The Perfect 3 Days In Florence Itinerary

As you are planning your trip to Italy, you will likely be wondering How Many Days In Florence Are Enough?

You can’t really see Florence in 3 days. The capital of Tuscany is packed with beautiful churches, art galleries, museums and historic gardens and it takes a lifetime to discover it all.

However, if you just have 3 days in Florence, you can appreciate the most famous places to visit in Florence, take in the amazing views throughout, taste some delicious food and wine and ultimately appreciate the incredible atmosphere.

I have been to Florence countless times – including this exact week!

One of my most recent trips to Florence was with a dear friend. We only had three days in the city but we managed to see lots. Our 3 days in Florence itinerary was packed, but it worked well for us so I thought I’d share it with you and help you plan your trip.

Now, continue reading to discover how to make the most of your 3 days in Florence.

If you are just considering a day trip to Florence, my post How To Make The Most Of One Day In Florence will be of great help!

3 Days In Florence Itinerary Overview

Are you wondering how to spend 3 days in Florence or asking yourself “are 3 days in Florence enough?” Don’t worry! While three days in Florence won’t allow you to get off the beaten path, you can definitely see most of the city in that amount of time.

The starting point of this 3 days in Florence itinerary is that you have 3 full days in town. When we visited last time, my friend and I arrived really early in the morning and spent 3 nights in Florence too.

Here is a quick overview of this Florence in 3 days itinerary:

Day One

Get some of the best views in Florence and explore some of the city’s most iconic attractions:

• Santa Maria Novella Church
• Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy
• Fontana del Porcellino
• Piazza della Signoria
• Arnolfo Tower
• Palazzo Vecchio
• Piazzale Michelangelo

Day Two

Check out the Duomo Complex and its surroundings:

• Florence Duomo
• Brunelleschi Dome
• Galleria dell’Accademia
• Mercato Centrale
• San Lorenzo Basilica
• Cappelle Medicee
• Giotto Bell Tower

Day Three

Visit the most famous museum in Florence, and head to the other side of the city:

• Ponte Vecchio
• Santo Spirito District
• Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens
• Bardini Garden
• Santa Croce Basilica
• Uffizi Gallery
• Drinks at Sesto on Arno

Visiting Florence Soon?

There are some attractions and tours in Florence that you need to book ASAP – you simply can’t expect to show up and get in!

My favorite tour companies are GetYourGuide or Take Walks. Both have a variety of activities and tickets on offer, flexible booking, and 24/7 support!

Finally, let’s discover what to do in Florence in 3 days.

What To Do In Florence In 3 Days

Day 1

On your first day in Florence, you will start with one of it most beautiful churches and then make your way to Piazza della Signoria, after which you will start a tour that takes you to Piazzale Michelangelo.

If you want to pack your itinerary even more, you can see if there’s anything interesting along the way and mark it down. On the other hand, feel free to remove places you are not interested in.

Map of day 1 Florence itinerary

Here is a link to the Google Maps itinerary you have to follow on your first day. It is fairly easy to follow and drafted in a way that will allow to see sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo – though of course this depends on the season.

Santa Maria Novella Church

The first place you will visit during your 3 days in Florence is one of the city’s most important churches, Santa Maria Novella Church. This stunning church that was completed in mid 14th century features a marble front on the exterior but the interior is where you’ll see the most fascinating features.

Stained glass windows dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries, Gothic style mixed with striking frescoes and a statue of the Madonna and the Child are some of them. Here you can also see Filippo Strozzi’s Chapel, Masaccio’s Trinity, and Tornabuoni Chapel.

The most famous pieces inside Santa Maria Novella, and which make it worth visiting for any art lover, are Giotto’s Crucifix, which was painted between 1288 and 1289, and Brunelleschi’s Crucifix, a sculpture completed between 1410 and 1415.

The church normally opens at 9:00 am, but make sure to double check the opening hours on Santa Maria Novella Basilica official website.

There’s a fee to visit Santa Maria Novella church: you can get tickets on the official website or book these Santa Maria Novella tickets with audioguide for some additional guidance when visiting the church.

My post A Guide To The Basilica Di Santa Maria Novella shares more information about this stunning church and how to visit.

Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy

My friend and I literally stumbled on Santa Maria Novella pharmacy as it was right in front of our hotel, and decided to go in and check it out as it looked quite intriguing from the outside. Good thing we went in!

Santa Maria Novella is not a pharmacy in the modern sense, as it does not sell medicines and remedies, but it is said to be the oldest pharmacy in the world.

Dating back from 1221, this perfumery and herbalist shop was established around the time that the Dominican monks started experimenting with alchemy.

Today, the Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy is a museum and shop producing and selling beautiful handmade fragrances and lotions that you can try and obviously buy.

The museum has pottery and books from the 16th and 17th centuries and there’s a tea room where you can grab some refreshments and take a break before moving on.

