1Museum
Galleria dell’Accademia
Michelangelo’s David rewards a slow look from several angles, with other sculptures giving context to the finished figure. Start with a reserved entry so the rest of the morning remains flexible.
3-day itinerary · Italy
3 Days in Florence
Three days with Florence’s great art given room to breathe: the cathedral and northern centre, the Uffizi and river, then gardens and viewpoints across the Arno. The Duomo’s neighbouring monuments are treated as one visit, with the big gallery moved to another day.
- 3days
- 11sights
- 2.7 kmon foot between sights
Updated 11 September 2026 · 2 official sources checked · report an error
The plan at a glance
The cathedral, Renaissance art and the Oltrarno
The Accademia and cathedral form the first day, the Uffizi anchors the second, and the south-bank palace, gardens and viewpoints have the third. Choose which parts of the Duomo complex to visit so the afternoon stays manageable. Reserve the major visits before travelling and rearrange whole days to fit museum calendars.
Day 1David and the cathedral quarterGalleria dell’Accademia · Florence Cathedral complex · Basilica of San Lorenzo3 sights · 790 m on foot
Day 2The Uffizi, Santa Croce and the ArnoUffizi Gallery · Piazza della Signoria · Basilica of Santa Croce · Ponte Vecchio4 sights · 1.5 km on foot
Day 3Palaces, gardens and the city from abovePitti Palace · Boboli Gardens · San Miniato al Monte · Piazzale Michelangelo4 sights · 400 m on foot
At a glance
Ways to use these days
Day 1
David and the cathedral quarter
Start with a reserved Accademia visit, continue to the cathedral complex, then finish with San Lorenzo and the streets around the market. Choose which parts of the Duomo to enter rather than trying every monument.
- 3 sights
- 790 m on foot
- Longest walk 460 m
Morning
Midday
LunchFind lunch in the streets between the Accademia and the cathedral. Leave a buffer before any booked dome entry.
Afternoon
460 m · about 7 min on foot
2Cathedral
Florence Cathedral complex
The cathedral, baptistery and surrounding monuments form the centre of Florence’s religious history. Choose a manageable combination within the complex; a dome climb should replace some of the museum time rather than simply being added.
330 m · about 5 min on foot
3Church
Basilica of San Lorenzo
A restrained Renaissance interior offers a quieter counterpoint to the Duomo. This stop is for the basilica; the Medici Chapels and Laurentian Library are separate visits with their own arrangements.
Evening
DinnerEat around San Lorenzo. If you climbed the dome, use the evening for a quiet meal rather than another climb.
Day 2
The Uffizi, Santa Croce and the Arno
Give the Uffizi its own morning. After lunch, look around Piazza della Signoria, visit Santa Croce, then walk to the Arno and finish at Ponte Vecchio.
- 4 sights
- 1.5 km on foot
- Longest walk 770 m
Morning
1Museum
Uffizi Gallery
Paintings by Botticelli and other Renaissance artists fill the former administrative offices beside the Arno. Choose a focused sequence of rooms and leave space for looking, rather than planning a second large museum immediately afterward.
Midday
LunchTake lunch in the lanes between Piazza della Signoria and Santa Croce, keeping the afternoon on the eastern side of the centre.
Afternoon
160 m · about 2 min on foot
2Square
Piazza della Signoria
Sculpture, the town hall and an open loggia turn this civic square into an outdoor introduction to Florentine power. The David here is a copy; the original belongs to the Accademia visit.
590 m · about 9 min on foot
3Church
Basilica of Santa Croce
Tombs, chapels and frescoes bring together Florence’s artistic and civic memory in a large Franciscan church. Give the interior time, then pause in the square before returning toward the river.
770 m · about 12 min on foot
4Bridge
Ponte Vecchio
Shops line the medieval bridge across the Arno, with an open central section offering river views. Look back at its buildings from the nearby embankment as well as walking across it.
Evening
DinnerCross into the Oltrarno for dinner or stay on the riverside. The bridge is an outdoor finish, so it does not add another museum deadline.
Day 3
Palaces, gardens and the city from above
Start at Pitti Palace and make a modest circuit of Boboli after lunch. Use transport for the climb to San Miniato and descend to Piazzale Michelangelo.
- 4 sights
- 400 m on foot
- Longest walk 390 m
Morning
1Palace and museum
Pitti Palace
The broad façade leads to rooms filled with paintings and courtly decoration on the south side of the Arno. Choose the collections you most want to see; this timing is not enough for every museum in the palace.
Midday
LunchEat near Piazza Pitti before entering the gardens; check re-entry arrangements before leaving any ticketed venue.
Afternoon
Right next door
2Garden
Boboli Gardens
Paths climb behind Pitti Palace through terraces, sculpture and shaded areas. The garden is hilly and larger than it appears from the entrance, so keep the circuit modest before the evening viewpoints.
Use a local bus connection or taxi from the Oltrarno toward San Miniato/Piazzale Michelangelo; allow about 30–45 minutes including waiting and the final uphill walk. Check current services with Autolinee Toscane. The map’s walking link does not represent this transfer.
3Church
San Miniato al Monte
Above Piazzale Michelangelo, a Romanesque church offers patterned marble, a quiet interior and views from the surrounding terrace. Visit before the lower viewpoint so you are descending toward the end of the day.
Evening
DinnerReturn downhill for dinner in the Oltrarno. Check your return route before dark if you plan to stay at the viewpoint for sunset.
390 m · about 6 min on foot
4Viewpoint
Piazzale Michelangelo
A broad terrace looks back across the Arno to the cathedral and the roofs of the centre. It is especially busy toward sunset, so leave enough time to enjoy the view without depending on a clear railing.
Before you go
Good to know in Florence
Tickets and bookings
- The cathedral itself is free. The other Duomo monuments require the appropriate pass; the dome’s entry time is the slot selected when purchasing a Brunelleschi Pass.Source: Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore · checked Sep 2026
- The Uffizi normally closes on Mondays. Arrange its day around the published calendar and check special openings separately.Source: Uffizi Galleries · checked Sep 2026
Choosing a museum ticket
- The Uffizi’s five-day combined ticket covers the Uffizi, Pitti Palace and Boboli. The Uffizi is the first museum to visit under that ticket, so the order of days two and three matters if you choose it.Source: Uffizi Galleries · checked Sep 2026
The gardens and viewpoints
- Check the Uffizi Galleries’ current notices before the garden day: weather alerts or works can affect access. Avoid building the day around an assumed opening of every garden or palace room.Source: Uffizi Galleries · checked Sep 2026
Questions
3 days in Florence: quick answers
Is 3 days enough for Florence?
Three full days cover the main cathedral and art visits plus the south bank. A fourth day lets you add the Medici Chapels, San Marco or the Bardini gardens without rushing.
Does the Duomo stop include every monument?
No. The time allowance is for a chosen combination. Decide between a dome climb and a longer museum-focused visit, and add time if you want every part of the complex.
Can I visit the Uffizi on Monday?
It normally closes on Mondays. Swap whole days after checking the official calendar; special openings should be verified for your date.
Is all of Florence walkable?
The historic centre is compact, but Boboli and the viewpoints are hilly. This itinerary uses a transport leg to the upper viewpoint area rather than counting that climb as a short flat walk.
Where should I stay?
The centre between Santa Maria Novella, San Lorenzo and the Duomo makes the first two mornings straightforward. The Oltrarno is convenient for the final day and evenings south of the river.
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