Best Things To Do in Florence in 24 Hours!

Start your day early to avoid the large tour group crowds. Palazzo Vecchio is the current town hall of Florence. The medieval-looking Palazzo and the Piazza Della Signoria square in front are the historic center of the city, a place for people to gather. On the inside, the hall and rooms are beautifully decorated and open to visitors. It is open daily from 9 AM to 7 PM.

The cathedral is free to visit and although it might look busy, the inside offers plenty of space so the line is a short wait.

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It is one of the largest cathedrals in the world and the world’s largest dome! Visitors are allowed on the top of the dome to have an incredible city view but it takes 460+ steps to climb to get there. Tickets to climb the Duomo sell out weeks in advance so if you’re wanting to do it definitely plan ahead and book.

After that walking, you must be hungry. Well, get ready for an experience at All’Antico Vinaio. This panini shop has tasty and affordable paninis (sandwiches) and there is always a line through the entire street, yes the entire street haha! But wait, don’t let that scare you off. They actually own three or four shops all next or opposite to each other that all sell the same so although the line looks long, it goes really fast. This is one of those things to do in Florence you should see!

Make your way towards the Arno river, a short 5-min walk. Ponte Vecchio, built in 1345, was Florence’s first bridge over the river. It is so unique because it is the only bridge that wasn’t destroyed during the war. Nowadays, the bridge has shops selling gold and silver jewelry so you won’t directly have the feeling you are crossing a bridge.

Piazza Santa Croce and the Santa Croce Basilica are a little more between the locals. Cafes and street performers are making the square, even more, an excellent place to sit down, relax, and absorb the charming Florence vibe for a bit.

Around sunset, make sure to be back at the Duomo of Florence and experience the sunset on the lively square Piazza del Duomo, in the dome on top or at one of the rooftops bars like La Terrazza or Robiglio. However, the absolute best spot is the rooftop of B&B La Terrazza Sul Duomo, where you need to stay here to get to the roof. It is one of the things you must do in Italy.

A common misconception is that Florence is as expensive as Venice. Let’s prove them wrong. Have a delicious Italian dinner at Trattoria San Pierino or Ristorante Brandolino where you have two freshly prepared portions of pasta and drinks for 20 EUR – 30 EUR.

Florence is best to reach by train as the city is well-connected to all major stations in Italy. The international airport offers direct flights to many European cities.