Fontana del Porcellino and the market

Situated in Piazza del Mercato Nuovo, this is a famous bronze fountain of a boar, that has quite an interesting history.

First of all, it’s fun to know that the original statue of the wounded boar was in marble. The statue had been donated by Pope Pio IV to Cosimo I de’ Medici in 1560, and it is now found in the Uffizi Gallery.

Cosimo II de Medici ordered a copy to be made to decorate Pitti Palace, however it was only in 1633 that the bronze statue was finally completed by Pietro Tacca.

Soon after, Ferdinando II Medici decided that the statue should indeed become a fountain, to be placed by the new market. The fountain wasn’t just a decoration, but also provided water to the many merchants of the market.

Legend says that anyone who rubs the boar’s snout will return to Florence in the future. Good luck comes to those who place a coin in the boar’s mouth.

Once you are done snapping photos with the fountain, it’s time to head for an early lunch before continuing.

I recommend stopping at Dal Vinaio in Via Vacchereccia, which is just nearby and on the way to Palazzo Vecchio. It’s the perfect place for a charcuterie and cheese board, or a delicous sandwich made to order, obviously accompanied by the best local bread and wine.

Piazza della Signoria

After lunch, make your way to Piazza della Signoria which is just around the corner. Once the center of action in Florence, Piazza della Signorioa was a place of public events that included executions.

It was from the windows of Palazzo Vecchio, directly facing the Piazza della Signoria, that the traitors of the Pazzi Conspiracy (who tried to kill Lorenzo de Medici) where hanged in 1478 as a warning to the anyone who intended to hurt the head of the powerful family.

Piazza della Signoria is large, airy square where the most striking landmarks include the Neptune’s Fountain, dating from 1575 when the Medici commissioned it to Bartolomeo Ammannati to celebrate the city’s maritime successes.

Another important sight here is the 14th-century Loggia dei Lanzi, also known as the Loggia della Signoria. Its name is a direct reference to the Lanzichenecchi, Charles V mercenary soldiers who according to history camped under the arches in 1527 (though there are different versions of this story).

Nowadays, the Loggia dei Lanzi is quite simply a beautiful open-air gallery characterized by three arches in Renaissance style, and hosting statues from Roman times as well as masterpieces of the 16th century. One of the most important statues on display is the Perseo statue by Benvenuto Cellini.

Right above the Loggia, you can spot the Uffizi Gallery terrace, one of the best places to enjoy views of Florence.

Arnolfo Tower

At 95 meters (over 311 feet) tall, the Arnolfo Tower looms majestically over Florence.

The tower takes its name from Arnolfo di Cambio, the architect who worked on its construction. It stands out on top of Palazzo Vecchio, and had purely defensive purposes: it was built by raising the already existing Foraboschi Tower and immediately became the tallest in the city.

You can climb the 233 steps to the top of Arnolfo Tower and from there you’ll enjoy incredible views of Florence.

At the top, you’ll also see two bell towers, a large weathervane and the former prison cell that held Cosimo il Vecchio and Girolamo Savonarola – preacher and reformer who often clashed with Florentine clergy and political leaders.

The clock that’s built into the tower still has features from the mid-1600s.

You need to get tickets in advance to access Arnolfo Tower. They can be obtained via the official website of the Musei Civici di Palazzo Vecchio, where you can also check the opening hours.

Palazzo Vecchio

A visit to Palazzo Vecchio can’t be missing on any good 3 days in Florence itinerary. I have been there more times than I can remember, and enjoy it every single time!

Palazzo Vecchio was once named Palazzo dei Priori. Construction of this palace stated in 1298 and ti was only completed in 1322. The name of the palace changed in the 16th century, when the Medici family, with Cosimo I de Medici, moved to Pitti Palace.

The first thing you’ll notice about this structure is its impressive tower soaring tall over Piazza della Signoria – that’s the Torre Arnolfo I have mentioned above. Inside Palazzo Vecchio, you’ll find the Medici family chambers and art collection which includes Donatellos’ Judith, Bronzino’s paintings in the Eleonora Chapel, and Michelangelo’s Genius of Victory.

Today, the building also serves as Florence’s city hall.

Reservations to visit Palazzo Vecchio are mandatory. You can get tickets and find the opening hours on the official website. Tickets are also available on GetYourGuide, which in addition to tickets also provide an interactive videoguide.

For a more in-depth experience, you could consider this Palazzo Vecchio secret passage tour that lasts a bit over one hour and takes you to parts of the palace that are normally closed to the general public.

My post How To Visit Palazzo Vecchio shares more insights into this important landmark.

Take a Bike Tour

Finish off the first of your 3 days in Florence with a bike or scooter tour!

These kinds of tour are a fun way of exploring the city. Of course, in order to join you have to be confident on a bike or able to ride a scooter – but other than that, you are good to go.

Tours start from the center of Florence and normally last up to two hours. They make several stop before reaching Piazzale Michelangelo, including Santa Maria Novella Church, Pitti Palace, the Basilicas of Santo Spirito, Santa Croce, and San Lorenzo.

