Welcome to one of the best Italian cities ! Florence (Firenze in Italian) is one of those places that no matter how many times you visit, it is never enough. This city has it all. Unique architecture, history, river, delicious food and vibrant life are some of the reasons to add it to your Italy itinerary, even as a day trip. In this article, you will find everything you need to know about spending your day in Florence.
Travel Together Gr contains affiliate links. By purchasing through our links, you support us at no additional cost. Thank you for your support ❤︎ Read our full disclosure policy here.
Things to know before visiting Florence
Florence is the definition of Italian charm and style with many gems. During your day, you should focus on visiting the most important sights and leave the rest for the next time. That being said, the Cathedral, Ponte Vecchio and Piazzale Michelangelo are must-sees ! So, you can easily organize a day in Florence visiting only these attractions so that you have time to enjoy your meals, your shopping or anything else. As a popular destination, it is very crowded during the summer months (June to August). Especially in these months, you should be careful with your things, since in the tourist spots there are many picpockets and scammers, which is common in Italy in general.
We also advise you to carry some cash for small expenses, even though in Italy it is mandatory for shops to accept credit card payments. But, we always prefer being well prepared and take the basic precautions. For this reason, since you will be in Florence for one day, we strongly recommend purchasing a digital e-Sim card for your Italian trip to save time and money. Otherwise, depending on the country you are from, you may be charged a lot for using mobile data.
How to get to Florence ?
Since Florence is the capital of the Tuscany region, it is considered one of the main cities of Italy. So, accessing it is quite easy. When you arrive in Italy, you can basically get to Florence from any region, even from Puglia which is a bit far. The most common way to get there is by train or bus. There are daily services from Genoa, Milan, Rome, Venice etc. You can easily book your tickets online below to save time, especially for day trips where time is precious. The main train station for Florence is Santa Maria Novella. Of course, you can fly directly to Florence international airport. But, it is small with limited flight options. The last option to get to Florence is a stop on your road trip. But, we wouldn’t recommend it for a day or 2-day excursion, because it is a waste of your already limited time.
The best time to visit Florence
It is totally depends on your preferences and needs. Since it is a city full of interesting things to do and see, we strongly recommend avoiding the cold and rainy winter weather. You can visit in the shoulder or fall season instead ! This way you will avoid the high summer temperatures and the thousands of tourists. However, you can still enjoy mild temperatures and have sunny days. Obviously if you are on a budget, fall or spring is a goof time to visit, as the prices are better compared to the high prices in summer.
Best things to do in Florence (One Day)
1-Visit Florence Cathedral
Words cannot describe how beautiful this masterpiece is called Duomo di Firenze or Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. Not only its long history, but also the colors, the details make it a pure art. Located in the heart of Florence center, it is the perfect starting point of your day in this glorious city. You should be aware that in the summer months the Duomo as well as the surrounding area gets very crowded after 9 am. If you want to enjoy it with few people around, it is better to take the first train or bus to Florence. Otherwise, you should be prepared for masses of tourists ! However, whenever you visit, you will be amazed by its unique beauty. You are not advised to enter the Cathedral (even the view from above is something else) on your day trip. A great alternative is to take a guided tour to explore all the amazing spots (inside and out). You will have an organized tour and only spend a certain amount of time !
2-Enjoy a coffee or breakfast near Duomo di Firenze
After visiting your first attraction, we can’t recommend having breakfast or enjoying your cappuccino near the Duomo enough. Nothing beats eating your Italian meal or drinking your coffee while admiring this masterpiece ! You will find some cafés and restaurants next to the Cathedral. But, if you want to find a good place, you should either go as early as possible or make a reservation in advance. It was truly worth it and we both agree that this relaxing moment was one of the highlights of our recent trip to Florence.
3-Stroll around Piazza del Duomo
If you love art and history, Piazza del Duomo will be one of your favorite places in Florence. Tourists, booths with paintings and photos, music and of course the Duomo are some of the reasons that this square is so famous and special. Strolling around and feeling this overwhelming ambiance is one of the main things to do in this wondergul city. Trust us, you will feel all the vibes ! You could say it is like straight out of a movie.
