Perfect 1-Day Florence Itinerary: How to Spend One Day in Florence, Italy

Last Updated on July 4, 2025 by Tori Pines

Only have one day in Florence? Don’t stress—you can still see world-famous art, climb a dome, eat unforgettable pasta, and catch a sunset over red-tiled rooftops. This Florence in a day itinerary blends must-see sights, local favorites, and real-life experience into a manageable 24 hours of magic.

Florence is the birthplace of the Renaissance and one of Italy’s most walkable, art-filled cities. In just one day, you can see the best of what this Tuscan gem has to offer: Michelangelo’s David, Brunelleschi’s dome, local markets, delicious gelato, and epic skyline views.

Morning: Domes, Coffee, and a Famous Climb

Breakfast Like a Local

Grab a cappuccino and cornetto at Caffè Scudieri. Or any other bar you pass. A “bar” in Italy means cafe!

Locals eat a light breakfast of a pastry and a cappuccino standing up at the counter. Enjoy it like a local, or save some time and take it to go. With only one day in Florence, you’ll probably want to get moving!

Start Your Day at the Duomo Complex

Start your adventure bright and early at Santa Maria del Fiore (the Duomo), the most iconic building in Florence. It’s the #1 must do thing while in Florence in my opinion, so start with it to make sure you have enough time.

Book a time slot in advance to climb the 463 steps to the top of Brunelleschi’s Dome for breathtaking views. It’s the best reason to come here at all! It’s a little bit of a workout, but you can go at your own pace and most people shouldn’t have trouble conquering it!

Tickets to the dome usually include access to other parts of the complex. You can pop your head into the main area of the church if you wish (but you will get an overhead view of it when you climb the dome! If you’re super into churches or history, feel free to explore the other areas. But if that’s not exactly your thing (like for us), then I would skip this, since there’s many other things to do during your one day in Florence!

Tori Tip: Reserving timed tickets online in advance is crucial! Since this is a church, you must have your shoulders and knees covered to enter. Plan accordingly when you get dressed this morning!

Wander the Piazza

Take a few moments to admire the marble facade, gold Baptistery doors, and energy of Piazza del Duomo. Get some Insta-worthy shots with the huge dome in the background.

Midday: Renaissance Art + Local Flavors

Pick an Art Museum to Explore

No visit to Florence is complete without seeing some of the most famous art this city is known for. You have two options, either the Accademia Galleria or the Uffizi Gallery.

The Accademia is the home of The David. He’s bigger and more powerful than you expect, and one of the most famous pieces of art in the world. The Accademia Gallery is small, so you won’t need more than an hour. Book timed-entry tickets in advance. Lines can be brutal without one. If you book directly through the gallery’s website then you’ll get the best price and still get to skip a majority of the lines. But if you want to get the most out of your visit, I highly recommend a guided tour!

Alternatively, plan to spend a few hours at the Uffizi Gallery, another incredibly famous art museum filled with famous works of art. The most famous is the birth of Venus, but there’s tons more that even the non-art lover would recognize. Again, you can book tickets on your own directly through the gallery’s website to skip lines when you arrive, or book a guided tour for the best experience. You will take so much more out of it that way!

If you want to spend more of your one day in Florence in museums, then I highly recommend this guided tour that visits both galleries!

Lunch at Mercato Centrale

Walk to Mercato Centrale, Florence’s lively two-story food hall. The bottom floor is a traditional market with vendors selling produce, meat and anything you could want to cook a gourmet Italian meal.

But since you’ll likely not be cooking your own meals during your one day in Florence, head to the second floor. Upstairs is a food court filled with Tuscan specialties. There’s wine by the glass and counters where you can watch chefs at work. Try truffle pasta, porchetta sandwiches, or fresh focaccia. The most authentic dish to try here is the Lampredotto, traditional Florentine street food made from the fourth stomach of a cow. I’ll be honest, I didn’t try it, I am not thaaaat adventurous with food. But if you’re feeling up to it, it’s a local specialty and supposed to be so good!

Optional Add-On: Basilica di Santa Croce

Just a short walk from the market is Santa Croce, a beautiful church that’s also the final resting place of Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli. It’s quieter than the Duomo and full of history. If you have time, this is one of Florence’s most underrated spots.

Afternoon: Bridges, Piazzas & Sweet Treats

Piazza della Signoria & Palazzo Vecchio

Head to Piazza della Signoria, Florence’s outdoor sculpture gallery. Don’t miss the replica of David, the Neptune Fountain, or Palazzo Vecchio, the city’s historic town hall.

Cross the Ponte Vecchio

Walk over the Ponte Vecchio, Florence’s iconic medieval bridge lined with goldsmiths and jewelry stores. I don’t exactly recommend you buy anything from here, it’s definitely going to be one of the most expensive spots in the city. But It is super famous and fun to explore and admire the views over the river. The views of the Arno River are worth dodging the crowds for.

Stop for Gelato

Some of the best gelato we had during our two weeks in Italy was in Florence. Just be sure to get GOOD gelato, because bad gelato absolutely does exist! My favorite spots in the city are “Perche No!” which is in the center of town, not far from the Duomo, La Strega Nocciola Gelateria which is just across the river, and La Carraia which is also across the river, but still super close. We personally had all of them (multiple times) and can confirm they are devine.

