Even though I would never recommend trying to take in the beautiful Firenze in one day, here is a guide to be able to make the most of one day in Florence.

1. One of the most popular attractions in Florence is the Duomo in the center of the city. Tourists flow from all over the world to climb up the 463 steps to get a picture of the picturesque and unforgettable view.

But instead of waiting for the long line, try climbing up the Bell Tower! It always has a shorter line, less steps, different perspective at the top where you can actually get a view of the Duomo, and it something a little more unique to do!

2. Next you can head over to the Central Market to shop through the fresh market full of local produce downstairs. You can also grab a light lunch on the the second floor after working up an appetite from climbing up the Bell Tower.

3. Right outside the Central Market, you will find yourself in the midst of anything and everything leather in the San Lorenzo Leather Market. Get ready to play the bargain game here, if you play your cards right, you can come home with some real leather treasures!

4. After searching through the leather market, go see the real statue of David. Hint: buy your tickets ahead of line for a certain time in order to skip the lines that wrap around the corner.

5. Ready for a mid day snack? Head a little out of the way to Ponte Santa Trinita for some authentic and refreshing gelato. Here you can enjoy your gelato with a beautiful view of the Ponte Vecchio!

6. While you are already across the river in the “Oltrarno” neighborhood simply get lost in it for a couple hours! You will find many artisan shops, the Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens, and the local bars and restaurants of Santo Spirito.

7. From Santo Spirito head towards San Niccolo and climb up to Piazzale Michelangelo justs in time for sunset! Here you will come upon people sharing wine and enjoying the impeccable view.

8. After taking in this breath taking view of the whole city center, head back down the hill and stop by the Santa Croce church and grab a mojito from … during their apertivo, which is arguably the best one in town!

9. After trying this Italian drink, the fun isn’t over yet. Head back over to Santo Spirito to eat dinner at Osteria Santo Spirito! The gnocchi dish is so creamy that you won’t be able to stop no matter how full you feel! The steps of the church in the square is a wonderful place to enjoy some friendship, local music and dancing, and maybe even a drink from one of the many local bars.

Florence is the perfect walkable city full of intriguing wall art, famous sites, and amazing food. You could spend weeks but still never get bored in this small city. However, you can still make the most of only one day in Florence.

Did we miss anything? Share you comments below!

Here at TIS we are specialists in custom travel planning, so if you are looking for more info on visiting Bella Firenze simply contact us here.

Kelsey is the Part Time Assistant Travel Consultant for Travel Italian Style and is a student at the University of Mississippi studying Hospitality Management with a minor in Spanish and Business Administration. Kelsey took part in an exchange program in Argentina in high school which created a flourishing passion for travel and learning about other cultures. From then on she took every advantage to study abroad and backpack through Europe. This past summer, Kelsey interned for a local restaurant, Touch, in Florence, Italy and fell in love with the Italian culture. She was able to have a real local experience by making friends with coworkers and locals. She wants to make it possible for everyone who travels to be completely immersed into the culture in order to gain another perspective and to be able to enjoy life even more.

cassandra santoro

April 23, 2016

Women Travel Tips/Stories

An Average Day in Florence, Italy

cassandra santoro

April 23, 2016

Women Travel Tips/Stories

By Kelsey Gibson

Ever wonder what an average day in Florence is like?

"One of the great joys of traveling through Italy is discovering firsthand that it is, indeed, a dream destination."

Living life in a foreign city that is so full of life, art and entertainment makes it impossible to be bored. Working in Florence creates the challenge of balancing work and play. Let me take you through an average day of mine while living in Florence.

Mornings:

Working in the evenings made me make the most of my mornings and early afternoons before heading off to work. My day started in the early morning with a run down to the Arno River, across to Santo Spirito, or, if I am feeling ambitious, up to Piazzale Michelangelo! Running always got my day started and let me enjoy the peace in the city before the streets got crowded with tourists and locals. After returning to my apartment to get ready for the day, I would stop by the caffe across the street in order to get my daily cappuccino or espresso on my way to the Oblate Library, a quiet spot in Santa Croce, or a near by park to read a good book or work on some assignments. Not many cafes are made to do work in like Starbucks and other coffee shops in the states, so the library is a better option for that as well as having an excellent view of the Duomo too! However, if you are determined to find a coffee shop with wifi, Ardnold Coffee by the train station is a great place to grab something to eat, people watch, and get some work done!

Afternoons:

After getting some light reading or work done, I head to the Central Market or Sandwichic, my all time favorite panini shop on Via San Gallo, to grab a light lunch. After lunch I would walk around and explore a new area of town that I may not have ever been to before. My favorite place to walk around is the Oltrarno neighborhood. There is always a new shop or caffe that I haven’t seen before that turns out to be a hidden gem. Last summer I found a tea shop, La Via Del Te with a friend where we sat for hours reading and enjoying time together in their beautiful back garden. Then, heading to work around 6 was also not a boring part of the day! I always looked forward to going to Touch to eat dinner with the restaurant family and working with my local friends!

Days Off:

On my days off, I would love to go to the pool and rides bikes in Cascine Park. It is extremely easy to get to by bus and only about a 15-minute ride. There you can rent bikes, pay for a day at the pool, enjoy the outdoor market, or simply walk around and enjoy the scenery. I also recommend going to the beach by San Niccolo or finding a ride to the parks further outside of town. San Niccolo’s beach also hosts some great free live bands and dancing on certain nights. Getting outside of the city center not only broadens your perspective of a city, but it also gets you out of the stagnant heat in the city center and gives you a nice breeze to cool off. Add a bit of gelato on the way and your day is made!

I woke up every day in Florence excited to take on the day and see what it had in store for me. Due to their laid back culture, Italy is the perfect place to take a deep breath, let everything else go, and simply be in the moment to enjoy the little things in life.

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Florence: so many sights to see, foods to devour and places to be; but, can you conquer it all in one day? YES!

Did we miss anything? Share you comments below!

An Average Day in Florence, Italy

Ever wonder what an average day in Florence is like?

"One of the great joys of traveling through Italy is discovering firsthand that it is, indeed, a dream destination."

Find it out for yourself and join one of our trips this summer to take in the sweet life, la dolce vita, of Italy and find a little more of yourself!

Your Italian adventure awaits.