One Day In Florence – The Perfect 1 Day Florence Itinerary

Want to make a Florence 1 day itinerary? If I only had one day in Florence I would make the most of it and see as much as possible! 

Most people will tell you that you need to spend a minimum of 3 days in Florence but don’t despair if you only have one day in Florence.  You will still be able to see quite a bit!

Jet lag will be your friend on this 1 day in Florence itinerary!

Waking up early is not a problem when your body already wants to.  So take advantage of that feeling to wake up and start your day early!

You may be surprised at how wonderful Florence is when there are no crowds!

My husband and I did a morning run all the way to Piazza Michelangelo from our hotel and explored the most touristy sites along the way. (This is the main reason I am in workout clothes in all my pictures.)

In this post,  we will list what to do in Florence for a day, Florence one-day tour options, and a complete Florence 1 day itinerary. 

Let’s decide what should be on your “Florence one day itinerary”!

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1. Piazza del Duomo

Florence Itinerary – First Stop –  Cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore

The first stop on your one-day in Florence itinerary is the Cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore. 

The Cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore is known for its cupola. Take time to stop and admire its beautiful mosaic floor and amazing frescoes.

Entrance

Surprisingly, it does not cost anything to enter and observe the church.  Unfortunately, you do need to purchase the “Grande Museo del Duomo” pass to view all the monuments.

The monuments included in the pass are the cathedral, dome, baptistery, bell tower, and crypt.

Audio Guide

This is a church and reverence is expected, although the administration is working to allow more people into the church at one time.

In an effort to accommodate more people but still have a quiet respect for the church’s wishes, an audio guide is required for groups of four people.

The Baptistery

The baptistery is the oldest religious monument in Florence.  Making this an important stop for your one day in Florence.

The baptistery has an impressive bronze door known as the gates of paradise.  It is so beautiful and intricate.  The doors depict the scenes from St. John’s life.  We loved admiring such a beautiful work of art.

There is also Giotto’s very tall bell tower.  You can climb up to the top for an incredible view.  You must book this ahead of time and select a time to climb.  This is definitely worth a stop.

A day in Florence Italy would not be complete without a visit to the Piazza del Duomo.  I would highly recommend adding it to your Florence 1 day itinerary! 

2. Uffizi Gallery 

Florence Itinerary – Next Stop – Uffizi Gallery 

The next stop on your 1 day in Florence itinerary is the Uffizi Gallery 

This is Italy’s top museum!  It holds the greatest collection of Renaissance art in the world and is sure to be the highlight of your one-day Florence trip. 

Works by Botticelli, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Raphael are located here.

Planning Ahead

The museum is open Tuesday – Sunday from 8:15 pm – 6:50 pm

Plan to spend at least 2 hours here. You can book a self-guided audio tour or you can book a tour with a Ufizzi tour guide.

You could also purchase a tour and skip the line entrance which would probably be a great experience as well.

Admission

Admission is about 25 euros.

Tickets can be purchased online or at the door.  There will be a line if you purchase tickets the day of.

Pro-Tip for your Florence One Day Itinerary

The best time to visit is right when it opens or after 4 pm when all the large tour groups have left.

3. Ponte Vecchio 

Florence Itinerary – Next Stop – Ponte Vecchio

The next stop for your day in Florence is Ponte Vecchio.

Famous Bridge

This famous bridge is a special landmark in Florence.  It is known as a romantic spot in Florence.  Personally, I did not get that vibe.

I thought it was extremely expensive shopping. Not to mention, gelato costs 3 times as much as other places in the city!

Ponte Vecchio is Italian for the old bridge.  The bridge crosses the Arno river at the spot where the Romans originally built it.  It was the only bridge in Florence to cross the Arno until 1218.

The Arno River is very impressive and admiring this bridge from a distance is just as satisfying as walking through it (in my opinion).

However, it is a must-see in Florence 1 day experience.  There are a few walking tours and even electric cart tours that include Ponte Vecchio. 

4. David’s Michelangelo  

Florence Itinerary – Next Stop – David

David of Michalengo is one of the most famous Renaissance sculptures. It was created in 1501-1504.

You can now view it at the Accademia Gallery. 

Admission

For tourists, the ticket price is 12 euros. If can book a skip-the-line ticket for 25 euros.  This is nice if you do not want to wait in a long line in the heat.

I think most people would agree that this is one of the top places to visit in Florence in 1 day.  

5. Pitti Palace 

Florence Itinerary – Next Stop -Pitti Palace

The next stop on your Florence one-day trip is the Pitti Palace. 

I really liked this museum!  More than what was displayed the building itself was so beautiful!  I loved looking at the home itself.

Surprisingly, I think I liked this one more than the Ufizzi (shock). It is totally worth a visit!

Planning Ahead

The museum is open Tuesday – Sunday from 8:15 am – 6:50 pm  Plan to spend about 2 hours here.

Admission

Tickets are about 16 euros and can be purchased online or you can get a skip-the-line ticket.  When we went there was not a line to purchase tickets. You can purchase tickets with a tour guide online as well.

