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Things to Do in Florence
The top things to do in Florence are the Duomo and its 463-step dome climb, the Uffizi, Michelangelo's David at the Accademia, the Ponte Vecchio and the view from Piazzale Michelangelo. This guide covers the time, cost and booking for each, plus a 2-day plan, the passes and the dress code.
Quick answer The short answer for a first visit
Most major sights in Florence are within 15-20 minutes on foot of each other, so two days covers the essentials. Book three things before you travel: a timed dome slot, an Uffizi visit of about 2 hours and the Accademia, which sells out months in advance.
Key takeaways
- The cathedral is free, the dome is not: pick a time slot when you buy the pass, then plan the rest with Private Tours Florence Italy.
- Want the countryside too? Compare private tours in florence italy that leave from the centre.
- A full Tuscany day with a driver: From Florence: Tuscany Day Trip with a Private Chauffeur, $438 per person for 8 hours.
- Wine and back roads: Private Chianti Safari: Off Road Tuscany Wine Tour with Lunch from Florence, $553.14 per person, rated 5 from 32 reviews.
What are the top 10 things to do in Florence?
The top 10 are the Duomo cathedral, the dome climb, Giotto's Bell Tower, the Baptistery, the Uffizi, the Accademia, Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio, Mercato Centrale and Piazzale Michelangelo.
All ten sit inside a compact centre. Florence is mostly concentrated in a 30-40 minute walking radius, so you can walk between every stop on this list.
The list at a glance
Each stop with its time or wait, what you pay and the one booking move that matters.
| Stop | Time or wait | Cost | How to do it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duomo cathedral | Lines often over an hour | Free | Go Mon-Sat, it closes Sundays for services |
| Dome climb (Cupola) | 463 steps, no lift | Brunelleschi Pass | Pick a time slot when you buy |
| Giotto's Bell Tower | 415 steps, 85 metres | Brunelleschi or Giotto Pass | Rest at the three stages |
| Baptistery | Short stop | Duomo pass | See the original doors in the Opera Duomo Museum |
| Uffizi Gallery | About 2 hours, or 3-4 hours | Paid ticket | Decide highlights or full visit first |
| Galleria dell'Accademia | Sells out months ahead | Paid ticket | Reserve as soon as dates are fixed |
| Piazza della Signoria | Short stop | Free | See the David replica |
| Ponte Vecchio | Short stop | Free | Cross to the Oltrarno side |
| Mercato Centrale | Lunch stop | Pay for what you eat | Eat on the ground floor |
| Piazzale Michelangelo | Sunset stop | Free | End the day here |
Palazzo Vecchio stands on Piazza della Signoria, the city's main square. Photo: Francesco Bini, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
How do you visit the Duomo and climb the dome?
Walk into the cathedral for free, but buy a Brunelleschi Pass with a fixed dome time slot before you go, because slots sell out weeks ahead in peak season.
The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is the centre of the city and the first thing most visitors want to see. Entry to the cathedral itself is free, but the lines typically run over an hour.
The cathedral
Cathedral hours run Mon-Sat roughly 10:15am-3:45pm, and it is closed Sundays for services.
The west facade dates only to the 19th century, far younger than the dome above it. Under the floor, the Cripta di Santa Reparata holds church ruins from 405AD.
The dome climb
The dome climb is 463 steps with no lift. When you buy the ticket you must select a specific time slot, and if you turn up outside it you will be turned away. In peak season those slots sell out weeks ahead, so book the climb before anything else on your trip.
The climb starts inside the cathedral. That means knees and shoulders must be covered, even on a hot day.
Giotto's Bell Tower and the Baptistery
Giotto's Bell Tower is 85 metres high with 415 steps and three stages to rest on the way up. It is the better pick if you cannot get a dome slot.
The gold doors on the Baptistery are copies. The originals are in the Opera Duomo Museum, inside the same pass.
Which Duomo pass to buy
The Brunelleschi Pass is the only one that includes the dome. Buy the Duomo passes via the official website.
| Pass | What it covers | Valid | Pick it if |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brunelleschi Pass | Six Duomo monuments, dome included | 72 hours | You want the dome climb |
| Giotto Pass | Everything except the dome | Not stated | Dome slots are gone or you skip the 463 steps |
| Firenze Card | Free entry to 75 sites | 72 hours | You plan many museums in three days |
How long do you need at the Uffizi?
A quick stroll through the Uffizi masterpieces takes about 2 hours, and a thorough visit takes 3-4 hours.
The Uffizi is the art museum most visitors put at the top of their list. The real question is how much of your day to give it.
Highlights or the full collection
Choose before you go in. The 2-hour stroll suits a first trip with the Duomo and the Accademia on the same day. The 3-4 hour visit suits art lovers.
The Uffizi stands just off Piazza della Signoria, so walk on to the square and Ponte Vecchio afterwards.
| Visit style | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Quick stroll | About 2 hours | A 2-day trip with a full plan |
| Thorough visit | 3-4 hours | Art lovers with a free afternoon |
How do you see Michelangelo's David?
Book the Galleria dell'Accademia as early as you can, because reservations sell out months in advance, with tickets sold out for 2+ months on the official website.
