3-Day Florence Itinerary: How to Plan the Perfect Visit
- Sierra Busch
- 2 days ago
- 9 min read
This comprehensive Florence itinerary for 3 days covers hidden gems, local tips, and a day-by-day guide to make the most of your visit to the Renaissance capital. Whether you're seeking artistic masterpieces, authentic Tuscan cuisine, or meaningful connections with locals, our Florence itinerary balances must-see highlights with off-the-beaten-path experiences that reveal the true spirit of this magnificent city.
In this article:
Why is this Florence Itinerary Important?
Florence demands more than a rushed weekend visit. This carefully crafted Florence itinerary for 3 days allows you to experience the city like a local while ensuring you don't miss the artistic treasures that make Florence legendary. Unlike typical tourist itineraries that leave you feeling exhausted and overwhelmed, our Florence Italy itinerary combines strategic timing with authentic experiences that create lasting memories.
What makes this Florence itinerary different from others you'll find online? We've designed it around three key principles that transform your visit from ordinary sightseeing into meaningful cultural immersion. First, our Florence itinerary strategically balances world-famous highlights with hidden gems that most tourists never discover.
Second, we've timed each activity to avoid peak crowds, allowing you to experience Florence's masterpieces in relative tranquility. Finally, we've woven local culture throughout each day, from artisan workshops to dinner parties with Florentine families.
At Creative Edge Travel, we believe that meaningful travel experiences come from connecting with people and places beyond the typical tourist trail. This Florence itinerary for 3 days reflects our philosophy of traveling deeper, moving slower, and creating authentic connections that transform your understanding of Italian culture.
Learn more about our Florence Immersion experiences you can add to your self-planned itinerary!
How to Make the Most of Your Visit to Florence: Key Strategies
Making the most of your Florence itinerary requires thoughtful planning and strategic timing. The key to a successful Florence itinerary lies in understanding when to visit major attractions, where to stay for the best local experience, and how to balance structured activities with spontaneous discoveries.
Organize your days to see highlights at less crowded times. Our biggest tip in our Florence itinerary is visiting major attractions early in the morning, during lunch time, or at last entry. While other tourists sleep in or linger over long lunches, you'll have intimate encounters with Michelangelo's David and walk across the Ponte Vecchio without fighting crowds for the perfect photo.
Stay close enough to main attractions but in a quieter area with a more local vibe. For your Florence itinerary, we recommend the Oltrarno district as the perfect base. This charming neighborhood puts you within walking distance of major sights while immersing you in authentic Florentine life. You'll wake up to the sounds of local artisans opening their workshops rather than tour buses rumbling past your window.
Build in flexibility and breaks so you don't feel like you're on such a tight schedule to squeeze it all in. The most successful travelers following this Florence itinerary understand that meaningful experiences can't be rushed. We've intentionally built rest periods into each day, allowing time for spontaneous discoveries and unhurried appreciation of Florence's beauty.
Keep a list of options for your free time so you can choose what sounds good in the moment rather than overscheduling. This Florence itinerary includes flexible time slots where you can choose between visiting a lesser-known museum, browsing local markets, or simply enjoying an espresso while watching Florentine life unfold around you.
3-Day Florence Itinerary Overview
Day 1 Itinerary Overview:
Ponte Vecchio
Uffizi Gallery
Early Lunch
Michelangelo’s David
Free Time (Leather market or visit the Medici Chapel)
Rest at the B&B
Dinner
Day 2 Itinerary Overview:
Duomo Complex
Antique Market
Lunch at Sant’Ambrogio Market
Rest/Free Time
Bardini Gardens
Wander the Oltrarno Neighborhood
Dinner in/near Piazza Santo Spirito
Day 3 Itinerary Overview:
Free Morning
Lunch
Artisan Walking Tour
Afternoon Rest
Florence Itinerary: Day by Day
Florence Itinerary: Day 1
Morning: Ponte Vecchio and Uffizi Museum
Start your first morning in Florence with a leisurely walk across the iconic Ponte Vecchio. If you sleep in, you’ll be crossing the bridge like a sardine in a can, so you want to hit this bridge early in the morning or after 8pm. The medieval stone bridge, lined with jewelry shops that have sparkled here for centuries, tell stories of Florence's mercantile past.
From the bridge, you'll make your way to the Uffizi Museum. By arriving at opening hours, you'll sidestep the crushing crowds that descend later in the day. Highlights here are Botticelli's "Birth of Venus" and masterpieces by Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Raphael.