6. Piazza Michelangelo 

Florence Itinerary – Next Stop – Piazza Michelangelo

The next stop on this amazing one-day Florence itinerary is Piazza Michelangelo. 

Check out the View

Piazza Michelangelo is on the south bank of the Arno River.  It provides a panoramic view of the city.  There are some sculptures in the square. Above all, most people come here for the spectacular view of the city.

We did a morning run from our hotel to the top.  It was so awesome! The views are incredible. The sunset is supposed to be incredible but we opted for the sunrise!

7. Palazzo Vecchio

The Palazzo Vecchio is the heart of politics. It is also an amazing museum and historical site.  It has been used for centuries for varies uses.  

Now you can tour and even climb a tower to get the best views of the city. 

Admission

Admission is about 17 euros if ordered on the website(The website is not in English.) I would prefer to book my ticket on a site I can read.  Getting a front-of-the-line pass is super nice during tourist season especially if you only have one day in Florence. 

One Day in Florence Activity List

There are so many fun things to do in Florence but you might not have enough time with just one day in Florence. 

Everything in this Florence itinerary is a suggestion so that you can decide what sounds the best and add it to your Florence trip.  I highly recommend doing the 7 suggestions listed above for a day in Florence Italy.

Things to Do in Florence in One Day

If you have more time, you will love doing some of the fabulous tours during your one-day Florence itinerary! 

Let’s check out all the fun activities in Florence you can choose from. 

8. Pizza Making Class

Florence has so much to offer.  My friend Tanya was able to do a Pizza and Gelato Making Class in Florence. She said it was amazing and higly recommends it! 

Best Cooking Tours in Florence

• Pizza and Gelato 
• Cook Like an Italian Tour
• Cooking Class at A Winery

9. Art Lessons

Florence is the city of art. You can take art lessons inside the Uffizi starting at 86 dollars per person.  This might be a worthwhile experience if you enjoy expressing yourself through art.

Best Art Lessons In Florence

• Paint in Florence
• Sculpt in Florence
• Clay Modeling
• Ceramic Class

10. Florence Food Tour

This is my kind of tour.  I would love to spend 3.5 hours, with 5 stops, exploring the best food in Florence. The cost is about $42 per person.

A less expensive option can be purchased online at Viator.

Seriously, the food in Italy is amazing! If I had time to add one more item to my Florence Italy itinerary a food tour would make the list! 

Best Food Tours in Florence

• Walking Food Tour
• Sunset Food and Wine Tour
• Taste of Florence

11. Photography Tours

Have a local take you around to the best photography spots in town! This is perfect for romantic sunsets or beautiful sunrises. Not to mention all the amazing artwork all around.   

Sunset Photography One Day in Florence

After a complete day of touring, spend the rest of your one day in Florence with a sunset photography tour.  Get great shots and make amazing memories.  

12. Hop on Hop Off Bus Tour

We love to hop-on hop-off bus tours in every city.  It is a great way to see the most popular sites.  Especially, if walking is an issue and you want to take a break! (You really walk everywhere in Europe.) 

I love that this Florence hop on hop off bus tour is affordable and gives you a great overview of the city.  Some of the sites available to see are:

Stops on a Bus Tour

• Beccaria
• Santa Crocei
• Teatro Verdi
• Villa Cora
• Porta Romana – viale Petrarca
• Piazza Tasso
• Zecca Vecchia
• Piazzale delle Cascine
• Shelly Cascine
• Porta Romana

This is a great option if you only have one day in Florence and you are not sure what you want to see. 

Are you Ready for your One Day in Florence?

Hopefully, this guide will help you decide what to do for your day in Florence. 

There are so many great things to add to your Florence 1 day itinerary.  You will have to decide what you would like to do the most.  Good Luck! Also, consider all of the day trips from Florence you can add to your trip! 

Free Italy Guide

Be sure to check out my Free Italy Guide!  I created 13 Itineraries for awesome Italian cities.  This will help you plan your trip to Italy!

Facebook Travel Community

Also, if you have any questions be sure to join my Facebook Travel Community.  You can ask any question’s about your upcoming trips and the amazing community helps you plan your trip.  Plus, I will always answer any questions I can.  I also like to put any deals companies send me in our group

Where to Visit Next In Italy 

Where will your next stop be? Maybe Florence to Rome or maybe down to the Amalfi Coast?  We loved everywhere we visited in Italy be sure to check out my adventures in Italy!

Also, I highly recommend getting an Italy Travel Guidebook before you start planning your trip! 

If you are planning a northern or central Italy vacation be sure to check out my other posts –Venice, Pisa and Lucca, Romantic Venice, and Siena. 

If you are looking for a southern Italy itinerary be sure to check out Capri, Pompeii, Gaeta, and the Amalfi Coast.

Top Travel Tips for Italy is another great place to look for great Italian advice.

Don’t forget your souvenirs and Italian gifts! I