How many days · Florence · Italy
How many days do you need in Florence?
A straight answer, then what each trip length really gets you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Gary Campbell-Hall, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
4 days is the sweet spot for Florence, and 2 days is the minimum to see the main sights. Two full days covers the Duomo, the Uffizi, the Accademia and an evening at Piazzale Michelangelo. Four days adds the Pitti Palace, the Oltrarno and a day trip to Siena or Pisa; a week lets you use Florence as a base for Chianti, Lucca and San Gimignano.
Key facts
- Ideal
- 4 days
- Minimum
- 2 days
- Day trips available
- 7
- Daylight
- 8.9 h (Dec) to 15.4 h (Jun)
What each trip length gets you
| Trip | Pace | What you can see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Rushed | Florence Cathedral (Duomo), Uffizi Gallery, Galleria dell'Accademia and Ponte Vecchio |
| 2 days | Good | Ponte Vecchio, Piazzale Michelangelo and Piazza della Signoria and Loggia dei Lanzi |
| 3 days | Good | Palazzo Vecchio, Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens |
| 5 days | Relaxed | The highlights plus a day trip to Siena |
| 7 days | Plenty | A slow trip with day trips such as Siena and Pisa |
How long the top sights take
The 12 best-known sights in Florence add up to roughly 18–23 hours of visiting time — about 3 days at seven sightseeing hours a day, before travel between them and meals. The biggest time commitments are Florence Cathedral (Duomo) (Half a day with the climbs), Uffizi Gallery (3–4 hours) and Palazzo Pitti (2–3 hours).
| Sight | Time needed | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Florence Cathedral (Duomo) | Half a day with the climbs | Piazza del Duomo |
| Uffizi Gallery | 3–4 hours | Piazza della Signoria |
| Galleria dell'Accademia | 1–1.5 hours | San Marco |
| Ponte Vecchio | 30 minutes | Arno riverfront |
| Piazzale Michelangelo | 1 hour | San Niccolò |
| Piazza della Signoria and Loggia dei Lanzi | 30–45 minutes | Piazza della Signoria |
| Palazzo Vecchio | 1.5–2 hours | Piazza della Signoria |
| Palazzo Pitti | 2–3 hours | Oltrarno |
| Boboli Gardens | 1.5–2 hours | Oltrarno |
| Basilica of Santa Croce | 1.5 hours | Santa Croce |
| Bargello National Museum | 1–1.5 hours | Santa Croce |
| Medici Chapels | 45 minutes–1 hour | San Lorenzo |
By type of trip
| Trip | Days | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit | 4 days | The main sights at a comfortable pace |
| Short break / repeat visit | 2 days | Focus on Florence Cathedral (Duomo) and Uffizi Gallery |
| With children | 5 days | Slower days and time for Florence Cathedral (Duomo) |
| With day trips | 6 days | Add Siena and Pisa |
Daylight changes the maths
Sightseeing days are much shorter in December (about 8.9 hours of daylight) than in June (about 15.4 hours). In winter, allow an extra day or plan museum-heavy afternoons.
Ready-made itineraries
Combining Florence with other destinations
| Destination | Distance | Suggested stay |
|---|---|---|
| Bologna | About 81 km | 3 days |
| Cinque Terre | About 130 km | 3 days |
| Verona | About 187 km | 3 days |
Questions travellers ask
+Is 2 days enough in Florence?
It covers the main sights at a brisk pace; 4 days is more comfortable. Two full days covers the Duomo, the Uffizi, the Accademia and an evening at Piazzale Michelangelo. Four days adds the Pitti Palace, the Oltrarno and a day trip to Siena or Pisa; a week lets you use Florence as a base for Chianti, Lucca and San Gimignano.
+Is a week too long in Florence?
No — a week leaves time for day trips such as Siena and Pisa.