Florence — birthplace of the Renaissance, land of gelato, and home to more beauty per square meter than anywhere else we’ve been. We decided to take it all in with our own DIY Florence Walking Tour, winding through art, history, and espresso breaks at every turn.
We only had two half-days to explore this Tuscan masterpiece — mostly because traveling with a tween means we don’t start our days until around noon. If your crew rises earlier (or requires less coaxing out of bed), you could easily do it all in one full day.
We didn’t actually go inside any of the major museums or palaces — but if we had, we still would’ve had time to enjoy everything. With timed tickets and about an hour per stop, this route totally works even if you want to step inside a couple of the big names.
👉 Scroll to the bottom for a full outline of our DIY Florence walking tour route.
Some links here are affiliate links. If you buy something, I might earn a small commission—thanks for supporting my blog! I only share products I use and stand behind.
Day 1: Across the Arno
1. All’Antivo Vinaio
We kicked things off at All’Antico Vinaio, home to the most famous sandwiches in Florence — and yes, they’re every bit as good as the internet promised. We first heard about it on YouTube, where travelers couldn’t stop raving about the pillowy schiacciata (pronounced – skya-CHAH-tah) bread stuffed with salty prosciutto, truffle cream, and just the right amount of cheese.
They’re so popular that there’s now a second shop directly across the street from the original — and both had equally long lines spilling onto the street when we arrived. The good news? The line moves quickly, and the payoff is absolutely worth it.
I did, however, get pooped on by a bird while eating mine — which, in Italy, is apparently a sign of good luck. Personally, I’d argue that’s debatable.
Back home, my husband has even tried to recreate these legendary sandwiches, and I have to admit — he’s come surprisingly close.
2. Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio, and the Ufizi Gallery
From there, we wandered through Piazza della Signoria, Florence’s open-air museum, surrounded by grand statues and the imposing Palazzo Vecchio. Out front stands the replica of Michelangelo’s David, which honestly scratches the itch if your family (like mine) is feeling a bit “galleried out.” We skipped the Galleria dell’Accademia this time — saving the original David for a future trip when enthusiasm levels are a little higher.
You can also walk right through the courtyard of the Uffizi Gallery, home to masterpieces by Botticelli, da Vinci, and Caravaggio. We didn’t go inside, but even just standing in the courtyard feels like stepping straight into the Renaissance. If you did want to go in, you could easily spend an hour here and still stay on track.
3. Ponte Vecchio
Next up: the Ponte Vecchio — packed, colorful, and oh-so-photo-worthy. We rewarded ourselves with a scoop (or two) at Gelateria Della Passera, one of the best spots in Florence for creamy, not-too-sweet gelato. They even had a grapefruit sorbetto that was bright, tangy, and absolutely amazing — the perfect refresher after weaving through the crowds.
4. Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens
We passed by Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens, both tempting but skipped this time. You could absolutely pop into one or the other if you’re doing the tour in one day — just keep your museum stops to about an hour each.
Then it was time for a well-earned glass of wine at a bar with a perfect view of the Ponte Vecchio. Watching the light hit those old goldsmith shops with a glass of Chianti in hand? Chef’s kiss.
5. Piazzale Michelangelo
We ended our day at Piazzale Michelangelo, the ultimate Florence viewpoint — and for good reason. From up here, the city unfolds in full Renaissance glory: the Arno River winding through terracotta rooftops, the Ponte Vecchio glowing in the late light, and Brunelleschi’s dome stealing the spotlight like the celebrity it is.
We almost stayed for sunset (and honestly, it was tempting — the light was unreal), but a friendly taxi driver warned us it becomes a total gong show trying to get a cab afterward. So, we left just before the sun dipped, catching that perfect golden glow without the chaos. It ended up being the perfect finale to the day — quiet, beautiful, and just busy enough to remind us that even in October, Florence still knows how to draw a crowd.
Note: Even though we didn’t go inside any sites, this route was full and satisfying. If you’re tackling it all in one day, you could easily add in a visit to the Uffizi or Pitti Palace without throwing off your timing.
Day 2: Cathedrals, Street Artists, and… more Gelato
1. Basilica di Santa Maria Novella
We started at Basilica di Santa Maria Novella, right near the train station — a perfect starting point if you’re arriving by tram or train. We admired it from the outside (because honestly, Florence’s facades alone deserve their own gallery ticket). The white-and-green marble detailing is stunning, and the symmetry is so satisfying it almost made me forget about the pigeons. Almost.
