Only have time to explore Florence for one day and want to see the most beautiful sights?
Then you’re in the right place.
We’ll show you how you can see the highlights of Tuscany’s capital with our carefully crafted Florence in a day itinerary.
Florence In One Day – The Most Beautiful Attractions
So you decided to travel to Florence and only have one day to explore one of the best cities in Italy?
Florence offers many sights, so we’ve picked out the best highlights you can visit in one day.
Below, we’ll show you the absolute must-see attractions that you shouldn’t miss during a tour of Florence if you’re limited on time.
We’ve also linked the entry tickets right here.
Attractions in Florence are often fully booked, and you can spend much time in queues.
Therefore, you should order your tickets in advance.
Top Highlights In Florence:
1. The Uffizi Gallery – Skip-the-line ticket – current price and availability
2. Interactive Leonardo da Vinci Museum – Museum ticket – current price and availability
3. Michelangelo’s David – Ticket for the Accademia Gallery – current price and availability
4. Sunset Arno River Cruise – Ticket for the river cruise – current price and availability
Best Area To Stay And Accommodation In Florence
As you only have one day to spend in Florence we recommend you book a hotel or accommodation in the city center.
For those planning an overnight stay or arriving early, here are some top-rated accommodations:
- 🏨 The St. Regis Florence: Located beside the Arno River, featuring luxurious rooms with historic decor. Check prices and availability
- 🏨 Hotel Rapallo: Comfortable and conveniently located within walking distance from major attractions. Check prices and availability
- 🏨 Flor in Florence B&B: Offers a charming Italian breakfast and easy access to the city’s highlights. Check prices and availability
Getting To Florence
The best approach to visiting Florence is flying directly into Florence airport.
Alternatively, flights to Rome, followed by a train ride to Florence offer a scenic route, allowing you to enjoy Tuscany’s landscape.
- Flights and Trains: Find the best deals on Omio
- Car Rentals: Discover the most affordable options at Discovercars
- Bus Tickets: Book directly with Flixbus
One Day In Florence Itinerary: These Are The Absolute Highlights
Since the attractions of the Tuscan capital are close together, Florence can be discovered on foot.
The city tour passes by the absolute highlights.
These are quite close to each other, and some of them are among the best things to see in Italy.
At the end of the article, you will find a map of the city’s best highlights.
You can download it directly to your smartphone.
Those arriving by train or from the airport should start from the Florence train station.
The city tour for one day in Florence starts here and leads to the first attraction after a short walk:
1. Michelangelo’s David In The Accademia Gallery
The famous sculpture of David is located in the Accademia Gallery and is one of the top 3 attractions in Florence.
The tickets for the Galleria dell’Accademia are also very popular, and if you want to see Michelangelo’s David, you should get tickets in advance.
In addition to the David, the Accademia Gallery also houses paintings by Giotto, Michelangelo, and Masaccio.
SKIP-THE-LINE TICKET FOR THE GALLERIA DELL’ACCADEMIA
2. Interactive Leonardo Da Vinci Museum
If you have an hour to spare, visit the interactive Leonardo Museum.
We enjoyed the interactive museum during our visit immensely.
It’s located at Via de Servi, 66/r. and is on the way to the Cathedral.
TICKETS FOR THE INTERACTIVE LEONARDO DA VINCI MUSEUM
More than 50 working machines based on Leonardo da Vinci’s drawings are set up here.
You can try some of them out. Additionally, there is a small “lab” where bridges and domes can be reconstructed.
Several works by Leonardo da Vinci are also displayed here, and there is information about his life.
⭐ Travel Tip: You can also find a similar museum in Milan.
If you're a fan of Leonardo da Vinci's work, we recommend you add Milan to your travel itinerary, because you can visit the Last Supper in Milan.
3. Florence Cathedral – Santa Maria Del Fiore Cathedral
The Florence Cathedral is mainly known for the impressive dome by Brunelleschi.
This dome dates back to the 15th century and has an incredible diameter of about 148 feet (45 meters).
The dome alone is over 328 feet (100 meters) high.
Additionally, the Florence Cathedral is one of the largest churches in the world.
Not only from the inside but also from the outside, the cathedral is an impressive sight.
Those with a ticket that includes access to the dome can also enjoy the highest view of the city.
Inside the cathedral are frescos by Vasari and Zuccari, and you can visit the Crypt of Santa Reparata.
Also, a pre-booked ticket includes access to Giotto’s Campanile Tower and the Cathedral Museum.
TICKETS FOR THE FLORENCE CATHEDRAL TOUR WITH ACCESS TO THE DOME
The Florence in a day walking tour continues from the cathedral.
The next stop is Piazza della Signoria.
4. Piazza Della Signoria With The Neptune Fountain
The Piazza della Signoria with the beautiful Neptune Fountain invites you to take a break and let your gaze wander from one of the cafes or restaurants overlooking the busy square.
However, prices here are higher than on less busy side streets.
At the edge of the Piazza della Signoria is the Loggia dei Lanzi.
In this covered, open gallery, various sculptures are located.
You can visit them for free before heading to the next attractions in the center of Florence.
