Should I spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Florence?
Should you spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Florence?
Most people spend two to seven days in Florence during their visit. The alluring 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 3, 4, or 5 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 3 days enough time in Florence?
Florence holds a significant allure for tourists because of its many sights and attractions. Given only three days, 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 3 days 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 and cabbage soup. You'll also find all of your favorite Italian staples and many great family-owned trattorie.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Florence Central Market Food Tour with Eating Europe ($113)
- Cooking Class on a Family Farm in Chianti with Lunch ($174)
- Essence of Chianti Small Group Tour with Lunch and Tastings from Florence ($179)
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 and the striking beauty and and pedestrian-friendly areas make it a great place to wander. During peak seasons, the streets can get crowded.
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.
You'll want to have around 1 hour for Galleria dell'Accademia. It's a nice activity for couples and is known for Michelangelo's statue of David, one of the most famous in the world. It's €20, or more if you book a tour.
Make sure to set aside around 3 hours for Uffizi Gallery, which is €25. It's great for couples and is known for its huge collection of artwork from historic painters such as Michelangelo, Leonardo, and many others.
Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens are worth visiting for around 3 hours, which are great for couples. Known for a collection of artwork in a historic palace, along with gorgeous gardens, entry is €22.
It's worth around 1 hour for Palazzo Vecchio. Entry is €17.50, or less depending on the ticket option. It's known for it's long history, famous frescoed courtyard, gorgeous architecture, and artistic masterpieces.
You'll want to have around 2 hours for Museo dell'Opera del Duomo. It's a nice activity for couples and is known for its collection of original sculptures from the Duomo and tower. It's €15 or more depending on the selected ticket option. Combination tickets are available which in.
It's worth around 4 hours for Museo Galileo. Entry is €13, children reduced. It's known for its huge collection of historic scientific instruments.
Make sure to set aside around 1 hour for Gucci Garden, which is €8. It's great for couples and is known for showcasing the history of the Gucci brand and its clothing designs.
Bargello Museum is worth visiting for around 2 hours, which is great for couples. Known for a range of Renaissance sculptures by Michelangelo and Donatello, entry is €13.
It's worth around 2 hours for Palazzo Medici-Riccardi. Entry is €11.50 and children are free, guided tours are €4 extra. It's known for its opulent rooms, frescoes, and historic architecture.
Make sure to set aside around 1 hour for Museo Novecento, which is €9.50. It's great for any traveler and is known for its collection of modern art.
It's worth around 3 hours for Palazzo Strozzi . Entry is around €20 to €25, depending on the exhibit and the ticket options.. It's known for its rotating collection of artworks and historic architecture.
It's worth around 2 hours for The Florence Duomo. Entry is €30 if you want to see everything including the dome, tower, baptistry, and museum. Less expensive tickets are offered if you only want to see a few of these places. Entry to the cathedral itself is free if services are not scheduled. Children pay a reduced price for all ticket options. It's known for its ornate facade, huge dome, epic views over Florence, and rich cultural history.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Bargello Museum: Face to Face with Donatello’s David ($50)
- Pitti Palace and Palatine Gallery: A Royal Art and History Tour ($77)
- Skip-the-line Great Synagogue and Jewish Museum Private Tour ($232)
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:
- Essential Florence Walking Tour with an Expert Local Guide ($42)
- Private Tour in Florence: 3-hour Walking tour in Florence ($218)
- Florence Basilica of San Lorenzo and Medici Chapel Walking Tour ($95)
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. The city has a comprehensive bus system.
The charming atmosphere and history of the old town area is worth exploring, so spend the day learning about the history and culture of the area. The historic center of the city is where you'll find many of the most beautiful buildings, art works, and quaint streets. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it was at the heart of the Renaissance period.
It's worth around 1 hour for Piazza della Signoria. Entry is free. It's known for its wide array of public sculptures in the heart of the city.
Mercato Centrale is worth visiting for around 2 hours, which is great for families and couples. Known for its wide range of food offerings from Tuscany, entry is free.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Essential Florence Walking Tour with an Expert Local Guide ($42)
- Private Tour in Florence: 3-hour Walking tour in Florence ($218)
- Florence Basilica of San Lorenzo and Medici Chapel Walking Tour ($95)
The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. You'll find the most active nightlife in the Santa Croce neighborhood. The area attracts study abroad students as well as tourists who party late into the night.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Florence Bar Crawl: Drink, Laugh & Learn Forbidden History ($72)
Is 4 days enough time in Florence?
With only four days, you might feel a bit pressed for time when it comes to exploring the main attractions. After all, As a popular and famous city, Florence offers a large number of activities and attractions for visitors. To fully embrace Florence, a longer visit is better. Most travelers tend to allocate two to seven days to explore the museums and famous sights, learn about the history of the town, sample the delicious cuisine, and take in the beautiful scenery. Nevertheless, if your schedule is limited, we can provide some suggestions to maximize your visit.
Florence
How to spend 4 days in Florence
Having 4 days in Florence will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the city.
Shopping in Florence is very popular, and it's easy to see why. Spend time exploring the many shops and boutiques to find the perfect gift, souvenir, or outfit. There are many shops in the tourist heart of the city. Most are geared specifically to tourists so you may have to search to find a more authentic shopping experience. Famous items available in the city include gold jewelry, ceramics, leather, and perfume.
Mercato Centrale is worth visiting for around 2 hours, which is great for families and couples. Known for its wide range of food offerings from Tuscany, entry is free.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Florence Shopping Day Tour: Barberino Outlet ($19)
- Private Shopping Tour in Tuscany: The Mall ($192)
- Private Florence Shopping Tour ($216)
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Florence.
Is 5 days enough time in Florence?
Five days in Florence is often considered ideal, as many tourists spend two to seven days here. This amount of time is perfect if you want to explore the museums and famous sights, learn about the history of the town, sample the delicious cuisine, and take in the beautiful scenery. Further down, you'll find our recommendations to kick off your adventure.
How to spend 5 days in Florence
With 5 days in Florence, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the city has to offer.
After you've explored most of Florence, take a day trip to one of the many beautiful destinations nearby.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Tuscany Day Trip from Florence: Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa and Lunch at a Winery ($126)
- Cinque Terre Day Trip from Florence with Optional Hiking ($96)
- Cinque Terre Premium day trip with local guide from Florence ($90)
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Florence.
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Florence, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
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