One day in Florence: a walking route
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- 3 of 5 free; paid: Florence Baptistery, Galleria dell'Accademia
- Duration
- 6 h 10 min · 09:30–15:37
- Start and finish
- Ponte Vecchio → Galleria dell'Accademia
- On foot
- ≈ 22 min in total
- Transport
- none — all on foot
- Lunch
- around 13:14
- With kids
- fine: short walks
- Best time
- Spring and early autumn. In summer do the Accademia and Duomo early and save the square and bridge for evening.
The plan, stop by stop
Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.
Florence09:30–15:37 · 5 places · 6 h 10 min
Ponte Vecchio
· 20 min · Free
- 5 min on foot
Piazza della Signoria
· 40 min · Free
- 6 min on foot
Florence Baptistery
· 30 min · Combined cathedral pass
- 3 min on foot
Florence Cathedral
· 2 h · Free
- Lunch · 1 h
- 8 min on foot
Galleria dell'Accademia
· 1 h 15 min · Paid
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
What the route costs
3 of 5 are free; 2 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.
| 1 | Ponte Vecchio | 60 | 20 min | Free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Piazza della Signoria | 53 | 40 min | Free |
| 3 | Florence Baptistery | 48 | 30 min | Combined cathedral pass |
| 4 | Florence Cathedral | 60 | 2 h | Free |
| 5 | Galleria dell'Accademia | 43 | 1 h 15 min | Paid |
| Total | 4 h 50 min | 3 of 5 free |
Tips for each stop
- 1
Ponte Vecchio. The old bridge lined with jewellers, with the Vasari Corridor running overhead. Free, and loveliest at sunset.
- 2
Piazza della Signoria. The main square by the Palazzo Vecchio: a David replica, the Neptune fountain and Cellini's Perseus in the Loggia dei Lanzi. Free.
- 3
Florence Baptistery. The octagonal church facing the Duomo: Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise outside, a golden mosaic dome inside. On the combined cathedral pass.
- 4
Florence Cathedral. Santa Maria del Fiore: the cathedral itself is free; climbing Brunelleschi's dome needs a timed ticket.
- 5
Galleria dell'Accademia. Michelangelo's David and his unfinished Prisoners. Book a timed slot ahead; the walk-up line can top an hour.
Who this route is for
- A day trip from Rome, Milan or Bologna
- A first look at Florence
- Walking only, no cars or buses
- Three hours in the Uffizi: see the 2-day route
- Palazzo Pitti and Boboli: see the 3-day route
Spring and early autumn. In summer do the Accademia and Duomo early and save the square and bridge for evening.
How to see Florence in one day
Florence's historic centre is small. Santa Maria Novella station to the Ponte Vecchio is about 20 minutes on foot, and every stop on this route lies along the way. You can see the highlights in a day if you book two things ahead: the combined cathedral pass and a timed Accademia ticket.
Spend the morning on Piazza del Duomo before the groups arrive: study the Gates of Paradise on the Baptistery, then step into the cathedral, which is free (the dome climb is timed and ticketed). Without the dome, the square takes about an hour and a half. The Accademia is seven minutes north, and its star is David, more than five metres tall.
After lunch, walk down Via dei Calzaiuoli to Piazza della Signoria, the city's main square and an open-air sculpture gallery, then pass through the Uffizi courtyard to the Ponte Vecchio. Remove any stop with the cross or drag it with ≡, add something nearby, and the timings update.
Lunch and saving time
The handiest lunch stop is between the Accademia and the Signoria, at the Mercato Centrale by San Lorenzo: fresh produce downstairs, a food hall upstairs with pasta and the famous lampredotto sandwiches. For something quicker, grab a filled schiacciata near the Duomo.
Queues are the big time-waster in Florence. Without a booking you can wait more than an hour for the Accademia or the dome, so buy online from the official sites. Piazza della Signoria, the Loggia dei Lanzi and the Ponte Vecchio are free at any hour.
If you have time left
Climb to Piazzale Michelangelo for Florence's classic sunset, 20 to 25 minutes on foot from the Ponte Vecchio or by bus 12 or 13. Near the Signoria are the Bargello, with Donatello's sculpture, and Orsanmichele; on the way from the Duomo, the Basilica of San Lorenzo.
How to do it right
- Book the cathedral pass and a timed Accademia ticket in advance.
- Start on Piazza del Duomo at opening; it's packed by midday.
- Churches require covered shoulders and knees, and large backpacks are often refused.
- Italy uses the euro. Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere; carry a little cash for cafés and markets. Buy museum tickets ahead on official sites, where closing days are listed too.
- For sunset, walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo, 20 to 25 minutes from the bridge.
Questions
What can you see in Florence in one day?
The Baptistery and Brunelleschi's dome, David at the Accademia, Piazza della Signoria with the Palazzo Vecchio, and the Ponte Vecchio.
Is one day in Florence enough?
For the highlights, yes: the centre is compact and walkable. Book the Accademia and the dome ahead.
Can I fit the Uffizi into one day?
Only instead of the Accademia and the dome, as it needs at least three hours. It's better on a second day.
How much do tickets cost on this route?
You pay for the Accademia and the combined cathedral pass; Piazza della Signoria and the Ponte Vecchio are free. Prices are on the place pages.
How do I get to Florence for a day trip?
By high-speed train: about 1.5 hours from Rome, 2 from Milan and 40 minutes from Bologna.
Where's the best sunset in Florence?
Piazzale Michelangelo, or San Miniato al Monte just above it.
Sources and fact-check
- Prices, opening hours and time on site come from each place's page, with its own sources and check date
- UNESCO: Historic Centre of Florence (no. 174)
