How to Spend an Incredible 3 Days in Florence

Imagine a city where timeless art and architectural masterpieces of the past seamlessly blend with the innovation and energy of the 21st century.

This city – seemingly mystical and most definitely magical – is the modern (yet VERY historic) city of Florence, Italy.

My favorite city in the entire world.

I first fell in love with Florence on a quick, rainy day-trip during a two-week study abroad course in Rome – my very first international trip in 2019. 

Little did I know, that rainy day in Florence – spent wandering the decorative halls of the Uffizi Gallery and perusing through the mystical rain-soaked Boboli Gardens – would echo persistently in my mind until I decided to return to the Renaissance city three years later to study art history there. 

I like to think that a part of me was drawn back to Florence because of this screaming echo… a subconscious sense of truly belonging. Or maybe I was a Renaissance Lady in a former life.

Florence became a second home to me. The place where my dreams of moving abroad and studying the art that shaped the Renaissance would come to fruition. 

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I was so lucky to have the opportunity to move to Florence. And I didn’t waste a single moment of my time spent there! MOST of my free time was spent getting to know the Renaissance capital of Italy. I memorized every cobblestone alleyway, kept a handy list of incredible restaurants I still dream about (specifically to share with friends, family and YOU!), and discovered hidden gems and unique things to do in Florence. 

Here are my recommendations for how to spend three days in Florence (the ultimate Florence itinerary)!

3 Days in Florence

From monumental architecture to mind-blowing art museums and MORE: The ultimate Florence itinerary!

Day 1: Renaissance Florence

Travel Back to the Era of Michelangelo and Brunelleschi

Gaze upon artistic masterpieces like the monumental David and the Birth of Venus, enjoy Tuscan Panini, and watch the sunset high over the Florentine skyline

Day one should be spent checking off bucket list museums, galleries and other incredible things to do in Florence!

I recommend starting your day at a local café or pasticceria (an Italian bakery) to enjoy breakfast the Tuscan way. Most Italians don’t eat a classic “American-style” breakfast – eggs, bacon, pancakes, toast, etc. – but instead choose a flaky pastry (cornetto – an Italian “croissant”) and a cappuccino. 

Leonardo Pasticceria was my FAVORITE bakery in Florence. As someone who is a die-hard croissant lover (I could eat one EVERYDAY), I loved the cornetti selection at Leonardo. This pasticceria is just outside Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio, located in the Santa Croce area of Florence. For travelers hoping to stay close to Florence sights and attractions, but avoid the touristy, overcrowded part of the city, the Santa Croce neighborhood is a great option. 

After you’ve enjoyed breakfast, the Tuscan way, I recommend getting to Galleria dell’Accademia, home of Michelangelo’s monumental David sculpture, as early as possible. 

Galleria dell’Accademia is one of Florence’s most-visited museums, so I recommend purchasing skip-the-line tickets prior to your arrival in Florence. The sculpture’s popularity amasses huge crowds for the small museum, so arriving early is highly recommended to enjoy the sculpture in all its splendor. 

DON’T WAIT to buy tickets to Galleria dell’Accademia! I’ve done that ONCE and it was a mistake I’ll never make again. The museum prioritizes ticket holders who have already purchased a timed-entry slot, so the best way to guarantee entry is to purchase your ticket online.

Trust me, you don’t want to wait in line for two hours (or more in peak season) and realize they won’t let you in because the time slots have been booked out by other travelers!

The rest of the morning can be spent wandering the cobblestone streets of Florence. Start in Piazza del Duomo, the location of the monumental Santa Maria del Fiore, and wander around the historic streets looking for souvenirs or local shops. I really love Piazza della Santissima Annunziata which offers an incredible streetside view of the Duomo (this piazza is also home to one of my favorite cheap eats in Florence – Un Caffé).

There are many incredible restaurants in Florence, you won’t have a difficult time deciding where to eat for lunch! I recommend visiting Panini Toscani or INO’s in the historic heart of Florence for panini. For a complete list of my favorite places to eat in Florence, check out my Florence food guide!

After lunch, head to my favorite museum in Florence, the Uffizi Gallery, for a guided tour of the museum’s masterpieces. The Uffizi Gallery is the MOST visited museum in Florence, and also the largest, so a guided tour will give you insight to the museum’s most beautiful artwork without feeling too overwhelming.

A short walk from the Uffizi Gallery is the world famous Ponte Vecchio, one of Italy’s most famous bridges lined with beautiful jewelry stores. The Ponte Vecchio will likely be very crowded with tourists, but this iconic bridge is an incredible place to get a view of the Arno River!

To end your first day in Florence, I highly suggest heading up to Piazzale Michelangelo, a beautiful square across the Arno River with a bronze replica of Michelangelo’s David. Piazzale Michelangelo is a beautiful place to watch the sunset. If you’re lucky enough to be staying in Santa Croce, take a short walk to Chiosco del Frappé, a small frappé stand selling delectable Italian milkshakes.

Every Monday I made it a tradition to grab a frappé from Chiosco del Frappé and walk across the river up to Piazzale Michelangelo!

During peak season book dinner BEFORE viewing the sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo. In shoulder and off-season, you can make dinner reservations after watching the sun set on Florence! One of my favorite trattorie in Florence is called Trattoria Pallottino, a small local restaurant serving the BEST spaghetti arrabbiata (spicy spaghetti).

That concludes day one of your Florence itinerary! If you have a sweet tooth like me, Perché No! is a great gelateria in the heart of Florence.

Day 2:  Regal and Religious Florence

Explore the Pitti Palace and Marvel at Religious Architectural Wonders

Imagine a life of royalty at Pitti Palace, enjoy a peaceful picnic at Boboli gardens, and explore Florentine religious architecture. 

