Florence is wonderfully compact — nearly everything is walkable. Three days cover the classics, provided you book tickets ahead.

Key facts

  • Book ahead, always: the Uffizi, the Accademia (David) and the climb up Brunelleschi's dome all require timed online reservations.
  • When: April–June or September–October. August is hot and heaving.
  • Where to base: the historic center, or the Oltrarno across the river.

Day 1: The heart of the Renaissance

Morning — the Duomo. Santa Maria del Fiore and Brunelleschi's dome, the 15th-century engineering marvel. The 463-step climb opens the trip with the best view in the city. Beside it: Giotto's bell tower and the Baptistery with its "Gates of Paradise."

Lunch. A lampredotto sandwich (Florence's traditional street food) or panini from a deli near the San Lorenzo market.

Afternoon — the Uffizi. One of the world's essential collections: Botticelli's Birth of Venus and Primavera, Caravaggio, Raphael, Leonardo.

Evening. Cross the Ponte Vecchio — the 14th-century bridge lined with goldsmiths — for dinner in the Oltrarno.

Day 2: David, palaces and gardens

Morning — the Accademia. Michelangelo's David, all 5.17 meters of him. Arrive at opening time to beat the crowds.

Afternoon — Palazzo Pitti & the Boboli Gardens. The Medici's grand residence, with a vast Renaissance garden looking over the city.

Sunset — Piazzale Michelangelo. The famous viewpoint: all of Florence, the Arno and the Tuscan hills in golden light. Walk up (~20 minutes) or take bus 12/13.

Day 3: Markets, art and perspective

Morning — Mercato Centrale. A genuine farmers' market downstairs, Tuscan food stalls upstairs. Taste pecorino, truffle, and Chianina beef — the breed behind bistecca alla fiorentina.

Afternoon — Santa Croce. The basilica where Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli are buried.

Last evening. Real gelato (look for shops churning on-site), a passeggiata along the Arno, and a glass of Chianti to finish.

Budget tip: on the first Sunday of the month, state museums (including the Uffizi) are free — with queues to match.