively in the evening without the crush of the Duomo.
Best for: Food lovers who want a central base with great dinner options on the doorstep
See hotels here
Oltrarno
The artisan side of the river across the Ponte Vecchio, with Palazzo Pitti, Santo Spirito square and a relaxed, local evening scene.
Best for: Couples who want atmosphere, craft workshops and sunset walks up to Piazzale Michelangelo
See hotels here
Duomo · Mid-range
A family-run hotel in a 15th-century palazzo steps from Piazza della Repubblica, so you can walk to the Uffizi and the Duomo early before the crowds. The free evening aperitivo is a nice touch after a full day of museums.
Free cancellation on many rooms
Santa Croce · Mid-range
Right on the Arno at Piazza Mentana, a short stroll to the Uffizi and the Santa Croce trattorias, with some rooms overlooking the river. A dependable, comfortable choice for an art-heavy itinerary.
Free cancellation on many rooms
Oltrarno · Mid-range
A quiet hotel set in a 16th-century palazzo on Via dei Renai with a breakfast terrace facing the river, ideal for walking up to San Miniato and Piazzale Michelangelo at sunset. Calmer than the centre yet only ten minutes from the Ponte Vecchio.
Free cancellation on many rooms
Oltrarno · Mid-range
Set in a Renaissance palace directly on Piazza Santo Spirito, with a famous open loggia bar that is perfect for an evening spritz. Great for food lovers wanting Oltrarno trattorias like Trattoria Sabatino and Il Santo Bevitore nearby.
Free cancellation on many rooms
Book ahead
Skip-the-line tickets and tours that genuinely improve the trip — the ones that sell out are flagged.
An art historian guides you through Botticelli, Leonardo and Raphael in two hours, making sense of a museum that overwhelms visitors alone.
Guaranteed timed access to the dome, which caps daily visitors and is often booked out days ahead in spring and autumn.
Skip the long line on Via Ricasoli and learn how Michelangelo carved David from a flawed block of marble.
Taste lampredotto, Tuscan cheeses, cured meats, balsamic and gelato with a local guide who explains the stories behind each dish.
A small-group trip into the Chianti hills with tastings at two family wineries and an olive oil producer, ideal if you add a fourth day or swap an afternoon.
Travel essentials
A 5GB eSIM comfortably covers three days of Google Maps navigation through medieval lanes, museum e-tickets on your phone, restaurant bookings and photo sharing. It avoids roaming fees for non-EU visitors and is useful for checking dome slot times and tram departures on the go.
Pickpocketing around the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio and on buses is common, so cover for theft of phones and cash is worthwhile. Non-EU travellers face full private costs for any medical care, and flight disruption at Florence's short-runway airport (often diverted to Pisa or Bologna in fog or wind) makes delay and missed-connection cover valuable, especially if you have pre-booked timed museum tickets.
Honest numbers
Estimated total · 2 travelers · 3 days
€1,671
Per person / day
€279
accommodation
About 175 EUR per night x 3 nights x 1 double room
€525
31%
food
About 85 EUR per person per day: cafe breakfast, market or panino lunch, trattoria dinner with wine
€510
31%
activities
Uffizi, Accademia, Brunelleschi Pass, Palazzo Vecchio or Pitti, plus one food tour for two
€420
25%
transport
T2 tram to and from the airport (1.70 EUR each way per person) plus one or two short taxis
€30
2%
connectivity & insurance
Two 5GB eSIMs (about 10 EUR each) and basic travel insurance for two
€70
4%
extras
City tourist tax (about 6 EUR per person per night) plus gelato, coffee and small souvenirs
€116
7%
Smart saving
Visit the Uffizi or Pitti on the first Sunday of the month when state museums are free, or simply book timed tickets directly on the official museum site (uffizi.it) months ahead to avoid reseller mark-ups of 10-20 EUR per person.
Good to know
Estimates exclude flights. Hotel prices move with demand — booking 4–8 weeks ahead usually gets the best rates in central areas.
Local know-how
Book the Duomo climb and Uffizi early
The Brunelleschi dome climb requires a fixed time slot and often sells out a week or more ahead in spring and autumn. Book the Uffizi and Accademia at the same time, and note both are closed on Mondays.
Walk, and take the tram from the airport
The historic centre is compact and best explored on foot. From Florence airport the T2 tram reaches Unipolsai stop near Santa Maria Novella in about 20 minutes for 1.70 EUR; tap a contactless card on board to pay.
Understand coperto and tipping
Most restaurants add a coperto (cover charge) of 2-4 EUR per person, which is normal, so tipping is optional; rounding up or leaving 5-10 percent for great service is generous. Coffee drunk standing at the bar costs far less than at a table.
Dress for churches and eat like a local
Cover shoulders and knees for the Duomo, Santa Croce and San Lorenzo, or you may be turned away. Bistecca alla fiorentina is priced per kilo and served rare, so expect a 1-1.2 kg steak for two at around 50-70 EUR.
Watch for pickpockets and fake petitions
Pickpockets work the crowds at the Ponte Vecchio, the Duomo queues and on busy buses. Politely ignore people pushing petitions or bracelets and keep phones out of back pockets.
Best time to go
April to early June and September to October bring 18-26 C days, ideal for walking. July and August regularly exceed 35 C with heavy crowds, while November to February is mild (around 8-12 C) and quieter but rainier.
Avoid fines in the centre
Eating on church steps and on some central streets such as Via de' Neri at peak hours can bring fines. Never drive a car into the ZTL limited traffic zone, which is camera-enforced with heavy penalties.
Refill water for free
Florence has public fontanelli fountains, including still and sparkling options at places like Piazza della Signoria area and Piazza Santo Spirito. Carry a bottle and save several euros a day in summer.
Pack this
Say it like a local
Prices for the best-located rooms rise as dates fill up. Lock in your stay now — most rooms can be cancelled for free.
PlanVoya may earn a commission when you book through links on this page, at no extra cost to you (how this works). Prices are estimates — always confirm details with the provider.
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