Day two will be spent exploring the regal and religious sides of Florence.

One of my favorite cafes in Florence is just across the Arno River. Start your day bright and early with a delicious cappuccino from La Cité, a great place to enjoy the Italian delicacy before a busy day in the Renaissance capital of Italy. On the way to La Cité, stroll along the Ponte Vecchio for beautiful morning views of both sides of the river. 

The Pitti Palace, a strikingly beautiful Renaissance palace south of the Arno River, is the perfect place to visit on day two of your Florence itinerary. Most tourists don’t think to venture beyond the south side of the Arno River – I know I didn’t when I first visited Florence! – but a visit to the former Ducal residence of the Medici family is sure to take your breath away.

Though the Pitti Palace won’t be as crowded as Uffizi Gallery and Galleria dell’Accademia, I highly recommend getting to the palace early to enjoy the galleries before the crowds. There is so much to see at the palace, so I recommend spending two to three hours exploring Pitti Palace. 

Located adjacent to the ornate palace is one of the most beautiful gardens in Florence. Boboli Gardens, believed to have inspired the expansive gardens at the Palace of Versailles, is definitely worth adding to your Florence itinerary! When I first visited Florence on my day-trip from Rome, I spent hours exploring the Boboli Gardens. 

With incredible views of the Florentine skyline, the Boboli Gardens are a great place to enjoy a picnic or relax with a book! Don’t forget to walk all the way to the top of the gardens to Museo delle Porcellane which features a beautiful garden with views of the Tuscan countryside!

If you want to grab lunch around Pitti Palace, Gustapizza is a great option for fresh pizza – even Guy Fieri visited this Florentine pizzeria!

After lunch, walk to Piazza di Santa Maria Novella, a beautiful square just outside the train station in Florence. Basilica di Santa Maria Novella, a Dominican basilica built in the late 11th century, is a great place to view religious frescoes by famous Renaissance artists, including Giotto, the “father of the Florentine Renaissance”. 

Basilica di Santa Maria Novella is not only a breathtaking religious structure, but it also makes a beautiful photo opportunity!

Just beyond Mercato Centrale, a local food market with a variety of cuisines and delectable souvenirs, is Piazza San Marco. Basilica di San Marco is a “hidden gem” in Florence – a beautiful basilica that most tourists overlook in favor of other religious architecture like Basilica di Santa Maria Novella and Basilica di Santa Croce. 

Basilica di San Marco, along with the former Benedictine convent of Sant’Apollonia nearby, which features a beautiful fresco of The Last Supper by Andrea del Castagno, are incredible tourist-free places to see Renaissance artwork in Florence. The San Marco neighborhood is one of Florence’s quieter, more local parts of the city – a great place to stay for travelers who want to be close to the historic sites, but outside of the chaotic tourist areas.

Lastly, I highly recommend exploring Basilica di Santa Croce in Piazza di Santa Croce, a monumental Gothic Italian style basilica featuring significant works by the “father of the Renaissance” – Giotto.

Just outside of Piazza di Santa Croce is another hidden gem in Florence – I Mosaici di Lastrucci. This historic mosaic workshop is one of the most unique things to do in Florence. My Italian professor brought my class here one day to view the traditional 16th century practice of commesso, a method of piecing together decorative stones to form a beautiful mosaic. 

Finish your second day in Florence at La Giostra, one of my favorite restaurants in Florence to get a traditional Florentine steak!

That concludes day two of your 3 day Florence itinerary!

Day 3: Choose Your Own Adventure Florence

Recommendations for Day Trips from Florence or Unique Local Experiences in the City

Day 3 is a choose-your-own-adventure day – your opportunity to decide whether you want to spend more time exploring the historic city of Florence, or venture out of the city for a day trip!

If you are visiting Florence for the first time, I recommend exploring everything Tuscany has to offer! From beautiful rolling hills to vast agriculture, the Tuscan region is home to some of the most incredible vineyards and olive groves. A day trip from Florence to the Tuscan hills is a fun way to see the beautiful landscapes around Florence!

If you’ve already been to Florence and are looking to tag on another Italian city, there are so many incredible day trips from Florence! Pisa, Bologna, Rome…the list goes on and on!

Here are a couple of my favorites day trips from Florence:

If you plan on sticking around the historic city of Florence, there are lots of other amazing sites to add to your Florence itinerary!

For a traditional American breakfast, head to Rooster Café, my favorite brunch spot in Florence serving up American classics like chicken and waffles and breakfast cocktails. There were many times when I craved an American-style breakfast, and Rooster Café was the place I went, EVERY TIME. 

I highly recommend visiting Bargello a museum, an elaborate display of early Renaissance artworks including Donatello’s Bronze David.

If you want to climb Brunelleschi’s cupola (the Duomo) to get a bird’s-eye view of the orange rooftops of Florence, a multi-day ticket can be purchased offering access to climb the Duomo, visit the Baptistery, explore the ruins beneath Santa Maria del Fiore, or climb Giotto’s Campanile. I highly recommend purchasing the pass – which includes entry to the listed attractions (plus Opera del Duomo museum) – and spreading out these activities over your time in Florence!

I always love to visit local markets when I travel, and Florence was no exception! Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio in the San Marco neighborhood is a great place to see the local side of Florence. For a food-hall-style lunch or dinner, visit Mercato Centrale, which offers a variety of cuisines, cocktails and souvenirs. 

Want to take a part of Tuscan culture with you? A Florence cooking class is a great way to learn how to make classic Italian dishes you can cook and devour at home. It’s like taking a piece of Italian culture home with you!

Day 3 of your Florence itinerary is entirely up to you! Enjoy your day in or around Florence!

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick Answers to Common Questions

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