Don’t make the mistake of visiting the Uffizi Gallery without a guide… and don’t think the audio guide will cut it, either. Trust us when we say this– either go with a guide who can emotionally connect you with the cultural importance of the artworks and reveal hidden symbolism, or don’t go at all. If art and history are not your thing, you don’t need to force yourself just because it’s on the top lists. Do a food tour, visit a garden, or head to one of the lesser-known museums instead! It’s YOUR trip, so choose what truly excites you most.
Midday: Unwind over a Tuscan Lunch
After the artistic immersion you’ll have an early lunch. Choose a small osteria or trattoria near the museum, where lunch is not just a meal but a ritual. Fresh pasta perhaps—maybe pappardelle pasta with wild boar ragu, or a delicate ribollita soup that speaks of generations of home cooking. Take your time, savor each bite, let the meal be a pause in your day's exploration. While you’re finishing off the last sips of wine after your meal, pull out your journal to capture what you see or note what stood out from your morning at the Uffizi Gallery. Afterwards, head to MySugar Gelato for the most delicious ice cream, including both classic and creative flavors such as black sesame, yuzu, or chai. But our personal favorites are pistacchio and salted caramel!
Afternoon: Michelangelo’s David
Strategic timing brings you to the Accademia Gallery during the traditional Italian lunch hours. While most tourists are seated in restaurants, you'll have a more intimate encounter with Michelangelo's David. The museum is small– it should only take you about 1 hour to visit. Take your time, circling the statue, appreciating the raw human emotion carved into marble.
Late Afternoon: Local Exploration
The leather market and streets around San Lorenzo beckon. Just a stone’s throw from the Accademia Gallery, you can browse the market stalls of the leather market and have some fun haggling for the best prices. Be sure to check for quality! It should be supple, have slight imperfections like scars or blemishes, and smell earthy– not chemical. Other streets in the area offer handmade books and stationary, liqueurs and food goods, and olive wood products. If shopping isn’t your thing, you could opt to visit the Medici Chapel instead—a marble testament to the family that shaped Renaissance Florence. Its intricate details and sculptures by Michelangelo offer a quiet moment of reflection.
Evening: Rest and Relaxation
As the afternoon light softens, return to your B&B for a moment of rest before dinner. Alternatively, head to La Ménagère—part café, part restaurant, part flower shop—for an aperitivo. Sip a spritz, nibble on local antipasti, and watch the day's light fade over the historic streets. You could also grab dinner here early so that you can get a good night’s sleep after a busy day. Otherwise, head out later to one of Florence’s delicious trattorias or grab a focaccia stuffed with sliced meats, cheese, and delicious spreads and head to Piazzale Michelangelo for a view over the city as the sun sets. (This is a popular activity so it’s best during Fall, Winter, or Spring.)
Florence Itinerary - Day 2:
Morning: Visit the Iconic Duomo
Start Day 2 of your Florence itinerary with the magnificent Duomo complex, where you'll explore Brunelleschi's extraordinary dome, marvel at the intricate facade, and step inside to absorb centuries of artistic and architectural brilliance. Optional but highly recommended is the additional visit inside the baptistry (the smaller building just in front of the cathedral). It’s a quick add-on and the gold mosaic ceilings are truly mesmerizing. While you can buy tickets at the entrance of the cathedral, it’s recommended to buy them in advance to avoid long lines.
Entry Details
Cathedral Visit: Free entry, expect lines during peak season
Dome Climb: Requires a separate ticket. Buy in advance (limited daily tickets).
Combination Tickets: Purchase online to save time. Covers cathedral, dome, baptistery, & bell tower.
Click here for more information about tickets.
Late Morning: Experience a Florentine Antique Market
From the grandeur of the Duomo, you'll wind your way to the Ciompi Antiquariato, a charming antique market that feels like a treasure trove of Florentine memories. Here you'll discover vintage jewelry, aged books, delicate ceramics, and curious artifacts that whisper stories of generations past. Each item seems to hold a piece of Florence's intricate history, inviting you to pause and imagine the lives these objects have touched.
If you don’t see the antique market in Piazza dei Ciompi, try Mercato delle Pulci just around the corner as well as Largo Pietro Annigoni.