Once you get to Piazzale Michelangelo, you will enjoy a breathtaking view of the city.

When I last visited Florence I took this electric bike tour which I really enjoyed. The guide shared lots of interesting information.

Another option is this scooter tour which starts a bit later in the day – so probably best if you are visiting Florence in the summer or want to have more time at Palazzo Vecchio.

Day 2

On your second day in Florence, you will have you focus on the monuments of the Duomo Complex, the Accademia Gallery and a couple of other beautiful churches in town. You will also have the chance to get a taste of local street food at Firenze Mercato Centrale.

As always, feel free to pack your itinerary even more in case you spot something interesting to see along the way, or don’t visit places that aren’t of specific interest to you.

Map of day 2 Florence itinerary

Here is a link to the Google Maps itinerary you have to follow on your second day. I have decided to use the Galleria dell’Accademia as your starting point because it opens very early, which means you can see it without the large tourist crowds and that you’ll have more time for the other attractions.

I wholeheartedly recommend this VIP David & Duomo Tour: Early Accademia Tour & Skip the Line Dome Climb with Exclusive Terrace Access. It’s the tour my friend and I took last time we visited and we found it to be excellent. The first stop was the Galleria dell’Accademia, and from there we went to visit the Duomo and the Brunelleschi Dome, and were also able to access the terrace of the Duomo.

Galleria dell’Accademia

Known to be one of the best museums in Florence, the Galleria dell’Accademia is famous for being home to the epic statue of David by Michelangelo, a masterpiece of Renaissance art. The statue was actually moved inside the museum in 1872 – before then, it was actually placed in the Piazza della Signoria, which currently houses a replica.

Other than the David, the Galleria dell’Accademia houses more pieces by Michelangelo, including The Young Slave and Atlante. You will also be able to see the Virgin by Jacopo Di Cione, and the Tree of Life by Pacino di Buonaguida, as well as many other pieces by artists that thrived during the renaissance time.

A part of the museum that often overlooked is the Musical Instrument Museum. Here you can see instruments and other artifacts related to opera, theater and classical music.

The Galleria dell’Accademia is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 8:15 am to 6:50 pm, so it is an ideal starting point for your day. For more information on the opening hours, you can visit the official website.

You should book your visit and get Galleria dell’Accademia tickets well in advance. You can get them on the official website, or get your tickets on Tiqets (an excellent third-party booking site) too.

Admission is also included in the Florence Pass, a great product that allows you to book time slots the moment you purchase the pass, and in the Firenze Card.

There’s also this VIP David & Duomo Tour: Early Accademia Tour & Skip the Line Dome Climb with Exclusive Terrace Access which I recommend. It goes to the Accademia Gallery at 8:15 am, then the Cathedral and Brunelleschi Dome. It’s a great option for your first half of the day, so that you don’t have to worry about any of the planning.

My post How To Visit Galleria Dell’Accademia gives more details that will help you plan your visit and make the most of it.

Duomo

It will take you nine minutes to walk from the Accademia Gallery to the Duomo, where you will be visiting the monuments of the Duomo Complex. The ones I have thought to include in this 3 days in Florence itinerary are Florence Cathedral, Brunelleschi Dome, St. John’s Baptistery and Giotto’s Bell Tower, but there are more!

Let’s start with Florence Cathedral. It is dedicated to Santa Maria del Fiore. Fiore means flower in Italian, and it’s a direct reference to the city – Florence, or Florentia in Latin (city of flowers).

The first stone of this immense church (it measures 153 meters / 502 feet in length, and 90 meters / 295 feet in width) was laid in 1296 by architect Arnolfo di Cambio (the same that built the Arnolfo Tower, to be clear). However, the church was only consecrated in 1436, when the Dome was finally completed too.

It is characterized by a neo-Gothic style facade, which dates from the 19th century, and three naves along whose sided you will find five chapels. There are gorgeous glass windows, and inside you can see important works of art which include Dante Before the City of Florence by Domenico di Michelino and the Equestrian Statue of Niccolò da Tolentino and Andrea del Castagno.

Opening times of Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral vary depending on the day and the season, so you are better off checking them on the official website. Admission to the church is free, but be prepared to stand in line for a bit.

For a smoother experience, you could take this VIP David & Duomo Tour: Early Accademia Tour & Skip the Line Dome Climb with Exclusive Terrace Access which visits the Cathedral and Brunelleschi Dome, as well as the Accademia Gallery.

My post How To Visit Florence Duomo gives more details about the church and how to visit.

Brunelleschi Dome

The striking Brunelleschi Dome is one of the places you really should not miss during your 3 days in Florence. Standing over the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore (Florence Cathedral), this is the biggest masonry dome ever constructed, as well as the biggest brick dome ever built.

