My Itinerary For 3 Magical Days In Florence

You’re embarking on an Italian adventure! How exciting! But wait! Where to go and what to see? When you only have 3 days in Florence to explore, it can be nerve-racking to narrow down just how to spend your precious time. Fear of missing out is a real thing, and further intensified when you don’t know when or if you will have the opportunity to come back. Time is of the essence and you need the perfect 3 day Florence itinerary!

After a TON of research, I narrowed down the “must sees” and left some time and flexibility to shift things if needed, as with “real life” travel you sometimes do. Everything worked out beautifully and I’m excited to share my itinerary for 3 magical days in Florence, Italy!

DAY 1

This was our arrival day and we got in at 12pm from our train ride from Rome.  Not to waste a minute, we settled in briefly and headed out to explore. This is the order we went in, but you can switch up the days. We wanted to avoid the Duomo’s Sunday crowds, so went on our second day. You can switch around the days to fit you travel needs!

Piazza della Signoria

The Piazza della Signoria is the most popular square in Florence. This open air museum features beautiful sculptures. This was one of my favorite places in Florence. Among many famous statue replicas, they have a replica of Michelangelo’s statue of David if you aren’t able to see the real one at the Accademia Gallery.

This area is also where the famous Uffizi Gallery is located. We were intoxicated by all of Florence’s outdoor sights and lights and weren’t quite ready to take it inside yet. So went back on the third day.

You will find lots of shops and restaurants in this area. As you are walking around exploring, you absolutely must grab a sandwich at the famous All’antico Vinaio. This is gourmet street food and quite possibly the best sandwich I have ever had. With no clue what to order, I asked for what was most popular and that was the best choice!

You will see three store front entrances for All’antico Vinaio. The first is for eating on the go, the second has limited seating, and the third is for catering and to-go orders. The lines may look long but they go fast. So don’t be deterred. This place is a MUST! You’ll thank me later!

Ponte Vecchio

The Ponte Vecchio is a can’t miss when you’re in Florence. We had so much fun walking the Ponte Vecchio and then walking across the way to Ponte Santa Trinita to get photos of the historical Ponte Vecchio.

The Leather Market

The Leather Market (Mercato di San Lorenzo) has great shopping! Don’t be afraid to barter! There is a lot to look at and this is a fun and high energy place. Don’t forget to visit the Mercato del Porcellino, which is a bronze fountain of a boar. Rub the snout for good luck!

DAY 2

Duomo

The Duomo is also known as Florence Cathedral and the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Flower (Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.)

When you visit the acclaimed Duomo you are visiting the Piazza del Duomo, which means plaza or the city square of the Duomo.

Your Duomo visit will include:

Giotti’s Bell Tower, the Baptistery of San Giovanni, the Cupola del San Brunelleschi, the Crypt, and the Museo dell’Opera del Duom0 (Museum of the Works of the Cathedral.) Tickets to the Cupola del San Brunelleschi, which is the top of the dome, are a separate purchase. Expect to spend several hours, or half a day at these sights.

This is a crowded place and there will be lines. Be sure to buy your tickets several days, or even weeks, early if you want to climb to the top of the dome. Because of the time and the lines we decided to climb the Bell tower instead in order to get photos of the Duomo. Let me tell you, I am so glad we did because the view was AMAZING! We also were able to take in the incredible view of the Basilica di Santa Croce. WOW is all I can say. The photos are beautiful, but to see these sights in person is truly spectacular.

Piazza della Repubblica

The Piazza della Republica was originally the city’s forum. You’ll know you’ve found it when you see the triumphal arch known as the Arcone. You will find lots of restaurants, shopping, and street artists here! This is also where you will find the Giubbe Rosse Cafe, which was a popular meeting place for many famous writer’s and artists. There is so much history here!

DAY 3

Piazzale Michelangiolo

This famous viewpoint deserves it’s reputation. This viewpoint offers stunning panoramic views. This is a great place to start your day! Be aware the crowds can be extra heavy during sunrise and sunset. This is a popular place for the locals as well!

From Piazzale Michelangelio, we walked to Boboli Gardens. It was a good 15-20 minute walk through tiny but BEAUTIFUL authentic streets. There are some hills so wear comfy walking shoes. You can also take a taxi if you want to save some energy for all of the walking you will do the rest of your day!

Boboli Gardens 

There are several famous gardens to tour in Florence, but this is a wonderful choice as it is walking distance from Piazzale Michelangiolo, and gives the option to tour Pitti Palace.

Boboli Gardens features fountains, statues, and an amphitheater. You also have an incredible view of Pitti Palace.

Touring the vast grounds I kept thinking how strange it was to be  walking through what used to be someones yard. An insanely fancy yard to say the least, and yes, yard is a giant understatement. But really, families lived there and children would run through the grounds to play. It was interesting to imagine what that would have been like.

Pitti Palace

Pitti Palace was designed by Brunelleschi. This Palace was home to the Medici’s and 3 other dynasties. It now houses several museums and galleries. Pitti Palace’s museums and galleries hold many historically important paintings and statues.

Depending on how much time you have you may have to decide between Pitti Palace and Uffizi Gallery. You can easily spend an entire day at either. We chose to tour the Uffizi Museum, but it was a hard choice. I personally felt like I could not visit Florence and not visit either the Accademia or the Uffizi.

Uffizi Museum

Uffizi Gallery hosts famous works of art and is one of the top destinations in Florence. The museum was at one time home to a lucky Medici. As mentioned before, it is located near the Piazza della Signoria. Hooray, as you will love any opportunity to visit this great area!

La Buchetta Food and Wine Restaurant

Our last night in Florence we ate dinner at La Buchetta Food and Wine Restaurant. I’m including this amazing find as it was one of our favorite meals in all of Italy. It was SO delicious! A super fun addition to the INCREDIBLE food and service is that you can watch your food (and everyone else’s) being prepared on a screen near your table. Make sure to make reservations during peak times and seasons as they are usually full! You cannot go wrong with this place. Order the gnocchi as an appetizer!

Whether your 3 days in Florence is part of your honeymoon or part of a dream vacation, Florence has SO much to offer. For more reasons on why your Italy itinerary needs this amazing city read HERE. You are going to have the best time in this beautiful, historical, Italian gem of a place, and the experience of a lifetime. I hope my itinerary for 3 magical days in Florence is helpful!

Happy travels!