Your 3-Day Florence Trip: Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore & Beyond

Begin your exploration in the Oltrarno district, known for its traditional artisan workshops (leather, jewelry) and charming, less crowded streets. Wander through Piazza Santo Spirito, absorbing the local atmosphere and discovering unique craft stores.

"Best place ever! I'm so glad I discovered this! You can be creative in so many fun ways, and meet a lot of nice sweet people. I loved how I could think of my own idea, and how I got help from Emilie. It feels like coming home: to have a wonderful creative evening with fun people, having conversations and to make something beautiful. I'm surely coming more often!"— Romy Albers

Explore the magnificent Palazzo Pitti, a vast Renaissance palace that once housed the powerful Medici family. Delve into its impressive art collections and royal apartments, offering a deep dive into Florentine history and culture.

"Beautiful palace with ornate ceilings and grand rooms! The ceilings are beautifully decorated with frescos and woodwork. The palace and museums upstairs are worth a lengthy visit. The gardens are okay to skip but worth a visit if you have time."— Manu Rathore

Stroll across the iconic Ponte Vecchio and then make your way to Piazzale Michelangelo for breathtaking panoramic views of Florence, especially beautiful as the sun sets. Consider a short taxi ride for convenience to the piazza from the Ponte Vecchio area.

"We stopped at La Loggia del Piazzale Michelangelo in the evening for a light snack while enjoying the sunset, and it was exactly what we were looking for. Located on Piazzale Michelangelo, the restaurant is impossible to miss and offers one of the best views of Florence. We ordered a Margherita pizza and tiramisu, both simple, hearty and reasonably priced considering the location. But the real draw of this place is its setting. Sitting there with a glass of wine while admiring the panoramic view of Florence at sunset is a wonderful experience. It's the perfect place for a casual meal, a drink or a relaxing break while enjoying the city's iconic views."— Mousumi ROY

Begin your day by marveling at Michelangelo's iconic David statue and other significant Renaissance artworks within this renowned gallery.

"This was one of the most exciting stops on our art tour in Florence. While everyone thinks of the Statue of David when they hear the name of this museum, there is so much more waiting for you inside. Of course, seeing Michelangelo’s massive and flawless David in person is a unique feeling; the muscle details and the expression in his eyes are truly mesmerizing. One of the most surprising parts of the museum for me was the Musical Instruments section. There is an incredible collection, ranging from Stradivarius violins to very old pianos. It's a special section that shows art is not just about sculpture and painting. Regarding tickets and prices: The entrance fee is around €16 (it can reach €20 with the reservation fee). I highly recommend booking your tickets in advance because there is always a very long queue at the door. We had our tickets ready to avoid that wait. It is worth every penny to see David and get lost among those historic musical instruments."— Swift Bew

Experience a captivating classical music concert in an intimate setting, a perfect romantic and cultural end to the day in Florence.

"This is the best concert you can see in Florence. The interior is breathtaking and with the classical music, you will be lost to the art of strings. Trust me, you don't want to miss this (as a fan of beautiful painting, buildings and classical music). And finally, what made the whole experience complete was the add-on buffet dinner. It would be a crime if you did not add dinner to your concert tickets. If you are in Tuscany and didn't try the authentic Tuscan style buffet, my friend, you are missing out!"— Sunil Kumar

Admire the stunning exterior of the Duomo and step inside to experience its grandeur. This activity focuses on the cathedral's interior and exterior views, not including the lengthy climb of Brunelleschi's Dome or separate Baptistery/Bell Tower entry due to time constraints.

"The icon of Florence, the Duomo is incredible to see in person and has such a draw to it all across the city. The marble facade is beautiful, giving such a striking and unique appearance from all angles. The dome is super impressive from both the outside and inside. Inside the cathedral is actually quite plain, however this places more focus on the beautiful interior painting of Brunelleschi's dome. General entry to the Duomo is free however the opening times each day are relatively narrow. We queued around 20 mins to get in saturday late morning. I was allowed in wearing shorts above the knee as a man in February. There aren't any toilets inside."— Archie

Immerse yourselves in the world-renowned collection of Renaissance art, featuring masterpieces by Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, and Michelangelo.