The Accademia holds Michelangelo's David, and it is the ticket that most often ruins a plan made late.
Booking advice
Reserve the Accademia the day your travel dates are fixed. If every slot is gone, there is a replica of David in the Piazza della Signoria, free to see at any hour.
Tours That Fit
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Check AvailabilityWhat should you not miss in Florence?
Do not miss the dome climb, the Accademia's David, Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio and the view from Piazzale Michelangelo at the end of the day.
The paid sights need a booking. The open-air ones need nothing but time, and they fill the gaps between your museum slots.
Squares and the bridge
Piazza della Signoria is the civic square beside the Uffizi, with the David replica in front of Palazzo Vecchio. Piazza della Repubblica is a short walk north.
At Il Porcellino, visitors put a coin in the bronze boar's mouth and stroke his nose for luck.
Ponte Vecchio is the old bridge over the Arno, and it takes you to the Oltrarno side.
Across the river
The Oltrarno holds Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens, the green space to choose when the centre feels crowded. Finish at Piazzale Michelangelo, the viewpoint above the river, for the view back over the dome and the rooftops.
Where should you eat in Florence?
Go to Mercato Centrale near San Lorenzo at lunchtime and eat at the ground-floor food stalls.
A market lunch is one of the best value things to do in Florence, and it keeps you close to the Duomo and the Accademia.
Mercato Centrale
Mercato Centrale sits near San Lorenzo, a short walk from the cathedral. Its ground floor is the place for a quick Florentine lunch between sights. Add a gelato on a long walking day.
Is 2 days in Florence enough?
Yes, 2 days is enough for the top sights, because most major sights are within 15-20 minutes on foot of each other.
Two days works if the dome slot, the Uffizi and the Accademia are booked before you arrive.
A 2-day plan
Day one: the dome climb in your booked slot, then the cathedral, the Baptistery and the Opera Duomo Museum on the same pass. Walk to Piazza della Signoria, give the Uffizi about 2 hours, cross Ponte Vecchio and end at Piazzale Michelangelo.
Day two: David at the Accademia in the morning, lunch at Mercato Centrale, Il Porcellino on the way south, then the Boboli Gardens across the river.
With a third day, leave the city. From Florence: Tuscany Day Trip with a Private Chauffeur costs $438 per person for 8 hours. The Private Chianti Safari: Off Road Tuscany Wine Tour with Lunch from Florence costs $553.14 per person for 8 hours, lunch included. Both carry free cancellation 24h ahead.
What can you do in Florence in one day, and what is free?
In one day, pair one booked slot, the dome or the Uffizi, with the free cathedral, Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio and Piazzale Michelangelo.
Free things to do in Florence cover more ground than most people expect. The cathedral is free to enter, though lines typically run over an hour.
Free sights
These cost nothing: the Duomo cathedral, Piazza della Signoria with the David replica, Piazza della Repubblica, Il Porcellino, Ponte Vecchio and the view from Piazzale Michelangelo.
For one day, join the cathedral queue early, use your paid slot mid-morning, walk the squares after lunch and finish across the river. Skip Sunday for the cathedral, when it is closed for services.
Can you wear jeans in Florence, Italy?
Yes, jeans are fine, and they also cover your knees for the cathedral, where knees and shoulders must be covered.
Dress for walking and for church. The one rule that turns people away is at the Duomo.
What to wear
Climbing to the dome top requires entering the cathedral, so knees and shoulders must be covered. Jeans solve the knees. Carry a light layer for your shoulders on hot days.
Getting there and getting around
Santa Maria Novella station has fast trains from Rome, Venice and Milan. From the station you walk, because most major sights are within 15-20 minutes on foot of each other. Flying in?
Book an airport transfer ahead of time and install an eSIM before landing.
| From | Fast train to Santa Maria Novella |
|---|---|
| Rome | 1.5 hours |
| Milan | 1 hour 40 minutes |
| Venice | Over 2 hours |
Ponte Vecchio is the medieval bridge lined with goldsmith shops. Photo: Jan Drewes, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Florence Questions
How many days do you need in Florence?
Two days covers the top sights, since the city is mostly concentrated in a 30-40 minute walking radius. Add a third day for the countryside with one of the private tours in florence italy.
Do I need to book museum tickets in advance?
Yes. Accademia tickets sell out for 2+ months on the official website, and dome time slots sell out weeks ahead in peak season. Then add a day out such as From Florence: Tuscany Day Trip with a Private Chauffeur.
How much do Florence's main attractions cost?
The Duomo cathedral, the squares, Ponte Vecchio and Piazzale Michelangelo are free. The dome needs the Brunelleschi Pass, and the Firenze Card gives free entry to 75 sites for 72 hours. A private Tuscany day is From Florence: Tuscany Day Trip with a Private Chauffeur at $438 per person.
What are things to do in Florence with kids?
Children enjoy the coin and the lucky boar at Il Porcellino, the market stalls at Mercato Centrale and Giotto's Bell Tower, which has three stages to rest on the way up. For a calmer day outside the city, see private tours in florence italy.
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