Complete Itinerary for an Awesome Week in Florence

This post is more than just a suggestive travel itinerary in Florence. To experience this city to its fullest – you only need to step out into the street. And while you’re walking, watch for the wine windows!

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As one of Italy’s top travel destinations, Florence is so rich with charm and history – it might be overwhelming to know where to begin to create a travel itinerary. We hope our guide for a week’s itinerary in Florence will give you a bit of structure – to help you get started.

Here’s our perfect travel itinerary created for you. If you need a two-day Florence itinerary, we suggest you look at the first two days. But this week’s guide will include the top museums and sites, a day trip to Tuscany, and a few hidden gems you might not know.

DAY 1: Discover the Historic Center

Duomo and Vicinity

Whether this is your first time in Florence or have been visiting for years, there is something special about seeing the Duomo, the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral. We’ve been to Florence many times, and it still strikes me, causing me to pause and take in her geometric white, green, and pink marble beauty.

Stop and look up at Brunelleschi’s dome, the marvel of its structure. If you have the time and the ability to climb, I loved our adventure up the dome in 2010. Of course, I was a lot younger then and I’m happy we did it. It’s not easy, especially the last leg as it narrows and gets very steep, but worth it if you can physically do it. The Dome can only be accessed by booking a slot time, and again no lift is available.

The Bell Tower

The Bell Tower by Giotto looms over the Duomo at nearly 280 feet. It is considered the most eloquent example in the city of 14th-century Gothic architecture. The views are breathtaking after claiming 414 steps. Of course, this is what we’ve heard and seen in photos as we have yet to attempt the climb. It’s important to check times and book accordingly. Here is another reliable website for information.

The Baptistery

Just across from the main entrance to the Duomo, you’ll spot the octagonal Baptistery. This structure is one of the oldest buildings in Florence. It was built between 1059 and 1128 in the Florentine Romanesque style. Stop and admire the famous bronze doors with carved relief panels. The doors that are closest to the Duomo are by Lorenzo Ghiberti and are so beautiful that Michelangelo called them the “Gates of Paradise.” These doors are replicas and the original doors can be found inside the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo di Santa Maria del Fiore. 

Spend Time Walking The City

Florence is easy to walk around and perhaps get a little lost – do it. Around the historic center are several sites you should explore and spend some time on. All of these recommendations are free and worth your time:

• Palazzo Vecchio: the town hall of Florence. It overlooks the Piazza della Signoria, which holds a copy of Michelangelo’s David statue, and the gallery of statues in the adjacent Loggia dei Lanzi. 

• Ponte Vecchio: the old bridge which should be viewed from a distance to take in its beauty but all to walk across and window shop the abundance of silversmith shops.

• Mercato Centrale: a fantastic place to walk and explore all the vendors on the first floor. Food, trinkets, wine – everything you can think of and more. Upstairs is the restaurant mall (that’s what I call it).

This completes Day 1 travel itinerary in Florence.

Day 2: The Renaissance- Pick And Choose if Needed

Galleria dell’Accademia

Even if you aren’t into art, seeing Michelangelo’s “David” sculpture is incredible. Even just to view it once, is worth the visit. The Galleria dell-Accademia is located: About an eight-minute walk from the Duomo.

Santa Maria Novella

Another beautiful church, Santa Maria Novella, is another example of the Florentine Renaissance. It was finally completed in 1920 and holds an impressive crucifix by Giotto and works by Botticelli, Masaccio, and much more. The grounds are beautiful too and worth a visit. Location: Near the train station.

Basilica di Santa Croce

This church is incredible inside and if you visit, the Scuola del Cuoio’s entrance is just to the back of this church. This is a leather school where they sell items and sometimes you can see students learning to cut and sew leather.

Bargello Museum

Visit the Bargello Museum to see masterpieces of the Renaissance, like Donatello’s David, in a historic building. A former prison, the building alone is impressive. This museum holds mainly sculptures and warrants an hour or two. Location: Near Piazza della Signoria

Day 3: Uffizi Gallery

Home to some of the greatest collections of art in the world, if you have a half-day or a minimum of three hours, the Uffizi Gallery is a must-stop in your itinerary in Florence. Do not stand on the long line to purchase tickets. I’m not sure why more people don’t know about Skip-the-Line and booking ahead. At this time, they even offer a single ticket for five consecutive days to visit the Uffizi, Pitti Palace, and Boboli Gardens at a good price.