Lunch at Sant’Ambrogio Market
Lunch at a local market is not to be missed on your Florence itinerary, and we’re recommending a market where you’ll certainly rub elbows with locals more than tourists. Head to lunch a bit before your stomach begins to rumble– eating in Sant'Ambrogio Market can require patience! Unlike the more famous Mercato Centrale, this market pulses with authentic Florentine life. Farmers display just-picked produce, local cheese makers offer samples of pecorino, and the air buzzes with Italian conversations. You'll enjoy a simple, sublime lunch—perhaps fresh bread, local cheeses, perhaps a slice of pizza or a seasonal vegetable dish—surrounded by the genuine rhythm of local life.
Afternoon Espresso
This afternoon, take time to soak up Florentine cafe culture, allowing you to absorb the morning's experiences. Perhaps you'll retreat to a small café, sip an espresso, write in a journal, or simply watch the city's movement.
Afternoon Walk in Bardini Gardens
As late afternoon approaches, the Bardini Gardens become your sanctuary. Less crowded than the famous Boboli Gardens, this green space offers breathtaking views of Florence. Baroque stairs wind through terraced landscapes, ancient statues stand among blooming roses, and the city spreads out below like a Renaissance painting. The gardens offer a peaceful respite, a moment to appreciate the beauty and history of Florence.
Wander the Oltrarno Neighborhood
After enjoying the garden, it’s time to slip into the evening by wandering the Oltrarno district, a neighborhood that feels like Florence's living room. You'll admire the imposing Palazzo Pitti from the outside, imagining the Medici family's former splendor. As the light softens and takes on that golden Tuscan quality, you'll make your way to Piazza Santo Spirito. This vibrant square comes alive in the evening, with locals gathering in casual restaurants and wine bars. Dinner here becomes an experience—perhaps at a small trattoria where the menu changes daily, where wine comes in simple carafes, and where the traditions of Florentine cuisine are celebrated in every bite.
You will surely be ready to rest after such a wonderful and full itinerary in Florence today. But if you get a second wind, stick around to see the piazza come to life after dinner hours or head to the Ponte Santa Trinita bridge to admire the Ponte Vecchio lit up at night!
Florence Itinerary - Day 3:
Free Morning
Enjoy an unplanned morning free to get some extra rest, enjoy a slow breakfast and perhaps hit a site or lesser-known museum on your list. We recommend Palazzo Davanzati or Stibbert Museum. These intimate museums provide breathing room to appreciate art and history without the crowds that fill the Uffizi and Accademia.
Lunch
Enjoy a relaxed lunch at a local trattoria, perhaps in a neighborhood away from the main squares, where you can savor authentic Tuscan flavors and gather energy for the afternoon's explorations. Otherwise, for something affordable and quick, we highly recommend trying stuffed schiacciata bread at Panini Toscani. It’s stuffed with your choices of delicious cured meats, grilled veggies, local cheese, and one of their amazing spreads!
Artisan Walking Tour
In the afternoon, immerse yourself in Florence's rich artisanal traditions with our exclusive Artisan Walking Tour, where you'll meet skilled craftspeople continuing centuries-old traditions in their workshops—stone inlay artists to master goldsmiths and leather artisans creating bespoke shoes and bags using time-honored techniques. This intimate experience opens doors to workshops typically hidden from tourists and offers direct connections with the artisans themselves.
Afternoon Rest
Return to your accommodation for a well-deserved rest, allowing time to reflect on the craftsmanship you've witnessed and perhaps admire any treasures you've acquired from the artisans.
Dinner Party with Locals
End your Florence itinerary on a high note with a special, immersive dinner with locals! A driver will pick you up from your B&B and head into the hills above the city where our good friends Lucia and Maurizio welcome you at their Tuscan cottage. They’ll give you a tour of their property to see the panoramic view over Florence and the surrounding olive groves, sharing the unique history of their cottage. Then, you’ll linger over an aperitivo with prosecco and snacks while you get to know each other. Don’t overdo it on the snacks though, because they’ve prepared a delicious and abundant, multi-course meal that will be served with both local wine and warm laughter and stories! This is a rare and authentic peek into a real Tuscan family’s life, an experience exclusive just to Creative Edge Travel!
Looking for more guidance on planning your Italian adventure?
Check out our Custom Travel Planning services to learn how to work with Creative Edge Travel to make the most of your time in Florence (and beyond) and add those unique cultural experiences that are hard to find on your own!