24 Hours in Florence, Italy

Let me just say that by no means do I recommend trying to see Florence in just one day. You’ll spend the entire time running from museum to museum, monument to monument, with barely any time to rest, shop, or really even eat. And if you don’t do that, you’ll be missing out on some huge experiences. With all of the art, history, and jaw-dropping sights that this city has to offer, trust me when I say you’ll be better off taking your time to thoroughly enjoy the city. I recommend extending your stay by a day or two. At least.

That being said, if you’re still adamant on seeing this magnificent Tuscan city in one day… well, I’m not gonna say skip it. (But, for the love of god, wear comfortable shoes.)

So, to make things easier, here is the perfect itinerary for 24 hours in Florence, Italy.

You’ve got a very long day ahead of you, so start off bright and early with breakfast at your hotel or hostel. Typical Italian breakfasts consist of bread or rolls with butter and jam, as well as biscotti. Other common breakfast foods include cereals, yogurt and museli, and fruit salad. And, since this is Tuscany, you may also encounter red wine – do with this information what you will.

And, of course, what is a morning in Italy without a nice cappuccino?

Next, head over to the Accademia, where you’ll find all kinds of famous artworks, including Michelangelo’s David. You’ll want to be here right when the museum opens at 8:15 to avoid the crowds and get a head-start on your long day. This museum isn’t very big and shouldn’t take too long to meander through, but try not to spend more than an hour here.

Note: Don’t pop in and just see David! There are plenty of other famous and incredible pieces in the museum. One of my favorites is Bernini’s Apollo and Daphne – take a moment and really look at all of the details!

After the Accademia, catch a ride (or walk, if you have time) to the lovely cathedral of Santa Croce. You don’t need to spend a lot of time here, but it’s worth a look as the church houses funerary monuments to many famous Italian artists, writers, and scientists – including Galileo, Michelangelo, Fermi, and Dante.

Grab a snack on your way back from Santa Croce, as you’ll want to spend several hours exploring Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, or “The Duomo.” Take your time walking around the inside and outside of the cathedral. The intrepid may also wish to hike to the top of the Dome or Bell Tower (though I don’t reccommend doing both!) for stunning views of the red roofed-buildings of the city. And when you come back down, don’t forget to stop by the Baptistery!

Lunch time, thank goodness! Take a break and grab some food – whether it’s eating street food on a bench or sitting down in a restaurant, it’s all good. Afterward, take a short walk over to Piazza della Signoria and browse the shops for some quality Italian leather, or rest and people-watch as you snack on some gelato! Whatever you choose, this is your time to recooperate.

Here it is… the famed Uffizi Gallery! Trust me when I say you’ll want to allow at least two hours here – that gives you enough time to see everything at a comfortable pace. The Uffizi is home to hundreds of world-renowned artworks, including Boticelli’s Birth of Venus, Fabriano’s Adoration of the Magi, and Gentileschi’s Judith Slaying Holofernes. And even just as you walk around, you may come across a new favorite, like I did with this Gandolfi piece.

The Ponte Vecchio is a medieval bridge with stores on it.

Let me repeat that: it’s a bridge… with stores on it.

So, shop ’til you drop!

At this point, you may want to head up to a lovely church and sit in on some Gregorian chanting, which is quite a unique experience. The hill to San Miniato al Monte is a very rough, very long walk (about 30 minutes uphill) – so unless you’re in really good shape, I’d recommend taking a bus or taxi up. If Gregorian chanting doesn’t interest you, you have some free time to wander around!

Chanting: 5:30 [17:30]. Check the schedule as times may vary on certain days.

The hill to San Miniato al Monte is not an easy climb unless you’re in really good shape, so either take a bus/taxi up or be sure to really take your time. But you absolutely cannot skip this part… this was the moment that took Florence from being a lovely city to being my favorite place in the world. There’s just something incredibly calming, ethereal, and almost emotional about watching the sun set over this city at the end of the day.

You can also explore the tiny Gregorian church if you get up there early enough; you can find the opening hours here.

TIP: Check what time the sun sets so you can plan accordingly. (And remember to bring your camera so you don’t wind up with a crappy phone picture like me!)

And finally, finish off a long day with a well-deserved dinner and a bit of wine or limoncello. I highly reccommend finding a place where you can order Florentine Steak – it will be the best steak you will ever have. EVER.

Depending on where you choose to eat, you may have to make reservations ahead of time. Most Italians eat dinner around 8 p.m. [20:00]. Many restaurants close for the night around 10:30 [22:30], but be sure to check opening/closing hours if you have a specific restaurant in mind!

Photo source: @McPig / Flickr

And that’s it! Are you tired? I’m tired.

As I said before, I absolutely advise that you stay more than one day. Splitting up the activites over multiple days will leave you with the best experience of Florence. And if you choose to stay, here are a few ways you can spend that extra time:

• Split up the sight-seeing
• Take a day-trip to Venice or Milan
• Explore even more sights and monuments
• Shop!

And why not stay? After all, this is the Italy that fills your head when you daydream – with sun-drenched plazas and flowery windowsills and the scent of leather in the air; with gorgeous architecture and traces of the Renaissance lining every street; with decadent foods and lazy Sunday evenings.

Why would you ever want to leave?

Have you been to Florence? What was your favorite part? What would you like to see? Is there anything you would add to this list? Leave a comment below and let me know!