"Easily one of most gorgeous museums we have been to. The powerful Medici family were passionate art collectors. They filled the upper floors with paintings and sculptures. You have amazing views of the city from the museum rooms! You can also walk the secret passageway which has separate ticket but worth it. It can be overwhelming so make sure you have in your mind what you really want to see so you don’t miss those paintings and sculptures since there are more than 100 rooms. For us in our list we didn’t want to miss Caravaggio, Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian, Leandro. -Plan 3 hours minimum for the trip. -Carry water it’s allowed. -Pre book tickets for sure to avoid long line and go early morning or end of day on weekday. -Wear comfortable shoes and respectful attire not shorts and sandals. The Uffizi contains masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance, including: • The Birth of Venus – by Sandro Botticelli • Primavera • Annunciation – by Leonardo da Vinci • Medusa – by Caravaggio • Paintings by Michelangelo, Raphael, and Titian"— Akshay Sinha

Enjoy a leisurely evening stroll across the iconic Ponte Vecchio bridge, admiring the unique shops and romantic Arno River views at sunset.

"An amazing bridge with an amazing view of the Arno river! It was such a pleasure to walk on a bridge with such a rich history. What was cool was that the various stores still had the same design and architecture externally that were present during the Medici times. The main highlight was being able to see the top walkway connecting the Uffizi Gallery to Ponte Vecchio still preserved and visible as you walk on the bridge. Overall, high recommend as you are taking a step back in history!"— Hun Sern Tan

Engage in a hands-on cooking class, learning to prepare traditional Tuscan dishes from scratch. This intimate experience is a wonderful way for couples to immerse themselves in local culinary culture and create lasting memories.

"Our pasta-making experience was absolutely wonderful from start to finish. We were greeted warmly by Elanora (forgive me if I’ve misspelled her name!) and immediately felt at home. The day began with a visit to a local market, where we picked out fresh ingredients for our dishes — such a special touch that made the class feel truly authentic. Back in the cozy kitchen and dining room, we learned how to make two different kinds of pasta and a delicious tiramisu for dessert, all while enjoying wine, water, and snacks along the way. Elanora shared fascinating stories and history about the town, and took the time to answer all of our questions. The class was small and intimate, which made it easy to follow along and connect with everyone. We ended the experience by sitting down together in the charming dining room to enjoy the beautiful meal we had created. It was educational, fun, and filled with incredible food — an unforgettable experience that I’d highly recommend to anyone visiting the area!"— Nicolette

Explore the vibrant Mercato Centrale, Florence's oldest and most famous market. Discover local produce, gourmet foods, and artisanal products on the ground floor, and enjoy the diverse food stalls in the bustling upstairs food court.

"A nice old school market on the exterior cool The first floor has many shops ran by locals selling a variety of food and goods. You can spend hours just browsing and watching the people of Florence go about their daily lives buying fresh produce. The second floor consist of a large food court selling a variety of foods and wines. I tried the lampredotto from a store and it didn't taste gamey at all with a nice kick from parsley sauce and chili oil. It was cool being able to try a wide variety of wine from the wine bar to go along with the food. Overall, highly recommend to make a stop here and enjoy what the locals enjoy!"— Hun Sern Tan

Transfer from your hotel to Florence Amerigo Vespucci Airport for your international flight home to New York, NY. Please allow ample time for travel and airport procedures.

"Our flight was heavily delayed and then cancelled after around five hours due to fog. This was entirely the airline’s responsibility (Volotea), not the airport’s fault. Other flights were delayed but ultimately not cancelled. That said, the airport experience during the delay was very poor. The gate area had very limited seating, and many passengers, including us, were forced to sit on the floor for hours. The airline provided a €20 food voucher, but we were only allowed to purchase one food item and one drink, even though the total cost was well below the voucher value. To make matters worse, there were no staff present in the gate area to speak to about the situation or to provide any guidance. Overall, it was a very uncomfortable and disappointing experience at the airport. TL;DR: Our flight was delayed for hours and then cancelled by the airline, not the airport, but the gate area had very limited seating so many passengers had to sit on the floor. The food voucher was restrictive and there were no staff available at the gate to provide updates or assistance, which made the overall experience very poor."— Jacob Ambach