A local’s guide to visit Florence in 24 hours!
Florence is a small city with one amazing feature: its train station is on the high-speed railway line. Of course this beautiful city has a lot to offer, but if you end up having a limited amount of time to visit Italy, 24 hours can be enough here.
This guide will provide you with both the must-see attractions, the less popular ones and a suggested itinerary for the day… And, as an italian, I couldn’t forget some food reccomendations of course!
Learn how to make the most out of your time in Florence or use my suggestions to get inspired and plan a longer visit.
How to get around
Florence is a pretty small city, that locals tend to explore by foot or by bike. The city centre is very compact and you can easily wander its different neighborhoods without any kind of public transportation. But, because maybe the weather is bad or you want to speed things up, here’s some advice on how to use buses and trams to get around.
All means of transportation have recently been integrated with a “tapping” system: in order to purchase your tickets, you can use your card, your phone or your smartwatch. On the bus/tram you will find a paying machine, that will turn green if the payment was successful; and if a ticket inspector comes to check, they will simply need to scan your card or whatever you used for the purchase.
Depending on the color of the bus line (you can find it on Google Maps/Apple or at the bus stop), you will need to tap once or twice:
– Jade green = Urban > here you can simply tap once you board the bus > you only need to tap again if you change line, but you will only be charged once!
– Blue/Purple/Orange = Suburban/Mixed tickets > here you will have to tap once you board the bus, every time you change line AND before getting off the bus – remember to do so, otherwise the highest price will be charged!
As for the trams, they work exactly like the urban lines, so no need to “tap out” when reaching your destination.
Main art museums
These definitely aren’t great options for such a short visit, but I couldn’t talk about Florence without mentioning them. If you are an art enthusiast, you should definitely plan for a visit that includes at least one of these unique art museums.
The Accademia Gallery is famous for one main thing: The David. I don’t think that a more perfect statue exists in the world… but, in Piazza della Signoria you can find an exact copy of the famous one and it’s open to the public! In the same square you can also find the Loggia dei Lanzi, an open-air museum that grants you free access to some incredible sculptures – I would say this is a great option when on a time crunch!
As for the Uffizi, unfortunately I don’t have any alternative… My best advice is to book ahead of time and remember that both this museum and the Accademia are closed on Mondays! Pitti Palace is specifically for art-enthusiasts. It is found in the Boboli Gardens, which are bookable separately for a fair price (you can find more details in “Other attractions”).
A cool thing to mention is the Corridoio Vasariano, built by Giorgio Vasari in 1565. It connects Palazzo Vecchio, the current City Hall, to Pitti Palace: this used to be a secret passageway for the royals to escape their residence, cross the river and get back to Piazza della Signoria safely.
After being closed for almost 10 years, they finally finished construction and it is now possible to visit it! The ticket includes access to the Uffizi, so it is definitely worth the price.
Popular attractions… And better options
Let’s move away from art: here’s a list of monuments in Florence that will make anyone fall in love with the city.
The most famous one, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. The complex includes the Cathedral, Giotto’s Bell Tower, a Museum, a Baptistery, the church’s crypt and the very special Brunelleschi Dome. You can visit all of this with the “Brunelleschi Pass” for a total of €30 (3 days lenght)! It’s a bargain, and it is possible to do the Dome, the church and the Tower in just a morning if you will… the only thing stopping you are the 700ish steps to get to the top.
The Dome is truly the jewel of the square: but if you are going to St. Peter in Rome, my honest advice is to skip it. In that case, I would suggest opting for the “Giotto Pass”, which costs €20 and includes everything but the Dome. If you are not interested neither in the bell tower or the Dome, be aware that access to the cathedral is actually FREE: you will not be able to explore the very interesting crypt, and it might take you forever during high-season, but it is an option.
In any case, make sure to go to Piazza del Duomo and at least see the complex from the outside – it’ll be the best thing you have ever seen!
