Florence itinerary: Renaissance art, the Duomo and the Oltrarno
Florence is compact, but the big museums close on Mondays, the dome climb needs a timed slot and the queue for David can take hours. This prompt asks your todo.is agent to plan Florence with every booked visit on the right day, walking routes from the Duomo to the Oltrarno, and a day trip into Tuscany.
The prompt
- Make a Florence itinerary for [NUMBER OF DAYS] days, [TRAVEL DATES], for [WHO IS TRAVELLING]. Place the Uffizi and the Accademia (David) on days they're open, with official ticket links, and tell me if the Duomo climb, Giotto's bell tower or the baptistery need separate bookings. Plan walking routes: the Duomo and San Lorenzo, Piazza della Signoria and Ponte Vecchio, then the Oltrarno with Palazzo Pitti, the Boboli Gardens and Piazzale Michelangelo at sunset. Add one day trip to [DAY TRIP] with train or bus links. Art level: [ART LEVEL]. Include the Mercato Centrale, one trattoria per day and where to try bistecca alla fiorentina. Make it a PDF and email it to me. Don't book anything.
What to change
- [NUMBER OF DAYS]: E.g. "3". Two days covers the main sights; three or four adds Tuscany.
- [TRAVEL DATES]: E.g. "Sunday 5 to Wednesday 8 May". The agent checks which museums close on Mondays.
- [WHO IS TRAVELLING]: E.g. "couple", "art student", "family with a 10-year-old".
- [DAY TRIP]: E.g. "Siena and San Gimignano", "Pisa and Lucca", "Chianti wine tour" or "none".
- [ART LEVEL]: E.g. "art lovers, give us the Bargello and San Marco too" or "highlights only, 2 hours max per museum".
Example result
- Florence in 3 days, couple, art lovers
- Sunday to Tuesday · Renaissance art and food
- Day 1, Sunday: The Duomo and San Lorenzo
- • Early: Brunelleschi's dome climb at a booked slot (463 steps, no lift).
- • Baptistery doors and the Duomo Museum with the original Gates of Paradise.
- • Lunch: Mercato Centrale. Try lampredotto if you're brave, or fresh pasta.
- • Afternoon: Accademia for Michelangelo's David (book a timed entry).
- • Evening: Santa Maria Novella area, then dinner near San Lorenzo.
- Day 2, Monday: Oltrarno (most museums close today)
- • Morning: cross the Ponte Vecchio, then the Boboli Gardens (check the Monday hours).
- • Wander Santo Spirito and the artisan workshops of the Oltrarno.
- • Lunch: trattoria near Piazza Santo Spirito.
- • Afternoon: Santa Croce, with the tombs of Michelangelo and Galileo.
- • Sunset: walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo, then San Miniato al Monte for the monks' evening chant.
- • Dinner: bistecca alla fiorentina in San Frediano.
- Day 3, Tuesday: Uffizi and Siena
- • 8:15: Uffizi at opening: Botticelli's Birth of Venus, Leonardo, Caravaggio. Allow 2.5 to 3 hours.
- • Piazza della Signoria and the Loggia dei Lanzi on the way out.
- • Afternoon: bus or train to Siena (about 1 to 1.5 hours). Piazza del Campo and the striped cathedral.
- • Evening back in Florence.
- Getting around
- • Florence is best on foot. Cars can't enter the centre's ZTL zone without a permit.
- • Trains to Pisa, Lucca and Bologna leave from Santa Maria Novella station.
- Good to know
- • Churches ask for covered shoulders and knees.
- • Check opening days and ticket rules on the official museum sites; they change by season.
- • Gelato piled high and bright in colour is often not the best. Look for metal tubs with lids.
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and fill in your days, dates, group, day trip and art level.
- Paste it into todo.is on the Today screen, or send it to your agent on WhatsApp or Telegram.
- Your agent places each booked visit on an open day and emails you a PDF with the links.
- Book the timed tickets from the links, then send your times back so the agent can fine-tune the days.
Tips for a better result
- Book the Uffizi, the Accademia and the dome climb first. They decide the shape of every other day.
- Arriving on a Monday? Use it for the Oltrarno, gardens and churches, since the Uffizi and the Accademia are closed.
- Ask your agent for a day-by-day Google Maps link so you can follow each walking route.
- If you want a Tuscan winery, ask for one reachable by bus or with a driver. Don't plan to drive after the tasting.
Florence itinerary: FAQ
- How many days do you need in Florence? Two days covers the Duomo, Uffizi, David and the Oltrarno. Three or four days gives you time for a day trip to Siena, Pisa or Chianti.
- Are the Florence museums closed on Mondays? The Uffizi and the Accademia usually close on Mondays, and some other museums too. Your agent checks the official sites for your exact dates.
- Do I need to book the Duomo climb? Yes, the dome climb uses timed reservations and sells out in high season. Book on the official Duomo site.
- When is the best time to visit Florence? April to June and September to October are mild. July and August are hot and very crowded.
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