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“Sure, Florence is touristy, but where else can you stroll the same pedestrian streets walked by Michelangelo, Leonardo, & Botticelli while savoring the world’s best gelato?”

— Unknown

Galleria dell’accademia

This is where The David is located. When we were in Florence they did not offer booking tickets in advance, so we planned to get there right at opening. We got there around 20 minutes before opening and the line was already 2 blocks long! I can’t emphasize this enough – get here early! Luckily since the doors hadn’t even been opened yet when we got in line, the line moved pretty fast once doors were opened (about 10-15 minutes). If you go later in the day, it could take hours to even get in though! As an art nerd, I have to say this was my favorite part of the whole day. When I turned the corner and saw the David, it literally took my breath away! If you can get here at opening, it is definitely worth it. Admission is 12 Euro per person. For up to date hours and pricing, see their website.

Piazzo del Duomo

We could not get into the actual cathedral because the wait was absolutely insane with a line wrapping all the way around the building. So if this is a must see for you then definitely plan enough time to wait in that line. We could’t wait as we had tickets for the Uffizi Gallery with specific timing. I didn’t feel like I missed out though because instead we climbed the Campanile. It was about a 30-minute wait to get inside and cost 18 Euro per person. Be warned, a part of me definitely died inside that tower climbing the 414 steps, but you do get breaks as there are 3 different levels with views all around. I highly recommend this as the views are stunning. I rewarded myself with gelato afterwards in the Square – I mean, I definitely earned it! Check out their website for up to date information. It does look like you can now reserve tickets in advance for these attractions now. I’m not sure if that’s just for COVID-19 precautions or if this will stay after the pandemic ends.

You’ll also see lots of street artists nearby here, to include people drawing masterpieces with chalk! It is amazing to see how talented they are. I had fun just walking around and watching them.

Uffizi Gallery

We ordered tickets ahead of time for this and honestly, if we hadn’t done that, I’m not sure we would have been able to get in this day. There was a huge line that did not seem to move at all from what we witnessed for people without tickets. You get an entrance time on your ticket, but expect to actually get inside after your entrance time as there was still a good 30-45-minute wait for us to get in. Do not be late to show your tickets though as they say you forfeit your ticket time then. Tickets are 12 Euro per person during off peak season and 20 Euro per person during peak season. Purchase your tickets in advance through their website.

The lines in Florence are absolutely CRAZY! The more tickets you can buy in advance with ticket times, the better! This was my least favorite day from our week in Italy as it was just a lot of waiting in lines and feeling like sardines. With that being said though, I would not have omitted it from our itinerary. As an art major, it was still worth seeing all the amazing masterpieces in person!

If you’ll be in the area for longer than just one day, check out my blog post about what to do in Tuscany!

What to Pack

Florence is a big walking city so definitely pack some comfy walking shoes such as these TOMS that I absolutely love. They are stylish, cute, and super comfortable when I’m spending most of the day on my feet!

Maxi dresses are a must in Florence. It is such a stylish and romantic city so dressing up is definitely encouraged! Maxi dresses are nice because they are stylish but still functional! I love this wrap style one with all the playful designs and this one is one of my absolute favorites, simple yet elegant – AND IT HAS POCKETS! The same dress also comes in short-sleeves if that is more your style too!

If you’re anything like me, you get cold easily, so depending on when you are traveling to Florence, I definitely recommend bringing a light cardigan like this one, for moments that you get a bit chilly!

If you are going in spring or fall you definitely will want to bring a light jacket. Florence can get a bit chilly in the mornings and evenings during this time of year. I have two go-to light jackets for traveling. This one for the leather look (faux leather - no animals were harmed in the wearing of this jacket!) and this one for the jean jacket look!

For more tips as to what to bring with you to Florence, check out my list of 40+ Essential Travel Items for Europe!