Be sure to try some of the most classic flavors while you’re spending one day in Florence, along with any seasonal flavors! The classics include pistachio, stracciatella (chocolate hazelnut) fig & ricotta, or hazelnut.

If you’re out looking for gelato on your own during your one day in Florence, or anywhere else in Italy, be sure to know what you’re looking for to find good gelato. First, wander away from the main tourist areas. The worst gelato is usually in the center of the action (not always, but usually). Second, avoid any gelato shops where the gelato is piled high in tall mounds, you want to find a place where it is flatter, or even covered with a lid is best!! And third, avoid places that have brightly colored gelato. If the pistachio is bright green and not a more natural brown-ish green then run away! It won’t be good, I promise!

Evening: Sunset, Dinner & Wine

Sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo

An absolute MUST while spending one day in Florence is to watch the sun go down over the city from Piazzale Michelangelo. You can walk (uphill) or take a taxi. We chose to walk but it is definitely not for the faint of heart. I recommend grabbing a taxi to get up there and then walking back down.

At the top you’ll be treated to an unforgettable view of Florence as the sun sinks behind the Duomo and Arno River. Just be sure to stick around a while, after you might think the sun has gone down is often when the prettiest colors come out across the sky. We learned this the hard way and left too early. By the time we made it back to the river the sky was absolutely glowing! Learn from our mistake!

Bring a bottle of wine or grab a drink from a nearby cart for the full experience and sit on the steps sipping your pre-dinner drinks.

Dinner in Florence

Since you’ll only have one dinner here, with just one day in Florence, you’ll have to make a difficult decision about where to eat.

I highly recommend you go all out and get the one meal Florence is most well known for, the Bistecca Alla Fiorentina. It’s a classic Italian steak dish hailing from Florence, celebrated for its thick-cut T-bone or porterhouse style. A hallmark of Tuscan cuisine, it’s traditionally grilled rare, boasting a charred, crispy crust and a juicy, rare center.

And no, you really can’t ask for it cooked differently at most restaurants in the city. But I promise, it is absolutely delicious! It will usually be served with white beans and potatoes on the side, and is the perfect meal for 2-3 people.

The best place to enjoy this authentic Florence experience, make reservations at Parione. It’s a nice (but not super, super fancy) restaurant in the heart of the city just off the river that serves the steak exactly how it should be. And it is incredibly delicious, it was one of our favorite meals in Italy!

If you are not up for this intense dinner of steak and potatoes, option two is basically the opposite. Instead, try the best pizza in town at Gustapizza. It’s super inexpensive and so delicious. It’s wood fired and crispy and everything you’d want from pizza in Italy. There’s usually a long line to get a table, but if you’re up for it, hang out a while to get sat, it will be worth it! Alternatively, pop to the front of the line to order to-go and take it back to your hotel room.

Dessert

Stop for one final Gelato to end your one day in Florence. La Carraia, is one of the spots I recommended above that is pretty close to both of the dinner spots I recommended above!

Additional Things to do During One Day in Florence

If you end up having more than one day in Florence, or some of the things on this itinerary are just not your cup of tea, I have several other things I recommend doing!

Cooking Class

First and foremost, I have to recommend taking a cooking class. It was very hard to not include it on this one day in Florence itinerary, so if you can add it on, I highly recommend it. Or at least be sure to take a cooking class somewhere in Italy during your trip!

We took the pasta and tiramisu cooking class with Florencetown and it was the most amazing experience, we loved every second of it. And whats crazy is the meal we made and ate was the best pasta we had in all of Italy. I swear, it was just that good.

Boboli Gardens

If you’re looking for a break from museums, cross the Arno to the Boboli Gardens behind Pitti Palace. These expansive, manicured gardens offer fountains, sculptures, grottos, and incredible city views. It’s a relaxing and quiet way to wrap up your afternoon.

Leather School

Another fun thing to do during your one day in Florence is stop by the Scuola del Cuoio, or Leather School. Here, you can watch the artisans create the stunning handmade leather items from purses to belts to shoes and more! Plus there’s a shop where you can buy some of their work. It’s the most authentic Florence souvenir.

Explore Tuscany

I cannot recommend it enough that you allot time in your Italy itinerary for exploring Tuscany. It is so incredibly famous for a reason. Not only are there SO many beautiful towns near Florence to explore, the food throughout this entire region is the absolute best in Italy. Every single meal we had across the regio was 10 out of 10.

There are many towns near Florence to explore, but my first choice is San Gimignano! It’s home to “the world’s best gelato” at Gelateria Dondoli, leather shops with items handmade from Italian leather amazing food, and our favorite vineyard we have ever visited, Tenuta Torciano. I highly, highly highly recommend booking a tasting there (and lunch) if you are in the area!

Top Tips for One Day in Florence

• Wear comfy shoes. Cobblestones are charming—but they hurt.
• Book your top attractions in advance, especially the Duomo, Accademia, and Uffizi.
• Travel light. If Florence is a day trip, store your bags at Santa Maria Novella station.
• Eat as much food and gelato as you can fit. It’s the best in the world.
• Start your day early! The crowds get wild by 11am so you’ll want to beat everyone else to the top attractions.
• Explore the rest of Tuscany. There is SO much to see in this region.

Florence in one day is a whirlwind, but it’s 100% worth it. With a good plan, you can soak in the Renaissance, eat local, climb for the views, and leave with your heart full and your camera roll overflowing. And let’s be honest, after just one day in Florence, you’ll already be plotting how to come back.