It took 16 years to complete the dome – between 1420 and 1436. It has an external diameter of 54.8 meters (179.8 feet) and an interior one measuring 45.5 meters (149 feet).

To visit Brunelleschi Dome, you have to climb 463 steps. Once at the top, the views of Florence are unparalleled. Inside the dome, you’ll find frescoes by Giorgio Vasari and Federico Zuccari in the 1500s.

To visit the Brunelleschi Dome, you need to get a Brunelleschi Pass via the official website. This allows access to various attractions of the Duomo Complex: the Baptistery of San Giovanni, Giotto’s Bell Tower, Brunelleschi’s Dome, the Opera del Duomo Museum and the ancient basilica of Santa Reparata.

Admission is also included in this guided tour by Take Walks which also visits the Cathedral and the Galleria dell’Accademia.

Have lunch at Mercato Centrale

While there are many amazing restaurants in Florence, at Mercato Centrale, you’ll be able to choose from a variety of vendors who serve some of the staples of Florence food.

The Mercato Centrale is conveniently located six minutes away from the Duomo, and it’s a must see in its own right!

Dishes you can find there include trippa, lampredotto (one of the most traditional sandwiches in Florence, made with the stomach of the cow) and porchetta (slow roasted pork with herbs thinly sliced and served in a bread roll with lots of other condiments).

Other popular foods you will find are pasta – I had a delicious pasta with tomatoes and tuna; gelato, and charcuterie boards (we had a fabulous one the first of our 3 days in Florence).

The setting is very informal: go to a stand, order what you wish to have, find a table and a bench to sit (likely next to other visitors) and once your name is called, go grab your food. Complete with a glass of wine from another vendor, and voila, lunch is served!

San Lorenzo Basilica

It takes just 3 minutes to walk from the central market to the Basilica di San Lorenzo, the oldest Cathedral in Florence. The church was first consecrated in 393, which means it has the longest history of any religious building in Florence.

Unfortunately, there are no remains of the first church to be seen to day. The church saw several reconstructions starting from 1059, when works were ordered by Pope Niccolo II.

What you see today is the result of renovation works ordered in 1418 by Giovanni di Bicci of the Medici Family. He asked Brunelleschi (yes, the same one I have been mentioning throughout this post) to work on a funerary chapel (nowadays the Old Sacristy). He led the renovation works until his death in 1446, when Antonio Manetti took over.

Don’t let the seemingly plain exterior of this church fool you. For as simple as it looks on the outside (the marble facade designed by Michelangelo in 1518 was never placed), the interior is actually quite beautiful.

Its most recent reconstruction was in 1461. The interior layout is that of a Latin Cross and other notable interior features include Corinthian columns and a stunning nave.

For the opening hours, visit the San Lorenzo Basilica website. You can reserve your admission to San Lorenzo Basilica on the official website but keep in mind there is a separate fee for the Medici Chapels.

Capelle Medicee

San Lorenzo Basilica is also the burial place of well-known members of the Medici family.

The Cappelle Medicee comprises two buildings that are attached to the Church of San Lorenzo. They house the final resting place of members of the Medici family.

Inside you can see the Princes’ Mausoleum and the New Sacristy by Michelangelo. The first is beautifully decorated with marble and precious stones and is the burial ground of the Duke of Tuscany and his family.

The latter was built from 1519 as an annex to the apse and was intended to be the funerary chapel of the Medici family.

It’s a stunning place to add to your Florence in 3 days itinerary.

You can book your tickets to the Medici Chapels on GetYourGuide or on the official website (it’s the site of the Bargello Museum), where you will also find onfo on the opening hours.

Giotto Tower + Baptistery

After visiting the Medici Chapels, you will head back to the Duomo Complex. It’s an easy 5-minute walk.

The Battistero di San Giovanni (St. John’s Baptistery) is one of the oldest buildings in Florence, where it was first built in the mid 11th century over a 4th century baptistery, and consecrated by Pope Niccolò II.

The Baptistery is home to the tomb of Pope John XXIII, AKA Baldassarre Cossa. Inside, you can see impressive mosaics of the Byzantine school others completed in the 13th and 14th centuries by artists that included the notable Cimabue.

Opening times of the Baptistery vary – make sure to check them out on the official website. Admission to the Baptistery is included in the Brunelleschi Pass (which you will have if you climb the Dome) and in the Giotto Pass, as well as in the Florence Pass.

Situated on the Piazza del Duomo you will also find the last spot you’ll visit for the day, Giotto’s Bell Tower, a masterpiece of Italian Gothic art. Giotto was entrusted with its work in 1334, but never saw it finished has he died three years later. Andrea Pisano (Giotto’s pupil) and Francesco Talenti worked on the building until his completion in 1359.

The marble structure has a base of about 15 meters (49.2 feet), and is 84.7 meters (almost 278 feet) tall. You can climb the 414 steps to the top of this 14th-century Gothic tower through the many superimposing loggias and by windows that offer beautiful views of the city.

