24 hours in Florence, Italy: an art lover’s itinerary for one day in Florence
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission on every purchase made at no extra cost to you.
After four visits to Florence, I've accepted that the city always leaves you wanting more. But if you only have one day, there's still a way to get a real taste of what makes Florence special.
This itinerary isn't the standard greatest-hits tour (though those sites are wonderful - no shade to anyone ticking them off). It's for people passing through on a train, stopping on a cruise, or squeezing Florence into a tight schedule, who still want to experience the city's magic rather than just photograph it.
The route prioritizes moments that feel genuinely Florentine: quieter museums where you can actually breathe, the best €5 sandwich in the city, a sunset view that makes the crowds worth it. There are quicker ways to see more sites, but this is the version I'd follow if I only had 24 hours.
Here's the plan:
Morning: San Marco Museum or Accademia + pastry
Midday: Duomo + sandwich
Afternoon: Piazza della Signoria + Uffizi
Sunset: Piazzale Michelangelo
Evening: Dinner in Santo Spirito
Getting to Florence
Most people arrive at Santa Maria Novella train station, which is a 15-minute walk to the centre. Florence is extremely walkable - you're never more than 25 minutes from anything in this itinerary, usually much less. Wear comfortable shoes.
Luggage storage: If you're passing through with bags, there's left luggage at the train station (€6-12 depending on size). You can also search for ‘luggage storage’ on Google Maps to find shops that will hold it for you for a while.
Morning: Art and pastries
Breakfast
Stop at any small bakery you pass on your way into the centre. Look for a budino di riso (rice pudding tart) - my favourite Florentine breakfast. Pasticceria Nencioni, S. Forno, or Caffè Lietta are all excellent if you want a specific recommendation.
San Marco Museum or Accademia Gallery
You have two options for your morning museum, and the choice depends on what kind of experience you're after.
San Marco Museum (my recommendation)
Open Tuesday-Saturday, 8:15 AM - 1:50 PM | Last entry 12:45 PM
If you only have one day in Florence, I'd choose San Marco over the Accademia. Not because the Accademia isn't excellent - it absolutely is - but because San Marco offers something rarer: a quiet, moving encounter with art rather than a crowded viewing experience.
This is a Dominican monastery where Fra Angelico painted serene frescoes in the 15th century. His Annunciation at the top of the stairs is one of the most beautiful things in Florence, and I was stunned to discover that Angel Gabriel's wings actually sparkle - Fra Angelico used mineral pigments that catch the light as you move.
The real magic is upstairs: the monks' cells, each decorated with a small fresco depicting moments from Christ's life. Standing in those tiny rooms, imagining someone spending their entire life contemplating these paintings, was the most powerful art experience I've had in Florence. The museum is rarely crowded, which means you can actually have that moment.
Note: San Marco closes at 1:50 PM, so you need to go in the morning. Plan for 1-1.5 hours here.
Accademia Gallery (the alternative)
Open Tuesday-Sunday, 8:15 AM - 6:50 PM | Last entry 6:20 PM
Most visitors to Florence choose the Accademia, and for good reason: it houses Michelangelo's David. If seeing David in person is non-negotiable for you, this is your morning.
The museum also has other important works by Michelangelo and a good collection of Florentine paintings. The downside is that it's extremely crowded, and you'll spend time queuing and jostling for position around David.
My suggestion: If this is your only day in Florence and you're not a die-hard Michelangelo fan, go to San Marco. Save David for a return visit when you have more time. But both choices are excellent - it's just a question of whether you want the iconic experience or the quieter one.
Where to stay in Florence
Here are my picks of hotels with a charming or authentic vibe. In order of increasing price range.
Hotel Cestelli - (pictured) This super basic yet authentically Italian guesthouse is where I stay when I visit Florence solo. Super budget friendly and around the corner from Palazzo Strozzi.
Relais Cavalcanti Guest House - Super central and so cozy - it felt like staying in someone’s house in the best way.
