How Many Days in Florence Is Enough?

If this is your first time visiting Florence and you are wondering how many days in Florence you should spend, then this guide is for you!

After spending multiple days in Florence ourselves, we’ve written this post to help you answer this question.

In this post, we’ll discuss how many days in Florence are ideal for a first-time visit. We’ll also explore what you can do in Florence in one day, two days, or three or more days, including possible day trips, so that you can confidently decide how many days to spend in this amazing historic city.

How Many Days to Spend in Florence

In short, we think two to three days (and three nights) is the perfect amount of time to spend in Florence, depending on what you want to do while you are there.

Below is a more detailed explanation of how many days in Florence you should spend on a first-time visit, followed by a breakdown of what you can do in Florence for one, two, and three or more days.

How Many Days for a First-Time Visit to Florence: 2-3 Days

If this is your first time visiting Florence, we think two to three days (three nights) is the perfect amount of time to see all of the main sights in Florence and/or do a few extra activities, depending on your interests.

With two full days in Florence, you can see all of the city’s main sights, including the famous Duomo and the city’s best art museums, squares, palaces, and gardens. You will also have time to wander across the Arno River and explore a few of the city’s local markets and neighborhoods.

With three days in Florence, you can add in an extra activity, such as an Italian cooking class, a vespa tour, or a day trip to the Tuscan hill towns. If any of those activities interest you, or if you would like to explore Florence at a more leisurely pace, we would suggest spending three days in Florence instead.

How Many Days in Florence for a Few Highlights: 1 Day

If you only have one day to spend in Florence, then you can certainly see some of Florence’s top sights! In one very well-planned day, here is what you can do:

• Visit Florence’s iconic Duomo and climb the dome
• Visit the Uffizi Gallery (world-famous collection of Renaissance paintings and statues)
• Visit the Accademia Gallery (the famous David statue by Michelangelo)
• Explore a few of Florence’s most prominent squares (Piazza del Duomo, Piazza della Repubblica, Piazza della Signoria)
• Walk across Ponte Vecchio (the oldest bridge to span the Arno River)
• Enjoy some gelato and delicious Tuscan cuisine

Personally, we would only suggest spending one day in Florence if you are really short on time. Otherwise, we would recommend two or three days to more fully experience the city.

Tip: With just one day in Florence, be sure to book your tickets for any major sights (Brunelleschi’s Dome, Uffizi Gallery, Accademia Gallery) in advance!

Tour: If you only have one day in Florence and want to make sure you hit all of the highlights, consider booking this well-rated one-day tour of Florence:

Florence in a Day: Michelangelo’s David, Uffizi & Guided City Walking Tour
– Rated 5/5 stars (over 300 reviews)
– See the highlights of Florence in 5 hours with a local guide (does not include dome climb)
– Small group tour (limited to 18 people)

✔ Book your guided tour to see the best of Florence in one day here!

How Many Days in Florence for All the Main Sights: 2 Days

If you are wondering how many days in Florence you should spend to see the main sights in Florence, then you should plan on spending two full days. Here is what you can accomplish with two days in Florence:

• Explore the entire Duomo complex (cathedral, dome, bell tower, museum, etc.)
• Visit the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia Gallery
• Enjoy Florence’s many squares
• Peruse Florence’s local food and leather markets
• Walk across Ponte Vecchio and along the Arno River
• Visit Florence’s historic palaces (Palazzo Vecchio and Palazzo Pitti)
• Stroll through the royal gardens (Boboli and Bardini Gardens)
• Explore the local Oltrarno district
• Watch the sunset from Piazza Michelangelo
• Enjoy delicious gelato and authentic Tuscan cuisine

For many people, two full days in Florence is enough time to get a feel for the city. If you choose to stay a third day, we would suggest slowing down or spending some time outside the city by adding on a cooking class, a vespa tour of Tuscany, or a day trip to one or more of the Tuscan hill towns.

How Many Days in Florence for Extra Activities + Day Trips: 3-5 Days

If you are wondering how many days in Florence you should spend for extra activities and day trips, then you should plan on spending at least three days.

As mentioned earlier, you can see all of the main sights in Florence in about two full days. However, there are a couple reasons why you may want to extend your stay.

If you want to add on any extra experiences while in Florence, such as a pasta-making class, a vespa tour from Florence, or a day trip to the Tuscan hill towns, then we would suggest spending at least three days in Florence. These are each half to full day activities that take up the better part of the day, but each is worth doing if you have the time!

On our last trip, we took a vespa tour of Tuscany and a pasta-making class while we were in Florence, and they ended up being some of our favorite times in Florence! These are great activities to do as a couple or as a family.

Additionally, if you love art and museums, you may wish to devote some more time to Florence’s less-visited museums and art galleries, such as the Bargello. If you enjoy luxury shopping, you may wish to spend some extra time perusing Florence’s designer shops and high-end boutiques.