Make sure to double check the opening hours for the Giotto’s Bell Tower on the official website, as they vary depending on the season. Admission is included in the Brunelleschi Pass, which you’ll have to get if you want to visit Brunelleschi Dome, or else you need to get the Giotto Pass.

Admission is also included in the Florence Pass.

My post How To Visit Giotto’s Bell Tower has more information on the history of this tower and on how to visit.

Day 3

On your last day in Florence, you will cross the Arno River to visit the gorgeous Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens, the Bardini Garden and then head back to explore Santa Croce Basilica and finally visit the Uffizi Gallery.

It’s a really packed day, with longer distances to walk, so I don’t recommend adding to it!

You should also plan to head out really early. Palazzo Pitti, which is your first official stop for the day, opens at 8:15 am and you should aim to be out by 7:30 at the latest. You’ll have a chance of seeing Florence without the crowds too!

Map of day 3 Florence itinerary

Here is a link to the Google Maps itinerary you have to follow. Head out as early as possible to see Ponte Vecchio without the crowds.

Ponte Vecchio and/or Ponte Santa Trinità + Santo Spirito area

Ponte Vecchio translates to “old bridge”. It’s the oldest bridge in the city and a must-see when visiting Florence in 3 days. The bridge was initially built right by a Roman bridge. Until 1218 it was the only bridge that linked the two sides of the Arno.

The original bridge was destroyed by a flood and rebuilt – the form we know today – in 1345. Originally, the bridge hosted butcher shops.

Located above it was the Corridoio Vasariano (which you will also see during your Uffizi Gallery visit), a corridor built in 1565 by architect Giorgio Vasari to allow the Medici family to move from Palazzo Vecchio to their new residence of Palazo Pitti.

The decision to move the butcher shops was taken by the Medici – legend narrates that they were overwhelmed by the smell of the butcher shops, which were moved in 1593 and replaced with the goldsmiths you can still see today.

Ponte Vecchio is the only bridge in Florence that was not a target of the Nazi bombings during WWII, and survived the 1966 Florence floods too.

For the best views of Ponte Vecchio, walk to the Ponte Santa Trinità, a Renaissance-era bridge that was completed in 1569 also crosses the Arno River. It is one of the oldest arch bridges of its type in the world.

On the other side of the river, you will find more local area of Santo Spirito, home to nice restaurants, cafés and bars and a hub of local nightlife.

The main landmark you will and to check out here is the Santo Spirito Church, where you will only see a fraction of the tourists that are otherwise seen in other churches in Florence.

Pop inside for a visit. The church is indeed known for having been a refuge for a young Michelangelo in 1492: he stayed there to be able to study human corpses from the convent’s hospital and thus improve his anatomy’s studies. He thus worked on a wooden sculpture, which you can see in the sacristy.

Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens

Walk for just three minutes to reach Palazzo Pitti from the Santo Spirito Church.

As Florence’s most influential palace, the 15th-century Palazzo Pitti is a must-see combination of history and beauty. You really can’t skip it during your 3 days in Florence. Palazzo Pitti became the residence of the Medici family when Cosimo I de Medici moved his residence here from Palazzo Vecchio.

The palace is named after Luca Pitti, a Florentine merchant and its first owner who lived there in the mid 15th century. When he died in 1473, Brunelleschi was still working on the palace, which was however abandoned and then bought in 1549 by Eleonora of Toledo, Cosimo I de Medici’s wife.

The family entrusted Bartolomeo Ammannati to work on the enlargement of the palace and in creating its Boboli Gardens.

The palace became property of the Italian Crown in 1860, and when Florence became the capital of Italy (between 1865 and 1871), king Victor Emmanuel II lived there. He then donated it to the Italian state in 1919.

Inside, you’ll find several museums that make up the city’s biggest museum complex.

These include the Gallery of Modern Art and the Museum of Costume and Fashion, and the Palatine Gallery. The last is home to more than 500 Renaissance paintings by famed artists including Raphael and Correggio – if you have to pick just one, that’s the one you should see!

The adjoining Boboli Gardens is a park featuring beautifully-manicured green spaces with lovely views over Pitti Palace and the city.

These Italian gardens first opened feature ancient oak trees, statues, grand fountains such as the Fountain of Neptune and the Fountain of the Ocean, and the fascinating grotto by Bernardo Buontalenti.

You will also be able to see the 18th century Kaffeehaus, an 18th century pavillion in Rococo style which is one of its kind in Tuscany, and the Lemon House styled by Zanobi del Rosso between 1777 and 1778.

For opening hours and tickets, you can visit the official website. Otherwise, you can get a cumulative ticket to Pitti Palace, Boboli Gardens and Bardini Gardens on Tiqets, one of my favorite third-party booking sites.

My posts How To Visit Boboli Gardens and How To Visit Pitti Palace share more insights into these gorgeous Florence attractions.