Park Palace Hotel - Tuscan villa with a pool
Four Seasons Hotel Firenze - just for fun, to have a look and dream
Midday: The Duomo and Florence's best sandwich
Lunch at Da' Vinattieri
Before you see the Duomo, eat. Da' Vinattieri is a tiny counter just south of the cathedral, and they make the best sandwich in Florence. They're known for lampredotto (Florentine tripe) if you're feeling adventurous, but I always get their schiacciata sandwiches - focaccia-style bread with about eighteen filling options, all around €5.
My order: ricotta, soppressata, and orange. It's the best sandwich I've ever had. There's often a small queue but it moves quickly. Bonus: it is next door to Dante’s church.
There’s a lot of debate about the “best sandwich in Florence,” and the internet loves to send people to All’Antico Vinaio, but I’d pick Da’ Vinattieri every time. If you want another option nearby, Panini Toscani by the Duomo lets you taste a few fillings before you choose.
The Duomo (Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore)
After lunch, walk to the Duomo. The cathedral is free to enter, though there will likely be a queue.
What to prioritize if you're short on time:
The exterior is the main attraction. Brunelleschi's dome and the polychromatic stone facade are what make this building extraordinary.
Walk around to the Baptistery to see Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise - bronze doors with remarkable depth despite being shallow relief. These are significant in art history (though the ones on the Baptistery are replicas, the originals are in the Duomo museum).
If you have time, go inside the cathedral to see the painted dome from below. But if you're running late, the exterior is honestly more impressive.
Skip: Climbing the dome. It takes 45+ minutes including queuing, and you need that time for the Uffizi.
Afternoon: Piazza della Signoria and the Uffizi Gallery
Piazza della Signoria
Walk south toward Piazza della Signoria, Florence's main civic square. This takes about 10 minutes from the Duomo.
What to see:
Palazzo Vecchio - Peek into the entrance hall (free) to see frescoed maps of Europe on the courtyard walls. The building has been Florence's town hall since the 14th century.
Loggia dei Lanzi - An open-air sculpture gallery. Benvenuto Cellini's Perseus with the Head of Medusa and Giambologna's Rape of the Sabine Women are both here, free to view up close. I usually use the steps just outside as a spot for a sandwich break.
David replica - Michelangelo's David originally stood in front of Palazzo Vecchio. The spot is now marked by a replica, so you can see what it looked like even if you skipped the Accademia.
The square is usually busy, but it's the political heart of Florence and worth experiencing. Artists often set up here, and there's usually street music. I have a fond memory of a violinist playing ‘Once Upon a December’ from Anastasia, a very nostalgic childhood song for me. A niche choice, but it created a perfect atmosphere for me.
The Uffizi Gallery
Open Tuesday-Sunday, 8:15 AM - 6:30 PM
The Uffizi is non-negotiable. This is one of the world's greatest art collections, and you have about 2-3 hours to see it properly.
First, a few words of advice (and this is coming from an art historian). Please don’t pressure yourself to see and understand everything in the gallery, especially if you don’t have much background with art history. That’s a recipe for feeling overwhelmed and exhausted.
The art in the Uffizi is powerful, and not really meant to be digested all at once, especially if you’re surrounded by crowds or trying to listen to a guide.
I personally think it is best to wander where your eye leads you, look with curiosity, and then read labels or do research after enjoying the visual experience. Most of all, spend time looking. There are so many wonders to behold in this museum.
Highlights you can't miss:
Botticelli's Birth of Venus and Primavera (Room 10-14)
Leonardo da Vinci's Annunciation (Room 15)
Michelangelo's Doni Tondo (Room 35)
Critical tip: Most people take the "quick exit" on the way out and miss the entire ground floor. Don't do this. Go downstairs to see:
Titian's Venus of Urbino
Artemisia Gentileschi's Judith Slaying Holofernes
More Caravaggios and Rembrandts
The Uffizi can be extremely crowded, especially around Botticelli. Afternoons after 3 PM are sometimes slightly better than mornings - I have had good luck with thinner crowds in the late afternoon. If you're visiting in high season, book tickets in advance.
