3 perfect days in Florence

With the tremendous amount of history and art in Florence, you’ll have no trouble filling up three days in this amazing city. In fact, there’s so much to see and do that UNESCO listed the entire city center as a world heritage site. Florence is one of only a handful of cities around the world to get this kind of designation. With so many must-do things it might seem tough to fit it all in, but here is how you can see the best of Florence in three days.

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Day 1 – The day of David, Michelangelo, and Galleries  

Start your tour of Florence with the city’s best-known statue, if not the best known in the entire world, Michelangelo’s David. Housed in the Galleria Dell’ Accademia, the statue draws hundreds of thousands of people every year. Allow enough time to take in all of the statue’s amazing detail. Also in the gallery are more works by Michelangelo and other famous Renaissance painters.

Take a short break from the art and enjoy another thing that Italians are known for, gelato! On your way to the Uffizi Gallery, make a stop at Gelateria Dei Neri for a sweet treat to keep you going. The stracciatella is never a bad choice!

Next stop on your artistic tour of Florence is the Uffizi Gallery regarded as one of Italy’s top museums. The gallery is famous around the world for its large collection of Renaissance masterpieces. It’s best to book in advance because the ticket line can be out of the door during peak months.

A view from Piazzale Michelangelo at sunset | Flickr CC: Mikel

The final Michelangelo inspired stop of the day is to the Piazzale Michelangelo for the best view of Florence. From atop the hill, you’ll have panoramic views of the entire city and beyond. Also in the center of the Piazzale is a bronze cast replica of the David statue looking out toward the city of Florence below.

After a long day exploring the masterpieces of the city, head to Moyo resturant for the Italian version of happy hour. Moyo is well known for their aperitivo, a light snack served after work hours along with drinks. How aperitivo works is you purchase a cocktail (8-10 Euros) during set hours and it comes with a complimentary buffet of food. Moyo is located back across the bridge close to Uffizi Gallery and Gelateria Dei Neri.

The colorful Duomo in the early morning | Photo courtesy of GettingStamped.com

Day 2 – Walking Highlights

Start your second day in Florence with a little exercise by climbing to the top of the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore. Beat the crowds and head to this magnificent church first thing in the morning. From the top of the cupola, you get some of the best views of the city. On your way back down, make sure to check out the impressive interior of the church. Don’t miss the monument to the early astronomer’s calendar based on the pattern the sun made on the floor in the church.

The famous Ponte Vecchio | Flickr CC: Kim

Next up is the city’s most celebrated landmark, the Ponte Vecchio, or literally translated, the Old Bridge. The earliest record of the bridge dates back to the 10th century. This landmark is more than just a means of crossing the Arno River, it’s a retail center as well. Inside the covered arch of the bridge are many vendors, mostly jewelers, selling their wares as they have for centuries.

Another draw to Florence is the shopping. There’s everything from traditional markets like the San Lorenzo to high-end fashion. The San Lorenzo Market is a great place for souvenirs with hundreds of stalls selling everything from leather goods to pottery. There is also a large portion of the market dedicated to ready-to-eat food. You could easily spend a few hours browsing and wandering around the many tables of goods.

If it’s high-end designer shopping you’re after, Florence has you covered as well. All the top names from Italy and around Europe have a storefront here in the city. Via Tornabuoni is the prime designer shopping area in town; the majority of shops are here. If you’re looking for designer brands for less, check out Barberino Designer Outlet outside the city.

After a busy day exploring the city, or to take a break from shopping, stop at All’Antico Vinaio and grab a Florentine sandwich. A favorite among both tourists and locals, they serve up some delicious sandwiches out of a tiny shop with only a few tables. The sandwiches are big and a good value at 5 Euros. Here you can also relax with nice wines by the glass or a bottle enjoyed street side (and sometimes curbside when they are really busy).

Wine not go for a wine tasting while in Florence? | Photo courtesy of GettingStamped.com

Day3 – The Food of Florence 

Okay, you’ve seen most of the sights the first two days in Florence, let’s eat! A great way to explore some of the great culinary traditions of the region is to actually cook. Sign up for a cooking class and learn from a master how to cook a Florentine dish like pappa al pomodoro, ribollita, or lasagne al forno. Whatever you decide to cook, it will definitely be tasty and will likely end with cantuccini, an almond biscuit that is dipped in a sweet dessert wine.

No visit to this region (or any other part of Italy for that matter) is complete without a wine tasting. Florence’s close proximity to Tuscan vineyards means the wine is going to be nothing short of amazing. Whether you’re a novice or a self-proclaimed wine snob, sitting down with a local sommelier is the best way to learn about the wines including the region and what makes them special (and you get to drink a lot of really good wine).

Looking for your next stop? The leaning tower of Pisais a short 1.5 hours away by train. This and several other easy day trips can be had from Florence including day tours of Tuscany.

Tagged: Europe, Italy