Bardini Garden

Located in the hills of the Oltrarno area of Florence, just a 5-minute walk from Boboli Gardens, Bardini Garden is a renaissance-era garden at Villa Bardini, which was once known as Villa Belvedere (literally “beautiful view villa”).

The garden is famous for its “Casini di Delizia” which were built between the late 16th century and the beginning of the 17th century as relaxation homes – which for this purpose had to be surrounded by beautiful gardens.

Once in Bardini Garden, you will be able to explore the beautiful Italian Garden, which is where the 17th century Baroque staircase is located; the English Garden where you can find examples of Anglo-Chinese landscaping; and the Agricultural Park.

The Agricultural Park is where you will spot the wisteria pergola which is particularly beautiful in the spring months (April, usually). Unfortunately when we visited all the flowers were gone.

If you’re a birdwatcher, you’ll spot several species in the gardens including rock pigeons and blackbirds.

You can find the opening hours and get tickets on the official website of Bardini Garden. You can also get a cumulative ticket to Pitti Palace, Boboli Gardens and Bardini Gardens on Tiqets.

Once you are done exploring this beautiful garden, it will be time for lunch. Head to La Buchetta, which is on the way to the Basilica di Santa Croce, for a fabulous dining experience. It’s a 5-minute walk from the Bardini Garden.

Basilica di Santa Croce

No Florence in 3 days itinerary is complete without a visit to the world’s biggest Franciscan church, the Basilica di Santa Croce – it’s just a 3-minute walk from your lunch spot. The church is home to an impressive number of works of art that range from the 13th to the 20th century.

Inside, you will be able to find 16 chapens and see the frescoes of the transept painted by Giotto and his pupils in the 14th century, and the beautiful Bardi Altarpiece by Coppo di Marcovaldo. The church is also home to Cimabue’s Crucifix.

But there’s more. Santa Croce Basilica houses the work of Brunelleschi (yes, the same artist that I have mentioned many times in this post), who designed the Pazzi Chapel. You can also see the painted wooden crucifix by Donatello, his statue of St. Louis of Toulous and a relief of the Annunciation.

Santa Croce houses the monumental tombs of many prominent artists, poets and scholars such as Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Galileo, Alfieri (his tomb is the work of Antonio Canova), Foscolo and Rossini. You will see monuments to Dante and even Florence Nightingale.

For opening hours and tickets, make sure to visit the Santa Croce Basilica official website. You can buy tickets in person too. Just make sure to grab a map of the church at the ticket office because there is so much to see that you may miss some important pieces. In fact, you should consider getting an audioguide, also available via the official website.

My post A Guide To The Basilica Di Santa Croce shares more information about this impressive church.

Uffizi Gallery

It will take you less than 10 minutes to walk from the Basilica di Santa Croce to the Uffizi Gallery, your final official stop for the day and a must see when you have 3 days in Florence.

This is definitely the most popular museum in Florence, and one of the most famous art galleries in the world – and for many reasons.

Giorgio Vasari created the palace in 1560 upon wishes of the Medici family. They wanted a place that worked as an art gallery for their private collection, and Vasari’s idea was also to built a place with views of the famous Arnolfo Tower (which I mentioned before).

Inside this gorgeous palace you will find one of the best collections of art that you can think of. The Medici family donated the building and everything in it in 1743, and since then more art kept being accumulated.

The Uffizi Gallery houses the largest collection of paintings by Raphael and Botticelli, as well as pieces by Giotto, Titian, Rubens. The cherry on the cake are some of Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci’s most famous works.

Of course, being such a popular museum the Uffizi Gallery can get crowded and you need to get tickets in advance. You can do that via the official website, which also shows the opening hours.

If you follow this Florence in 3 days itinerary as I have created it, you should arrive at the gallery around 4:00 pm, which is great because most visitors start leaving around 5:00 and there will be a time during your visit that you’ll have most rooms to yourself!

Make sure to stop at the terrace for views of the Arnolfo Tower too.

You can get Uffizi Gallery tickets on GetYourGuide – contrary to the tickets on the official site, these have a flexible cancellation policy.

Admission is also included in the Florence Pass.

You should also consider joining this Uffizi Gallery tour which has several departures during the day. The latest one is at 3:00 pm which may still work for this itinerary – it’s the tour I took when I last visited and I enjoyed it.

My post How To Get Visit The Uffizi Gallery will provide more information about this incredible museum.

Drinks at Sesto on Arno

Celebrate the last of your 3 days in Florence with drinks at one of the many rooftop bars in Florence. My friend and I tried several during our visit and our favorite was easily Sesto on Arno, which is a 15-minute walk from the Uffizi Gallery, along the river.

Sesto on Arno is a chic rooftop bar that features two scenic terraces and from where you can enjoy a gorgeous sunset. There’s a great choice of cocktails and wines. It’s not cheap – I think I paid €20 for a glass of champagne. But it is worth it for the experience and the views.

