4 days in Florence

Day by day

1. Day 1: Florence Cathedral (Duomo) and Museo dell'Opera del Duomo

   Florence Cathedral (Duomo), Museo dell'Opera del Duomo and Uffizi Gallery, then Piazza della Signoria and Loggia dei Lanzi in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Florence Cathedral (Duomo)

      Allow Half a day with the climbs (mid-priced). If the dome slots are gone, climb Giotto's bell tower instead: it has 414 steps, landings to rest on and a view that includes the dome itself.

   2. Late morning

      Museo dell'Opera del Duomo

      A full-height reconstruction of the cathedral's medieval facade fills the main hall.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Bistecca alla fiorentina

      Traditional trattorias and steakhouses across the centre and the Oltrarno; check the price per etto (100 g) or per kilo before ordering.

   4. Afternoon

      Uffizi Gallery

      Allow 3–4 hours (mid-priced). Take the first entry slot, go straight to the Botticelli rooms on the second floor, then work through the later collections as the crowds build.

   5. Evening

      Piazza della Signoria and Loggia dei Lanzi

      Come back after dinner, when the statues are floodlit and the tour groups have gone.

2. Day 2: Palazzo Vecchio and Galleria dell'Accademia

   Palazzo Vecchio, Galleria dell'Accademia and Museo di San Marco, then Piazza Santo Spirito in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Palazzo Vecchio

      Inside, the vast Salone dei Cinquecento is lined with Vasari's battle scenes, and the Medici apartments include the Hall of Geographical Maps with its painted map cabinets and huge globe. The Arnolfo Tower climb gives a close-up view of the cathedral dome.

   2. Late morning

      Galleria dell'Accademia

      Allow 1–1.5 hours (mid-priced). Book the first or last slot of the day; the gallery is small, and an hour is enough once you are inside.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Lampredotto

      Tripe carts (trippai) around the city, including near the Mercato Centrale, Sant'Ambrogio market and the Mercato Nuovo loggia; ask for the bun dipped in broth ('bagnato').

   4. Afternoon

      Museo di San Marco

      Michelozzo's library for Cosimo de' Medici and Savonarola's cells are here too. It is one of the most peaceful museums in the city, two minutes from the Accademia.

   5. Evening

      Piazza Santo Spirito

      The church steps and surrounding bars fill on warm evenings with students, locals and visitors; one of the liveliest squares in the city.

3. Day 3: Ponte Vecchio and Piazzale Michelangelo

   Ponte Vecchio, Piazzale Michelangelo and San Miniato al Monte, then Santa Croce and Sant'Ambrogio in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Ponte Vecchio

      Allow 30 minutes (free). Photograph it from the Ponte Santa Trinita one bridge downstream at sunset, and cross it early in the morning before the shutters open.

   2. Late morning

      Piazzale Michelangelo

      It is free and busiest at sunset. Walk up from San Niccolò by the Rampe del Poggi stairs, or take bus 12 or 13.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Ribollita

      Family-run trattorias from about October to March, especially in Santa Croce, Sant'Ambrogio and San Frediano.

   4. Afternoon

      San Miniato al Monte

      Allow 45 minutes (free). Arrive for the late-afternoon chant, then walk down to Piazzale Michelangelo for sunset.

   5. Evening

      Santa Croce and Sant'Ambrogio

      Cocktail bars and pubs along Via de' Benci and Via Ghibellina, and wine bars around Piazza Sant'Ambrogio.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Siena

   About 1 hour 15 minutes by bus each way. Getting there: Express bus or regional train from Florence.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Siena

      About 1 hour 15 minutes by bus (Express bus or regional train from Florence); about 75 km.

   2. Day

      Siena

      Siena's shell-shaped Piazza del Campo, the Gothic cathedral with its inlaid marble floor and the frescoes of the Palazzo Pubblico make it the classic day trip from Florence. The Palio horse race takes over the Campo on 2 July and 16 August, when the town is packed.

   3. Evening

      Back in Florence

      Dinner: try Schiacciata.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Florence Cathedral (Duomo), Uffizi Gallery and Galleria dell'Accademia before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 4 nights, Duomo and Piazza della Signoria keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Oltrarno and Santo Spirito ($$$) suits couples, food lovers, nightlife and culture. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 14–18 hours of visiting over 4 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 8.9 hours in December to 15.4 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Florence
• 2 days in Florence
• 3 days in Florence
• 5 days in Florence
• 7 days in Florence

Questions travellers ask