What to do in Florence in seven days: the perfect itinerary

In this article we want to suggest you an itinerary on what to do in Florence in seven days. To visit this city, in fact, it takes a few days given the great amount of art, culture, landscapes and good food. In this week we suggest you to divide the days with some things to see, without creating too much stress to your itinerary.

First of all, we recommend that you find a hotel or accommodation in the historic center, so you have the opportunity to move on foot to reach the main attractions that we will suggest. As you will see we have divided the article into seven points, gradually inserting the various things to do.

We suggest you visit the two main squares of the city, with its two most important buildings. We are talking about Piazza Duomo and Piazza della Signoria. Afterwards, you can not miss a visit to the Uffizi Gallery, one of the most famous in the world. In Florence, moreover, there are very characteristic neighborhoods that we suggest you visit, such as the Oltrarno district: a real gem. Still, we will give you some tips on local cuisine, very rich and tasty.

Looking at Florence from above you will notice that it is surrounded by hills: we will advise you how to visit them for a trip in nature. You will then be able to fully enjoy this experience, you just have to finish reading and get on the road!

After your arrival in Florence, one of the first things to do as a tourist is to walk in the streets of the historic center. In this case, you can Start your adventure by visiting the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. The main church of the city. Here you can admire the majesty of the dome designed by Brunelleschi and you can climb up to the top for a panoramic view.

Not far away is Piazza della Signoria where you will find Palazzo Vecchio. Just walk along Via Dei Calzaioli and you will get there in a few minutes. The first thing that will catch your eye will be the majesty of this brick building, then the famous Fountain of Neptune and the sculptures around the same Palazzo Vecchio. The Palace is the seat of the Municipality, but it can be visited with rooms and frescoes not to be missed as, for example, the Salone de' Dugento.

Continue your first tour of the seven-day itinerary on what to see in Florence, walking up to the Arno River which is a few meters from Palazzo Vecchio. Here you will see a very characteristic bridge, with the artisans' shops overlooking the river, almost as if they were about to fall into the water. You are on Ponte Vecchio. The most characteristic bridge of the city. At this point, lose yourself among the old shops and some delicious snacks based on crushed meats and local meats.

Do not miss, in fact, a stop at the Mercato Centrale: the perfect place to enjoy authentic Tuscan flavors.

If you decide to visit Florence the main museum to see is the Uffizi Gallery. Here you can admire Renaissance masterpieces by artists such as Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Botticelli. We recommend that you book your tickets a little in advance, as the turnout is always very high. If you want to fully enjoy the museum tour you will spend most of the day here.

But if you still have time and want to continue the cultural enrichment by visiting other museums, here are some more that we highly recommend. The Galileo Museum to discover the evolution of the scientific instruments of the Florentine genius. The Boboli Gardens, located within the Pitti Palace, not far from Ponte Vecchio, for a relaxing walk and during which you can admire the fountains, sculptures and beautiful views of Florence.

Also, visit the Accademia Gallery to admire Michelangelo’s masterpiece, the famous David. What you saw outside the Palazzo Vecchio, near the main entrance, is a copy.

Here we are on the third day of your seven-day itinerary in Florence.

To see the next works you just have to go back to Piazza Signoria and from there continue for a few meters along the Uffizi Gallery and cross the river Arno. You can do this walking through Ponte Vecchio or Ponte San Niccolò and here you are in the so-called district of Oltrarno. First, explore Palazzo Pitti (inside of which, as written, just above, there is the Boboli Gardens), and visit the Palatine Gallery to admire works of art by artists such as Raphael and Titian.

Continue and stop in the Church of Santo Spirito to admire its Renaissance architecture: you will be struck by the completely bare facade. Wander among the workshops of artisans, in one of the most characteristic districts of the city, discover the secrets, such as the wine holes. They are called 'buchette del vino' of small crevices in the walls of buildings, from which, after knocking, if you are lucky, someone will serve us a drink. And in a moment we are in the Middle Ages. Many locals stop in this neighborhood to have an aperitif, especially in summer.

Today, the fourth day of your seven-day itinerary, dedicate your day to discovering the history of Florence. One of the most interesting cities in Italy.

To do so, it begins with a visit to the Basilica of Santa Croce, where the tombs of illustrious figures such as Michelangelo and Galileo rest. The facade will seem already seen, it is in fact one of the most famous churches.

Curiosity: in the middle of the square, every year in June, stands are built around a sand field. It is the arena of Calcio Storico: a challenge between the four districts of Florence. It is a re-enactment, but the competition, made up of two semi-final matches and one final, is every year very felt by the inhabitants of the center. If you happen to visit Florence during this period: the final is always played on June 24, the day of the Patron Saint, San Giovanni, try to buy tickets not to miss the show!

Also visit the Bargello National Museum, known for its Renaissance sculptures and the works of Donatello and Michelangelo.

After spending a few days in the city it is time to take a breath of fresh air in the nature. We recommend that you leave the city and explore the surrounding hills. You have many options: you can stop in the hills of Fiesole, Settignano, Vincigliata. In Fiesole, a charming village on the hills, you can admire the Roman ruins and the panoramic view of Florence.

You can continue along the roads that wind through the countryside and reach Mugello. Or visit Chianti, famous for its vineyards and wine cellars. From Florence we advise you to take the road Florence - Siena: along it you will enter the Tuscan countryside and many of the towns that will face represent an excellent example of Chianti. Among all, you might like to visit the village of Monteriggioni, with its medieval walls, or the village of Radda in Chianti, famous for its excellent wine. There are really many places, even less known but very characterful, that you can visit in a day from Florence. 

Join a wine tour and taste the renowned Tuscan wines.

For these tours we recommend renting a car so you can move around freely.

Back in town it’s time to enjoy the local cuisine. There are many traditional dishes that you can taste: pappa al pomodoro, ribollita or bistecca alla fiorentina, just to give a few examples. They are typical dishes that are found in many restaurants and inns, they are delicious and not too complicated to prepare.

After lunch, enjoy a walk along the Arno River or go shopping in the local shops. If you still have some time you can get to the Cascine. Either on foot (from the old town are about thirty minutes), or by bus. This is the largest park in the city, where many Florentines go there for walking or cycling. Until June 2024 you will also find the Ferris wheel for another view of the city from above. 

Dedicate your last day of the Florence Must-See Itinerary to exploring some of the city’s hidden treasures. Visit the Laurentian Library to admire the architecture of Michelangelo, then head to the Museum of San Marco to admire the works of Fra Angelico.

Finish your week with a sunset walk to Piazzale Michelangelo, to enjoy a breathtaking view of the city. During the day and in the evening, you can sit on the steps that overlook the city centre: go wild with selfies and photos!  Here too you will find a copy of Michelangelo’s David, of which you will have seen the original at the Accademia Gallery. 

Just above you will find the beautiful Church of San Miniato al Monte, also from this point you can admire a beautiful view.

You have reached the end of your seven-day itinerary in Florence. To move out of the city we remind you that there are various solutions. If you have to travel by train there is the Santa Maria Novella Station which is the main one, it is located in the center, a few minutes walk from Piazza Duomo. But the other city stations are also well connected, such as Campo di Marte, Statuto.

If you travel by plane, there is Amerigo Vespucci Airport, reachable by tramway. Or, in thirty minutes by train, you can reach Galileo Galilei International Airport, in Pisa.

Finally, if you travel by car, you can take either the A1 motorway to the South or the North of Italy, or the A11 motorway, the so-called Firenze Mare to reach the coast and arrive in Liguria.