There’s also a gourmet restaurant (which must be booked in advance) where you can enjoy Mediterranean cuisine.

3 Days In Florence Practical Guide

Best time to visit Florence

Any time is a good time to visit Florence. It’s such a gorgeous city, with so much to see and do, that you will find a reason to visit and interesting attractions regardless of the season.

However, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Florence can get terribly busy in the summer months, not to mention hot and unbearably humid. If you visit in August, there are chances that some businesses close as that’s when many people in Italy go on holidays, especially for the two weeks around Ferragosto (15 of August).

Last time I visited, I went in mid May and it was already quite hot to be honest, and the city was busy. I’d recommend heading there in April or September or even October. At that time of year, there are less tourists and even the prices are a bit more reasonable. It’s not so hot, the days are nice and long and you have more time to explore.

Guided tours of Florence

To make the most of your 3 days in Florence, consider joining a guided tour. I have already pointed out the guided tours we did when we visited, but below are some others you may want to consider.

Full day tour of Florence

This is my top recommendation for a full day tour of Florence. The tour, which is sold by Take Walks – one of my favorite tour providers – includes admission to the Accademia Gallery and the Uffizi Gallery. It also goes to the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio and Piazza della Signoria.

Florence Highlights and David Walking Tour

This tour highlights the best Renaissance attractions around Florence. The tour lasts three hours and stops at Piazza della Repubblica, Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio, Pitti Palace, the Duomo, and Accademia Museum.

You’ll also have some time to browse the designer shops of Via Tornabuoni and the artist’s workshops of the Oltrarno area. Along the way, your guide will share the history of Florence.

Florence Vespa Tour: Tuscan Hills and Italian Cuisine

If you wish to get out of Florence, this is an excellent option. You will be riding a vintage Vespa and head out to visit the Tuscan Hills with a local guide. The tour includes stops to taste local cheese and Chianti wine.

Oltrarno at Sunset: Florence Food & Wine Tour

This fantastic tour takes you to the lesser known spots of the Oltrarno neighborhood – I took it on my most recent trip to Florence and felt I discovered some truly hidden gems!

Through food, you will learn more about the history and culture of Florence. You will visit a local wine bar where you’ll taste various kinds of bruschetta and cheese, then try the typical schiacciata, finally go to a local trattoria for bistecca alla fiorentina and your final stop is for gelato.

Tastes and Traditions of Florence: Food Tour with Sant’Ambrogio Market Visit

I took this tour during my most recent trip to Florence and I can’t talk highly enough of it. It goes to the Sant’Ambrogio area, a lesser known area of Florence, yet very central, where you start with a typical Italian style breakfast, then takes you to the market for more tastings.

You will also visit an enoteca (wine bar), a bakery where you will try freshly baked cantuccini (typical local cookies) and the best gelateria in Florence.

Using a Firenze Card when visiting Florence in 3 days

The Firenze Card is actually a very convenient idea if you wish to save some money on attractions during your 3 days in Florence. It gives you access to many museums in the city, including Palazzo Vecchio, Palazzo Pitti, Bargello Museum, Uffizi Gallery and Accademia Gallery, and will also include the Medici Chapels and Santa Maria Novella Church.

Keep in mind that contrary to most city cards, the Firenze Card does not include public transportation or transfers to and from the airport.

Where to stay in Florence

There are plenty of good accommodation options in Florence, suitable for all budgets and taste. If you only have 3 days in Florence, picking a hotel that has a good location is essential – you need something that is central and from where you can easily get to all attractions.

Here is a selection of good places to stay in Florence:

Hotel Croce di Malta

This is where my friend and I stayed when we visited and we found the central location, close to the train station and Santa Maria Novella church, absolutely perfect.

Hotel Croce di Malta was once a convent. It now features a swimming pool surrounded by a lovely garden, a rooftop terrace with spectacular city views, and guest rooms with satellite television and free Wi-Fi service.

Borgo Oblate

At Borgo Oblate, you’ll enjoy many amenities including a garden, a sun terrace and rooms equipped with free Wi-Fi, air conditioning and private bathrooms. Nearby attractions include the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and the Accademia Gallery. A very good breakfast is included in the price.

Hotel La Scaletta al Ponte Vecchio

Situated along the Arno River in a 15th-century building, Hotel La Scaletta al Ponte Vecchio is only minutes away from top attractions such as Uffizi Gallery and the Duomo.

The hotel serves a buffet breakfast each morning. There is rooftop terrace where you can relax after a day of exploration, a bar and a restaurant. Guest rooms are air-conditioned and feature hardwood floors, minibars, free Wi-Fi and televisions.

Where to eat in Florence

Good food in Florence is everywhere! My post What To Eat In Florence shares the best dishes you should try during your trip.

Here are the places we enjoyed the most during our 3 days in Florence. Needless to say there are many more to try!

