Are you looking for what to do in 72 hours in Florence? Read along to learn what the most recommended places to visit are in this beautiful, enchanting, art-filled city.
Planning a trip to Florence is very exciting! If you’re anything like me, you’re here because you love to research and plan your trip ahead of time. Florence is a smaller city in the Tuscany region of Italy. It is filled with art, cultural experiences, and incredible architecture. There is so much packed into this little city. Not to worry, this travel guide will give you some ideas of how to make the most of your 72 hours in Florence.
You will learn about which museums to visit, where to find the statue of David, where to eat, and where to shop! After learning about these places, you are going to be ready for your next Florence travel adventure!
This post is about 72 hours in Florence.
72 Hours in Florence
Day One: Walking Tour and Uffizi Gallery
One of my favorite and go-to things to do when arriving in a new city is booking a walking tour at the beginning of the trip. This allows me to get a lay of the land, get introduced to some landmarks I may want to explore further, and use the tour guide as a resource for any local food and restaurant recommendations. Many places in Europe offer a “free” tour in which you pay for what you think the value of the tour is worth. This is a great way to stay within budget while still enjoying the benefits of a city tour. I usually opt for these walking tours! You can google “free walking tour in XYZ city” to get recommendations. I typically pay anywhere between $20 to $50 USD depending on the duration and interest of the tour.
Alternatively, many companies offer walking tours such as Get Your Guide and Viator. These are also reliable options. If you’re looking for a specific tour other than a general walking tour, these companies offer several interesting and specific topics! With only 72 hours in the city, a walking tour is a great way to see a lot of landmarks in a short amount of time.
For lunch, I recommend going to All’Antico Vinaio or Pino’s Sandwiches for lunch. A casual and affordable option, both of these restaurants offer delicious Florentine style sandwiches. These sandwiches are made with schiacciata, a Tuscan flatbread and filled with local cheeses, homemade spreads, and meats. All’Antico Vinaio is very popular, so the line may be long, but it moves quickly.
A must visit museum, and one of the most famous art museums in the world is the Uffizi Gallery. Known for works of art from renowned artists like Botticelli, Carvaggio, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Giotto it is filled with beautiful history. I recommend spending at least a couple of hours here to really enjoy the artwork and building architecture.
Day Two: Galleria Accademia and Mercato Centrale
The most famous sculpture inside Galleria Accademia is David by Michelangelo. This is the original, although there are duplicates that can be found throughout the city of Florence including Piazzale Michelangelo and Piazza della Signoria. I recommend purchasing your tickets in advance. When you purchase tickets, you will be asked to select a specific date and time to enter the museum. You must show up during your designated time frame. This is also true for the Uffizi Gallery.
For lunch and exploration, visit Mercato Centrale. This is such a fun market in the city! Before entering, check out the leather goods for sale that surround the exterior of the building. Italian leather goods are great souvenirs to bring home from your travels!
After some light shopping, enter Mercato Centrale and head upstairs for lunch. Here you will find several stalls with a variety of food options. Everything from pasta, sandwiches, burgers, pastries, and more. This is a great option if you are with a large group where everyone wants to eat something different, or if you want to try a variety of foods. To order, go up to the stall of choice, place your order, and keep your receipt with your order number. They will call your number when your food is ready. For drinks, there are bars located in the center of the second level. This is where you will order any beverage, non-alcohol included. Tables are located throughout the second level.
After eating, make your way downstairs to check out the local vendors. Here you will find fresh produce, fish, seafood, and meat, as well as some dry goods that can also be purchased as souvenirs.
In the evening, consider strolling through downtown Florence. Stop for gelato, try Florentine steak (served rare) for dinner, or look for a wine window!
Day Three: Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, and Boboli Gardens
I recommend visiting Santa Maria del Fiore, better known as the “Duomo” early in the morning, when there are less crowds. Entrance into the church is free to the public. The free entrance is located on the right side of the building. To see other parts of Santa Maria del Fiore, including the bell tower, duomo, and baptistry, tickets must be purchased in advance. Note that the bell tower and duomo involve a lot of stairs! Note that to access each part of the church, there are separate entrances. Signs are located at the entrance doors of each and explain which part of the church is accessible. I recommend looking for these signs before blindly hopping into a long line.
After exploring Santa Maria del Fiore and the surrounding plaza, consider making your way to the iconic Ponte Vecchio. This bridge is the only bridge in Florence with shops built on top of it! Here you will find many jewelry and antique shops. Once you make your way across the bridge, you will find more shops filled with leather goods, antiques, and unique art and collectables.
A 10 minute walk from Ponte Vecchio is the gelato shop Vivoli. They are famous for their affogato, an incredible dessert combination of gelato and espresso. It is so good! I highly recommend checking them out. Another one of my favorite gelato shops is Sbrino, located south of the river.
Not far from Ponte Vecchio are the Boboli Gardens. This is one of my favorite places in all of Florence. The gardens are absolutely beautiful! You can purchase an individual ticket for the Boboli Gardens alone, or you can purchase a combination ticket that will get you into Boboli Gardens and other museums including Palazzo Pitti and Uffizi Gallery mentioned at the beginning of this post.
Navigation Tips
If you are flying into Florence airport, consider taking the tram to get downtown. It is very straightforward and affordable. Once you exit the airport, take a left and you’ll see the tram stop. Here you can purchase a ticket for the tram using one of the machines located at the stop. If you have a paper ticket, make sure you validate it using the yellow machines inside the tram once you board. This is very important as security frequently do random checks for validated tickets, and if you do not have a validated ticket, you will be fined. Another option is to purchase a ticket by using a credit card and tapping once you enter the tram. A credit card will automatically be validated.
I recommend using Google Maps to get around. Another tip is to make sure to carry your passport with you. Police officers have the right to ask to see identification at any time. But be careful! Florence has a lot of pickpockets, so keep your belongings including your passport secure. Keep bags zipped closed and where you can see them. Consider using a money belt.
Overall, Florence is such a beautiful, charming city. It’s one of my favorites in all of Italy. Even if you have only a brief 72 hours in Florence, it’s worth it. I hope this post gives you some ideas of what you can accomplish during your short visit.
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