What Are the Best Things to Do in Florence?

The Duomo complex

Santa Maria del Fiore is free to enter, though lines typically run over an hour, and the cathedral is open Monday to Saturday roughly 10:15am-3:45pm and closed Sundays for services. The Brunelleschi dome climb is 463 steps through narrow passages with no lift. Giotto's Bell Tower is 85 metres high with 415 steps and three landing stages. You must pick a dome time slot when buying or you are turned away at the door.

Plan a full morning here. Our florence city tours pages cover the routes around the piazza if you want company on the ground.

The Uffizi and David

The Uffizi holds Botticelli's Birth of Venus plus works by Da Vinci and Caravaggio. A quick stroll through the masterpieces takes about 2 hours, with 3-4 hours for a more thorough visit. David stands in the Galleria dell'Accademia, and a replica of him watches over the Piazza della Signoria.

Reservations at the Accademia sell out months ahead, so book early.

Ponte Vecchio and the viewpoints

Cross the Ponte Vecchio, then walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo for the classic view over the rooftops. Both cost nothing. Come at sunset for the best light.

Pass and card comparison

The Brunelleschi Pass covers six Duomo monuments, the dome climb included, is valid for 72 hours and can be bought in advance on the official website. The Giotto Pass covers everything except the dome. Both are sold by the cathedral, so check the current price there when you pick your climb slot.

The Firenze Card costs EUR 85 and gives 72 hours of entry to more than 60 museums, which suits visitors planning several museums beyond the Duomo complex.

Booking rules

Dome climb time slots sell out weeks ahead in peak season, and the Cupola requires a specific time slot or you are turned away at the door. Accademia reservations sell out months ahead. Book both as soon as your dates are fixed.

A two-day plan

Give the Duomo complex the first morning, with the dome climb booked for early. Spend the afternoon on Ponte Vecchio and the Piazza della Signoria. Start day two at the Accademia for David, then the Uffizi for 2 to 4 hours, and finish with sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo.

Getting here

Santa Maria Novella station has fast trains from Rome in 1.5 hours, from Milan in 1 hour 40 minutes and from Venice in over 2 hours, which makes a two-day trip easy from anywhere in northern Italy.

Mercato Centrale

The ground floor is a working food market, the upper floor is an eating hall, and it sits a short walk from the Duomo. Go at lunch, order at Da Nerbone and browse the stalls afterwards. Allow an hour or so.

The Baptistery and the Duomo museum

The bronze Gates of Paradise doors on the Baptistery are copies, and the originals are in the Duomo museum next door. Pair them with the Crypt of Santa Reparata beneath the cathedral, which holds church ruins from 405AD and uses the same free-entry line as the Duomo.

The Vasari Corridor

The Vasari Corridor, the raised passage above Ponte Vecchio that linked the Uffizi to Palazzo Pitti, has reopened to the public after eight years. Check availability with the Uffizi when booking.

The dress rule for the Duomo

Make sure your knees and shoulders are covered when climbing the Cupola, because the climb requires entering the cathedral. The same rule applies to any church visit, so jeans are acceptable but sleeveless tops are not.

Free highlights

Entry to the Duomo cathedral is free, though lines typically run over an hour, so arrive early or near closing. The crypt uses the same free line. The David replica in the Piazza della Signoria lets you see the pose without a ticket, and the walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo is the best free view in the city.

The top ten at a glance

Book the dome, the Accademia and the Uffizi ahead of travel. Everything else you can decide on the day.

Do it all at once

The Brunelleschi Pass covers six of these Duomo monuments in one purchase, and the Firenze Card at EUR 85 covers more than 60 museums for 72 hours if you want the wider museums too.