Here are some recommendations for where to stay, daily itineraries, and where to eat. You will walk Florence for two and a half days, see a lot, and eat very well. Also recommended, a half-day trip by local train to Lucca. Most of the walking itineraries have the Duomo as the point of departure.
I have always stayed at Hotel Casci. It’s reasonably priced, centrally located, and clean.
These itineraries are PDF’s. Feel free to download:
- Florence arrival, lunch, mercato: Walk from Hotel Casci to Pepo’, a cute little lunch spot; take a stroll around the Mercato Centrale.
- Florence half day orientation walk: Half-day orientation walk around Florence: Duomo, Piazza della Signoria, Santa Croce, Ponte Vecchio, Pitti Palace, Santo Spirito, Piazza della Repubblica. Dinner at Osteria Fagioli (reservation required).
- Florence, day two: A full-day in Florence: Bargello Museum, Piazzalle Michelangelo, lunch at Fuori Porta, Accademia Museum (reservation required), Piazza Sant’Annunziata, Fiesole. Dinner at Trattoria Marione (reservation recommended).
- Florence, Lucca, day three): Half day in Florence, half day in Lucca. Dinner in Florence at Buca dell’ Orafo.
If you have questions, let me know by email or by using the Contact link at the top of this page.