One Day in Florence: A Perfect 24 Hour Itinerary

Getting to Florence

After sailing on Holland America’s Adriatic cruise and then spending three days in Rome, including touring Rome by golf cart, we took the high-speed train from Rome to Florence. This is the fastest and easiest way to get to Florence.

The Frecciarossa takes about 90 minutes from Roma Termini to Firenze Santa Maria Novella (SMN), Florence’s central train station.

If you’re flying in, Florence’s Amerigo Vespucci Airport is just a 20-minute taxi ride from the city center.

Once you arrive, you don’t need a car. Florence is best explored on foot. In fact, the city was named the most walkable in Europe, and it’s easy to see why.

A Cozy Stay in the Heart of Florence

We stayed at Room Mate Luca, a chic Italian hotel with a prime location.

Room Mate Luca is modern, elegant, and within walking distance of the Santa Maria Novella train station.

It is in the perfect location to visit the many Florence sites and offers a huge breakfast buffet with made-to-order cappuccinos, pastries, eggs, fresh fruit, and more. It’s just the kind of breakfast that fuels an entire day of sightseeing and walking… lots of walking.

Other Florence hotel options that are even more centrally located include Hotel Brunelleschi, a luxury stay with unbeatable views of the Duomo, and Hotel Spadai, which is known for its elegant rooms and central location.

After breakfast, we set out to have a perfect day in Florence.

Luckily, the first plaza we came upon was loaded with tourists heading out on guided walking tours, so we asked to join, and they obliged.

We soon learned that you don’t need a guided tour because Florence is easy to explore on your own.

What to Do in Florence in One Day

First Stop: The Duomo

Our first stop on our one-day Florence itinerary was the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, better known as the Florence Duomo. This massive church in the center of Florence will mesmerize you with its size and details.

The marble façade of this Florence cathedral is breathtaking, with shades of greens, pinks, and whites.

Our guide indicated that the interior is pretty underwhelming compared to the exterior.

The Duomo is free to enter, so expect to wait in an outrageous line in the sun.

Because of this, we marveled at the exterior and kept moving.

Right next to the Duomo, you’ll find Giotto’s Campanile, the towering bell tower you can climb for incredible views.

It costs around €15 to climb the 414 steps to the top. There is no elevator, so be ready for a workout.

But we had more to see, so we admired it from the ground and kept moving.

If you would like to see the Duomo, the Campanile, and the Baptistery without waiting in multiple lines, grab a Brunelleschi Pass to access everything and save some money.

Piazza della Signoria & David

Next, we wandered to Piazza della Signoria, Florence’s grand square.

It’s like an open-air museum with beautiful statues everywhere, and it was one of my favorite areas in Florence.

As you can see in the picture, the Florence summer crowds are intense, so be prepared to wait everywhere you go.

The most famous statue in this piazza is a replica of Michelangelo’s David. The real one is in the Accademia Gallery, but with a three-hour line and no skip-the-line tickets, we admired the copy.

From the Piazza della Signoria, you will find the entrance to the Palazzo Vecchio, a huge palace and museum built between the 13th and 14th centuries.

You will find many medieval architecture, frescoes, and paintings by some of the most recognized names, such as Michaelangelo and Donatello. You will also find secret passages used by the Medici family to escape their enemies.

If you’re an art lover, plan ahead and book your museum tickets early. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck in long lines, eating into your precious 24 hours.

The Accademia and the Uffizi Gallery, home to Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, are especially popular, and with extreme crowds in the summer, you’ll need tickets.

When planning your Florence one day itinerary, I suggest starting early at the more popular tourist attractions like the museums if you want to ensure you have enough time to visit them.

Wandering Florence’s Streets

At this point, we broke away from our guided tour and spent the rest of our day in Florence, exploring independently.

Florence isn’t just about museums and famous landmarks; it’s about wandering and enjoying your time in this Italian city.

As we strolled, we stopped to admire the Gates of Paradise, the massive gilded bronze doors across from the Duomo.

These doors took over 27 years to complete and showcase the most intricate biblical scenes.

Even Michelangelo himself called them “The Gates of Paradise.”

I wish I had taken a better picture because they were truly extraordinary.

Throughout the afternoon, we stopped at a tiny outdoor cafe for pizza, visited wine shops, ate some gelato, and enjoyed being in Florence, where every street feels like a postcard.

Florence’s Leather Markets

We also wandered through the San Lorenzo Market outside Mercato Centrale, feeling buttery-soft leather bags and jackets.

Florence is famous for its leather markets, and I had a few items on my souvenir list.

Even if you don’t buy it, it’s fun to browse. There are so many shops to explore that you don’t need to stress about finding one specific store—enjoy wandering and discovering hidden gems.

If you’re serious about buying leather goods, check out Scuola del Cuoio, Florence’s renowned leather school.

