Florence is the spark of the Renaissance—where Brunelleschi raised a dome that defied gravity, Michelangelo carved nerve and sinew from marble, and merchant families bankrolled genius. Today, its compact historic center is a living museum, stitched together by ochre palazzi, bell towers, and the sinuous Arno.

Beyond the icons lie the city’s daily pleasures: morning cappuccino in a standing-bar tazzina, a panino of Tuscan finocchiona, an afternoon in the Oltrarno’s workshops, and golden-hour strolls to Piazzale Michelangelo. In Tuscany’s orbit, medieval hill towns, Chianti vineyards, and cypress lanes are an easy day away.

Practical notes: many major museums close on Mondays; book timed entries in advance. Pack respectful church attire (covered shoulders), comfortable shoes for cobblestones, and expect limited-traffic zones in the center—walking and trains are king. Cuisine leans hearty: bistecca alla fiorentina, ribollita, peposo, and some of Italy’s finest gelato.

Florence

Florence rewards curiosity. Peek into courtyards off Via Tornabuoni, hear chisels in Oltrarno botteghe, then debate Botticelli vs. Caravaggio over a glass of Chianti Classico. By night, candlelit trattorie and vaulted cocktail bars give the stone city a soft glow.

• Top sights: Duomo complex, Uffizi Gallery, Accademia (David), Ponte Vecchio, Palazzo Vecchio, Basilica di Santa Croce, Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens, San Miniato al Monte.
• Local flavors: lampredotto at Mercato Centrale, truffle panini, bistecca from Chianina cattle, cantucci with Vin Santo, and artisanal gelato from family-run gelaterie.
• Fun fact: Florentine “wine windows” (buchette del vino) reopened in recent years—tiny stone hatches once used to sell wine directly from palazzi cellars.

Where to stay (hotel + apartment picks):

• Iconic luxury: Four Seasons Hotel Firenze (frescoed suites, vast private garden) or The St. Regis Florence (riverfront glamour, butler service).
• Design-forward classic: Hotel Brunelleschi (Roman-era tower, steps from the Duomo) or Grand Hotel Minerva (S. Maria Novella rooftop pool).
• Beloved mid-range boutiques: Hotel Davanzati (friendly, central) and Hotel Della Signoria (between Ponte Vecchio and Piazza Signoria).
• Great-value charm: Hotel Dali or Hotel Santa Croce (walkable to sights).
• Apartments and townhouses: browse VRBO Florence or compare hotels on Hotels.com Florence.

Getting there and around:

• Flights: Fly into Florence (FLR) or Pisa (PSA). Search multi-city and European connections on Omio (Flights). Typical fares from major US hubs range ~$700–$1,200 roundtrip in shoulder season.
• Trains in Europe: High-speed trains from Rome Termini to Firenze S. M. Novella take ~1h30 (from ~€20–€60), Milan ~1h55 (from ~€25–€70), Pisa ~1h20 (from ~€10–€15). Check times and book on Omio (Trains).
• Local transport: Walk most places; taxis are plentiful at stands. Avoid driving in the ZTL (limited traffic zone) unless your hotel registers your plate.

Day 1: Arrival, First Gelato, and Golden Arno

Morning: Travel day. If you arrive early, revive with a cappuccino and buttery sfoglia at Caffè Gilli (standing bar tradition) or a specialty flat white at Ditta Artigianale (Via dei Neri).

Afternoon: Check in and stretch your legs with an orientation loop: Piazza del Duomo’s marble patchwork, Giotto’s bell tower, then Piazza della Signoria’s open-air sculpture gallery at the Loggia dei Lanzi. Grab your first gelato at Gelateria dei Neri—try pistachio di Bronte and crema.

Evening: Sunset on Ponte Vecchio, then aperitivo at Procacci (tiny truffle panini with a flute of Franciacorta). Dinner picks: Buca Lapi (historic cellar; bistecca alla fiorentina and pappardelle al ragù), or Trattoria Cammillo (Oltrarno classic—tagliolini al tartufo, fritto misto). Nightcap at Locale Firenze, a cocktail bar set in a Renaissance palazzo.

Day 2: Michelangelo’s David, the Duomo, and Masterpieces

Morning: Meet a small group to efficiently see the essentials and skip queues.

Best of Florence: Small Group Tour Skip-the-Line David & Accademia with Duomo

After the tour, coffee at Scudieri by the Duomo. Snack idea: a schiacciata sandwich at Panini Toscani.

Afternoon: Uffizi Gallery: prioritize Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Primavera, Leonardo’s Annunciation, and Caravaggio’s Medusa. For lunch, head to Mercato Centrale—Da Nerbone for bollito or lampredotto, or fresh pasta at Pastificio.

Evening: Wander the Arno quays, then dine at Il Santo Bevitore (seasonal Tuscan with a modern touch—pici with wild boar, burrata starters). Gelato at La Carraia across the bridge, where the Arno mirrors city lights.

