One-Day Itinerary For Florence, Italy

Florence is one of the most sought-out destinations in Italy, and despite the year-round crowds, nothing really holds a candle to the city’s art, history, and cuisine. It’s no wonder why so many praise Florence as one of their favorites in the country. Plus, it’s a great hub for day trips to Lucca, Pisa, Cinque Terre, and wine tours in the Tuscan countryside. If you are short on time and want to do it all, here’s a perfect Florence day itinerary to hit all of the major sights, and get a few solid meals along the way.

Ponte Vecchio

Start at one of Florence’s most classic hotspots: Ponte Vecchio. Ponte Vecchio is the photographic bridge that is over the Amo River. Looking out at the orange and yellow hued houses over the river first thing in the morning in Florence will make for a memorable experience that is purely and utterly Italian to start your long day in Florence off right.

Grab a cafe and cornetto at Mercato Centrale

Florence’s central market is not your standard food hall: there are countless places to eat, drink, and shop. And while most head here later in the day to sample pasta, Porchetta, and even niche regional cuisine of Piemonte. The market is not nearly as busy in the morning as it is as the day passes by, so grab a classic Italian breakfast, or a pastry (usually a cornetto), with some cafe. Some shops to get a pastry at are Sessa 1930 (serving sfogliatella from Napoli), or the market’s dedicated bar and caffeteia.

Uffizi Gallery

The Uffizi Gallery is one of the city’s most iconic sights as one of the oldest galleries in Europe. It’s filled with ancient sculptures and paintings, and getting here early is your best bet since there’s often a queue. They open at 8:15 a.m.

• Save time and get a ticket ahead of time here.

Michelangelo’s Place

Now, for yet another famous Firenze landmark, arguably the most famous one: Michelangelo’s Place. Here, you can see several of the original Michelangelo sculptures and statues. As someone who has been to Florence many times, I can confirm this area is almost always packed. However, on a recent trip there in February, I was surprised to see it nearly empty for two reasons: one, it was low season, and two: it was raining. So, if you have a rainy day in Florence, you might be in better luck. In the summer, however, the crowds can be pretty unbearable.

Piazza del Duomo

Every major Italian city (and even the small ones) have some type of dedicated duomo. Florence’s is one of the country’s most beautiful, and arguably the city’s most prominent landmark, which is really saying something for a city with so much art and history. Piazza del Duomo is so unbelievably beautiful and large, that it’s essentially a requirement to stop here because it’s hard. to miss. Just beware of scams in the area, and if someone offers to take your photo, know that there’s usually some type of twist (as in they want a tip, or are eyeing you for a pickpocket).

• Buy a ticket to climb the Duomo here.

Eat a Porchetta street sandwich

You’re in Italy, so eating frequently is a must. There are a few famous sandwiches from Florence, like the lampredotto, or chopped spleen sandwich, to the city’s many schiacciata. However, my personal favorite are the porchetta sandwiches. You’ll see plenty of windows with full roasted suckling pigs, and though it can be painful for animal lovers, you tend to lose the empathy when you hear the cutting of that crackling skin. Porchetta sandwiches in Florence is the quickest transport to heaven you can find in the city, and my favorite spot to get one at is Antica Porchetteria Granieri 1916.

Florence Leather Market

The Florence Leather Market is a staple in the city. You can buy handbags, wallets, suitcases, and jackets at an affordable rate, and yes, they are all real leather. I managed to haggle down a leather handbag to 40 euros from almost 80 euros, however, note that was back in 2019. On my most recent visit to Florence in 2025, I was able to haggle a leather jacket from 250 euros down to 200 euros. It was worth every penny.

Sunset Food Tour with Devour Tours

If you only have one true day in Florence, or honestly, even if you have several, this sunset food tour with Devour Tours through Oltrarno is an absolute must. Oltrarno is far from the tourist herds and where you’ll find plenty of legit local eateries. In just a few short hours, you can expect to try things like bruschetta with pomodoro or tartufo, drink plenty of Chianti Classico (aka the quintessential wine from Tuscany), Bistecca alla Fiorentina (steak), pasta, potatoes, bread, gelato, and even try a famous Florence wine window. As a solo traveler, I especially love signing up for tours like these because I meet so many cool people, and my time with Devour Tours was not only a great time socially, but a delicious one at that.

• Sign up here.

Grab a Negroni at Caffé Giacosa

After your food tour, you’re bound to be stuffed, but you’ll want to make some room for a night cap. Florence is home to the Negroni, and its rightful birthplace is at Caffé Giacosa. The bar is absolutely stunning and is the perfect way to wrap up your day in Florence. While ordering a Negroni makes perfect sense here, if you’re not a fan of the bitter concoction, have no fear: they have a great wine and spirits selection and the bartenders are some of the best in the city.

Optional: Where to stay

Should you want to go beyond your day in Florence and stay a while, here are some great options as to where to stay:

• $: Il Grillo di Firenze, B&B Monte Oliveto
• $$: Torre di Bellosguardo*, Hotel Cosmopolitan, Hotel Botticelli,
• $$$: The St. Regis Florence, Rocco Forte Hotel Savoy, Four Seasons Hotel Firenze

*I stayed at Torre di Bellosguardo and would HIGHLY recommend this spot. You can walk to the city center in about 20 minutes, but it’s perched high above in the Tuscan hills, giving you peace and quiet at the end of busy Florentine days. Plus, catching a cab to get back should you choose to stay out late is easy as ever at one of the city’s many taxi stands. The building itself dates back to 1200, and part of its charm is the essence of feeling like you’re stepping back in time. The in-room breakfast every morning certainly didn’t hurt!

Best Day Trips Out Of Florence

One of the reasons I fell in love with Florence the first time I visited back in 2017 was because of what a good hub it is. Florence is, in my humble opinion, the best city to base yourself in for ample day trips, such as:

• Chianti winery tour
• Pisa, Siena, and Chianti day trip all in one
• Half-day Pisa tour
• Cinque Terre day tour (please note, I did this tour and felt it was extremely rushed, but if you really want to go to Cinque Terre and this is your only time to do so, go for it!)
• Vespa tour through Tuscany with food and wine

DISCLAIMER: I might make a small commission from some of the links throughout this article, but the price is the same for you. This helps keep my business running so I can continue to provide free travel tips!

DISCLAIMER II: Devour Tours sponsored part of this post, and Torre di Bellosguardo hosted me for three nights.