Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Florence?
Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Florence?
Most people spend two to seven days in Florence during their visit. The historical city offers amazing highlights such as the famous sights and museums, the historic old town, the cuisine, and the gorgeous scenery.
Florence is the capital of Italy's famous Tuscany region. It's a city filled with some of the world's most famous and beautiful art and architecture. There are many iconic sights including the famous Duomo, the Uffizi Gallery, and the The Galleria dell'Accademia where you'll find Michelangelo's David. The city is also filled with cafes and shops where you can buy fine Italian items or souvenir knockoffs.
Do you have one or two days to visit Florence? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one day enough time in Florence?
Florence holds a significant allure for tourists because of its many sights and attractions. Given only one day, you will likely find yourself hurrying to experience the key highlights such as the famous sights and museums, the historic old town, and the cuisine. To truly savor all that the city boasts, a more generous amount of time is advisable. Many travelers opt for two to seven days to thoroughly relish the wonders of the city. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations for making the most of your visit.
How to spend a day in Florence
When visiting Florence, you absolutely can't miss the Duomo (Santa Maria del Fiore) as it's one of the most famous places in the world. Make sure you allow yourself enough time to fully experience it.
The culinary scene in Florence is world famous, and draws visitors from around the globe. Make sure you spend time enjoying breakfast, lunch, and dinner at some of this city's best restaurants. And consider a food tour, too. Many are either a half day or just a few hours, so you can fit one into your schedule easily. Once you've worked up an appetite exploring museums and churches, you'll find many amazing local restaurants around town. Local dishes incorporate a lot of hearty vegetables and meats. Famous dishes include a Florentine steak dish, rabbit, and a bean bed and cabbage soup.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Florence Food Tour with truffle Pasta, Steak & free flowing Wine ($141)
- Florence Central Market Food Tour with Eating Europe ($97)
- Florence Sunset Walking Tour with Wine & Food Tasting ($153)
Florence is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. Most people explore the city on foot.
Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Florence?
Since it's a small city, you'll probably need more than a weekend to take advantage of everything to do in Florence. Two or three days still gives you a good amount of time to explore, though, as you'll have a chance to experience at least some of the major attractions. In addition to the great museums and landmarks and fun charming old town, visitors can enjoy the beautiful scenery, shopping, and nightlife by staying for a weekend.
Florence
How to spend 2 days in Florence
Having a weekend (two to three days) in Florence will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the city.
Florence is home to renowned museums and iconic landmarks, so dive into the city's famous attractions. The city's historical sites rank among the most awe-inspiring globally. Because of it's important role in the Renaissance, the city has many world-renowned museums that you can visit. Famous sights and landmarks include the Uffizi Gallery, the Duomo, and the Academy Gallery.
A few tour suggestions include:
- EXCLUSIVE - Wine Tasting near Florence with Castle and Ancient Cellars Tour ($76)
- Small Group Pasta Making Class Wine Tasting in a Tuscan Castle ($142)
- Private Tour of Pitti Palace with Boboli Garden ($163)
Florence is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. The city's beautiful architecture and impressive gardens make it among the most beautiful cities in the world.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Florence Sunset Walking Tour with Wine & Food Tasting ($153)
- BE THE FIRST: Early Bird Florence Walking Tour & Accademia Gallery (David) ($64)
- The Best of Florence Walking Tour ($53)
The public transit in Florence is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the city quite easily and affordably. There is a comprehensive bus system.
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Florence, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
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