It’s a ten-minute walk from Piazza della Signoria and is tucked behind the Basilica of Santa Croce. Not only can you purchase high-quality leather, but you can also see skilled artisans make the goods. They will even emboss your leather in front of you.

It’s the perfect place to find unique wallets, bags, and belts while watching craftsmen at work.

Florence’s Wine Windows

After browsing the markets, we stumbled upon one of Florence’s coolest quirks—wine windows.

These tiny wooden windows, called buchette del vino in Italian, were carved into palace walls in the 17th century.

The windows were initially created so noble families could sell wine directly to the public while avoiding taxes and the plague.

Patrons would knock, place their order, and a glass of wine would appear through the wall.

This tradition saw a revival in recent years when COVID-19 hit, and now, it is a fun way to enjoy a glass of wine or spirit as you walk through Florence.

We had a lovely time looking for wine windows as we strolled through Florence. These hidden gems are scattered throughout Florence, particularly in the Santo Spirito district and near Piazza della Republica.

To find the wine windows, just watch for small, arched openings in historic building facades. 

Some of our favorites were Babae, one of the first to revive the tradition, Osteria Belle Donne, and La Buchetta.

Be careful; my husband got pickpocketed near Osteria Belle while we were taking photos. We had just walked along Via de’ Tornabuoni, one of Florence’s most upscale shopping areas, and looking back, we let our guard down.

Lesson learned: keep an eye on your stuff.

The Famous Ponte Vecchio

Next, we visited Ponte Vecchio, Florence’s iconic medieval bridge lined with jewelry shops.

If you’re looking for authentic, locally made gold jewelry, you’ll find it here.

The Magical Piazza della Repubblica

Continuing to walk, we found ourselves in Piazza della Repubblica, where we stumbled upon a beautiful merry-go-round, with its golden lights twinkling.

A street performer sang nearby, adding to the total fairytale vibe.

This square is the heart of Florence, historically serving as the city’s main forum during Roman times.

There are shops, cafes, and tons of places to people-watch while you enjoy watching life in Italy from this upscale square.

Where to Eat? Skip the TikTok Lines

I spent countless hours researching places to eat in Italy, mainly using suggestions on TikTok. Unfortunately, we were continuously disappointed in the inauthentic suggestions.

For example, you’ve probably heard of All’Antico Vinaio, the viral sandwich shop with a never-ending line.

While I am sure it is good, is it worth wasting an hour in line? Nope, especially when they will open US locations in Nashville, NYC, and Las Vegas soon.

Instead, we visited Mercato Centrale, a three-story indoor market with incredible food stalls near the San Lorenzo Market.

Pasta, pizza, seafood, truffle dishes, and even hamburgers—you name it, they have it.

Bonus: it’s near Santa Maria Novella train station, so it’s perfect for a quick bite if you arrive or leave by train.

Florence is packed with so many fantastic little cafes and restaurants, though, that you shouldn’t get hung up on visiting just one particular place. There’s incredible food everywhere.

Just keep in mind that many restaurants close between lunch and dinner (around 2:30 – 7:00 PM), so plan accordingly.

The Ultimate Sunset Spot

For dinner, we found Osteria la Dolce Vita, a cozy spot with fairy lights strung up on the ceiling, serving Florentine steak—a thick, juicy, must-try dish.

My one regret about my Florence itinerary is that we lingered over dinner and missed the ultimate sunset spot at Piazzale Michelangelo, which has rave reviews for its spectacular views.

But in our defense, we were having an incredible time with new friends—locals we met at dinner. Our shared stories about our different cultures and our mutual love for the San Antonio Spurs (who would’ve thought?) kept us at the cafe for over three hours.

I guess that is just another reason to plan a return trip to Florence.

Is One Day in Florence Worth It?

You may wonder if one day in Florence is worth it, and the answer is absolutely!

While Florence deserves more time, a single day is still enough to experience its magic.

If you’re visiting from Rome, the high-speed train makes arriving in under two hours easy, giving you plenty of time to explore.

You can see world-famous landmarks, enjoy incredible food, wander historic streets, and soak up Renaissance beauty—all in one unforgettable day.

If you’re debating whether to add Florence to your itinerary, do it. You’ll leave wishing you had more time but grateful you didn’t miss it.

One Last Stroll Through Florence

As the city lights flickered on, we took one final walk back to our hotel, soaking in the magic of Florence at night.

One day here wasn’t nearly enough—but it was just enough to leave us enchanted, already planning our next visit.

Just be prepared to fall in love and wish you had more time.

Looking for More?

If you dream of spending more time in Italy, consider extending your stay in Florence and taking a day trip to Tuscany for rolling vineyards and charming villages.

You might also consider adding a day trip to Venice or exploring things to do in Murano, Italy, for stunning glass art and canals.