Day Trips from Florence

Florence makes an excellent base for taking day trips to the Tuscan countryside. Here are some of the best (and easiest) day trips you can take from Florence:

Siena

In about an hour and a half, you can take a train to the enchanting medieval town of Siena. Known for its stunning Piazza del Campo (main square) and striking black and white duomo, Siena makes a wonderful day trip from Florence! It was one of our favorite towns we visited in Tuscany.

READ MORE: How to Take an Amazing Florence to Siena Day Trip

Lucca

Another great day trip option is the charming town of Lucca. Also an hour and half from Florence by train, Lucca is known for its enormous medieval walls that surround the city. The walls are so broad that you can actually walk or ride a bike along the walls around the perimeter of the city.

San Gimignano

A very popular day trip from Florence is the town of San Gimignano. Known for its stately medieval towers, San Gimignano is a small walled hill town with a big tourist appeal. There is no train station in San Gimignano, so you would need to take a bus, rent a car, or join a guided tour from Florence.

Tuscan Countryside

To explore more of the Tuscan countryside and local wineries, we would recommend joining a guided tour from Florence. Here are a few recommended tours:

Tuscany Day Trip from Florence, San Gimignano, Pisa & Lunch at a Winery
– Rated 5/5 stars (over 13,000 reviews!)
– Spend a day exploring the Tuscan countryside and several Tuscan hill towns from Florence
– Stop for lunch at a local winery estate in Chianti

✔ Book your guided Tuscany day trip here!

Wine-Tasting Experience in the Tuscan Countryside
– Rated 5/5 stars (over 3,600 reviews)
– 4-hour wine-tasting tour at two of the best wineries in the Chianti region
– Small group tour (limited to 25 people)

✔ Book your wine-tasting tour in the Tuscan countryside here!

Florence Vespa Tour: Tuscan Hills & Italian Cuisine
– Rated 5/5 stars (over 2,500 reviews)
– Ride a vintage vespa from the scenic parts of Florence through the picturesque hills of Tuscany
– Enjoy a Tuscan meal at a country estate

✔ Book your vespa tour from Florence here!

Where to Stay in Florence

To make the most of your time in Florence, we would recommend staying three nights if possible. Here are some suggested places to stay:

• The St. Regis Florence ($$$): This popular 5-star hotel is one of the most luxurious hotels in Florence. It is located on the Arno River with a beautiful view of Ponte Vecchio.

✔ Check prices for The St. Regis Florence here!

• NH Collection Palazzo Gaddi ($$): This charming 5-star hotel is just a short walk from the Duomo and the train station, making it an ideal base for exploring Florence and taking day trips to the Tuscan hill towns. It has excellent reviews and offers stunning views of the city.

✔ Check prices for NH Collection Palazzo Gaddi here!

• Borgo Signature Rooms ($$): This lovely boutique hotel gets great reviews. It is situated on a quiet street near the Uffizi Gallery, Palazzo Vecchio, and Ponte Vecchio.

✔ Check prices for Borgo Signature Rooms here!

How to Get Around Florence

You can easily get around Florence just by walking. It only takes about thirty minutes to walk from one end of the city to the other, with many important sights in between. If you stay in a hotel near the city center, you can easily walk back to your hotel at any time.

We do not recommend driving into the city center of Florence. Much like in Rome, driving in Florence would be a nightmare for anyone who isn’t used to Italy’s traffic laws. However, you can always take a taxi if needed (just hold onto your seat!).

Florence does not have a metro system.

Other than taking a taxi to and from the airport and train station, we walked everywhere when we were in Florence.

FAQs: Visiting Florence

Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about visiting Florence.

Is two days enough in Florence?

Yes, two full days is enough to see all of the main sights in Florence. In two days, you can visit the Duomo, climb the dome, explore Florence’s most prominent squares, shop the markets, visit the royal palaces and gardens, see both the Accademia and the Uffizi Galleries, and enjoy a walk across Ponte Vecchio into the Oltrarno district.

Is three days too much in Florence?

No, three days is probably not too much time in Florence. Many of Florence’s main attractions are centered around Renaissance art, so if you don’t have any interest in art and museums, then three days may be too much time. Otherwise, three days is a great amount of time to spend in Florence.

With a third day, you will probably want to include an extra activity or day trip, such as a pasta-making class, a vespa tour from Florence, or a day trip to one of the Tuscan hill towns.

Conclusion: How Many Days in Florence Is Enough?

If this is your first time visiting Florence, then two to three days (and three nights) is the perfect amount of time to spend in Florence. In two full days, you can see all of Florence’s main sights. With three days, you can add in an extra activity or two, such as a day trip, cooking class, or vespa tour.

We hope that this guide has helped you decide how many days in Florence you will spend!