Traveling through Italy and looking for the perfect 3-day itinerary for Florence? Three days might not seem like enough time to see the birthplace of the Renaissance in all its beauty, but it’s not an impossible feat.
With only 72 hours to work with, you’ll need to plan your Florence, Italy, itinerary carefully. This three-day Florence travel guide covers some of the best tours, detours, and suggested food and gelato stops to help you plan the perfect Florentine vacation.
Including everything from the top sights like the Uffizi Gallery to lesser-known spots like the Stibbert Museum, here is your guide to spending three days in Florence.
Top Sights in Florence – Unmissable Attractions
If you only have three days to see the best of Florence, you don’t want to miss any of these top sights when planning your itinerary.
Uffizi Gallery
Topping the list of best museums in Florence, the Uffizi Gallery houses one of the most impressive collections of art in Italy. You’ll find everything from ancient sculptures to paintings dating back to the Middle Ages. The museum features artists like Giotto, Raffaello, Leonardo da Vinci, and Michelangelo. Notable artworks include Caravaggio’s Medusa and the Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli.
READ: Our guide to buying tickets and tours for the Uffizi Gallery.
Pitti Palace & Boboli Gardens
No 3-day Florence itinerary is complete without the Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens. The palace is named after the original owner, a Florentine banker named Luca Pitti, who built the palace in the mid-1400s. After that, the palace passed through the hands of the Medici and the Habsburg-Lorraine and Savoy dynasties.
TIP: You can get 5% off all LivTours with the discount code UntoldItaly.
The result is a magnificent property beautified and enhanced with art collections, fantastic furniture, and decor over the centuries. The palace today is divided into five different galleries, each offering a unique look into the past.
Behind the palace, the Giardini di Bobolo showcases beautiful fountains, statues, and grottos. There’s also an 18th-century Rococo-style pavilion, which stands out among the Florentine architecture.
Ponte Vecchio
As the name (“Old Bridge”) suggests, the Ponte Vecchio is the oldest bridge in Florence and crosses the Arno River. The structure you’ll see today was built in 1345 and was predated by a smaller bridge that collapsed due to flooding. It’s not only the oldest bridge in Florence but also the only bridge in the city that survived World War II.
Accademia Gallery
The main draw to this small art museum is the magnificent white marble sculpture of David by Michelangelo. The Accademia Gallery is home to the largest collection of Michelangelo sculptures but also features Renaissance art by other famous Italian artists.
These include paintings by Domenico Ghirlandaio, Botticelli, and Alessandro Allori. The Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze also houses the Musical Instrument Museum, which displays all sorts of classical instruments and delves into the invention of the piano, credited to Bartolomeo Cristofori.
TICKETS AND TOURS: A detailed guide to Accademia ticketing options
Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
Also known as the Duomo or Cathedral of Florence, this cathedral complex is one of the best-known attractions in Florence. The Duomo complex consists of the Cathedral, Giotto’s Bell Tower, and a baptistry.
The dome was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi and is visible from various points in the city. You can easily spend an hour just climbing and admiring Brunelleschi’s Dome, with the rest of the attractions around Piazza del Duomo requiring even more time. So you’ll want to budget at least 2-3 hours to visit this Florence icon.
Santa Croce Basilica
The Santa Croce Basilica is the world’s largest Franciscan church and has 16 chapels featuring frescoes by Giotto. The basilica was completed in 1442 and houses a range of tombs, cenotaphs, and funerary monuments of some of the most influential Florentines. Two of the most important tombs are those of Galileo Galilei and Niccolò Machiavelli.
Palazzo Vecchio & Piazza della Signoria
The Palazzo Vecchio (“Old Palace”) is one of the most important government properties in Florence and one of the city’s best-known landmarks. Built between 1299 and 1314, the palace was initially named “Palazzo della Signoria.” It sits on one of the most significant squares in Florence, Piazza della Signoria.
In the square, you’ll find a replica of Michelangelo’s David sculpture — an excellent free sight if you’re visiting Florence on a budget.
FIND: The Best Tours in Florence – Top Guided Experiences to enjoy the city highlights.
Santa Maria Novella Church
This Dominican church is a must-see attraction in Florence. With its beautiful mid-14th century facade, completed by Leon Battista Alberti, and interiors decorated by some of the greatest Renaissance artists, it’s a visual masterpiece. The Santa Maria Novella Church houses works like Masaccio’s Holy Trinity, a crucifix by Giotto, and incredible frescoes by Domenico Ghirlandaio.
Another highlight of visiting this basilica is the Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy behind it, which is one of the oldest in Europe. It dates back to 1221 when Dominican friars would use herbs from the convent garden for illnesses and ail