Day 4: Visit Tuscany

If you’d rather spend more time exploring and less time in museums, there are several tours where you can enjoy day trips to Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa, Lucca, Cinque Terre, Bologna, and Venice. These, of course, would need to be booked a few days before during high season. As much as I’m not a bus tour fan, we’ve used various companies when visiting Florence. You could rent a car and explore the Tuscan countryside yourself. Wine enthusiasts might want to do a day trip to one, two, okay… maybe three select wineries in Tuscany during the summer months. You can visit the Florence information center for tour suggestions.

Day 5: Visit the Oltrarno Side of Florence

Florence has so many things to do and discover, we know it’s difficult. But as I always say… “Leave something to return to.” Perhaps you’d like a relaxing travel itinerary in Florence for this day after being out and touring Tuscany. So, head over across the Arno River to Oltrarno. A more residential part of Florence.

• Piazza Santo Spirito: a large wonderful piazza and beautiful church. This piazza has great vibes and many cafés. Stop and enjoy a cafe or aperitif.
• Palazzo Pitti: This large, beautiful palazzo was inhabited for about four centuries by three dynasties, the Medici, the Hapsburg-Lorraine, and the Savoy. The palace still bears the name of its first owner, Luca Pitti, a Florentine merchant who had it built as his private residence in the middle of the 15th century.
• Boboli Gardens: These gardens are a historical park that opened to the public in 1766. It is part of the Pitti Palace but you can visit the garden separately. Pick up a panini and have a picnic in this beautiful setting.

While on this side of the Arno, stop at our favorite gelateria in Florence, La Carraia. You will find no better prices – anywhere! And… the gelato is excellent. They have so many flavors to choose from they list them outside so perhaps you already have an idea when you get in the store. You will probably have to stand in line, but it is worth every moment.

Day 6: A Great Stroll Day and Travel Itinerary

I would choose this particular day’s itinerary in Florence if the weather is nice. So, you might have to adjust this day according to Mother Nature. By the way, you can sleep-in this day and start a little later in the day. Follow in this order…

1. Bardini Gardens: We stumbled upon this beautiful place and walked by it several times without even noticing the entrance to the Bardini Gardens. Enjoy the beauty here and then continue for lunch using this route.
2. Stop at one of our favorite places to eat, Osteria Antica Mescita San Niccolo
3. From this relaxing lunch take a stroll up to Piazzale Michelangelo for stunning views of the city. But before you get there, top at the beautiful terraced rose garden with incredible views of historic Florence.

1. If you have time before sunset and sitting on the steps of Piazzale Michelangelo, climb just a bit further up to the beautiful San Miniato al Monte Basilica.

Day 7:

If you’ve skipped any of the suggestions above, make sure you double-check so you don’t miss out. There are plenty of cooking classes if you like that. There are Vespa and Fiat 500 tours you can take- with or without a guide. The Tourist Information Office will have information for you.

But whatever you do, make sure you visit Il Porcellino in Mercato Nuovo before you leave Florence. What you see is a bronze copy of Il Porcellino, procured by the Medici Family in the 17th-century and turned it into a fountain.

Rubbing the boar’s nose (hence the shine) has little to do with the history and tradition behind this boar, but most feel obliged to do so. You should put a coin in the boar’s mouth and let it fall off its tongue into the water below. If the coin falls through the grate, it will bring you good fortune. Or so the legend says.

Conclusion

Florence is one of Gary and my favorite cities in Italy. We both love the Renaissance and if this city wasn’t so large and touristy, perhaps we would have chosen Florence to live in. We hope this travel itinerary will help you create a wonderful vacation in Florence and Tuscany. You can still use our week’s Florence itinerary for less days, just adjust as needed.

If you have any additional suggestions, we are always open to updating this post. Here’s also a packing checklist to help you get ready for that next trip!