Trattoria dall’Oste

At Trattoria dall’Oste, traditional local dishes are made using only the finest certified Tuscan and Italian meats. Some of the delicious meat-based dishes on the menu include grilled ribeye steak, and grilled Florentine – T-bone steaks.

There are 4 different restaurants with the same name. The most popular is the one close to the Duomo. We ate at the one by the Santa Maria Novella Station and enjoyed both the service and the food.

La Buchetta

We found this restaurant almost randomly and loved it, so I decided to include it in the itinerary.

La Buchetta offers tradional Tuscan cuisine with homemade pasta dishes, and of course you can have a great bistecca alla fiorentina too. There is an extensive wine list with wines from Tuscany and the rest of Italy, and the service is very friendly.

Mercato Centrale

Florence Central Market is a bit of an upscale place for grocery shopping, but the food court can’t be beat!

Go to the upper level for a selection of local eateries where service is basic (you order at the counter and bring your own food to the table, which you’ll share with other visitors) but the offer of food (and the quality) is great and prices very reasonable. There are also a few wine bars to pick from!

Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio

This lesser known market of Florence is a fabulous place to visit if you wish to have a more local experience. There are a few eateries inside where you can have charcuterie boards and wine, and you can also shop for groceries here.

Cibreo

This historic café near the Sant’Ambrogio market is an excellent spot for breakfast. There’s a great selection of Italian style pastries you can have with your perfectly frothed cappuccino.

Vivoli

For the best gelato in Florence, head straight to Vivoli. Don’t be surprised to find a line at the door – it’s a very popular place among tourists and locals.

BBQ

Located in Piazza Torquato Tasso, in the Oltrarno area, this is a very local place where you can try some local staples such as bistecca alla fiorentina and pasta with ragù di cinghiale (a boar meat sauce). The atmosphere is very easy going!

How to get to Florence from the airport

In case Florence is the first stop on your Italy itinerary, you will need to find your way from the airport to the city. There are several ways to get from Amerigo Vespucci Airport to Florence.

If you are visiting Florence after Rome, my post How To Get From Rome To Florence will show you how to get to the city from the capital. And if you are traveling from Bologna, you should read my guide on How To Get From Bologna To Florence.

I don’t recommend renting a car if you are only planning to spend time 3 days in Florence without leaving the city. There’s a lot of traffic, and finding a parking spot is often a hassle.

By shuttle tram

This is the cheapest way to get from the airport to the city center. The shuttle is called T2; it leaves the airport and drops passengers off at the Central Station (the last stop is Unità) and runs every five to ten minutes.

By Volainbus

The Volainbus is a bus that travels from the airport to the city center. It will drop you off near Santa Maria Novella Station. The bus runs every 30 minutes and takes about 20 minutes to get to the city center.

By taxi

This is the most expensive way of getting from the airport to Florence city center. Taxis apply a flat rate that varies depending on the time of day and starts at €25 per trip.

How to get around Florence

There are many ways to get around Florence but the easiest, cheapest and most convenient way is on foot! You will see that the historic center of Florence is actually quite compact, and it makes sense to walk.

You may however want to use public transport to get to the furthest places such as Pitti Palace. Public transport in Florence is managed by ATAF. You can find bus tickets at most “tabaccherie” (tobacco shops, which are often located inside cafés) anywhere in the city. You can also get tickets on the app Ataf which is available on both Android and iOs.

Another fun way to get around is by bike, e-bike or moped. However, there are virtually no bike lanes in the city center and you really have to watch out for drivers who often don’t respect people riding bikes.

Additional Tips To Visit Florence In 3 Days

As I am sure you have seen, my 3 days in Florence itinerary is packed. I have delivered it exactly the way my friend and I followed it, so it is doable!

However, I have a few more tips for your trip to Florence.

Wake up early! Traveling is serious business and some attractions in Florence are best visited early, before the tourist crowds arrive.

Wear comfortable shoes. I drafted this itinerary in a way that is logical, so you’ll visit all attractions in one area of town on the same day and walk everywhere without having to rely on public transport. That means you’ll be walking a lot.

In fact, plan to dress modestly. You will be visiting many churches in Florence and they have a dress code. You should wear long pants / skirt and cover your chest and shoulders.

If you are visiting Florence in the summer, when it’s really hot, plan to take a shawl you can wrap around your shoulders and wear a dress or skirt below the knee.

My post What To Wear In Italy gives you more guidance on what to pack for your trip.

Make sure you book all tickets to the attractions in advance – pretty much all galleries, museums, attractions and even churches in Florence require advanced bookings. It’s anyways much easier to show up with a ticket in hand than have to find a ticket counter!

Further Readings

Planning a trip to Italy that includes Tuscany? These posts will be useful:

• The Best Places To Visit In Italy
• A Classic Italy Itinerary
• The Best Italy Travel Tips
• What To Do And What To Avoid When Planning A Trip To Italy
• How To Plan A Day Trip From Florence To Cinque Terre
• The Best Day Trips From Florence

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