3 Days in Florence + intro to Tuscany: The Perfect itinerary for First-Time Visitors
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Planning a trip to Florence and Tuscany, but needing to maximize your time? This three-day itinerary is perfect for you! Filled with a mix of don’t miss highlights and a few hidden gems in there too, this itinerary will make sure you have the best first trip to this beautiful region.
In case you were like us and thought Tuscany is a place, it’s not a town, it’s a region. Florence is essentially the capital of the Tuscany region. Florence is a city filled with renaissance art, most notably, Michelangelos sculpture of David, but it’s also a blend of Romanesque and Gothic architecture. If you’re into art, medieval charm, and very rare steaks, Florence is definitely for you.
How Many Days Do You Need in Florence?
We recommend 3 days as the minimum time you should plan to spend in Florence (and Tuscany). Personally, we are not the biggest art lovers, so going to gallery after gallery does not appeal to us. Three days will allow you to see the highlights of the city, but not enough time to feel obligated to see every museum/art gallery.
Tuscany is a large region- from vineyards and wineries, to tiny Italian villages, it is vast. You could easily spend two weeks road tripping through this region, but if you’re pressed for time, this itinerary will give you just a hint of what this beautiful place has to offer.
If you are visiting Florence as part of a bigger euro or Italy trip, be sure to check out our 2 week Italy itinerary. It’s full of tips & helpful hints to make the most of your time in Italy.
When To Visit Florence?
Due to fewer crowds, cooler temperatures, and cheaper prices, April, May, and September are often regarded as the best time to visit.
Peak tourism season is in the summer months (June-August) with daytime temperatures reaching highs of 80°-90° F. If you are not a fan of heat and crowded art galleries, we recommend avoiding the summer time.
We have visited twice in June and while you certainly are never alone in this city, we found it manageable.
Is Florence safe?
The most common crime in Florence is pick-pocketing, as is common in most larger cities. In order to mitigate your risk of being a pick-pocketing victim, here are a few safety tips we recommend:
- Don’t leave bags unattended
- Always be aware of your surroundings (if people bump into you, they’re not just clumsy)
- Use RDIF protection for wallets and bags
- Don’t display any expensive items
- Use a cell phone lanyard for added protection
- Don’t carry a wallet or valuables in your back pocket (or wear it on your front)
- Use backpacks or bags with antitheft zippers
Getting To Florence
We recommend either flying into Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) or Pisa International Airport (PSA) because both are larger international airports offering more carriers. The main train station in Florence is Firenze Santa Maria Novella.
From Rome FCO airport, take the Leonardo Express train from the airport into the main train station, Roma Termini. From Roma Termini, purchase tickets and take the train to Firenze Santa Maria Novella.
From Pisa airport look for the Pisamover. Purchase tickets in the airport and take the train to the central Railway 2. From central railway walk over to Pisa Centrale station 3 and purchase tickets to Firenze Santa Maria Novella.
👉🏼Pro-tip: tickets can be purchased in advance at the Trenitalia website for a better price
Where to Stay in Florence
If you’re looking for a high-end feeling hotel right near the train station, we definitely recommend staying here.
For a mid-range hotel near the train station with a duomo view, we recommend staying here.
For a budget option, that feels like a modern hotel, we recommend staying here.
Getting around Florence:
Florence is incredibly walkable. It’s relatively flat and most notable sights are in close proximity. So, within the city center, we recommend walking.
Because this itinerary does include a visit to the Tuscan country-side, we do recommend hiring a car for one day. Trains can take you out to the country-side, but once you’re there- there’s lots of open space and you will need a car to get around.
Day 1: Exploring Florence
Since you will just be arriving, we suggest an easy day today. Get settled into your accommodation by the early afternoon and then put your explorin’ shoes on.
Afternoon
First stop, Ponte Vecchio, Florence’s ancient bridge. This medieval bridge is the only remaining pre-modern bridge over the Arno river in Florence. While walking along the bridge, you’ll see some shops, primarily jewelry stores, which have been around since the 13th centrury. Make sure to stop along the bridge and marvel at the reflection of the Florence façade in the Arno.
Evening
End the night with sunset at the Piazzale Michelangelo viewpoint. In our opinion, this is the best view of Florence with the gigantic Duomo towering in grandeur above to town. This viewpoint is about a 25 minute walk from the Ponte Vecchio with some steps and light hills included in this walk.
