Florence sits in Tuscany, and its historic centre is small enough to cross on foot from north to south and from east to west. That suits first-timers who want the Cathedral, the Uffizi and Michelangelo’s David in one short trip, and it suits anyone who likes to walk between sights. The city has over seventy museums and about a dozen monumental churches, so a few days can be filled easily.
The catch is logistics. Lines build at the Uffizi and the Accademia, the Vasari Corridor needs a reservation, and driving into the center runs into the ZTL, the restricted traffic zone. Some visitors come for a hit-and-run trip with time only for a few selfies on Ponte Vecchio. A little planning gives the city a lot more room.
At a glance
- Where: Tuscany, historic centre on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1982
- Airport: Florence airport (Peretola), linked to Santa Maria Novella station by tram line T2
- Main sites: the Cathedral, the Baptistery, the Uffizi, the Bargello and the Accademia
- Time: itineraries are laid out for 1, 2 and 3 days
- Vasari Corridor: Friday evenings, 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., until November 20
Where is Florence and what is it like?
Visitors arrive at Florence airport, Peretola, and tram line T2 runs from there to Santa Maria Novella station. Day trips into Tuscany start from the city, which makes it a natural base.
The historic centre is largely pedestrian-friendly and easy to cross on foot. Beyond the main sights, the city has historic gardens, parks and villas, and the Boboli Gardens lie directly behind Pitti Palace.
Florence was the cradle of the Renaissance and the world capital of art in the 15th century. Its historic centre has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982. The Uffizi collection alone holds works by Giotto, Botticelli, Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo and Caravaggio.
What is there to do in Florence?
The Uffizi Gallery
The Uffizi Gallery fills the first and second floors of a large building designed by Giorgio Vasari and built between 1560 and 1580. The collection runs from Giotto and Simone Martini to Piero della Francesca, Botticelli, Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo and Caravaggio. The gallery receives over 1.5 million visitors a year and is the most visited museum in Italy.
It is open Tuesday to Sunday, 8:15 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and closed on Mondays, January 1 and December 25. The last entry is one hour before closing. A single ticket costs 25 euros on the day and 29 euros if bought ahead, and entry from 4 p.m. onward costs 16 euros. An audioguide costs 6 euros and comes in eight languages, including English.
Book ahead, because lines at the Uffizi are long and booking saves time. Tickets carry the visitor’s name, and if it does not match the ID document, entry is refused with no refund. The cafeteria on the second floor has a terrace with a panoramic view, a good place for a break halfway through.
The Vasari Corridor
The Vasari Corridor is a raised passage built by Vasari in 1565. It links the Uffizi to Pitti Palace across Ponte Vecchio and is roughly 0.6 miles (1 km) long. Visits run one way only, from the Uffizi to Pitti Palace, and finish in the Boboli Gardens.
In 2026 it opens on Friday evenings from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., from July 3 to November 20. Reservation is compulsory, and groups are 25 visitors plus two staff members. The visit lasts about 35 to 45 minutes.
The Uffizi plus Vasari Corridor ticket costs 43 euros, and the Friday evening ticket costs 20 euros. Suitcases, backpacks and large umbrellas are not allowed inside. Leave them in the free cloakroom, and plan to walk back to the Uffizi afterward, since the corridor cannot be walked back the way you came.
Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens
Pitti Palace holds the Palatine Gallery, the Gallery of Modern Art and the Museum of Costume and Fashion, and the Museum of Russian Icons and the Palatine Chapel too. A single ticket costs 16 euros, and the combined ticket with the Boboli Gardens costs 22 euros. Some rooms, including the Room of the Iliad, and the Treasury of the Grand Dukes are temporarily closed.
The Boboli Gardens sit directly behind the palace. They have large fountains, such as the Fountain of Neptune and the Fountain of the Ocean, and grottos, the most important one by Bernardo Buontalenti. The Kaffeehaus, an 18th-century pavilion, and the Lemon House are here too.
The gardens close at 4:30 p.m. in January, February, November and December, with last admission an hour earlier. In winter, go in the morning or early afternoon. The terrain is almost completely sloping and the soil is clay and gravel, so wear sturdy shoes.
David at the Accademia and the view from Piazzale Michelangelo
The Accademia houses Michelangelo’s David, and it is one of the five main sites, with the Cathedral, the Baptistery, the Uffizi and the Bargello. Lines are long here as at the Uffizi, so book museum tickets ahead.
