3 days in Florence: day-by-day itinerary
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- 6 of 14 free; 8 paid — see “Cost”
- Duration
- 3 days, 9:30 to 17:19 each day
- Start and finish
- Ponte Vecchio → San Miniato al Monte
- On foot
- ≈ 59 min in total
- Transport
- 1 ride, ≈ 19 min
- Lunch
- around 13:14
- With kids
- fine: short walks
- Best time
- Spring and autumn. Day three has plenty of slopes, so start early in summer.
Day-by-day plan
Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.
Day 1 · 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
Day 2 · Florence09:30–17:02 · 4 places · 7 h 30 min
Uffizi Gallery
· 3 h · Paid
- Lunch · 1 h
- 3 min on foot
Palazzo Vecchio
· 1 h 30 min · Courtyard free, museum paid
- 11 min on foot
Basilica of San Lorenzo
· 45 min · Paid
- 3 min on foot
Medici Chapels
· 1 h · Paid
Day 3 · Florence09:30–17:19 · 5 places · 7 h 50 min
Santo Spirito
· 40 min · Free
- 5 min on foot
Palazzo Pitti
· 2 h · Paid
- Lunch · 1 h
- 8 min on foot
Boboli Gardens
· 1 h 45 min · Paid
- 19 min · transport or taxi
Piazzale Michelangelo
· 1 h · Free
- 7 min on foot
San Miniato al Monte
· 45 min · Free
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
What the route costs
6 of 14 are free; 8 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.
| 3 | Florence Baptistery | 48 | 30 min | Combined cathedral pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Galleria dell'Accademia | 43 | 1 h 15 min | Paid |
| 6 | Uffizi Gallery | 51 | 3 h | Paid |
| 7 | Palazzo Vecchio | 52 | 1 h 30 min | Courtyard free, museum paid |
| 8 | Basilica of San Lorenzo | 46 | 45 min | Paid |
| 9 | Medici Chapels | 43 | 1 h | Paid |
| 11 | Palazzo Pitti | 48 | 2 h | Paid |
| 12 | Boboli Gardens | 36 | 1 h 45 min | Paid |
| Other 6 places | 5 h 30 min | Free | ||
| Total | 17 h 10 min | 6 of 14 free |
Tips for each stop
Day 1
- 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.
Day 2
- 6
Uffizi Gallery. Botticelli, Leonardo, Raphael and Caravaggio. Book a time slot and allow at least three hours.
- 7
Palazzo Vecchio. The town hall with the Hall of the Five Hundred and its tower. The courtyard is free; museum and tower are ticketed.
- 8
Basilica of San Lorenzo. Brunelleschi's church for the Medici: the Old Sacristy and Donatello's pulpits. The Mercato Centrale is next door for lunch.
- 9
Medici Chapels. Michelangelo's New Sacristy with Dawn, Dusk, Day and Night, and the coloured-stone Chapel of the Princes. Separate entrance from the basilica.
Day 3
- 10
Santo Spirito. Brunelleschi's last church behind a plain front, with young Michelangelo's crucifix. Free entry.
- 11
Palazzo Pitti. The grand dukes' palace: the Palatine Gallery's Raphaels and the royal apartments. Separate ticket or combined with Boboli.
- 12
Boboli Gardens. The Medici hillside garden: the obelisk amphitheatre, the Buontalenti Grotto and the top-terrace view. Wear good shoes.
- 13
Piazzale Michelangelo. The hilltop terrace with a bronze David copy and the best view of Florence. Free; come for sunset.
- 14
San Miniato al Monte. The Romanesque basilica above Piazzale Michelangelo: marble façade, zodiac floor and monks' vespers at dusk. Free.
Who this route is for
- An unhurried trip with museums
- Renaissance art lovers
- A Tuscany holiday based in Florence
- Fiesole: a separate half day by bus
- Pisa and Siena: full-day trips
Spring and autumn. Day three has plenty of slopes, so start early in summer.
What to see in Florence in 3 days
Three days, three districts. First the centre between the Duomo and the river, all on foot. Second the museums: the Uffizi in the morning, then the Palazzo Vecchio and the San Lorenzo quarter, where the Medici lived, worshipped and commissioned Michelangelo. Third the Oltrarno, across the Arno, with the dukes' palace, a big hillside garden and neighbourhood squares.
You can swap the days around, but book the Uffizi and Accademia ahead, and keep Palazzo Pitti and Boboli for a fine day, as the garden is all open terraces and slopes.
Remove any stop with the cross or drag it with ≡, add something nearby, and the timings update.
Day two: the Uffizi and the Medici quarter
Spend the morning in the Uffizi, about three hours, then visit the Palazzo Vecchio next door for the Hall of the Five Hundred. In the afternoon walk to San Lorenzo: the Medici Chapels hold Michelangelo's New Sacristy, and the basilica Brunelleschi's Old Sacristy. The Chapels' entrance is at the back of the building, with a separate ticket.
Lunch is easy at the Mercato Centrale by San Lorenzo, and in the evening you can browse the leather stalls around the basilica.
Day three: the Oltrarno and the hills
Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens are one residence: first the palace rooms and their Raphaels, then the garden with its amphitheatre, the Buontalenti Grotto and the top-terrace view. From there it's five minutes to Piazza Santo Spirito for lunch in an Oltrarno trattoria and a look inside the basilica.
Towards evening climb to Piazzale Michelangelo and on up to San Miniato al Monte, where the view is the same but quieter and the Olivetan monks sing vespers. Walk back down to the river by the Poggi ramps.
More to see
On a fourth day, spend half of it in Fiesole with its Roman theatre, or take a train to Pisa or Siena. In town, add the Brancacci Chapel and Masaccio's frescoes, the Bargello and Museo Galileo.
How to do it right
- Book the Uffizi and Accademia ahead; pick Palazzo Pitti's day by the weather.
- Day three is hilly: good shoes and water.
- 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.
- Watch sunset from San Miniato: the same view as Piazzale Michelangelo, fewer people.
Questions
What should I see in Florence in 3 days?
The centre with the Duomo, David and Ponte Vecchio; the Uffizi and Medici quarter; the Oltrarno with Palazzo Pitti, Boboli, Santo Spirito and Piazzale Michelangelo.
How many days do you need in Florence?
Three to see the city without rushing; two cover the highlights.
Are the Medici Chapels part of the San Lorenzo ticket?
No, they're a separate museum with their own entrance and ticket.
How long do the Boboli Gardens take?
1.5 to 2 hours; a short loop with the view takes about an hour.
What are the best day trips from Florence?
Fiesole for half a day on bus 7, and Pisa or Siena for a full day by train.
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)
