Florence 3-Day Essentials

Activities

1. 08:30 Duomo + Brunelleschi's Dome climb (463 steps) 3 hours

   1296-1436 cathedral with Brunelleschi's revolutionary 41m brick dome. Combined ticket includes Dome + Bell Tower + Baptistery + Crypt + Museum (valid 3 days).

   Cost: $30 / €28 TIP: Pre-book mandatory at duomo.firenze.it. Dome climb 463 narrow stairs — not for claustrophobic. 8 AM opening for clean photos.
2. 12:00 Lunch — Trattoria Mario (1953, cash only, lunch only) 1.5 hours

   70+ year heritage trattoria — Bistecca alla Fiorentina at value prices ($20-30/person vs $50-100 elsewhere). Behind San Lorenzo Mercato Centrale.

   Cost: €20-30 ($22-32) TIP: NO reservations — queue 11:30-14:30. CASH ONLY. Shared tables. Closed Sundays.
3. 14:00 Uffizi Gallery (Botticelli + Da Vinci + Michelangelo) 3 hours

   Medici family collection. Botticelli's Birth of Venus + Primavera (Rooms 10-14), Caravaggio's Medusa, Da Vinci's Annunciation, Michelangelo's Doni Tondo.

   Cost: €37 ($40) skip-the-line TIP: Pre-book mandatory at uffizi.it 2-4 weeks ahead. Audio guide €5. Closed Mondays.
4. 17:30 Ponte Vecchio + Piazza della Signoria 1.5 hours

   Ponte Vecchio (1345, jewelry shops since 16C, free) + Piazza della Signoria (Palazzo Vecchio, Loggia dei Lanzi sculptures, David replica). Iconic sunset photo location.

   Cost: Free TIP: Ponte Vecchio sunset is the canonical photo. The Vasari Corridor above currently closed for renovation.
5. 19:00 Aperitivo — Caffè Gilli (1733) or Procacci (1885) 1 hour

   Caffè Gilli (Piazza della Repubblica, 290+ years) or Procacci (Tornabuoni, 140+ years, truffle panini + Antinori wines).

   Cost: €10-20 ($11-22) TIP: Stand at the counter to save €3-5/person on terrace seating. Aperitivo 6-8 PM canonical.
6. 20:30 Dinner — Trattoria Sostanza (1869, cash only) 2 hours

   155+ year heritage — Petti di Pollo al Burro (butter chicken signature) + Bistecca alla Fiorentina + Tortino di Carciofi.

   Cost: €30-50 ($32-55) TIP: Book 1+ week ahead. CASH ONLY. Two sittings 19:30 + 21:00. Closed Sun-Mon.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 09:00 Accademia Gallery (Michelangelo's David) 1.5 hours

   Michelangelo's original 5.17m David (1504). Smaller museum than Uffizi but the canonical Renaissance sculpture experience.

   Cost: €19 ($20) skip-the-line TIP: Pre-book at galleria-accademia.it 1-2 weeks ahead. David at the end of corridor. Photography allowed (no flash).
2. 11:00 San Lorenzo + Mercato Centrale lunch 2 hours

   Mercato Centrale (1874) ground floor (Nerbone Lampredotto $5) + upper floor food hall (30+ vendors). The canonical Florentine market lunch.

   Cost: €10-25 ($11-28) TIP: Nerbone Lampredotto $5 is the bucket-list. Cash + card on upper floor.
3. 13:30 Pitti Palace + Boboli Gardens (Oltrarno) 3 hours

   Medici palace + 45-hectare Renaissance garden across the Arno. 5 museums (Palatine Gallery's Raphael collection is the highlight) + baroque garden.

   Cost: €20 ($22) combined TIP: Boboli is one of Italy's earliest formal gardens. Combined Pitti + Boboli ticket. Walk back via Ponte Santa Trinita for the canonical Arno view.
4. 17:30 Piazzale Michelangelo (sunset) 1.5 hours

   Florence's iconic sunset viewpoint — Duomo + Ponte Vecchio + Arno + city skyline 360°. 25-min uphill walk or bus 12/13.

   Cost: Free TIP: Sunset is the canonical visit. Bring picnic + Chianti for full local experience. San Miniato al Monte church above is also worth visiting.
5. 19:30 Dinner — Buca dell'Orafo (1945) or Cibreo (1979) 2.5 hours

   Buca dell'Orafo (1945, near Ponte Vecchio, $45-90) for Bistecca + truffle pasta or Cibreo (1979, Sant'Ambrogio, Michelin-recommended, $70-180).

   Cost: €40-150 ($45-165) TIP: Book 1+ week ahead. Cibreo Trattoria (casual version) is the value option.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 10:00 Santa Croce Basilica + Leather School 2.5 hours

   1294 Franciscan basilica — Galileo, Michelangelo, Machiavelli buried here. Adjacent Santa Croce Leather School (1950) for canonical Florentine leather shopping.

   Cost: €8 ($9) basilica TIP: Leather School free demonstrations. Wallets + bags + jackets at workshop prices. Closed Sunday mornings.
2. 12:30 Lunch — All'Antico Vinaio (1991) 1 hour

   Italy's most-iconic + most-Instagrammed panino sandwich. Foot-long Schiacciata flatbread with cold cuts + cheese + truffle. €5-8 ($7-10). 30 min queue.

   Cost: €5-10 ($7-12) TIP: 4 locations on Via dei Neri (65r, 76r, 83r, 74r) — try shortest queue. Eat standing outside.
3. 13:30 Vivoli Gelato (1930) 30 min

   Florence's oldest + most-iconic gelato (90+ years, 4th generation Vivoli family). The Riso (rice) gelato is unique to Vivoli.

   Cost: €4-8 ($5-10) TIP: Cash + card. Limited daily quantities — go before 5 PM for full menu. Closed Mondays.
4. 14:30 Oltrarno + Santo Spirito + artisan workshops 2.5 hours

   Bohemian artisan quarter across the Arno. Santo Spirito Basilica (Brunelleschi 1428, free) + leather workshops + galleries + small restaurants.

   Cost: Free TIP: Santo Spirito Square's evening atmosphere is the go-to. Friday Fierucola farmers' market (April-October).
5. 17:30 Baptistery + Duomo Square + final views 1.5 hours

   Baptistery (11C, gold mosaic ceiling) + Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise + final Duomo square circumnavigation.

   Cost: Included in combined Duomo ticket TIP: Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise (Gates by Lorenzo Ghiberti, 1425-1452) is the canonical photo.
6. 19:30 Farewell dinner — Enoteca Pinchiorri (★★★) or Borgo San Jacopo (★) 3 hours

   Enoteca Pinchiorri (★★★ Florence's only 3-star, $275-550) or Borgo San Jacopo (★ Lungarno Hotel, Ponte Vecchio view, $110-220).

   Cost: €100-500 ($110-550) TIP: Book 1-2 months ahead. Jacket required. Card accepted.

Meal Recommendations