This spot is also a great place to just pause and take in the rhythm of the city — street musicians playing nearby, locals zipping by on bikes, and that mix of church bells and espresso machines that can only mean you’re in Italy.
2. Mercato Centrale
Then came lunch at Mercato Centrale, Florence’s ultimate food playground. Downstairs, it’s a bustling market packed with stalls selling everything from fresh produce to local cheeses and olive oils. Upstairs, it transforms into a lively food court where you can find every Italian craving imaginable.
We dove straight into truffle pasta, gooey pizza, and basically every carb within arm’s reach. Our daughter ordered an arancino — which immediately sparked the great Italian debate: arancino or arancina? The name (and even the shape) changes depending on which part of Italy you’re in. Some swear it should be round, others insist it should look like a little volcano. Either way, they’re crispy, golden perfection.
We’ll be heading to Sicily soon to test this theory firsthand — purely in the name of research, of course. Stay tuned for our highly scientific findings (and inevitable food coma).
3. Basilica di San Lorenzo
Afterward, we visited Basilica di San Lorenzo — again, from the outside — but the square was buzzing with vendors and local artists. We struck up a conversation (as best we could with our very limited Italian) with one of the street artists because we were curious about the texture he used in his paintings. It turned out to be ground-up marble, which he layered with oil paint, watercolor, or sometimes both. Even more impressive? This talented gentleman painted with only one arm. We ended up buying one of his pieces, which we ended up shipping home right away.
Update: We found the artist! His name is Stefano Zellini, and you can find his incredible work on Instagram and Facebook — highly recommend checking him out if you’re wandering through Florence’s San Lorenzo square.
4. Medici Riccardi Palace
Next, we walked past the Medici Riccardi Palace — fitting, since we’ve been studying the Medici family and their enormous influence on Florence. The exterior was under renovation during our visit, so we couldn’t fully admire its Renaissance grandeur. It now serves as a museum, but we decided to skip going inside this time and simply admired what we could from the street.
5. Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Baptistery, and Giotto’s Bell Tower
The Florence Cathedral — Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore — is one of those places that completely stops you in your tracks. It’s massive. Like, you think you’re ready for it… and then you turn the corner and your jaw just drops. The size, the detail, the colors — it’s unreal. The entire façade is covered in pink, white, and green marble, with intricate carvings and statues everywhere you look. It’s the kind of building that makes you wonder how on earth they managed to pull this off hundreds of years ago.
Next to it is the Baptistery, gleaming with those famous bronze doors that Michelangelo nicknamed the “Gates of Paradise.” They look like something straight out of a storybook — every panel is a tiny, perfect scene in gold. And then there’s Giotto’s Bell Tower, tall and elegant, dressed in the same marble patterns, reaching almost 85 meters into the sky. Together, the three buildings completely steal the show. You could stand in that square for hours just spinning in circles, trying to take it all in — and still not catch every detail.
Our tween was especially excited to point out details from our lessons on Brunelleschi’s dome — proof that sometimes homeschooling sticks!
5. Wandering Florence’s Fashion Streets
We wandered through Florence’s designer district, where every storefront seems to compete for your attention — Gucci, Prada, Ferragamo — all gleaming behind immaculate windows. The streets were buzzing with shoppers, tourists, and locals out for their evening passeggiata, and the whole area felt like a living catwalk draped in Italian style.
And because no day is complete without a bit of tween magic, we ducked into the Bialetti store, where a massive Stranger Things display stopped us in our tracks. Our daughter’s eyes lit up (literally) when she spotted a glow-in-the-dark Stranger Things water bottle — definitely her kind of Italian treasure. Souvenir mission: accomplished.
6. Vivoli – for Affogato
Then it was time for dessert round two: Vivoli, Florence’s legendary gelateria and affogato bar. It’s so popular that there are now two locations — right beside each other — and both were lined up out the door. Clearly, this place doesn’t mess around when it comes to gelato. My husband made a beeline for his beloved affogato (espresso poured over a scoop of gelato — truly the dream team of desserts), while my daughter and I stuck to classic scoops. He declared it the best coffee-gelato combo of his life, and honestly, I believe him. Every spoonful was rich, creamy, and full of that pure, old-school Italian flavor that makes you instantly forget you’ve already had dessert once today.
