Florence is a lovely city for a visit of any duration. But it’s the perfectly idyllic spot to spend a lovely day before continuing on a longer Italian adventure. If you only have a day to spend in the Tuscan capital, this is how I’d recommend you pass the time…
After arriving at the train station, make your way to the city centre. No day in an Italian city can be said to have started unless you’ve had coffee and a treat. That makes Caffetteria Museum (Piazza del Duomo, 41), the cafe at the Museum of the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore, a natural first stop. They serve excellent cappuccino in an incredible setting, just behind the Duomo. The cafe is relatively quiet, but the views of Florence’s most iconic building are impeccable.
When you’ve finished your coffee, take a stroll around the Duomo. If you want to go inside, you’ll want to book your visit in advance of your trip. Personally, I like to admire it from afar – wandering down different nearby side streets offers unique views and perspectives on the stunning structure, which is easily my favourite church in the world.
No visit to Florence is complete without a bit of shopping. Wander over to nearby Libreria Giorni (Via de’ Martelli, 35) to check out their selection of vintage books. And then walk back past the Duomo to a small outpost of Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella (Via Roma, 2). The original location of this iconic apothecary opened in 1221, and you can’t leave Florence without at least one beautifully wrapped bar of their soap as a souvenir. Take a detour down the side streets to Foto Torrini (Via della Condotta, 20) to pick up a timeless snapshot of old Florence take home, too, before walking down to Piazza della Signoria.
At the Piazza della Signoria, take time to admire the Fontana del Nettuno, the historic Palazzo Vecchio and, my personal favourite, the Loggia dei Lanzi, an outdoor sculpture exhibit. If you’re hungry, you can stop for gelato at any of the dozen of shops around the square, too.
But don’t fill up on gelato, because lunch is coming up. The Piazza della Signoria is also home to Gucci Garden, and the new Gucci Giardino 25 (Piazza della Signoria, 37r). There’s nowhere more chic, aside perhaps from Gucci Osteria, to get lunch in Florence (but the prices at Gucci Giardino 25 are much more budget friendly, and the outdoor eating area, surrounded by flowers, is gorgeous on a sunny day.) After a leisurely lunch, make sure to visit the shop at Gucci Garden, as well. It’s the brand’s flagship, and offers unique pieces you can’t see, or buy, anywhere else in the world.
Take a post-lunch walk towards the Ponte Vecchio and cross the Arno River. The Oltrarno district is a little bit quieter, and has a more relaxed vibe that the city centre. There are plenty of artisan shops, vintage stores and small galleries. Let your instincts guide you. Stop in wherever looks interesting, and just enjoy the sites. (In Oltrarno, we absolutely love S’Forno for delicious, casual food, Enoteca Mondovino for olive oil and wine to take home, and Picteau Bar for cocktails with a stunning view.)
Take Ponte Santa Trinita to cross back over the Arno to the city centre. By this point, you could probably use a bit more relaxation, so stop in at La Terrazza (Vicolo dell’Oro, 6r), the bar in the Hotel Continentale, for a cocktail. The views, again, are stunning. You can see Florence at almost every angle from here.
Since you only have a day in Florence, that might be all you have time for – and it’s actually a lot, although you can do it all at a relaxed pace. But if your train to your next destination doesn’t leave until after dinner, there are so many wonderful places to choose from. Most recently, we dined at Vini e Vecchi Sapori (Via dei Magazzini, 3r), which we adored. But you can’t go wrong at Osteria Tripperia Il Maggazzino (Piazza della Passera, 2), either. Or Il Santo Bevitore (Via Santo Spirito, 64r), owned and operated by the same team as S’Forno, for that matter. Basically, the food in Florence is wonderful. If you can stay for dinner, it’s worth it.
And if you’re lucky enough to stay overnight before moving on, the Hotel Continentale is the place to book as long as budget permits. The location, right on the Arno, is breathtaking just for a start. It’s also incredibly convenient, particularly for short stays. All of the major attractions in Florence are within walking distance of the front door. The Ponte Vecchio is right outside that same door! We’ve only stayed once but it’s a firm favourite for us. We will be back as soon as we can manage it.
No matter how you spend a day in Florence, it would be hard not to fall in love. It’s the only place in the world that I can truly say I’ve never felt a moment’s unhappiness. There’s a feeling of peace in the small city. It’s unique, in my experience, and delightful. Anyone would be lucky to experience it, even for a day.
