Florence in 3 Days: tips, what to see, and much more

Three days is the minimum time to get to know Florence in depth. In three days you can visit the essentials, as well as soak up the local culture and visit its museums, churches and major palaces. Want an itinerary to get the most out of it? Come with me. And if you need more information, read the article what to see and do in Florence.

The itinerary for the first day of your three-day trip to Florence begins in Piazza del Duomo, where you can visit the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, climb Brunelleschi's Dome, see the Baptistery doors and enter the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo.

The tour will continue to Piazza della Repubblica, continue to the Mercato Nuovo and from there to Piazza della Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio. You will then cross to the other side of the Arno over the Ponte Vecchio and explore the Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens, ending at Piazzale Michelangelo and San Miniato al Monte.

Start your day with energy at Piazza del Duomo

Start your trip in Piazza del Duomo, a true open-air museum that will dazzle you. The Duomo of Florence, the third largest cathedral in Europe, is located there.

But in addition to this impressive monument, in Piazza del Duomo you also have other things to see such as the Battistero di San Giovanni, Giotto's Campanile, the Loggia del Bigallo, the Crypt of Santa Reparata and the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo.

Discover the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore

The Duomo is also known as the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, a work of the architect Arnolfo di Cambio. It dates back to the early 15th century and its white and green marble façade will dazzle you. As soon as you enter you will be able to see the tomb of Filippo Brunelleschi, the architect of the dome.

I recommend booking tickets for the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in advance to avoid wasting time at the ticket office. With your ticket to the Duomo you can also enter many other places in the Piazza.

• Opening hours of the Duomo of Florence: the cathedral is open from Monday to Saturday from 10:15 to 16:45.

Be dazzled by the Brunelleschi Dome

The highlight of the Piazza del Duomo is climbing the Dome of Brunelleschi, which is 46 metres in diameter and 114 metres high.

You will have to climb a total of 463 steps, but the views are truly spectacular. The climb takes place between the two domes and its interior decoration, a series of scenes from the Last Judgement, is the work of Giorgio Vasari and Federico Zuccari.

• Opening hours Brunelleschi's Dome: Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 19:00, Saturday from 8:00 to 16:30 and Sunday from 12:30 to 16:30.

Contemplate the doors of the Baptistery

Opposite the Duomo of Florence is the Battistero di San Giovanni. With an octagonal plan, it is the oldest building in Piazza del Duomo and its exterior decoration is also made of white and green marble. But the most characteristic feature of this monument are its doors:

• The north door: decorated with scenes from the life of Jesus and the four evangelists.
• The south gate: decorated with a series of scenes from the life of St. John the Baptist, the four theological virtues and the four cardinal virtues.
• The Gate of Paradise: one of the major works of the Italian Renaissance. Its 10 bronze panels depict a series of scenes from the Old Testament.

In this case, it may be interesting to book a tour of the Baptistery and Brunelleschi's dome if you are interested in learning more about the history of the place around you.

• Hours Battistero di San Giovanni: daily from 8.15am to 10.15am and from 11.15am to 6.30pm.

Climb Giotto's Campanile

In Piazza del Duomo you also have the possibility to climb Giotto's Campanile. This work was started by Giotto, but he died before he could see it finished and it was completed by Andrea Pisano in 1359.

Although if you go up to Brunelleschi's Dome you can always skip the visit to the Campanile, as the views will be similar.

• Giotto's Campanile opening hours: open every day 24 hours a day.

Enter the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo

Finally, end your visit to Piazza del Duomo by entering the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, which houses a collection of original pieces from the Duomo, the Campanile and the Battisterio, as well as models and original sketches of the cathedral and the dome that were used for its construction.

• Opening hours Museo dell'Opera del Duomo: daily from 8.30am to 7pm except Tuesdays when it is closed.

Let yourself be impressed by Piazza della Repubblica

Once you have finished visiting all the monuments in Piazza del Duomo, take the opportunity to have a pizza taglio or a panino and head to Piazza della Repubblica, where you will find the Column of Plenty, a neuralgic point where the roads of the ancient Roman city crossed.

This square, which is truly impressive for its size, is also home to elegant cafés and shops selling top brands such as Dior, Dolce & Gabbana and Louis Vuitton.

