Last Updated on January 5, 2026
We recently spent a week exploring Tuscany but only had 24 hours in our itinerary to spend in Florence. We knew that wasn’t ideal since the city is packed with so much incredible art, grand cathedrals, cozy trattorias, and unbelievable views. It really deserves a couple days – but sometimes, one day in Florence is all you’ve got – and that’s okay! With a little planning and a good pair of walking shoes, you can still experience an unforgettable slice of this magical city.
Discover what to see and how to make the most of every minute with our one day in Florence itinerary below.
(This post may contain affiliate links in which I receive a small commission if you use them at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.)
Stop 1: Start with a View at Piazzale Michelangelo
Piazzale Michelangelo is one of the best spots in all of Florence for a panoramic view of the city! It was blissfully uncrowded when we arrived around 8:30 a.m. Florence’s Duomo dominates the skyline towering over all the other buildings. It was quite a sight! You also get great views of the Arno River and Ponte Vecchio.
Many people come to Piazzale Michelangelo for the sunset, but mornings can be just as stunning. With the sun behind you, the buildings are highlighted in rays of light. After about 30 minutes of taking it all in, we were ready to tour the city. We returned our rental car, dropped off our bags at our Airbnb, and set out to explore Florence on foot.
(Planning to drive in Italy? Check out this important guide: Driving in Italy as a Tourist)
Stop 2: View Michelangelo’s David at the Accademia Gallery
We had 10:30 a.m. reservations for the Accademia Gallery. (Reservations are a must if you want to avoid long lines.) Seeing Michelangelo’s David in person was on our bucket list, and even though the museum was crowded, we were still able to get up close to it. The detail and scale of the sculpture are impressive!
We wandered the rest of the Accademia, but since we’re not huge art buffs, we only spent about 45 minutes here in total. If you love Renaissance art, however, you’ll want to stay longer.
Stop 3: Visit the Peaceful and Impressive Santa Croce
Next, we walked about 15 minutes to the Basilica of Santa Croce, where some of Italy’s greatest minds like Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli are buried. We found it fascinating that all these famous figures are buried at the same location.
It’s impressive inside and out, filled with frescoes and sculptures by Giotto, Donatello, and others. We planned on spending an hour here but found 30 minutes was plenty to see everything we wanted. Be sure to pick up a free walking map at the entrance – it makes exploring very easy.
Lunch Break for Paninis
By now we were hungry, so we grabbed paninis from a nearby deli and sat for a bit. After our short lunch break we were ready to continue exploring.
Stop 4: Cross the Ponte Vecchio
Next, we walked across the Ponte Vecchio, Florence’s most famous bridge. To be honest, it was a little underwhelming – it’s packed with jewelry shops and tourists. Still, it’s worth a quick walk across, and it leads to the Oltrarno district (literally “beyond the Arno”), which is where we were headed next.
Stop 5: Stroll Through Boboli Gardens
Boboli Gardens was the perfect change of pace after a busy morning. This large open space behind the Pitti Palace is filled with fountains, sculptures, and walking paths. We climbed to the top for another beautiful view back over Florence, but by now it was quite hot out, so we didn’t stay too long.
Stop 6: Quick Walk Over Ponte Santa Trinita
On our way back across the river, we took the Ponte Santa Trinita (the next bridge over from Ponte Vecchio). From here we got great views of the Arno and the Ponte Vecchio. I almost didn’t list this as an actual stop in our itinerary, but I think it’s important to note that while Ponte Vecchio isn’t much to see as you cross over it, viewing it from the Ponte Santa Trinita is definitely worth it.
Optional Stop: A Drink To-Go at One of Florence’s Wine Windows
A unique experience in Florence is visiting a historic wine window. These hidden windows built into walls and doors of very old buildings originated in the Renaissance to sell wine tax-free, but now they’re a little tourist attraction where you can buy wine to-go. Ryan wasn’t as impressed with these secret windows as I was, and if it were up to him we wouldn’t have stopped, but I think it’s a fun experience to ring the bell and order a tiny take-away bottle of wine. We visited FirstGlass located near the Ponte Vecchio at Lungarno degli Acciaiuoli, 6R.
Stop 7: Explore the Uffizi Gallery
After checking into our Airbnb and resting a bit, we headed to the Uffizi Gallery for our 4 p.m. guided tour. The Uffizi is widely regarded as one of the world’s best Renaissance art museums, and even if you’re not an art lover, it’s worth seeing.
Our guide was very informative pointing out masterpieces by Botticelli, da Vinci, Michelangelo and Caravaggio during our two-hour tour.
(Wondering which attractions make sense to book a guided tour? Check out this guide: Booking Guided Tours in Italy)
The Uffizi is huge, so it’s important to have a plan – either research what you want to see ahead of time, or hire a tour guide, like we did. The museum is busiest from late morning to early afternoon and if art is your thing, you could easily spend half a day here – but for us, two hours was enough.
Evening: Dinner, Sunset, and Gelato
After our Uffizi tour, we crossed back into the Oltrarno for dinner where we indulged in a classic Florentine steak – a must-try when in the city. Paired with a glass of wine, it was the perfect way to unwind after a full day.
On our walk home, we caught the most stunning sunset from Ponte Santa Trinita. The orange and pink reflections on the Arno were incredible and may have been the highlight of our entire day in Florence!
As we continued on our way, we stopped to listen to two opera singers performing on the street (not something we see everyday!) and then grabbed gelato in Piazza Santa Croce and one last drink near our Airbnb. All in all it was a great ending to an already great day!
Stop 8: The Next Morning, Climb the Duomo
Before leaving Florence the next morning, we had one last adventure – climbing to the top of the Duomo. We booked the earliest time slot (8:15 a.m.) and started the 463-step climb. It’s a workout for sure, but it only took us about 15 minutes to get to the top – and the view is absolutely worth it!
From the dome, you see the whole city spread out below. We could easily pinpoint the places we had been the day before and it was the perfect way to say goodbye to Florence.
Making the Most of One Day in Florence
Even though we only had 24 hours in Florence, it was one of our favorite days in Italy. Here are some key things to keep in mind:
Smart Planning
- Book tickets in advance for the Accademia, Uffizi, and Duomo climb. Lines can be long or sell out.
- Make dinner reservations a few days early, so you’re not scrambling to find a restaurant.
- Map out your walking route so you’re not backtracking.
- Coordinate luggage drop-off or early check-in with your hotel or Airbnb.
Personalized Itinerary
Focus on what you love. We knew we didn’t need to spend hours in every museum, but if you’re passionate about art, plan for more time at the Uffizi or Accademia. The best one day Florence itinerary is the one that fits your interests.
Realistic Expectations
Mentally prepare yourself that there will be crowds, and you won’t see everything in one day. Pick your top must-sees, enjoy great food, and take time to simply soak it all in. We left the city with so many lasting memories and are already dreaming of our next visit – which is exactly what we wanted from our 24 hours in Florence.
Have you been to this Renaissance city? What do you think of our 1-day Florence itinerary? Anything to add? Let us know in the comments. We’d love to hear from you.
You’re already dreaming of Italy – our online course can help that dream become reality. Learn how to confidently plan a journey tailored to your passions, your pace and your budget. Learn more at YourPerfectItaly.com.
Leave a Reply