Florence Day Trip Itinerary

Part of the series: Planning Paris and Tuscany



Every travel site I have visited says to allow more than one day to visit Florence, if at all possible. We, of course, have packed as much of Tuscany into our 12 days there as possible, and so we only have one day to see this city.




Click the image to take you to the Google Map

1. Take the earliest train from Lucca to Florence.
• Depart Lucca @ 6:09, arrive Florence S.M.N. @ 7:50
2. Walk to the Piazza del Duomo, passing Basilica of San Lorenzo
• 1000m, ~15 minutes
3. Climb the Duomo tower, if desired
• 400+ steps
4. Walk to the Galleria degli Uffizi **This is optional, depending on our mood**
• 550m, ~7 mins
• Go early in the morning to avoid the worst crowds - Opens @ 8:15
• Take small change to purchase tickets
• Buy a guide book as you enter
• At the end of the second floor in the left wing, there is a cafe with an outdoor area with good views of the city
5. Backtrack to the Piazza della Signoria
• 120m, ~1 min
• Replica of Michelangelo's David, Hercules, the Fountain of Neptune
• Palazzo Vecchio
• Across the street, visit the Loggia dei Lanzi
• Rape of Sabine Women, Ercole and Centaur, Perseus
6. Walk to the Ponte Vecchio
• 350m, ~4 mins
• Oldest bridge across the Arno; only bridge that survived the war
• Famous for gold and jewelry shops
7. Walk to the Palazzo Pitti
• 450m, ~6 mins
• Boboli Gardens
8. Take a bus or taxi to the Piazzale Michelango (its a steep walk!)
• Panoramic views of Florence
• Come for sunset
• NOTE: We are in Florence during the Festival of Lights, this might be a good place to watch fireworks from
9. Take a bus or taxi back to the Florence S.M.N. train station for either of the last trains:
• Depart @ 22:10, Arrive @ 23:29
• Depart @ 22:25, Arrive @ 00:24