Visit the Palazzo Strozzi

And if you leave Piazza della Repubblica through the Arc de Triomphe, you'll come across the Palazzo Strozzi, the brainchild of Filippo Strozzi, a member of one of the most influential Florentine families.

It is an imposing stone building and an exponent of Renaissance architecture in the city of Florence. I also recommend you book your tickets to Palazzo Strozzi in advance to ensure your visit.

• Opening hours Palazzo Strozzi: daily from 10:00 to 22:00 except Thursdays when it closes at 23:00.

Touch the nose of the porcellino

Next, head to the Mercato Nuovo area to see one of the symbols of the Florentine city, the porcellino, and be sure to touch its nose. Legend has it that if you do, you will return to Florence.

And after this moment of superstition, stroll around the different market stalls and take the opportunity to buy a souvenir or two, as well as some gifts for friends and family.

Get to know Piazza della Signoria

The Plaza de la Señoría is one of the most beautiful spots in the city. Don't hesitate to take a seat in the arcaded gallery, on the right side of the square, to study the different sculptures such as Perseus with the head of Medusa or Cosimo I de Medici.

The square is also home to the Fountain of Neptune, as well as a plaque on the ground commemorating the condemnation of Girolamo Savonarola, who was hanged and burned for heresy in 1498.

Enter the Palazzo Vecchio

And, of course, if you are in Piazza della Signoria you can book a guided tour of the Palazzo Vecchio, where you can see works by artists such as Bronzino, Giorgio Vasari and Domenico Ghirlandaio.

• Opening hours: every day of the week from 9 am to 7 pm, except Thursdays when it closes at 2 pm.

Walk along the Ponte Vecchio

The Ponte Vecchio is one of the most characteristic places in Florence. This stone suspension bridge is a true marvel and dates back to the mid-14th century.

In the shops on the bridge you will see luxurious jewellery and goldsmiths' shops. But they were not always occupied by this guild. Between the 15th and 16th centuries it was the place where butchers and slaughterers were concentrated.

Discover the Pitti Palace

And after crossing the Ponte Vecchio, south of the Arno River, you will find the Renaissance-style Palazzo Pitti.

By booking tickets to the Pitti Palace you can visit the Palatine Gallery, the Gallery of Modern Art, the Silver Museum, the Costume Museum and the Porcelain Museum.

• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 8.15am to 6.30pm.

Visit the Boboli Gardens

And after exploring the palace, I recommend you book a visit to the Boboli Gardens. With 4.5 square kilometres, they are decorated with fountains and statues and are ideal to take advantage of and have a small snack before continuing with the day.

• Opening hours: every day from 8.15am to 4.30pm or 7pm, depending on the time of year you visit.

Take the best photos from the Piazzale Michelangelo

And after enjoying the peace of the Boboli Gardens, my recommendation is to take a bus up to the Piazzale Michelangelo where you can take the best pictures of the city.

It is undoubtedly the best viewpoint in Florence and you can take bus lines 12 and 13 to get there. The walk up the hill is beautiful.

End the day at San Miniato al Monte

Once you have climbed up to Piazzale Michelangelo, I recommend you visit the Basilica of San Miniato al Monte, one of the most charming places in the city of Florence.

• Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 9.30am to 1pm and from 3pm to 7pm. Sundays from 8.15am to 1pm and from 3pm to 7pm. You can also make your visit to coincide with a Eucharistic celebration which takes place on weekdays at 6pm and on Sundays and public holidays at 5.30pm.

This day will be marked by a visit to the main museums of the city: the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia Gallery. But there will also be time to visit Santo Spirito, the Basilica of Santa Maria Nouvella, the Basilica of San Lorenzo, the San Lorenzo Market and La Carraia ice-cream parlour.

Start the day at the Uffizi Gallery

I recommend that you start your day first thing in the morning at the Uffizi Gallery. The gallery opens at 8.15am, so make sure you get there early so you can visit without the crowds.

Remember that the Uffizi is the most visited museum in the city of Florence and in Italy in general, so there are a lot of tourists in front of the main paintings.

For your visit, do not hesitate to make a review of the best works of the Uffizi Gallery and buy tickets for the Uffizi Gallery in advance.

• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 8.15am to 6.30pm.

Eat in the surroundings of Santo Spirito

For lunch I recommend you go to the Oltrarno district, which is located on the other side of the river, and walk around the area of Santo Spirito as well as the Basilica of the same name, one of the city's main basilicas. This square has a great atmosphere and you can have a delicious focaccia, a traditional Italian dish.

Try one of the flavours of La Carraia

Before crossing back across the river over the Carraia Bridge, visit the Gelateria La Carraia in Piazza Nazario Sauro and try one of their wonderful ice creams. They're amazing and very cheap too.

Visit Santa Maria Novella

Continue your tour to Piazza Santa Maria Nouvella, where you can book tickets to the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella and take a rest on one of the benches in this recently renovated square.

This church, which was completed in the 14th century, mixes Gothic and Renaissance details. Another essential visit is to the Pharmacy of Santa Maria Novella, which dates back to the 13th century. It opened to the public in the 17th century and, to this day, still sells remedies and perfumes made with traditional formulas.

• Opening hours: Monday to Thursday from 9:00 to 17:30. Fridays from 11:00 to 17:30. Saturdays from 9:00 to 17:30 and Sundays and religious holidays from July to September from 12:00 to 17:30.

Enter the Basilica of San Lorenzo

Continue your itinerary by visiting what was the city's first cathedral: the Basilica of San Lorenzo.

The original church, which was built on top of the original, was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi and inside you can visit the Medici Chapel. Admission starts at €7.

• Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 17:00. And on Sundays from 13:30 to 17:30.

Buy some souvenirs at the San Lorenzo Market

Once you have visited the Basilica, let yourself be carried away by the hundreds of stalls in the San Lorenzo Market. There are leather goods, textiles, handicrafts, food... What's more, the bustle and atmosphere make it a unique place to stroll around and soak up local life.

• Opening hours ground floor: Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 15:00 and Saturdays from 09:00 to 17:00. Closed on Sundays and public holidays.
• First floor opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 8:00 to 00:00, except on 25 December when it is closed.

Marvel at the works of the Galleria dell'Accademia

After the Uffizi, the Galleria dell'Accademia is the second most visited Florentine museum. And no wonder, since it houses Michelangelo's 'David'.

Even so, it also houses other works of great artistic value by the author such as the sculpture of 'San Matteo' and the 'Paletina'. You can also book tickets to the Accademia Gallery online.

• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 18:45.

On the third day of your trip to Florence, I recommend that you take the opportunity to visit some important museums such as the Archaeological Museum, the Leonardo da Vinci Museum, the Stefano Bardini Museum, the Museo Nazionale del Bargello, the Museo Casa Di Dante or the Galileo Museum.

Of course, don't miss Santa Croce and Santissima Annunziata, two must-sees of your trip. And if you get the chance, try a bistecca alla fiorentina from Le Carceri.

Start the morning at the National Archaeological Museum of Florence

The National Archaeological Museum of Florence is located in the Crocetta Palace, next to Santissima Annunziata, and houses an important collection of Etruscan and Egyptian art.

To book tickets to the National Archaeological Museum without queuing, the price starts at around €15.

• Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday from 8.30am to 7pm. Sundays from 8.30am to 2pm.

Visit the Medici Riccardi Palace

The itinerary continues at the Palazzo Medici Riccardi, which was the first official residence of the Medici family. It is off the beaten tourist track and is rarely visited by a few straggling tourists, but it is truly amazing.

The palace, which mixes features of Renaissance and Baroque architecture, can be visited when booking a Renaissance and Medici tour or another tour of the area.

• Hoarario: every day of the week from 10:30am to 6:30pm.

Marvel at the work of Leonardo da Vinci

Book tickets to the Leonardo da Vinci Museum is an interactive experience ideal for the whole family. It is divided into different thematic areas (water, earth, fire and air) and features reproductions of some of his major inventions, as well as some of his original sketches and plans.

Admission without queuing starts at €12 for adults.

• Hoarario: from 10:00 to 18:00 from November to March. And from April to October until 19:00.

