Florence in 1 Day: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

Florence is a city to fall in love with. Its museums, churches and palaces, as well as its squares and streets make it a unique destination. However, if you are only going to stay for a day, you have to measure your time very well and stick to a tight itinerary. My recommendation is to visit the Duomo first thing in the morning and then walk around the city following the itinerary detailed below. Get ready for a magical trip!

The Piazza del Duomo is the nerve centre of the city of Florence, so booking a tour of the Duomo of Florence is an ideal plan to get to know this enclave where you will find the Cathedral of Florence, the Dome of Brunelleschi, the Campanile of Giotto, the Crypt of Santa Reparata and the Battistero di San Giovanni. It is also undoubtedly the busiest place in the capital of Tuscany. It is well worth sitting and contemplating this open-air museum. In addition, in this square you can also visit the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo and the Loggia del Bigallo. There are plenty of things to do in Florence's Piazza del Duomo

As you are only in Florence for one day, I recommend you to walk around and let yourself be dazzled by every single corner of the city. Of course, if you want to enter a monument, book tickets for the Cathedral, popularly known as the Duomo. Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and impressive cathedrals in Europe, it is also the third largest after St. Peter's (Rome) and St. Paul's (London).

Dating from the early 15th century, it was designed by the architect Arnolfo di Cambio and is characterised by its white and green marble façade. Inside is the tomb of Filippo Brunelleschi, the architect of the dome. And if you want to explore it in more depth, I recommend these options:

• Guided tour of the Duomo with access to the Brunelleschi dome -from £45
• Private tour of the Florence Duomo complex -from £131
• Tour of the Florence Duomo with access to the cathedral, dome, Baptistery and Opera Museum -from £124

I recommend that you don't waste a moment and buy your tickets to the Duomo of Florence in advance. You have a lot to see inside the Florence Cathedral and you don't want to waste any time.

The climb up to Brunelleschi's dome is one of the must-see sights in the city of Florence. To do so, you will have to climb a total of 463 steps, but believe me, it is worth it.

The dome of the Duomo is one of the most spectacular works of the Renaissance, with a diameter of 46 metres and a height of 114 metres. As for the interior decoration, it is characterised by a representation of scenes from the Last Judgement, the work of Giorgio Vasari and Federico Zuccari.

If you want to visit it, you can choose:

• Guided tour of Brunelleschi's dome and the Florence Opera Museum -from £63
• Guided tour of the Duomo with access to the Brunelleschi dome -from 45
• Visit to the dome of Brunelleschi with visit to the museum and the baptistery of Florence -from £60
• Guided tour of the Florence Cathedral with access to the terraces and the dome -from £73

I recommend that you book your tickets for the Brunelleschi Dome in advance so that you don't miss out and get ready to enjoy one of the best views of the city of Florence.

Opposite the Duomo is the Battistero di San Giovanni. Considered the oldest building in Piazza del Duomo, it is characterised by its white and green marble façade.

If possible, because it is always crowded, do not hesitate to make time to take a photo in front of the Gate of Paradise, one of the three access gates, which is characterised by its ten bronze panels depicting scenes from the Old Testament. On your day trip to Florence, I don't recommend going inside, but an ideal plan is to book a tour of the Baptistery and Brunelleschi's dome in Florence.

If you spend a day in Florence, you can skip the Giotto's Campanile, especially if you've already climbed Brunelleschi's dome. Be sure to take a selfie with the Campanile in the background, a work begun by Giotto and completed by Andrea Pisano in 1359. Of course, if you dare to go up, you should know that you will have to climb more than 400 steps. As well as from the dome you will have one of the best views of the city of Florence.

After seeing the Duomo area in depth, I recommend you head to the Central Market area, also known as the San Lorenzo Market, and pause for a panino di lampredotto, a typical regional snack made from spiced beef tripe. Afterwards, take the opportunity to browse the market's many stalls and shop for souvenirs of your trip. The market is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9 am. Another option is to book a food tour of Florence.

Next to the market, in Piazza San Lorenzo, you will find another must-see of your trip, the Basilica of San Lorenzo, the work of Michelangelo and Brunelleschi, which you can visit from Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm. Inside, you will also have the opportunity to visit the Medici Chapel, a crypt where the remains of Lorenzo the Magnificent and another fifty or so members of this popular Florentine family lie. Book a guided tour of Florence and enjoy this and other places that will captivate you.

Continue your walking tour to the recently renovated Piazza Santa Maria Nouvella, home to the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, one of the most important basilicas in Florence. Its construction began in the mid-13th century and was completed a century later, and it combines Gothic and Renaissance features.

I recommend that after enjoying your ticket to the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, you stop at the Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy, which is located on Via della Scala, just a two-minute walk from the square. It sells perfumes and remedies made from traditional formulas. This pharmacy is not in the guidebooks and is a real marvel. It will take you no more than half an hour to visit.

Very close to the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, you can stop, take some pictures and enter the Palazzo Strozzi, one of the greatest exponents of Renaissance architecture in the city of Florence. Built by Filippo Strozzi, a member of one of the most influential Florentine families, it is an imposing stone building.