Piazzale Michelangelo is a viewpoint south of the historical center. Buses 12 and 13 go up to it, which saves the climb.
Art lovers should start with the Uffizi and the Accademia. Anyone after the gardens and quiet paths has the Boboli Gardens and the viewpoint. Visitors with limited mobility should know that the Boboli Gardens are accessible only with an accompanying person. The Vasari Corridor takes wheelchairs and walkers within set weight and length limits.
How many days do you need in Florence?
Itineraries are laid out for 1, 2 and 3 days, plus three self-guided walking routes. One day covers the heart of the city on foot, say the Cathedral, the Uffizi and the Accademia. Two or three days leave room for Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens, a Friday evening in the Vasari Corridor and a walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo.
With more time, the 5 Days Ticket for all museums costs 40 euros, or 58 euros with the Vasari Corridor. Day trips into Tuscany and cooking classes fill the remaining days. On a short stay, drop the extras and keep the Uffizi and the Accademia, booked ahead.
Where to stay in Florence
The historic centre is largely pedestrian-friendly, so staying inside it puts the Cathedral, the Uffizi and Ponte Vecchio within walking distance. Santa Maria Novella station is a practical base too, since it is on both tram lines, T1 and T2, and T2 goes straight to the airport.
The provincial tourism website lets you book all accommodation in its ‘Dove dormire’ section, with equal conditions for every business. Book early in busy periods, since the Uffizi and other sights draw millions of people to the city each year.
How do you get to Florence and get around?
The Infopoint at the airport is on the arrivals side. A taxi to or from the airport costs 28 euros on weekdays, 32 euros at night and 30 euros on holidays. Another coupon offer covers the centre to the airport and back for 44 euros.
Florence is best seen on foot. Driving is hampered by the ZTL restricted traffic zone, and parking lots outside it are mapped for day visitors. Drivers coming off the motorway can park at Villa Costanza and take tram T1, or park in viale Guidoni and take T2.
Tram T1 runs from Villa Costanza in Scandicci to Careggi hospital, stopping at Parco delle Cascine, Santa Maria Novella station and Fortezza da Basso. Buses are run by Autolinee Toscane. Bus tickets cost 1.70 euros and last 90 minutes from validation. The Ataf call center answers every day from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Carsharing vehicles may circulate in the historic centre even when the ZTL is active. Bike-sharing is run by RideMovi through an app and QR code.
What to know before visiting Florence
U.S. citizens do not require a visa for short stays in Italy up to 90 days, according to the Italian Embassy in Washington. A few practical points follow.
- Passports must be valid for at least three months beyond the trip and contain at least two blank pages.
- Travelers visiting Italy for business, tourism or study up to 90 days must fill out a “dichiarazione di presenza”.
- The Uffizi ticket office closes at 5:30 p.m., and backpacks, bags and large umbrellas go in the free cloakroom.
- No eating or drinking in the exhibition areas, no flash photography, no selfie sticks or tripods, and phones off or on silent.
- The Infopoint at via Cavour 1R gives information on the whole territory of the metropolitan city, and the Firenze Card can be collected at tourist offices if bought online.
Tourist points run by private operators are not public offices.
Sources
- uffizi.it (https://www.uffizi.it/en/notices/rules-for-accessing-the-vasari-corridor), checked 2026-10-25
- uffizi.it (https://www.uffizi.it/en/the-uffizi), checked 2026-10-25
- uffizi.it (https://www.uffizi.it/en/pages/how-to-purchase-tickets?f_link_type=f_linkinlinenote&show_loading=0&flow_extra=eyJkb2NfcG9zaXRpb24iOjAsImRvY19pZCI6IjMzN2MzYzY2MDRlZTQwZGEtZDNhZTk0ZGE3NTQ2NzM4MSIsImlubGluZV9kaXNwbGF5X3Bvc2l0aW9uIjowfQ%3D%3D&push_animated=1&webview_progress_bar=1&theme=light), checked 2026-10-25
- uffizi.it (https://www.uffizi.it/en/notices/rules), checked 2026-10-25
- uffizi.it (https://www.uffizi.it/en/boboli-garden), checked 2026-10-25
- uffizi.it (https://www.uffizi.it/en/events/vasari-corridor-friday-evening-opening), checked 2026-10-25
- visittuscany.com (https://www.visittuscany.com/de/ideen/wie-man-sich-in-florenz-fortbewegt/), checked 2026-10-25
- visitflorence.com (https://www.visitflorence.com/), checked 2026-10-22