Go to Santissima Annunziata

And after enjoying this museum, head to the Piazza della Santissima Annunziata and sit on one of the steps for a leisurely stroll. After a short break, visit the Basilica of Santissima Annunziata, which will surprise you with its golden tones and baroque-style decoration. The cloister is also remarkable and the entrance is free.

• Opening hours: from 7.30 am to 12.30 pm and from 4.00 pm to 6.30 pm.

Try the bistecca alla fiorentina at Le Carceri

Le Carceri is a restaurant with a lot of history. It is located on the remains of a former convent that was later a male prison until the mid-1980s.

It preserves details of both the cells and the original 18th century frescoes, making it a perfect choice for tasting the main specialities of Tuscan gastronomy such as bistecca alla fiorentina, wood-fired pizzas or rich pastas.

Visit the Great Synagogue of Florence

Overlooking the city from both Brunelleschi's Dome and Piazzale Michelangelo, you will be surprised by the green dome of the Florence Synagogue, which is located on Via Farini and I recommend you to visit it on your 3-day trip to Florence.

The entrance fee starts at €6.50 and reduced admission is €5.

• Summer opening hours: Sunday to Thursday from 10:00 to 18:30. Fridays from 10:00 to 17:00.
• Rest of the year opening hours: Sunday to Thursday from 10:00 to 17:30. And Fridays from 10:00 to 15:00.

Get to know Santa Croce

The Church of Santa Croce is the second largest church in the city after the Duomo. It houses almost 300 tombs of important historical figures linked to the city of Florence such as Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Galileo Galiei and Lorenzo Ghiberti.

The entrance fee starts at around €8, but you can also book a guided tour of the Santa Croce and be accompanied by an expert guide.

• Opening hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday from 9.30am to 5.30pm. Sundays and public holidays from 13:00 to 17:30.

Stop at the Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Firenze (National Central Library of Florence)

And from Santa Croce to your next destination, the Stefano Bardini Museum, you can make a brief stop at the National Central Library of Florence, one of the most important in the country. Founded in 1714 from the donation of the Italian scholar Antonio Magliabecchi.

• Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 19:00 and Saturday from 8:00 to 13:30.

Pay a visit to the Stefano Bardini Museum

Next stop is the Stefano Bardini Museum on the other side of the Arno with an important collection of works from Roman times to the 18th century such as the 'Madonna of Cordai' by Donatello, the 'Porcellino' by Petro Tacca, the 'Carità' by Tino di Camaino and 'San Michele Arcangelo' by Antonio del Pollaiolo.

• Opening hours: Monday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 to 17:00.

Discover the Museo Nazionale del Bargello

Next head to the Museo Nazionale del Bargello which houses an important collection of sculptures from the 14th to 16th centuries, Medici medals and a military repertoire of arms and armour, among other objects.

One of its main rooms is the Sala di Donatello with important works by the artist. In addition, the building itself is worth a visit for its decoration and architecture. In this case I also recommend you book tickets to the Museo Nazionale del Bargello in advance to avoid wasting time.

• Opening hours: every day except Tuesdays from 8.15am to 1.50pm.

Learn about the life and work of the author of the Divine Comedy

The Museo Casa Di Dante houses a museum about the life and work of the author of the 'Divine Comedy'.

The entrance fee is approximately €8 for adults and from €3 - €5 for reduced admission. Children under the age of six are free of charge.

• Summer opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 18:00.
• Winter opening hours: Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 to 17:00 and Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 to 18:00.

Make a short stop at the Orsanmichele Church

If you have time, don't miss the Church of Orsanmichele, which dates back to the 14th century and is located on Via Dell'arte della lana.

Its exterior arches and statues stand out, as well as its interior decoration. The entrance fee is €2.

• Opening hours: Monday and Saturday from 10:00 to 17:00.

End the day with a visit to the Galileo Museum

Located in Piazza dei Giudici is the Galileo Museum, which is also known as the Museum of the History of Science.

By booking tickets to the Galileo Museum you will have the opportunity to see experimental objects, thermometers from the Academy of the Foundation, a library with 150,000 works, a multimedia laboratory and even Galileo's first telescope.

Priority entrance fees start at €20 per adult and from €12 for reduced admission.

• Opening hours: every day from 9.30am to 6pm, except Tuesdays when it closes at 1pm.