Day 3: Oltrarno Artisans, Pitti Palace, and a Hilltop Sunset

Morning: Breakfast at S. Forno bakery (olive-oil schiacciata, maritozzi). Explore Oltrarno botteghe: wood inlay, bookbinders, and small goldsmith studios off Via Romana and Borgo San Jacopo. Cross the Vasari Corridor’s shadow to the Pitti Palace; tour the Palatine Gallery’s Raphaels, then stroll the Boboli Gardens’ cypress alleys and grottos.

Afternoon: Lunch at Gustapizza (blistered Neapolitan pies; order the “Gusta” with arugula and grana). Visit Basilica di Santo Spirito’s Brunelleschi nave; pop into a wine bar like Le Volpi e L’Uva for a small producer tasting flight paired with crostini.

Evening: Climb to Piazzale Michelangelo and continue to San Miniato al Monte for a choir vespers if timing allows. Dinner at Osteria dell’Enoteca (excellent bistecca and cellar guidance) or Trattoria Sabatino (beloved, simple Tuscan fare at wallet-friendly prices). Finish with a Negroni at Manifattura, dedicated to Italian-only spirits.

Day 4: Full-Day Classic Tuscany — Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa (with Winery Lunch)

See three Tuscan icons in one curated day, with time to savor a farm lunch and local wines.

Tuscany Day Trip from Florence: Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa and Lunch at a Winery

Expect a morning departure and early evening return. Highlights include Siena’s shell-shaped Piazza del Campo, San Gimignano’s skyline of medieval towers, and Pisa’s Field of Miracles. Lunch is typically a rustic spread—ribollita, pecorino, and Chianti varietals—served among vineyards.

Dinner back in Florence: keep it light with a late bowl of pappa al pomodoro at Trattoria da Burde or a seafood plate at Fishing Lab Alle Murate.

Day 5: Markets, Santa Croce, and a Storytelling Food & Wine Evening

Morning: Espresso and cornetto at Caffè Scudieri, then wander Sant’Ambrogio Market—the city’s most local-feeling food hall—for seasonal produce, cheeses, and the offal stand beloved by grandmothers and chefs alike. Step into Basilica di Santa Croce to see the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli; peek at leatherwork at the adjacent Scuola del Cuoio.

Afternoon: Carve out an hour for the Bargello Museum (Donatello’s David, Renaissance sculpture masterworks). Late lunch at Trattoria Mario near San Lorenzo—hearty soups, bistecca by weight, and communal tables (go early, they don’t take dinner reservations).

Evening: Join a guided tasting walk that weaves history with bites: wine windows, small-production Chianti, schiacciata, and sweets.

Winner 2025 Florence Sunset Food & Wine Tour by Eating Europe

If you’re still peckish afterward, split a late bistecca at Regina Bistecca (beside the Duomo) or finish sweet with gelato at Vivoli (try riso or crema).

Day 6: Full-Day Cinque Terre by the Sea

Trade stone for sea. Color-washed villages cling to terraced cliffs, joined by coastal trails and short hops by train or boat. This is a full day from Florence, best done on an organized excursion so you can relax and maximize village time.

Scent of the Sea: Cinque Terre Park Full Day Trip from Florence

Expect early departure and evening return. Pack a swimsuit (Monterosso’s beach), comfortable shoes, and a light jacket for sea breezes. Back in Florence, unwind with a simple pasta late supper at Trattoria da Rocco (inside Sant’Ambrogio) or a glass of Vernaccia at Enoteca Pitti Gola.

Day 7: Final Favorites, Dome Views, and Departure

Morning: Early birds can climb Brunelleschi’s Dome for the city’s best panorama—reservations required—or opt for Giotto’s bell tower for staggered views of the cupola. Afterwards, visit the Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella for centuries-old colognes and herbal elixirs, or browse Via Tornabuoni’s boutiques for leather gloves and silk ties.

Afternoon: Quick bites before you go: All’Antico Vinaio’s stuffed schiacciata (expect a line; try the “La Favolosa”), or Procacci’s truffle panini if you want something snack-sized with finesse. Depart in the afternoon—Firenze S. M. Novella has frequent trains to Pisa, Rome, and Milan via Omio (Trains), and FLR/PSA flights are searchable on Omio (Flights).

Evening: If you have a late flight, toast the week from a rooftop—SE·STO on Arno or La Terrazza—watching the dome pale from terracotta to rose as the city exhales.

Extra tips and swaps:

• Mondays: some marquee museums close; flip Day 2 with Day 3 if needed.
• Wine lovers: swap Day 6 for a Chianti countryside tasting day—small towns, cellar tours, and olive oil mills. Check trains/buses on Omio if you DIY, or choose a guided option from Florence.
• Families: add the Leonardo da Vinci Interactive Museum and a picnic in Boboli.

Estimated daily budget (per person, mid-range): Breakfast/coffee $8–15; lunch $15–25; dinner $30–60; museum entries $15–30; day tours $80–150+; gelato $3–5; local transport mostly on foot.

In seven days, you’ll read the city like a Florentine: the engineering of a dome, the hand of a goldsmith, the pepper of a ribollita, the quiet of an Oltrarno cloister. Florence’s gift is how close it holds these riches—always an easy walk away, and always worth one more look back over your shoulder.