One day in Florence

Galleria dell'Accademia

Home of Michelangelo's David, with his unfinished Prisoners in the hall that leads up to it. The museum is small, so the visit is shorter than the Uffizi.

1 h 30 visitOpen 8:15 am–6:50 pm · last entry 6:20 pm

Book the first slot of the morning and go straight to the David, then work back through the other rooms.

The museum says a reservation is highly recommended and that the wait without one can be long. Book a timed ticket.

Closed on Mondays, 1 January and 25 December. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing. Entry is free on the first Sunday of each month and on 4 November 2026, with no booking and a long wait.

See tickets

Source: Galleria dell'Accademia di Firenze, checked October 4, 2026

Medici Chapels

The burial place of the Medici beside the church of San Lorenzo. It has the Princes' Chapel in marble and hard stone, and Michelangelo's New Sacristy with the tomb figures of Night, Day, Dawn and Dusk.

1 h 15 visitOpen 8:15 am–6:50 pm · last entry 6:10 pm

Michelangelo's hidden room is only open by reservation, in small groups. Check the museum site for slots if you want to see it.

Closed on Mondays. Last entry is 40 minutes before closing. Entry is free on the first Sunday of each month.

Source: Musei del Bargello, checked October 4, 2026

Florence Cathedral and Dome

The cathedral is free to enter. The Dome climb, the baptistery, the bell tower and the museum need a ticket. The Dome is a narrow stair up to Brunelleschi's double shell, with a view over the roofs at the top.

3 h 30 visitOpen 12:45 pm–4:30 pm

Take the first Dome slot of the day. The free cathedral interior takes little time, so fit it in before or after.

Book a Dome time slot online before you go. The entry is fixed to the date and hour you choose and cannot be changed. Covered shoulders and knees are required inside.

Cathedral: Monday to Saturday 10:15 to 15:45, closed Sundays. Dome times are last climb slots: Monday to Friday until 18:45, Saturday until 16:30, Sunday 12:45 to 16:30. The baptistery closes at 13:30 on the first Sunday of the month. The Dome is closed for maintenance on 16 to 20 November 2026 and the bell tower on 9 to 13 November 2026. Closed on 25 December, 1 January and Easter Sunday.

See tickets

Source: Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore, checked October 4, 2026

Ponte Vecchio

Florence's oldest bridge, rebuilt in 1345 and lined with jewellers' shops. Crossing takes a few minutes, but the crowd slows it down.

30 min visitAlways open

Cross early in the morning, before the crowd builds. For the full view of the bridge, look from Ponte Santa Trinita.

Source: Visit Tuscany, checked October 4, 2026

Piazza della Signoria

The L-shaped square in front of Palazzo Vecchio, with a copy of Michelangelo's David and the Loggia dei Lanzi sculptures, including Cellini's Perseus. It is free and open at all hours.

1 h visitAlways open

Come back in the evening, when the day-trip crowds have left and the square is easier to walk.

Source: Visit Tuscany, checked October 4, 2026

Piazza Santo Spirito

A square in the Oltrarno with Brunelleschi's basilica on one side and cafes around the edge. Locals use it from morning until late evening.

1 h 10 visitAlways open

Come in the early evening for an aperitivo after the museums close.

Source: Visit Tuscany, checked October 4, 2026