During high season (May-September) make sure to book in advance! Especially for the Dome, since space is limited and it’s the main attraction of the city. You can find the tickets here:
You definitely have heard of this one: Piazzale Michelangelo has become the most famous lookout over Florence, especially thanks to the instagram-perfect pictures you can get from here. It is easily reacheable by bus, but the walk up there is also pretty cool. It gets crowded at night, so my advice is to go here during the day.
The square is found in the Oltrarno area (“over the river Arno”), which is very hilly compared to the city center, so all the lookouts are here. I personally think that there are better places than Piazzale Michelangelo, but it is FREE, so it’s definitely a great option.
What I would suggest doing, especially if you prefer to avoid crowds, is to visit the Boboli Gardens, which are extremely beautiful in the spring/summer. Not only will you get the chance to get lost in nature and get away from the city buzz for a bit, but you will also get access to Villa Bardini, where one of the best lookouts over Florence is found. The ticket for both attractions costs €6.
The Chapels of the Medici family are found right next to the train station, as part of Saint Lawrence Basilica. They represent a special chance to see Michelangelo’s artwork and to learn more about the Medici family, who ruled over the city and Tuscany for over 300 years.
The entrance costs €9, unless you are eager to discover Michelangelo’s Secret Room – this recently discovered space is where the artist hid in 1530 and contains some of his practice sketches from that time. The full-price ticket to get access costs €32.
Lesser known monuments
If you travel around Tuscany, you will see many churches that resemble Santa Maria del Fiore: the three main colors of the marble (red, green and white of course) were extremely popular in the 14th century and many artists opted for a similar style.
Santa Croce is a great example of this, and not only does it host famous paintings from artists like Vasari and Cimabue, but it also used to be a cloister. The visit doesn’t take too long but it’s definitely a great introduction to this beautiful part of the city, named after the basilica for a reason.
A great option to get an amazing view over Florence is Arnolfo’s Tower. When it comes to height, it is just second to Brunelleschi’s Dome, sitting at 310 ft. The defensive tower is part of Palazzo Vecchio: “the Old Palace” is Florence’s city hall and can also be visited. Not a lot of people are aware of this possibility, so usually this is easier to book (only €12.50) and less crowded. I suggest it as a great alternative to both Giotto’s bell tower and the Dome, since those two are more expensive and require early booking.
Leonardo Da Vinci is talked about all over Italy: I don’t even know how many museums dedicated to him there are. Despite the most important being in Milan, Florence does a good job at introducing this phenomenal scientist and artist. If you are interested in physics and want to see some of Leonardo’s models, this is the perfect spot for you. The museum is also less popular, so it’s good for a last-minute booking.
Another spot that doesn’t receive a lot of attention: the “Spedale degli Innocenti“. This hospital is the oldest home for abandoned children in Europe, building designed by Brunelleschi, displaying art and history. It is located near the Accademia Gallery, therefore easily reacheable from the city center. Entrance costs €9. Finally, if your focus is mainly Michelangelo, this is the place for you! Learn more about the artist, check out some of his artwork as well as his sketches. The musem even contains an archeological section, created by some members of the Buonarroti family throughout the years.
The most important thing: food options
If you are not sure of what you want to eat, check out one of Florence’s markets! Here you will find tons of options, from a low to a high budget, including typical and non-typical food. Here’s my top picks: Mercato Centrale and Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio!
One of the best traditional dishes to try in Florence is the “Fiorentina steak“: usually a 1.5kg beast, that is shared among friends, eaten with sides such as roasted potatoes, onions and spinach. You will find this in various restaurants, but here’s the best ones in my opinion: Trattoria la Gratella, Ristorante Buca Mario, Manzo Firenze, …
I’m sure you have heard of “risotto” before, but have you ever heard of a place that only serves that? Melotti is a big chain, with a location even in New York, serving several types of amazing risotto and other rice-based stuff: the beer, the bread, the dessert… There is rice everywhere.
Check out Borgo San Jacopo, on the other side of the river, for some of the best osterias/trattorias: these are usually family-owned restaurants, serving traditional food and wine at low prices!
Walking outside of the city center will save you from the tourist traps.
Here’s a great option: Osteria Cinghiale Bianco, …
Florence is a very modern city – there are specialized restaurants also for vegetarian and vegan eaters. This is a great place for a lighter meal, found in the San Marco neighborhood: Il Vegetariano.
