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

Florence is a city that you will fall in love with. Its museums, churches and palaces, as well as its squares and streets, make it a unique destination. Of course, if you are only going to be there for one day, you will need to plan your time carefully and stick to a tight itinerary. My recommendation is that you visit the Duomo first thing in the morning and then walk around the city following the route I describe below. Get ready for a magical journey!

Plaza del Duomo is the nerve centre of the city of Florence, so booking a tour of Florence Cathedral is an ideal way to discover this enclave, home to Florence Cathedral, Brunelleschi's Dome, Giotto's Bell Tower, the Crypt of Santa Reparata and the Baptistery of San Giovanni. It is also, without a doubt, the busiest place in the capital of Tuscany. It is worth sitting down and taking a good look at 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 many things to do in Florence's Piazza del Duomo.

If you are only spending one day in Florence, I recommend that you take a stroll and let yourself be dazzled by every corner of the city. However, if you want to visit a monument, book tickets for the Cathedral, popularly known as the Duomo. Without a doubt, it is one of the most beautiful and impressive cathedrals in Europe, as well as 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 Brunelleschi's dome—from AED 42
• Private tour of the Florence Duomo complex— from AED 670
• Tour of Florence Cathedral with access to the cathedral, dome, baptistery and Opera Museum—from 640

I recommend that you don't waste a moment and purchase your tickets for the Florence Duomo in advance. There is a lot to see inside Florence Cathedral and it's best not to waste any time.

Climbing Brunelleschi's dome is one of the must-see attractions in the city of Florence. To do so, you'll have to climb a total of 463 steps, but believe me, it's 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. The interior decoration features scenes from the Last Judgement by Giorgio Vasari and Federico Zuccari.

If you want to visit, you can choose between:

• Guided tour of Brunelleschi's dome and the Florence Opera Museum—from AED 326
• Guided tour of the Duomo with access to Brunelleschi's dome —from 42
• Ascent to Brunelleschi's dome with a visit to the museum and the Florence Baptistery —from AED 305
• Guided tour of Florence Cathedral with access to the terraces and dome—from AED 386

I recommend booking tickets for Brunelleschi's Dome in advance to avoid disappointment 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, as it is always very crowded, be sure to take a photo in front of the Gate of Paradise, one of the three entrance doors, 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 are visiting Florence for one day, you can skip climbing Giotto's Bell Tower, especially if you have already climbed Brunelleschi's dome. However, don't forget 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 decide to go up, you should know that you will have to climb more than 400 steps. As with the dome, you will have one of the best views of the city of Florence.

After exploring the Duomo area in depth, I recommend heading to the Central Market, also known as the San Lorenzo Market, and taking a break to eat a lampredotto panino, a typical regional sandwich made with highly spiced beef tripe. Afterwards, take the opportunity to browse the market's many stalls and buy some souvenirs of your trip. This market is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. Another option is to book a food tour of Florence.

Next to the market, in Piazza San Lorenzo, you will find another of the essential visits of your trip, the Basilica of San Lorenzo, designed by Michelangelo and Brunelleschi. You can visit it from Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Inside, you will also have the opportunity to visit the Medici Chapel, a crypt where the remains of Lorenzo the Magnificent and another fifty 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 Novella, home to the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, one of the most important churches in Florence. Construction began in the mid-13th century and was completed a century later, combining Gothic and Renaissance features.

After enjoying your visit to the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, I recommend stopping at the Farmacia di Santa Maria Novella, 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 listed in the guidebooks and is truly wonderful. The visit will take no more than half an hour.

Very close to the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, you can stop, take some photographs and enter the Palazzo Strozzi, one of the greatest examples of Renaissance architecture in the city of Florence. Promoted 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 arch. In this square, impressive for its size, you will find the Column of Abundance, where two of the main roads of the ancient Roman city crossed. There is also a merry-go-round that is a big hit with the little ones.

Take the opportunity to take a break and have a coffee in one of the elegant cafés located in the arcades of the square, and if you are passionate about fashion, you should know that this is where you will find top brand shops such as Louis Vuitton, Dior and Dolce & Gabbana.

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

The most characteristic building in the square is the Palazzo Vecchio, dating 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 side the statue of Hercules and Cacus. 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 throughout 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 porticoed gallery that combines Gothic and classical elements, and the Fountain of Neptune, which dates back to the 16th century and was the first public fountain in the city of Florence. You can also see other statues, such as Perseus with the head of Medusa and Cosimo I de' Medici.

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

• Guided tour of the Uffizi Gallery—from AED 249
• Private guided tour of the Uffizi Gallery—from AED 529

Of course, you can always simply book skip-the-line tickets to the Uffizi Gallery and take a quick tour in search of the best works in the Uffizi Gallery, such as Filippo Lippi's The Virgin and Child with Two Angels, Botticelli's Primavera, etc. To do this, it is a good idea to study the route beforehand. Also, don't hesitate to visit the article on tickets to the Uffizi Gallery to find out all the details.

If you want to return to Florence, and considering that your visit is only for one day, I recommend that you go and touch the snout of the porcellino. Tradition has it that if you touch it, you will return to Florence and it will bring you good luck. Don't hesitate! What's more, the porcellino is located next to the Mercato Nuovo, so you can take the opportunity to pick up some local crafts such as leather goods or other souvenirs.

After touching the piglet's snout, 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 there to this day.

Crossing the Ponte Vecchio, you will arrive in front of the large Renaissance-style Pitti Palace, 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 Tuscany. Today, it houses an important collection of works of art, as well as porcelain, period costumes and more. In fact, it comprises a series of museums: the Palatine Gallery, the Modern Art Gallery, the Costume Museum, the Silver Museum and the Porcelain Museum. In addition, the Boboli Gardens are located inside the palace. If you have time, I suggest you take a guided tour of the Boboli Gardens and the Palatine Gallery of the Pitti Palace—from AED 452

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

And to round off a spectacular day, go up to Piazzale Michelangelo and enjoy spectacular views of the city of Florence. You can get there easily by booking the Florence tourist bus. If you look closely, you'll see that it's the image on many of the postcards of the city of Florence, and the panoramic view is truly impressive. This square is located on a hill south of the Arno River and also houses a bronze replica of Michelangelo's David.

If you are only going to be in Florence for one day, you need to be prepared for a race against time. Here are a few tips to keep in mind for this express trip:

• Don't obsess over getting into places: If you're only going to be in Florence for one day, it's better 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 an ice cream: they are a delight for the palate.
• Wear comfortable ankle 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 make the most of the day.
• If you are only going to Florence for one day, I recommend that you start your day early in the morning in Piazza del Duomo and spend the day strolling around the main attractions. Let yourself be dazzled by each of the palaces, churches, museums, and every corner of the city of Florence.
• And if you want to delve deeper into each of the suggestions or even discover other alternatives, visit the post on what to see and do in Florence.