Day 2: Getting Artsy
Morning
Start your morning off at the Galleria dell’Accademia. This is where you will find the famous Statue of David by Michelangelo. You need to book your ticket in advance as it will sell out. Tickets are booked for timeslots ranging from 8:15- 20:45. Tickets can be booked here.
Since this is an incredibly popular place, we recommend that you go first thing in the morning to avoid the crowds as much as possible. In our opinion, we were pleasantly surprised by the crowds. Yes, there are a lot of people, but not nearly the Vatican level of craziness. Let’s put it this way, we were even able to get a few unobstructed selfies with The Statue of David.
You can do this as part of a tour, but we chose not to. To be completely transparent, art isn’t really our thing, but seeing such an iconic work of art was surprisingly enjoyable to us.
Afternoon
Stop for lunch and grab one of the famous All’Antico Vinaio sandwiches. I’m sure you’ve seen them on social media, they’ve gone viral (and for good reason). Although this place is now a chain, it started in Florence.
Next make you way to the duomo… you know, the huge giant thing that you cannot miss. To be honest, we didn’t expect it to be as big as it was and you can’t quite understand how massive it is until you see it in person.
You can go inside & climb the tower, but tickets need to be purchased in advance. Tickets can be purchased here or here:
Evening
Try the Bistecca alla Fiorentina (Florence steak). This is a specialty known to the Florence area, this loin steak is cooked on the bone until rare (and don’t ask the chef to cook it anymore, it ain’t happening) . If youre going to try for one of the most famed places to try this delicacy, make sure to make a reservation in advance.
Although Joc absolutely hates any steak that isn’t cooked until it’s chewy leather, she was a good sport and ate a few bites around the edges… even she gave it good reviews. It’s definitely a must-do experience.
Day 3: Tuscany Road Trip
Morning
We recommend hiring a car for the day and starting early; This will give you the most flexibility for being able to explore at your own pace. There are plenty of towns that you can explore, but we have been to Tuscany twice and here is what we recommend for a day trip.
👉🏻Pro-tip: If you are planning on hiring a car on a Sunday, most places do close early, so you will need to return your car on Monday.
Starting early, drive from Florence to the Val D’Orcia region. This drive takes approximately 2hours (one-way) and is primarily on the Autostradale (interstate equivalent).
Val D’Orcia is a region in Tuscany where you will find those dreamy picturesque rolling hill vibes. I will never forget our first time here- Zach literally said “when I die, I want to be buried here”.
Although we always joke about moving to another country or city, if given the chance, I wholeheartedly believe that Zach would move here in an instant. It is such a peaceful place- the tall yellow grass blowing in the wind, the green rolling hills, no hustle and bustle of a city, just stillness, calm, and peace.
I have no specific places to recommend stopping, but more so just wandering: winding down the windows, taking in the views, feeling the peace of this area.
You will likely pass along many Agiturismos featuring long driveways studded with tall cypress trees. Please remember to be respectful because these are people’s homes and therefore, private property, not just places for photo–ops.
Afternoon
After you’ve had your fill of epic views, start your journey back to Florence. At about the mid-point of your drive, you will reach Sienna. This is the perfect lunch stopping point.
Paid parking garages can be found here:
or Here:
Both are about a 10 minute wak to Piazza del Campo, the main square of Sienna.
Stop for lunch at II Bocconcino. Honestly, these were the best sandwiches we had in all of Italy. We dream about these sandwiches. Please go get one, for us.
After you’ve finished your epic sanwhich, spend some time exploring in the Piazza del Campo. This is the main square of Sienna and is actually a UNESCO heriatige site due to its unique shape & medieval architecture. The piazza is filled with restaurants, shopping, children playing football, but still somehow very calm.
If you’re needing to stretch your legs after being in the car, you can climb the 300 steps of the Torre del Mangia. This tower stands out in the Piazza skyline and will give you some of the best views of Sienna. You need a ticket, which costs about 10 euros and does need to be purchased in advance.
Evening
Now that you’ve seen the sights of sienna from above and below, it’s time to finish your drive back to Florence.
If this day sounds too intimidating, there are plenty of tour options here:
Final Thoughts
Florence is the perfect blend of grunge, renaissance art, and Italian charm. Standing in front of both the Duomo and the iconic Statue of David all in the same day is enough to leave you speechless. Meanwhile, the Tuscan countryside offers the exact opposite vibe—tranquility and peace. Driving through the rolling hills will have you pulling up Zillow to daydream about owning your own private villa. While you could easily spend 3 months exploring this region, we believe that this 3 day itinerary will allow you to scratch the surface… and have you planning your next trip back.