5. Palazzo Vecchio
Next to the entrance to the Palazzo Vecchio stands a replica of Michelangelo’s David.
Previously, the original figure was here, which is now in the Accademia Gallery.
In the courtyard of the Palazzo Vecchio, the frescos on the wall are a highlight, as they depict selected Austrian cities.
Additionally, the ornate columns and the bronze statue “Putto with Dolphin,” located in the middle of the courtyard, are worth seeing.
You can visit this courtyard in the Palazzo Vecchio free of charge.
The Palazzo Vecchio (Old Palace) itself is a Gothic building that rises almost 328 feet (100 meters) into the sky and was completed around 1314.
PALAZZO VECCHIO TICKET: ENTRY WITH ACCESS TO THE TOWER
6. Uffizi Gallery – Galleria Degli Uffizi
In 1560, Prince Cosimo I commissioned an administrative building (Uffizi), which later became the famous Uffizi Gallery, one of the reasons why to visit Italy.
His son Francesco had workshops and studios for artists set up on the top floor of the administrative building and had the octagonal Sala della Tribuna built.
This room/salon is still one of the most important rooms in the Galleria degli Uffizi.
Later, more and more rooms were used for the museum.
Today, there are about 80 rooms where paintings and artworks, weapons, and busts are displayed.
Some of the most famous works in the Uffizi Gallery are Botticelli’s Venus, Lippi’s Madonna representations, and works and sculptures by Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.
The Uffizi Gallery, along with the Accademia Gallery, is the most visited and famous building in Florence, and the queues for tickets can be quite long.
Therefore, it is best to book Florence Uffizi tickets online in advance.
SKIP-THE-LINE UFFIZI FLORENCE TICKETS
👀 Tip: There is a beautiful view of the Palazzo Vecchio and the Florence Cathedral from the café on the top floor.
You can also see the Ponte Vecchio from the Galleria degli Uffizi.
7. Ponte Vecchio
The Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) is now one of the landmarks of Florence.
The bridge is located near the Uffizi Gallery and is one of the oldest segmental arch bridges in the world.
On the bridge, there are shops, and it doesn’t feel like you are crossing a bridge.
Only in the middle of the Ponte Vecchio can you get a direct view of the Arno River.
From the Ponte Vecchio, you continue on foot to the next attraction in Florence:
8. Palazzo Pitti
The Palazzo Pitti can be reached from the old town via the Ponte Vecchio and is located on the left bank of the Arno River.
The Palazzo Pitti houses six different collections and the beautifully landscaped Boboli Gardens.
The collections include the
Galleria d’Arte Moderna (modern Tuscan art),
Galleria del Costume (costume history),
Galleria Palatina and Appartamenti Monumentali (splendor of the Tuscan Medici princely family),
Museo degli Argenti (silver museum), and the Museo delle Porcellane (works of European porcelain manufacturers).
TICKET FOR PALAZZO PITTI SKIP-THE-LINE
9. Boboli Gardens (Giardino di Boboli)
The Boboli Gardens are located behind the Palazzo Pitti and form an extensive park.
Here you will find sculptures, several grottoes, and fountains.
The Giardino di Boboli was laid out in the 16th century and was expanded over time.
Many of the statues date back to the 16th century.
Behind the Palazzo Pitti, there is an arena. It is worth strolling through the Boboli Gardens and admiring the beautiful ponds, sculptures, and grottos.
From the Giardino di Boboli, you head to the last stop of the city tour:
10. Piazzale Michelangelo
The final stop for a day in Florence is Piazzale Michelangelo.
From this elevated square, you get one of the best views over Florence, the city on the Arno River.
The square is dedicated to the famous artist Michelangelo Buonarroti.
Here, you will find the second replica of David and other replicas of some of his famous works.
The walking tour for one day in Florence ends at Piazzale Michelangelo.
If this Florence 1 day itinerary is not enough for you, you can explore Florence at night:
⭐ Tip: Explore Florence at night during a guided tour.
Florence Itinerary Map With The Best Attractions
You can save this map directly on your smartphone and start your city tour of Florence:
⭐ Pro Travel Tip: If you're short on time, and want to see the best of Florence, join an guided tour including the highlights and entry to the best attractions.
The city tour takes place in a group and passes by the most important attractions.
In addition, you will explore insider tips and learn interesting facts about the city.
If you prefer a guided city tour, we recommend this one.
Final Thoughts About The Florence 1 Day Itinerary
While it’s generally better to reserve more time for a city, you can still see the most important sights in Florence in one day with our carefully crafted itinerary.
Florence is one of the best cities to visit in Italy for first-timers.
The city feels like an open-air museum, and you can discover many attractions in just one day.
However, we recommend planning at least one to two visits to places like the Uffizi and the Cathedral or to see David at the Galleria Accademia, as these are what make Florence truly Florence.
⭐ Plan your Florence trip with our Florence travel guide.
🇮🇹 Enjoy your stay even more with one of our favorite day trips from Florence to Tuscany.
🍷 Want to see more of Tuscany? Don’t miss out on the best small towns in Tuscany
❓Not sure how many days in Florence you should add to your itinerary? We help you decide based on your interests and share the best itineraries with you.
What do you think? Is Florence worth visiting?