7. Basilica di Santa Croce
We wrapped up our sightseeing at Basilica di Santa Croce, a masterpiece in its own right. Its marble façade gleams in soft shades of white, green, and pink — elegant, symmetrical, and full of quiet grandeur. Standing in the square, it’s hard not to feel a little awestruck knowing that legends like Michelangelo and Galileo are buried just inside.
8. Buchette del Vino (Wine Windows)
Our final mission of the day was to track down some of Florence’s famous wine windows — buchette del vino. These tiny arched openings, built right into the walls of old palazzi, have been part of Florentine life since the 1600s. Back then, wealthy families with vineyards used them to sell wine directly from their homes, and during plague times, they became an ingenious “contactless” delivery system — centuries before the word even existed.
We finally found one at Enoteca, and the friendly server, who laughed that he does this about sixty times a day, kindly let me film the full “wine window moment.” I rang the bell and with a smile, he passed a glass of Chianti through the little wooden hatch like it was a secret handshake.
We ended up chatting with a lovely couple from Arizona for hours, sipping wine and soaking up that easy Florentine magic.
If you want to hunt down some wine windows yourself, check out the Wine Windows of Florence on Google Maps or Buchettedelvino.org — it’s one of the most unique ways to sip your way through Florence!
Even in October, Florence was packed, so I can’t imagine summer. But it’s worth every crowd — there’s a reason everyone falls in love with this city.
Getting to Florence & Parking Tips
Driving in Florence? Nope.
We stayed in Scandicci and took the tram into the city — super easy, cheap, and totally stress-free. Parking in Florence proper is limited and confusing, so unless you enjoy traffic-induced anxiety, the tram is the way to go.
The drive into Florence, though, was gorgeous — rolling Tuscan hills, olive groves, and trees just starting to turn autumn gold. Sometimes the journey is half the joy.
Steal Our Florence Walking Tour
You can do this the Syps way (two relaxed half-days) or power through in one ambitious day:
Option 1: Two Half-Days (Our Route)
- Day 1: All’Antico Vinaio → Palazzo Vecchio → Uffizi courtyard → Ponte Vecchio → Gelateria Della Passera → Palazzo Pitti → Boboli Gardens → Wine bar → Piazzale Michelangelo
- Day 2: Basilica di Santa Maria Novella → Mercato Centrale → Basilica di San Lorenzo → Medici Riccardi Palace → Duomo complex → Vivoli → Basilica di Santa Croce → Wine window hunt
Option 2: One Big Day
Start with Day 2 (Duomo and city center) in the morning, then cross the river for Day 1 in the afternoon.
If you book ahead and plan about an hour for each major stop (like the Uffizi or Accademia), you can absolutely do both sightseeing and step inside a few key sites in one full day.
👉 If you prefer to have everything perfectly planned (and want someone who actually knows the stories behind these stunning landmarks), check out GowithGuide’s Florence Highlights Walking Tour. It’s a fully curated experience with a local guide who can bring every piazza and palace to life.
👉 Or for something a little different, check out GowithGuide’s Florence by Wine — a delicious twist on sightseeing!
| Syps Family Florence Tip Box 🏛️ Getting Around – Florence’s historic center is best explored on foot (and your calves will definitely notice – wear comfy shoes or sandals). Streets are narrow, cobblestoned, and full of Vespas with no fear. Public transport isn’t really needed unless you’re venturing out of the city. 🏛️Food Tip – Gelato daily is practically mandatory. Look for spots where it’s stored in covered metal tubs, not piled up in neon-colored mountains. For lunch, grab an arranchino at Mercato Centrale. 🏛️Tickets & Timing – Book Uffizi, Accademia (David), and Duomo climb tickets online well in advance — they will sell out. Early morning or late afternoon slots help dodge peak crowds. 🏛️ Tween Survival Hack – Promise a snack after every major art stop. Bribery with pastries or gelato is 100% effective in Florence. 🏛️ Packing Note – Pack a refillable water bottle (or purchase a glow-in-the- dark Stranger Things water bottle in Florence – haha) — the Duomo climb is thirsty work, and buying bottled water near tourist sites can cost as much as a coffee. |
The Syps Survival Summary
Did we survive two full days of walking in Florence? Absolutely, yes.
Florence is wonderfully compact, so even with all the cobblestones, we managed to see everything we wanted (from the outside!) without feeling rushed. We soaked up art, architecture, and enough beauty to last until our next espresso. Add in incredible food, life-changing gelato, our first affogato experience, and a few glasses of Tuscan wine — and I’d call that a total win.