Cradle of the Renaissance, Florence packs Brunelleschi's Duomo, the Uffizi, Michelangelo's David and the Ponte Vecchio into a center you can walk. Here's how to enjoy it in 2 days or more.
Florence at a glance
Population
365,000
Airports
FLR ยท PSA
Ideal stay
2 to 3 days
Budget / day
โฌ70-230
Train from Rome
~1h30
Time diff
None
Current climate
Best season
In brief
A walkable museum city on a human scale
Count 2 days for the essentials, 3 to add Pitti, Boboli and wander the Oltrarno without rushing.
Book the Uffizi and the Accademia
The Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia (the David) require a timed online slot. Without a ticket, queues often top 2 hours.
Everything is walkable
You can cross the center in 20 minutes. No need for buses or a metro, the city is made for walking.
The best base for Tuscany
Pisa, Siena, Chianti and the Val d'Orcia are all within a train or drive for the day.
Proper dress required in churches
Shoulders and knees covered at the Duomo and in the basilicas. Plan a scarf or light top.
Must-see
Santa Maria del Fiore, Brunelleschi's dome and Giotto's bell tower. The combined ticket opens the whole complex.
The world's greatest Renaissance painting collection: Botticelli, Leonardo, Raphael. Book your slot.
Michelangelo's David in marble, more striking than you'd imagine. Booking recommended.
The medieval bridge lined with jewelers, the only one spared by the war. Best at sunrise or sunset.
Florence's political square, an open-air museum, and the fortified town hall you can visit inside.
The huge Medici palace and its terraced gardens, perfect to breathe away from the crowds.
The viewpoint with the postcard panorama over the Duomo and rooftops. Magic at sunset.
The Medici basilica, the Mercato Centrale and its food floor for a quick, tasty lunch.
Choose your district
The historic heart, around the cathedral. All on foot, the most practical and most in demand. From โฌ120/night.
โ Recommended
Lively district around the basilica, bars and trattorias. Buzzing at night, central. From โฌ95/night.
Lively
South bank of the Arno, artisan workshops and an authentic feel. Less touristy. From โฌ90/night.
Authentic
Student district near the Accademia, quiet and well connected. Good value. From โฌ80/night.
Student
Getting around
On foot
You can cross the center in 20 minutes. Almost every site is reachable on foot.
Tramway
Mainly useful to link FLR airport to the center (line T2). Rarely needed for sightseeing.
Train (Frecciarossa)
From Rome in 1h30, Venice in 2h, Milan in 2h. Santa Maria Novella station in the heart of town.
Taxi
Handy at night or with luggage. No Uber-style apps, you hail one or book by phone.
Climate & crowds
01
Jan
02
Feb
03
Mar
04
Apr
05
May
06
Jun
07
Jul
08
Aug
09
Sep
10
Oct
11
Nov
12
Dec
Spring
April to June ยท 17-26ยฐC, bright ยท Ideal โ mild weather and green hills around
Autumn
Sept to October ยท 19-27ยฐC, pleasant ยท Ideal โ Tuscan grape harvest, fewer crowds
Summer
July to August ยท 30-35ยฐC, muggy ยท Avoid โ very hot and packed in the museums
How much
Backpacker
โฌ70
per day
Comfort
โฌ150
per day
Premium
โฌ300
per day
Our tested itinerary
Day-by-day program.
Around
50 min by train ยท The leaning tower
1h15 away ยท Medieval Piazza del Campo
40 min away ยท Vineyards and Tuscan villages
๐ 1h30 by train ยท The eternal capital
FAQ
Laura Petit โ
ยทEurope specialist
Last updated: June 6, 2026.