Continue your walk until you reach Piazza della Repubblica, which you will enter through a large archway. In this square, imposing for its size, you will find the Column of Plenty, where two of the main roads of the ancient Roman city crossed. There is also a merry-go-round that is a sensation for the youngest members of the family.

You can take a break and have a coffee in one of the elegant cafes located in the arcades of the square, and if you are passionate about fashion you should know that here you will find the shops of top brands such as Louis Vuitton, Dior and Dolce & Gabbana.

And from square to square: your next stop will be Piazza della Signoria, which lies between Piazza del Duomo and the Arno River. An enclave that has always been linked to the civil power of the city. In fact, it was once the site of trials and executions.

The most characteristic building in the square is the Palazzo Vecchio, which dates from the 14th century. On one side of the door you can see a replica of Michelangelo's statue of David, and on the other the statue of Hercules and Cacus. And inside you can see works by artists such as Giorgio Vasari, Domenico Ghirlandaio and Bronzino. My favourite rooms are the Sala dei Cinquecento and the Sala delle Mappe Geografiche, where you can look up your city over the centuries. Book a guided tour of the Palazzo Vecchio and get to know it in depth.

The square is also home to the Loggia della Signoria, a 14th-century arcaded gallery combining Gothic and classical elements, and the 16th-century Fountain of Neptune, the first public fountain in the city of Florence. You can also see other statues such as Perseus with the head of Medusa, Cosimo I de Medici .....

The Uffizi Gallery is a must-see in Florence, but if you only go for one day it is not recommended to enter because the estimated duration is a minimum of three hours. But if you have time, I recommend you:

• Guided tour of the Uffizi Gallery -from £54
• Private guided tour of the Uffizi Gallery -from £104
• Tickets for the Uffizi Gallery, the Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens -from £20

Of course, you can always just book tickets for the Uffizi Gallery without queuing up and take a quick tour in search of the best works of the Uffizi Gallery such as Virgin and Child with two Angels by Filippo Lippi, Spring by Botticelli, etc. For this, it is a good idea to take the tour with you. Also, don't hesitate to visit the article on tickets to the Uffizi Gallery to find out all the details.

A must if you want to return to Florence, and taking into account that your visit is only for one day, I recommend you to go and touch the nose of the porcellino. Tradition says that if you touch it, you will come back to Florence and it is also good luck, so don't hesitate! Besides, the porcellino is located next to the Mercato Nuovo, so you can take the opportunity to get some local handicraft gifts such as leather goods or souvenirs.

And after touching the snout of the porcellino, your next stop will be one of the most emblematic places in Florence, the Ponte Vecchio. Dating back to the mid-14th century, it is the oldest and most historic stone bridge in Europe. Its hanging houses and shops have had different uses over the years: in the 15th and 16th centuries they were occupied by butchers and later by jewellers and goldsmiths who have remained here to this day.

Crossing the Ponte Vecchio you will arrive in front of the large Renaissance style Palazzo Pitti, which dates back to the mid-15th century and is located south of the Arno River.

It has been the residence of various families of great influence in Florentine life, such as the Pitti, the Medici and the grand dukes of the Tuscan region. Nowadays, it houses an important collection of works of art, as well as porcelain, period costumes... In fact, it includes a series of museums: the Palatine Gallery, the Gallery of Modern Art, the Costume Museum, the Silver Museum and the Porcelain Museum. In addition, inside is the Boboli garden. If you have time I suggest you opt for:

• Guided tour of the Boboli garden and Palatina gallery of the Pitti Palace -from £89
• Tickets for the Uffizi Gallery, the Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens -from 20

If you were going for more than a day I would recommend that you book your tickets for the Pitti Palace and enjoy each of the collections it houses, but with so little time I would advise you to limit yourself to the architecture of the building.

To round off a spectacular day, climb up to the Piazzale Michelangelo and enjoy spectacular views of the city of Florence. You can get there comfortably if you book the Florence tourist bus. If you look closely, it is the image of many of the postcards of the city of Florence and the panoramic view is really impressive. This square is located on a hill south of the Arno River and it also houses a bronze replica of Michelangelo's David.

If you are only going to spend one day in the city of Florence, you have to be prepared for a day against the clock. Here are a few tips to keep in mind for this express trip:

• Don't be obsessed with getting into places: If you're only going to be in Florence for a day, it's best to walk around as much as possible and soak up the city: its streets, its architecture, its people, its atmosphere...
• Take advantage of any break to have a gelato: they are a delight for the palate.
• Wear comfortable shoes such as wellington boots.
• Don't forget your camera.
• Don't sit down to eat in a restaurant at midday: Ideally, you should eat something quick, as we have detailed in this one-day guide, so as not to waste time and so that you can make the most of the day as much as possible.
• If you're only going to Florence for one day, I recommend that you start your day early in the morning in Piazza del Duomo and stroll around the main sites throughout the day. Let yourself be dazzled by each of the palaces, churches, museums, as well as by every corner of the city of Florence.
• And if you want to learn more about each of the proposals or even know other alternatives, visit the post What to see and do in Florence