Florence · Itinerary
4 days in Florence with a full day in Siena
With four days, give Florence two focused sightseeing days, spend one day in Siena, and finish with a slower palace and neighborhood route. The break from museum rooms helps the main collections stand apart. This plan puts the Accademia and Uffizi together with a long lunch between them, leaving the cathedral for a separate morning.
At a glance
- Where to stay
- Santa Maria Novella is a useful base for this plan, especially with luggage and onward trains. Check the departure point for your Siena bus separately, since the most convenient service may not leave beside the railway station.
- Book ahead
- Uffizi and Accademia, Duomo dome and Baptistery
- Other lengths
- 2 days 3 days
Day 1: The cathedral and eastern Florence
- Morning
- Spend the morning around the Duomo, using your reserved slot for the dome if you plan to climb. Walk around the exterior afterwards to see the different sides of the cathedral without hurrying toward a museum.
- Afternoon
- Follow Via del Proconsolo toward the Bargello, choosing a visit if its opening hours fit. Continue toward Santa Croce for lunch and the church, or stay outside and explore the streets between the two squares.
- Evening
- Walk east toward Sant'Ambrogio, then return along Borgo degli Albizi. Keep dinner in this part of town so the day follows one area instead of repeatedly crossing the center.
- Dinner
- Choose a Tuscan trattoria near Santa Croce and order pappa al pomodoro if available, followed by a main course or seasonal vegetables.
Day 2: David and the Uffizi with a long break
- Morning
- Visit the Accademia early, then walk through Piazza Santissima Annunziata. Continue toward San Lorenzo for a substantial break before the afternoon, keeping shopping and extra visits optional.
- Afternoon
- Reserve an Uffizi slot that leaves about three hours before closing. Reach Piazza della Signoria with time to spare, and check the official entry instructions rather than joining the first queue you see.
- Evening
- After the galleries, walk along the Arno toward Ponte Santa Trinita. Cross here for the view of Ponte Vecchio, then choose dinner in Oltrarno without adding a hill walk to an already full museum day.
- Dinner
- Choose a restaurant around Santo Spirito and order a simple pasta dish. Save a long steak dinner for an evening when you want a larger meal.
Day 3: A full day in Siena
- Morning
- Take a suitable bus to Siena after checking its Florence departure point. From the central arrival area, walk toward Piazza del Campo and pause there before entering any paid sights.
- Afternoon
- Visit Siena Cathedral with the ticket that matches the spaces you want to see. Leave time for the steep streets around Via di Città and a sit-down lunch rather than trying to cover every museum.
- Evening
- Return to your bus stop with a comfortable margin and travel back to Florence. Keep the evening near your accommodation, since traffic and the walk out of Siena can make the return tiring.
- Dinner
- Have lunch in a Sienese trattoria and order pici with a tomato or meat sauce. Keep dinner in Florence simple.
Day 4: Palazzo Pitti and a final river walk
- Morning
- Start at Palazzo Pitti and choose a manageable selection of galleries. If you prefer gardens to another art collection, use the morning for Boboli instead and leave the palace interiors for another visit.
- Afternoon
- Walk through Piazza Santo Spirito and the streets around Via Maggio. Continue east along the south side of the river toward San Niccolò, stopping for lunch before considering the climb above the neighborhood.
- Evening
- Walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo if the weather is clear and you have enough daylight. Otherwise, finish beside the Arno and return over Ponte alle Grazie for a final walk through the center.
- Dinner
- Choose a neighborhood restaurant in San Niccolò and order Tuscan soup or pasta, leaving time to eat without rushing to a departure.
Tips
Tips for 4 days in Florence
- Move the Siena day to suit museum closures and weather, keeping the two Florence museum bookings together on a suitable opening day.
- Check both directions of the Siena bus journey before setting out, including the precise stop for your return service.
- If you leave on the fourth afternoon, shorten the palace visit and finish in Santo Spirito instead of walking to the viewpoint.
Questions
4 days in Florence with a full day in Siena
Is Siena better than Pisa for this plan?
Siena suits a full day of walking, squares and cathedral visits. Choose Pisa instead if the tower is your priority or you prefer a straightforward railway journey.
Is visiting the Accademia and Uffizi together too much?
It is a substantial art day, but the Accademia is relatively small. Keep a long break between bookings and avoid adding another museum.
Can I keep all four days in Florence?
Yes. Replace Siena with a slower day around San Marco and San Lorenzo, then spread the Accademia and Uffizi across separate days.
Does the final day work with luggage?
Leave luggage at your accommodation or a suitable storage facility before visiting the palace or gardens. Allow time to collect it before traveling to the station or airport.
Plan the rest