3-Day Florence Itinerary: The Plan That Covers It All

Florence is compact, but its impact is enormous. With three days, you can slow down just enough to feel the rhythm of local life—espresso bars at dawn, bell towers at sunset, and Renaissance art sandwiched between pasta and wine. You’ll cover the essentials without rushing, and still have time for that extra gelato you weren’t planning on.  Here’s your 3-day Florence itinerary, expertly mapped out by locals.

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All Florence Itineraries

Getting There & Around 

• Closest airports: Florence (FLR), Pisa (PSA), Rome Fiumicino (FCO)
  

• Main train station: Firenze Santa Maria Novella (SMN) — right in the city center
  

• Getting around: Walk everywhere; Florence’s historic core is small and made for wandering
  

💡 Pro tip: Stay near Piazza della Repubblica or in Santo Spirito for easy access to sights and great local dining

Day 1 – Domes, Markets, and Florentine Flavors 

☕ 8:00 AM – Coffee at Caffè Rivoire 

📍 Piazza della Signoria

Start your trip with a classic espresso at this historic café, once favored by Florentine elites. Sit outside and soak in views of Palazzo Vecchio while locals rush past. 

🕐 9:00 AM – Inside Florence’s Cathedral (Duomo) 

👉 Book Florence Duomo Skip the Line Tour 

Skip the long lines and step inside Florence’s Gothic masterpiece with a local guide. You’ll explore the cathedral’s rich interior without the wait and hear the story of how it once symbolized an entire republic. 

Brunelleschi’s dome was so ambitious, many thought it would collapse before it was ever finished. 

INTERESSANTE FACT: The dome was built without scaffolding using an ancient Roman technique that remained a secret until modern times. 

🍽️ 12:00 PM – Lunch at Il Latini 

📍 Via dei Palchetti, 6R

Communal tables, house wine from the jug, and a daily menu scrawled by hand. It’s old-school, loud, and unforgettable. 

👉 More places to eat near the Duomo

🕐 2:00 PM – Stroll Piazza della Repubblica and Via de’ Tornabuoni 

From Florence’s former Roman forum to its glitziest shopping street, this walk blends ancient history with designer storefronts and Belle Époque cafés. 

🍽️ 5:30 PM – Florentine Steak and Tuscan Wine 

👉 Book Florence Steak Dinner and Walking Food Tour


Spend your evening tasting your way through Florence—from lampredotto and truffle crostini to bistecca alla Fiorentina and Tuscan wine. Led by a local guide, it’s dinner, history, and street life rolled into one. 

One food stop on this tour has been run by the same family since the 1960s. 

INTERESSANTE FACT: Florentine steak isn’t just dinner—it’s an identity. The tradition dates back to Medici-era public feasts where entire oxen were grilled in the piazza.

Day 2 – Statues, Stories, and Self-Guided Masterpieces 

☕ 8:00 AM – Coffee at Caffè Paszkowski 

📍 Piazza della Repubblica, 6 

A historic literary café with chandeliers and tuxedoed waiters. Grab a cappuccino at the bar or splurge for a seat under the arcade. 

🕐 9:00 AM – Michelangelo’s David and Florence’s Historic Center 

👉 Book Florence Walking Tour with Michelangelo’s David 

Start your day at the Accademia to see Michelangelo’s David, then explore the city’s layered history with a local guide—from ancient streets to Renaissance facades. 


One early critic called the David “too perfect”—as if it made the rest of us look bad. 

INTERESSANTE FACT: The marble used for David sat untouched for 40 years before Michelangelo carved it. Several artists had refused to touch it, believing it was too flawed. 

🍽️ 12:00 PM – Lunch at Cibrèo Trattoria 

📍 Via dei Macci, 122R 

Inventive takes on Tuscan classics in a cozy, slow-paced setting. Think chicken liver crostini, but elevated. 

👉 More great restaurants near the Accademia Gallery in Florence

🕐 2:00 PM – Self-Guided Visit to the Uffizi Gallery (Optional) 

If you didn’t visit on Day 1, now’s the time. Download an audio guide or walk through solo—Botticelli’s Birth of Venus hits different when you’re not being herded past it. 

🕐 4:30 PM – Browse Local Shops in the Oltrarno District 

This side of the Arno is where real Florentines shop. Peek into artisan leather studios, bookbinders, paper marblers, and vintage boutiques along Via Maggio and Via dei Serragli. 

🍷 6:00 PM – Aperitivo at Angel Roofbar & Dining 

📍 Via dei Brunelleschi, 11 (Hotel Calimala) 

A panoramic terrace above Piazza della Repubblica with rooftop cocktails and golden-hour light bouncing off the city’s stone and terracotta. 

🍽️ 8:00 PM – Dinner at Buca dell’Orafo 

📍 Via dei Girolami, 28R

Understated, traditional, and right near the Ponte Vecchio. Handmade pasta, veal stew, and zero gimmicks. 

👉 More places to eat near the Duomo

Day 3 – Vineyards, Hill Towns, and Tuscan Wine 

☕ 8:00 AM – Coffee at Caffè Libertà 

📍 Piazza della Libertà, 4 

Start the day away from the tourist crush at this airy, retro café just north of the city center. Known for cornetti and strong coffee in porcelain cups. 

🕐 9:00 AM – Wine, Siena, and San Gimignano 

👉 Book Chianti Wine Tour from Florence 

Leave the city behind for a full-day Tuscan escape. You’ll visit a historic winery in the Chianti hills, explore the medieval towers of San Gimignano, and wander the shell-shaped piazza of Siena. Includes tastings, a traditional lunch, and plenty of scenic countryside. 

At one point in the tour, you’ll be sipping Chianti in a vineyard older than the U.S. Constitution. 

INTERESSANTE FACT: San Gimignano once had 72 towers built by feuding noble families. Today, 13 remain—earning it the nickname “Medieval Manhattan.” 

🍽️ 1:00 PM – Lunch at a Local Winery (Included) 

Sit down for a classic Tuscan lunch with housemade pasta, local olive oil, and Chianti poured freely—often served under a pergola with a view of the vines. 

🕐 5:00 PM – Return to Florence + Hotel Refresh 

Take a moment to unwind before your final Florentine evening. 

🍷 6:30 PM – Aperitivo at View on Art Rooftop Cocktail Bar 

📍 Via dei Medici, 6 

Cocktails with a front-row view of the Duomo. Come just before sunset—this spot gets golden light that makes the rooftops glow. 

🍽️ 8:00 PM – Dinner at Regina Bistecca 

📍 Via Ricasoli, 6

Upscale but relaxed, this steakhouse just steps from the Accademia serves high-end versions of Tuscan classics. Their bistecca alla Fiorentina is carved tableside. 

Best Time to Visit Florence 

The best months are April to June and September to October. Expect warm weather, fewer crowds, and golden sunsets that make every piazza feel like a painting. July and August are scorching—Florentines leave, and tourists melt. 

How Much Does 3 Days in Florence Cost? 

• Budget traveler: €180–€250 total 
  

• Mid-range traveler: €350–€500 total 
  

• Luxury traveler: €700+ total 

💡 Keep a few extra euros for aperitivo rounds, museum tickets, or that leather wallet you swore you didn’t need. 

What You’ll Leave With 

• A new understanding of how much one city shaped the world 

• A deeper appreciation for food that doesn’t need to try too hard 

• The certainty that three days in Florence isn’t nearly enough 
  

INTERESSANTE FACT: Florence invented the modern banking system, cultivated the Renaissance, and produced more art per square meter than any other city in Europe. You’ll feel that history in every stone, meal, and bell tower.