Book skip-the-line Uffizi tickets here
Sunset: Views from Piazzale Michelangelo
After the Uffizi, walk to Piazzale Michelangelo for sunset. This takes about 20-25 minutes: cross the Ponte Vecchio, walk along the Arno, then climb the steps (or take the bus if you’re tired - but don’t miss the Ponte Vecchio).
Piazzale Michelangelo is a panoramic terrace overlooking Florence. At sunset, the light turns the city golden and you can see the Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio, and Ponte Vecchio all at once. There are usually street musicians, and the atmosphere is lovely.
It's touristy, yes, but it's worth it. Get there about 30 minutes before sunset if you want a good spot.
Evening: Oltrarno
You're already on the south side of the Arno, so stay in Oltrarno for the evening. This is the most authentic neighbourhood in Florence and my favourite part of the city.
Aperitivo at Hotel Palazzo Guadagni
Loggia Roof Terrace, Piazza Santo Spirito
Before dinner, head to the rooftop bar at Hotel Palazzo Guadagni for aperitivo. The terrace has views over the piazza and rooftops of Florence, the drinks are good, and the staff are friendly. It's atmospheric without being pretentious, and the perfect spot to watch the evening light over the city.
Where to eat
Osteria Santo Spirito (my top choice)
Piazza Santo Spirito
One of my favourite restaurants in Florence. It's humble and charming, with outdoor seating in the piazza. The walnut sauce pasta is extraordinary, even better than the truffle gnocchi, if you can believe it. Book ahead or arrive early, it gets busy.
The piazza itself is lively at night with bars and people hanging out. It feels like actual Florence rather than tourist Florence (though admittedly there are lots of tourists there too these days).
Gustapizza (quick alternative)
Via Maggio, near Santo Spirito
If Osteria Santo Spirito is full, walk to Gustapizza. Wood-fired pizzas, quick service, affordable. My sister still talks about how the pesto pizza changed her life. Often called the best pizza in Florence.
Gelato
Gelateria della Passera
Via Toscanella, Oltrarno
A tiny shop I always come back to. Excellent flavours, never too crowded.
Gelateria Artigianale La Sorbettiera
Via de' Serragli
Another great option in Oltrarno, a few minutes from Santo Spirito. Both are excellent—whichever you're closer to.
A note on Santo Spirito: If you want to fall even harder for Florence, read Still Life by Sarah Winman before or after your visit. It's a poetic story about art and life over the years in Florence, and much of it takes place in and around Santo Spirito. I connected so much more with the city after reading it. Sitting in the piazza now makes me feel like I'm part of their wonderful world. Please do me a favour and read it.
What this itinerary skips (and why)
Ponte Vecchio: You'll cross it on the way to Piazzale Michelangelo. It's beautiful but mobbed with tourists and jewelry shops. Worth seeing but not lingering.
Pitti Palace: Major museum that needs 2-3 hours. Skip it for a one-day visit.
Bargello Museum: Excellent sculpture collection (including Donatello's David), but you don't have time. Save it for next time.
Santa Croce: Beautiful church with Giotto frescoes, but you need to prioritize the Uffizi.
Boboli Gardens: Would add another 2 hours. Not possible on a one-day itinerary.
If you have more time in Florence
One day gives you a taste, but Florence deserves more. If you can extend your visit:
Two days: Adds time for the Bargello Museum, Santa Croce, proper shopping in Oltrarno, and a slower pace. See my 2 Days in Florence itinerary.
Longer: Start exploring Florence's hidden gems, take a cooking class, visit less-touristy museums, do a proper food tour of Oltrarno.
Final thoughts
Florence in one day means making choices. You won't see everything, and you'll leave wanting more (which is exactly how Florence works, even when you have a week).
This itinerary gives you what I think matters most: one genuinely moving art experience, the city's most important sites, the best sandwich, a sunset that explains why people fall in love with Florence, and dinner in the neighborhood that still feels real.
If you can only have 24 hours, make them count.
Florence is one of the most incredible cities in the world. It’s steeped in history and is almost otherworldly in its beauty. There is so much to do in Florence, especially in regards to art history. But how can you distill it all down to one day? Here’s my guide to spending 24 hours in Florence.