4-Explore the historic center of Florence
As you may have already realized, the center of Florence (Centro Storico in Italian) is home to some of the most important monuments in the world ! It is a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. So, getting lost in the city center is like stepping back in time. In this historic district, there are the Cathedral, Uffizi Gallery and the medieval Ponte Vecchio. Walking the cobblestone streets enjoying various restaurants, cafés, shops, galleries etc is a real treat ! That’s why we highly recommend giving yourself plenty of time to explore all these Renaissance masterpieces. In our opinion, it is one of the best things to do only in Italy, but also in Europe.
In addition to these wonderful spots, there are also the Tree of Peace called “Albero Della Pace” in Italian (left photo) and the outdoor sculpture of Ferdinand I on horseback (right photo). Florence combines history and art in an impressive way and the city center is the proof of this perfect combination !
5-Visit the Ponte Vecchio
The Pont Vecchio bridge is one of the most famous places to visit in Florence. It is also one of the oldest bridges in the city with its old colorful houses, shops and stalls. You should visit it as early as possible, since it is a very crowded place ! We highly recommend walking along the banks of the Arno River to get a better view of the Ponte Vecchio, which is also a quieter spot. Florence and Tuscany in general have a great reputation for their wine. So, tasting this Italian wine at Ponte Vecchio is one of the best things you can do there ! Highly recommend if you are a wine lover or want to try something “different”.
6-End your day in Piazzale Michelangelo
Piazzale Michelangelo is the best sunset spot in Florence. It offers a gorgeous panoramic view of the city that blends perfectly with the pastel colors of the sunset. But, this popular square is packed at sunset ! For this reason, you can easily visit it at sunrise for equally beautiful colors. At this time, it will be almost empty even during the summer peak season. If you want to be in time to watch these magical colors, you should know that Piazzale Michelangelo is 30 minutes from Ponte Vecchio and about 45 minutes from the Cathedral on foot. Of course, you can always take an e-bike tour that also includes this unique square. It is a fun activity and a great way to save time !
Other nearby cities to visit
1-Cinque Terre
Cinque Terre is one of the most dreamy destinations in Italy. It means “5 villages” in English that make up this unique Italian place. You can easily visit it as a day trip from Florence for amazing ocean views, romantic walks among old colorful houses and of course beautiful Mediterannean vibes ! But, of course you need at least 48 hours to properly explore these unique villages. Cinque Terre will always have a special place in our hearts. We honestly can’t recommend it enough.
2-Portofino
As Dalida’s well-known song says “I found my love in Portofino”. Words cannot express how beautiful this tiny village is. We can describe it as a little paradise located near Genoa and Cinque Terre. After visiting the latter, you can easily go to Portofino which is the ultimate summer destination. Just keep in mind that it is an expensive destination. So, if you don’t want to spend a lot of money, you can visit it as a day trip from the other places of Liguria (Cinque Terre, La Spezia, Camogli, Genoa).
3-Milan and Lake Como
You should visit Milan and Lake Como at least once in your life. Both are very special Italian places. Milan is a charming city with an overwhelming atmosphere. Instead, Lake Como is a dream destination made up of various small towns like Como, Bellagio, Varenna etc. It will leave you speechless with the beautiful colors, the elegant architecture and the incredible Italian vibes.
As we said before, one of the places you must visit in Lake Como is Bellagio. This little town is the most photogenic place with countless beautiful spots ! If you don’t have much time, we recommend taking a boat cruise there. It is an amazing gift to give to yourself, since you can admire the breathtaking views of Bellagio and Lake Como. It is the best way to have a relaxing day.
Final Thoughts
For us, Florence is one of the best places not only in Italy, but also in Europe. The vibes, architecture, art and history of this city is a whole other world that is truly worth exploring. Due to its location, Florence is also a great base to visit other amazing Italian places. We have already visited three times and can’t wait to go back and discover more of its hidden gems.
Don’t have time to read the whole article and want to save it for later ? Just pin it!