Let’s end the food section with the most important thing: gelato.
I have long-searched for the best gelateria in the city and this has exceeded all my expectations, becoming one of my all time favorites.
Fair prices, no long queues of tourists and tons of flavours to choose from: Carabè.
Suggested day-itinerary
This is what I would do if I wanted to both explore the city and actually visit some of the monuments:
1. We’ll start this itinerary from the train station of Firenze SMN
2. Head through the square right in front of the station, down Via Panzani, right past the Santa Maria Novella Basilica: the square behind it is particularly beautiful!
3. Walk down Via dei Bianchi until you meet Santa Maria del Fiore: you can’t miss it. Head in for a visit of the church, the Dome and maybe the rest of the monuments in the square.
4. Once you are done with your visit, head down Via Roma to take a look at Piazza della Repubblica before ending up in Piazza della Signoria!
INSIDER TIP: before turning towards the square, you will pass the famous “Boar Market” (clearly recognizable by the bronze boar statue) – there you can find a typical kiosk serving “lampredotto” sandwiches (cattle stomach), which is a must-try if it’s lunch time!
5. Walk past Palazzo Vecchio towards Piazzale degli Uffizi, trying to recognize the famous literates represented along the way. You will have now reached the Lungarno: walk along the river and go check out famous Ponte Vecchio!
6. Head to Palazzo Pitti and go visit Boboli Garden if you’d like: remember that the ticket also includes Villa Bardini, where you can get unique views over the city.
7. Take bus no.23 to the San Marco neighborhood: go get ice-cream at Carabé or go have dinner at Mercato Centrale, before heading back to the train station in time for your train.
In case you don’t want to enter any monuments:
3.1. Walk past Santa Maria Novella and head towards Ponte alla Carraia to cross the Arno river right away: you are going to explore Oltrarno first things first.
4.1. Go through Borgo S.Jacopo, past Ponte Vecchio, staying along the river: head up to Piazzale Michelangelo by foot or by taking a bus.
5.1. Walk down and cross Ponte alle Grazie, from there you can start exploring the Santa Croce neighborhood, maybe stopping for food at the Market of Sant’Ambrogio mentioned earlier.
6.1. Head downtown, first to Piazza della Signoria and then to Santa Maria del Fiore. Get lost in the small streets of the city center, for example Via dei Servi
7.1. Lastly, visit the San Marco neighborhood and finish the day with a Fiorentina steak to forget about how much you walked today.
Beyond Florence
Tuscany has so much to offer: from mountains, to vineyards and historical cities, there is a lot to see and to do. If you have more than a day in Florence, here’s the day-trips I would suggest taking… as well as the ones I don’t think are worth your time.
Pisa – unlike what many people might say, I do not think that Pisa is worth a visit. Maybe on the way to somewhere else, but it is very hard finding enough to do here for a whole day. The Leaning Tower is very cool to visit, as well as the Duomo, but it has now become simply an overcrowded spot for people to take pictures at. On a day trip to Florence from somewhere else, it is impossible to include it.
Lucca – the city of Lucca is a great option if you want to forget about busy streets and crowded attractions. The ancient city walls that used to protect the city have now become a beautiful path, that you can either walk or bike on. Torre Guinigi is a must-see here.
Fiesole – this little town is so close that you could even opt to walk here! Apart from great views over Florence, this ancient roman settlement offers super interesting historical artifacts… as well as great food ( go try Vinandro if you end up here!).
Siena – a little bit further away, this medieval city is a perfect day-destination, very walkable and interesting both to history-geeks and art-enthusiasts.
Final suggestion I have for you – If you are a slow-travel lover and you would like to hike in Tuscany, you could consider either the “Via Francigena” or the “Cammino di San Jacopo“. The former crosses the region from north to south, heading towards Rome, while the latter goes from east to west, connecting Florence to the city of Livorno.
If you are interested in planning your itinerary together, don’t hesitate to contact me! I hope this guide was helpful in planning your trip or inspiring you to travel more.