Florence
Best things to do in Florence, including free and rainy-day options
Book the Uffizi and Accademia for a fixed morning slot, then walk the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio and Oltrarno on foot — the centre is compact and 3 nights covers it. Skip the queues only if you accept seeing David and the Birth of Venus from outside; rain pushes you into the Uffizi, Bargello and San Lorenzo. Prices are 2026 estimates; check official sites for timed tickets.
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GuideFlorence
Key facts
- Time needed
- 3 nights for the core; 2 full days if you pre-book the two big museums
- Book ahead
- Uffizi and Accademia timed tickets, especially Apr–Jun and Sep–Oct
- Walkable centre
- Duomo to Ponte Vecchio about 15 minutes on foot; most sights sit inside 2 km
- Free highlights
- Duomo exterior, Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio, Piazzale Michelangelo, San Miniato al Monte
- Rainy-day core
- Uffizi, Accademia, Bargello, Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, San Lorenzo and the Medici chapels
- Duomo dome climbcheck
- Timed ticket with a set number of steps; book a slot, no lift to the top
- Best months
- Apr–Jun and Sep–Oct; Jul–Aug hot and crowded
- Getting around
- Walk or use buses and the tram; the historic centre is largely car-free
Florence: pick your plan
Florence rewards a short list. Decide what you will pay and queue for, then let the rest of the day be a walk. The table below gives the practical shape of each option: what it costs, how long it takes and who it suits.
| Option | Price (2026 estimate) | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uffizi Gallery | €25–30 booked online | 2.5–3.5 h | Renaissance painting; first-timers |
| Accademia (Michelangelo's David) | €16–20 booked online | 1–1.5 h | One masterpiece, short visit |
| Duomo complex (dome, baptistery, museum) | €20–30 combined | 2–3 h | Climbing and mosaics |
| Piazza della Signoria and Loggia dei Lanzi | Free | 30–45 min | Sculpture outdoors, no ticket |
| Ponte Vecchio and Oltrarno lanes | Free | 1–2 h | Evening walk, crafts workshops |
| Piazzale Michelangelo and San Miniato al Monte | Free | 1.5–2 h with the climb | Sunset views over the city |
| Bargello and San Lorenzo with Medici chapels | €10–20 each | 2–3 h | Rainy day, sculpture and tombs |
| Day trip to Siena, Pisa or Chianti | €15–40 transport | Half to full day | Breaking up the city days |
The detail that changes your day
The Uffizi and the Accademia are the two bookings that decide your trip. Both sell timed entry online and both sell out on peak dates; without a slot you can lose two hours to a queue that eats the morning. Book the Uffizi for opening time and the Accademia for late afternoon, or the reverse, so you cross the river and the centre once each rather than zig-zagging.
The Duomo is a complex, not one building: the cathedral itself has a free entry line, while the dome climb, the baptistery, the bell tower and the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo run on a combined timed ticket. The dome has no lift and the last stretch is steep and narrow; if stairs are a problem, the bell tower or the museum terrace gives a similar view for less effort. Dress code is enforced at the cathedral: shoulders and knees covered.
Everything else is a walking day. Start at Piazza della Signoria, where the outdoor sculpture costs nothing, cross Ponte Vecchio, then drift into Oltrarno for the Santo Spirito square and the craft streets. Finish with the climb to Piazzale Michelangelo and San Miniato al Monte for the classic view; go 45 minutes before sunset and bring water in summer.
For a half-day out, Siena, Pisa and Lucca are all reachable by train, and Chianti villages such as Greve in Chianti need a bus or car. Book the return leg before you leave, because regional trains fill at the end of the day.
What it costs
Museum tickets are the main spend; the city itself is cheap to walk. Budget for two paid museums, one Duomo ticket and a day-trip train fare, and the rest of your days cost almost nothing beyond food and coffee.
Prices below are 2026 estimates and change with booking fees and season. Always check the official ticket page before you pay a reseller.
| Item | 2026 estimate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Uffizi Gallery | €25–30 | Online slot; more with a guided entry |
| Accademia | €16–20 | Short visit; book to skip the line |
| Duomo combined ticket | €20–30 | Dome, baptistery, museum, bell tower |
| Bargello or Medici chapels | €10–20 each | Good rainy-day backups |
| City bus or tram single | €1.70–2.50 | Buy before boarding; validate |
| Train to Pisa or Siena | €10–20 each way | Regional trains, no seat reservation |
| Coffee standing at the bar | €1.20–2 | Sitting at a table costs more |
| Simple lunch | €10–18 | Panino, pizza al taglio or a trattoria plate |
Tips
- Book the Uffizi and Accademia the moment your dates are fixed; peak slots go first.
- Do the Duomo dome early or late; midday heat and crowds are worst in summer.
- Carry a light scarf or long layer for churches; bare shoulders and knees get turned away.
- Stand at the bar for coffee and pay less than at a table.
- Keep bags in front of you in the market and bus areas; see the safety page for the common scams.
- Buy bus and tram tickets before boarding and validate them on the machine.
- If it rains, head for the Uffizi, Bargello or San Lorenzo rather than waiting it out in a café.
FAQ
Questions people ask
What are the best things to do in Florence?
Book the Uffizi and Accademia for timed slots, then walk the Duomo, Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio and Oltrarno, and climb to Piazzale Michelangelo for the view. Three nights covers the core; add a day trip to Siena, Pisa or Chianti if you have a fourth day.
What are free things to do in Florence?
The Duomo exterior, Piazza della Signoria and the Loggia dei Lanzi sculpture, Ponte Vecchio, the Oltrarno lanes, Piazzale Michelangelo and San Miniato al Monte all cost nothing. Churches are free to enter but enforce a dress code; some side chapels charge.
What can I do in Florence when it rains?
The Uffizi, Accademia, Bargello, Museo dell'Opera del Duomo and the Medici chapels are all indoor and ticketed, so book a slot rather than queue in the wet. San Lorenzo market and the covered lanes around the Duomo also work for a shorter stop.
How many days do you need in Florence?
Three nights is the usual minimum: one day for the Uffizi and centre, one for the Duomo, Oltrarno and the viewpoints, and one spare for a day trip or a slow morning. Two full days works if you pre-book both big museums.
Do I need to book the Uffizi and Accademia in advance?
Yes on peak dates. Both sell timed online tickets that sell out in Apr–Jun and Sep–Oct. Without a slot you may wait an hour or more, or find entry closed for the day.
Is Florence walkable?
Yes. The historic centre is compact and largely car-free, with the Duomo about 15 minutes on foot from Ponte Vecchio. Use buses or the tram for the station, Piazzale Michelangelo and outlying areas.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialUffizi Galleries – official tickets
- officialGalleria dell'Accademia di Firenze – official
- officialOpera di Santa Maria del Fiore – official
- officialMusei del Bargello – official
- officialTrenitalia – official
- officialComune di Firenze – official
- secondaryWikivoyage – Florence