One Day Itinerary for Florence

Do you only have one day to spend in Florence, Italy?  Are you planning a cruise excursion of Florence?  The major sites can be experienced in one well-planned day because Florence is the most compact big city in Italy.  Here my suggested itinerary for what to see in one day in Florence.  

Gallery Accademia (David)
Michaelangelo's David is does not disappoint, and is well worth all the hubbub.  There isn't much  to see beyond David and Michaelangelo's Prisoners, so it will take you less than an hour to view the gallery.

• If you have not made reservations or own the Florence Card (see below), begin your day at the Accademia.  The line to enter the Accademia forms well before it opens at 8:15am.  I would suggest being in line by 7:30am so that you are one of the first groups to enter.  If you plan it right, this should be the only significant line you encounter during the day.   

Ponte Vecchio

Ponte Vecchio 
Ponte Vecchio, Florence's most famous bridge, is an easy site to tackle in just a few minutes.  The picturesque bridge's charm is mitigated by the jewelry shops, street vendors, and tourists that cover the area.  However, it is a great place to snap photos of the Arno River.

Uffizi Gallery

The Uffizi is filled with works from Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and countless other Italian masters.  The gallery's most famous piece is Botticellis's Birth of Venus.  The gallery can be tackled in two hours, making it a great for a one-day blitz of Florence.

• If you do not have reservations for the Uffizi or have the Florence Card, stop by the Uffizi reserved ticket window before Ponti Vechio to buy reserved tickets to avoid standing in line for entry.  On our visit, we were able buy reserved tickets for entry an hour later, thus avoiding the line!

Climb the Duomo

View from the top of the Duomo

I enjoyed the experience of climbing Florence's famous Duomo much more than taking the traditional tour of "ground level" of the cathedral.  On your way up, you will get an up close look at the fresco painted by Andrea di Bonaiuto on the interior of the dome.  Once outside, you will have the best view in the city of Florence and Tuscany.

• Plan to climb the Duomo later in the afternoon when lines have died down, around 3:30pm or 4:00pm.  

Gelato Break
A visit to the Florence is not complete without a scoop or two of Italian ice cream. Florence claims to make the world's best gelato, and I cannot disagree.  You will have no trouble finding gelato in Florence as every street is dotted with gelato shops.

Palazzo Vecchio

Piazza della Signoria
The Piazza della Signoria is the center of politics, past and present, in Florence.  It is also the best place to take a break and people watch in Florence.  Overlooking the square is Palazzo Vecchio, the impressive town hall of Florence.  The square is also surrounded by several impressive statues, including a life sized copy of the David.

Travel Advice

• Rick Steves has created podcast audio tours of Europe that can be downloaded  in iTunes.  The free podcasts can replace the audio tours that you pay for in museums and galleries.  For Florence, the Accademia/David (21 minutes) and Uffizi (49 minutes) podcasts are especially helpful.  If you have  time in the morning, I would also take his 46 minute "Florence: Renaissance Walk Audio Tour," as a way to orientate yourself to the city.  
• It is possible to reserve tickets ahead of time for the Academia and Uffizi online.  Unfortunately, the official site for both Academia and Uffizi tickets http://www.firenzemusei.it/ is unreliable and charges a 4 EURO reservation fee.  Other sites that broker tickets charge considerably more, but they might be worth it if your time is limited in Florence.  
• If you fail to make reservations online at the Uffizi or Accadamia, you can still avoid lines by purchasing the Florence Card for 50 EURO.  The card is pricey, but it grants admission to most major museums in Florence, and allows you to skip lines.  The card be bought online http://www.firenzecard.it or in person at Uffizi Gallery door #2.