Visiting Florence? I’m so excited for you! Florence, Italy is one of my absolute favorite cities in the world! And what’s not to love? Beautiful architecture, extensive history, and amazing food! Florence is a dream come true, and I could spend forever there – but most people only pass through Florence on their Italy trip, so I’ve put together a list of the best places to visit in Florence in 1 day. And this list may seem like a lot, but I wanted to include things to choose from, although you can totally extend these activities into more days!
Here are the best 11 places to visit in Florence in 1 day:
- The Duomo
- Giotto’s Campanile
- Ponte Vecchio
- Statue of David
- The San Lorenzo Market
- The Central Market
- Boboli Gardens
- Uffizi Gallery
- Piazzale Michelangelo
- Piazza del Duomo
- Day Trip
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How many days should I stay in Florence?
We stayed in Florence for 2 days, but we wish we had more time! Not necessarily to see more things, but to be more relaxed, eat more gelato, and visit the market multiple times!
If you do have the time, consider staying for 3 or 4 days. But if you’re just passing through on a tour then choose your favorites from the list below to plan the perfect one day in this amazing city!
How to Get into Florence
We actually drove into Florence from Venice as part of our Italy road trip and then continued on to stay in the countryside.
I would definitely recommend driving through Italy if you can, there’s nothing like stopping to take photos in the Italian countryside!
But there are other ways to get into Florence, and the train is a great option also!
The Stazione di Santa Maria Novella is the train station is Florence and is only a 10 minute-ish walk from the city Center. This is a great option if you’re not renting a car, as you can still get in and out of most of the major areas in Italy.
How do you get around Florence?
Although we did have a car in Florence, it actually stayed in the parking garage during our time there.
This was for multiple reasons:
- Florence is very walkable – just like I mentioned above, even the train station is only 10 mins from the center of Florence!
- The streets of Florence are very narrow, making it difficult to drive between the buildings.
- The city gets really crowded during the day, making it hard to maneuver around pedestrians
- Parking is super hard to find, probably because no one really drives around Florence 😛
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Places to Visit in Florence in 1 Day
1) The Duomo
The duomo, officially named the Cathedral of Santa
It is such an iconic part of the city, and for good reason – it’s absolutely mesmerizing!
But don’t worry about searching for it, it’s impossible to miss! However, if you want those beautiful photos of the duomo, you’ll need to go early in the morning or after all the other tourists leave in the evening!
This shot was taken at about 7:30 in the morning while everyone was still asleep!
2) Giotto's Campanile
Giotto’s Campanile, or Giotto’s Bell Tower, is actually right behind the duomo and looks as if it’s connected to the cathedral.
However, the bell tower is another building in it’s own right. It’s equally as beautiful and you can actually climb to the top and enjoy the view!
Just be warned, the climb is 414 steps up – and back down, obviously!
3) Ponte Vecchio
The Old Bridge, or Ponte Vecchio, is full of history and was originally constructed in the 900’s AD – that’s over 1000 years old!
And although it has been reconstructed since then, it continues to be one of the most iconic landmarks in Florence – and a favorite place to take a stroll.
If you happen to be there in late afternoon, there are a bunch of little shops and cafes around the bridge to do some shopping and have dinner while watching the sunset!
4) Statue of David
The statue is actually housed in the Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence and is one of the top sights to see while visiting the city!
Just keep in mind that you will need to wait in line for a while if you don’t buy a ticket ahead of time!
We had no idea and actually waited about an hour. So I would definitely recommend buying a pass before your trip and skipping the line. That way you have more time to see the other things on this list – or eat more pasta 😛
5) The San Lorenzo Market
This market actually includes an inside section, as well as an outdoor market.
The indoor market (below) is called the Central Market and the outdoor part is a leather market just outside the doors – although you can find other things for sale also.
But if you are going to shop there, make sure to bring your negotiating skills – that’s how you get the best deals!
For example, Julien got his wallet, made of real Italian leather, for only €12 and I got my braided leather duffel bag for only €40!
It was a hard negotiation, but definitely worth the experience!
6) The Central Market
As I mentioned above, this market is the inside part of the San Lorenzo market.
Mainly you’ll find local food and groceries on the first level, and more restaurant style food on the second level.
When we went it seemed like the upstairs level was catering more towards tourists, and the more “authentic” food was hidden away in little corners on the first floor!
So look around and explore a bit before you decide where to eat – and if you can’t choose, then try a bit of everything – it is Florence, after all, and calories don’t count there! 😛
7) Boboli Gardens
These beautiful gardens are absolutely gorgeous and a must is you want to escape the busy streets of Florence!
Inside the gardens you will find an amphitheater, hundred-year old trees, beautiful views, and multiple paths and tunnels formed by trees. It’s absolutely the best place for a stroll while you’re visiting and a great place to relax!
8) Uffizi Gallery
This gallery is one of the best museums in Florence. It’s home to numerous art works and statues from the Renaissance period and a must-do if you’re into art history.
The building itself is even a site to see and will leave you speechless!
9) Piazzale Michelangelo
The piazza actually sits on top of a hill which makes it the perfect place to capture a view of the entire city!
This area is another place to escape Florence’s busy streets and enjoy your time there.
You’ll find small vendors, places to enjoy the view, and even a coffee shop – but it does fill up with tourists, so try to get there early in the morning, or late afternoon for the most relaxing experience!
10) Piazza del Duomo
The Piazza del duomo is actually the main square where you’ll find the Cathedral of Santa
You’ll also find tons of little shops and restaurants around the square to stop and enjoy people watching – one of our favorite activities!
Day Trips from Florence
One of the things I love most about Florence is it’s location.
From Florence there are so many day trips you can take. Here are a few that are completely worth the drive – or train ride:
- Sienna – about 1 hour 20 minutes driving
- Val d’Orchia – about 2 hours away from Florence driving
- Pisa – about 1 hour and 15 minutes driving
- Venice – about 3 and a half hours driving (maybe better for a weekend trip)
Sienna, Italy
So what do you think?
Time to add these things to do in Florence to your itinerary and get busy eating some pasta!
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Happy travels!
– Veronica
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