Self-guided walking itinerary

One day in Florence: a self-guided walking itinerary

David at opening time, the Duomo by midmorning, the tombs of Santa Croce after lunch, sunset from San Miniato.

At a glance

On foot1 km20+ min

RouteFlorence Cathedral → Ponte Vecchio

TerrainFlat paved center for most of the day; the final climb to San Miniato is uphill with steps and ramps.

Day budgetBudget roughly €90 to €130 per person for the full day. The four paid entries on this route total €53 (Accademia €20, Medici Chapels €11, Bargello €12, Santa Croce €10), the dome climb adds €30, and lunch, coffee, gelato, and an aperitivo cover the rest. Skip any paid stop to come in lower.SourceGalleria dell'Accademia: visitOpera del Duomo: pricesMusei del Bargello: Cappelle MediceeMusei del Bargello: BargelloSanta Croce Opera: visit

Interactive map of the route. The full stop list below works without it.

The day plan

How do you spend one day in Florence on foot?

Florence is a city you can cross on foot in a day, and this route does it in one long arc: the David before the crowds, the cathedral at midmorning, the river at lunch, the tombs of Santa Croce in the afternoon, and the view from San Miniato as the light goes. Book the Accademia and the dome climb before you travel, and the rest of the day follows the streets. Every stop is a real place on one of our Florence walks, ordered so the route never doubles back on itself.

Morning8:15 to 12:00
David first, then the Duomo
- Florence Cathedral5 min
- Orsanmichele2 min
Start at the Accademia for the first David slot of the day, when the room is calm and you can stand in front of the figure without a crowd. Walk west to the Medici Chapels for Michelangelo's unfinished tombs, then south to the cathedral. The church is free and opens at 10:15 AM, so you arrive as the doors open. Before you leave the piazza, decide if the dome climb is for you; the timed entry needs a Brunelleschi Pass bought in advance. Then take Via dei Calzaiuoli down to Orsanmichele, the old grain market turned church, and look up at the guild saints in the niches.
- HoursThe Accademia opens at 8:15 AM Tuesday to Sunday and closes at 6:50 PM, with last admission at 6:20 PM; it is closed on Mondays.SourceGalleria dell'Accademia: visit
- CostFull entry to the Accademia is €20; EU citizens aged 18 to 25 pay €2.SourceGalleria dell'Accademia: visit
- CostThe Medici Chapels cost €11, are open from 8:15 AM to 6:50 PM, and close on Tuesdays.SourceMusei del Bargello: Cappelle Medicee
- TicketsThe cathedral is free and opens at 10:15 AM Monday to Saturday; the dome climb is a €30 Brunelleschi Pass with a booked time slot.SourceOpera del Duomo: prices Opera del Duomo: opening hours
EatStanding espresso at Caffè Scudieri on Piazza San Giovanni before the cathedral opens.
Midday12:00 to 14:30
The Signoria and the river
- Piazza della Signoria2 min
- Uffizi courtyard3 min
- Ponte Vecchio
From Orsanmichele, head into Piazza della Signoria in front of Palazzo Vecchio, where the copy of David marks the spot of the original. Walk through the Uffizi's long colonnade toward the Arno; the gallery sits on your left if you booked a timed ticket, and the courtyard is free to cross. At the river, step onto Ponte Vecchio, where the goldsmiths' shops hang over the water. For lunch, the schiacciata counters at All'Antico Vinaio on Via dei Neri, or sit down for a bowl of ribollita before the afternoon.
- HoursThe Uffizi is open Tuesday to Sunday from 8:15 AM to 6:30 PM and is closed on Mondays.SourceUffizi Galleries: The Uffizi
- CostA Uffizi ticket costs €25 bought on the day and €29 in advance; the colonnaded courtyard is free to walk through.SourceUffizi Galleries: tickets and fares
EatLunch at All'Antico Vinaio on Via dei Neri for a stuffed schiacciata, or a sit-down bowl of ribollita in a trattoria.
Afternoon14:30 to 17:00
Bargello and Santa Croce
Head back toward the Bargello, the old palace that now holds Donatello's David and Michelangelo's Bacchus. The Badia Fiorentina comes next, and its bell tower is the one that once tolled the hours for Dante's Florence. Finish the afternoon at Santa Croce, the Franciscan basilica that keeps the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli under one roof. The piazza in front is a good place to sit before you head back toward the river for the climb.
- HoursThe Bargello is open from 8:15 AM to 6:50 PM and closed on Mondays; full entry is €12.SourceMusei del Bargello: Bargello
- HoursSanta Croce is open Monday to Saturday 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM, with last entry at 5:00 PM; full entry is €10.SourceSanta Croce Opera: visit
EatGelato at Vivoli on Via Isola delle Stinche, the old gelateria near Santa Croce.
Evening17:00 to sunset
Up to San Miniato for the view
Cross the Arno at the Ponte alle Grazie and turn into Via di San Niccolò, the Oltrarno's village street of workshops and small trattorias. Pass under the tall arch of Porta San Niccolò, the one medieval gate never cut down to size, and start the climb. Piazzale Michelangelo spreads the whole city below you, but continue higher to San Miniato al Monte. The basilica's green and white marble facade glows in the late sun, and the monks still sing vespers inside. Stay for the chant, then walk back down for dinner in San Niccolò.
- CostSan Miniato al Monte is free to enter, and the terrace and Piazzale Michelangelo are both free viewpoints.SourceFlorence Awaits: San Miniato al Monte guide
- TimeThe monks at San Miniato al Monte sing vespers in Gregorian chant in the late afternoon; on weekdays and Saturdays the Mass is at 18:00 with vespers at 18:30, and the time shifts with the season.SourceFlorence Awaits: San Miniato al Monte guide
EatDinner at Zeb Gastronomia on Via di San Niccolò, or an aperitivo at a bar on the same street.

Questions about the day

Planning your day

Is one day enough for Florence?

One day covers the essential arc if you start early and book the Accademia and the dome in advance. You will see the David, the Duomo, the river, Santa Croce, and the sunset view; you will not fit the Uffizi's full collection and the Oltrarno museums into the same day. Choose your two paid sights and let the rest be streets and piazzas.

What do I need to book before I arrive?

Book the Accademia for the David and the Brunelleschi Pass for the dome, both online before you travel. The Uffizi also sells ahead at €29, while its €25 day-of ticket exists for people who queue.

SourceGalleria dell'Accademia: visitUffizi Galleries: tickets and fares

Is the dress code strict at the churches?

At the cathedral, yes: bare shoulders and legs are not allowed, and the same courtesy applies at San Miniato. Carry a light scarf in summer.

SourceOpera del Duomo: plan your visit

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