One Day in Florence
If you’re wondering whether it’s possible to see the best of Florence in a day, I hope this article will convince you. We went on a day trip to Florence during our 10 day trip to Italy because it’s only a short (1.5 hour) train ride from Rome. Florence is a gorgeous Italian city with an immense amount of art to see in several galleries, with Uffizi and Accademia being the main attractions. They also have the fourth largest church in the world - the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. We could have easily found more things to see if we stayed in Florence for a few days but I do think it’s possible to see the main attractions of Florence in one day.
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A Day in Florence one day itinerary - Florence Cathedral
Florence Cathedral
Our first stop after disembarking the train was the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Florence Cathedral). The architecture on this massive church is absolutely stunning from every angle. The details carved into each window and archway are truly awe-inspiring. One thing I love about these gorgeous ancient cities is that they are really compact so it’s only a 10 minute walk from the main train station (Firenze Santa Maria Novella) to the Cathedral. We really only used the train to get between cities then walked everywhere we went in Italy.
A Day in Florence one day itinerary - Florence Cathedral Exterior
Florence Duomo
It’s difficult to describe how massive the Cathedral and its Duomo truly are. It’s definitely one of those landmarks that you have to see in real life to truly appreciate. The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Florence Cathedral) is the fourth largest church in the world after Saint Peter's (Rome), Saint Paul's (London), and the Duomo in Milan (Italy). We didn’t do the Duomo climb but we saw the interior of the Cathedral, which is free to the public. The artwork on the interior of the Cathedral and the inside the dome of the Duomo is really beautiful and I highly recommend you see it for yourself.
A Day in Florence one day itinerary - Giotto's Campanile
Giotto’s Campanile
Giotto's Campanile is a gorgeous free standing bell tower immediately adjacent to the Cathedral. You can climb to the top of the Campanile via a steep and narrow staircase but supposedly it’s an easier climb than going to the top of the Duomo. Get a birds-eye view of Florence for only 18 euro (at the time of this writing). It’s recommended to get there early to avoid the crowds and long queue that forms for the stairs to the top.
A Day in Florence one day itinerary - Palazzo Vecchio Florence Italy
Palazzo Vecchio
Palazzo Vecchio is another must see that you really can’t miss when you’re walking through Florence anyway. With it’s giant clock tower and medieval style, the Palazzo Vecchio is the main feature within the Piazza della Signoria. They were actually filming a movie in the Palace and its courtyard while we were visiting so we couldn’t go inside. The Piazza della Signoria also showcases several impressive stone statues like the one pictured below.
A Day in Florence one day itinerary - Giambologna, Abduction of a Sabine Woman, 1581-83, marble
Florence Italy one day itinerary - Michelangelo, David, 1501-04, marble
Accademia and Uffizi Galleries
The infamous David statue by Michelangelo lives at the Accademia Gallery in Florence. We booked a two part guided tour that took us through both the Accademia Gallery and the Uffizi Gallery. Unless you are already an art expert, I highly recommend booking a guided tour because your tour guide will point out so much about the various paintings and sculptures that you may not ever notice otherwise. I am definitely not an expert so I found it really helpful and entertaining.
A Day in Florence one day itinerary - Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge)
Ponte Vecchio Florence
Of course one of the most iconic features of Florence is the Ponte Vecchio, or Old Bridge. There are many restaurants and shops on the bridge as well as along the Arno river near the bridge. We ate lunch after our tour at Golden View Firenze, which despite being a little touristy was really tasty and we loved that we could see everyone kayaking and swimming in the river. It also has a great view of the Ponte Vecchio.
A Day in Florence - Ponte Vecchio bridge
Best Day Tours in Florence
If you’re short on time sometimes the best option is to book a guided tour. Here are a couple of the best one day tours in Florence:
One Day in Florence
I would love to go back to Florence one day but at least I can say that I’ve seen some of the most important sites that this beautiful city has to offer. If you only have one day to spend in Florence I hope this itinerary helped you!
