8 hours in florence

When you get off your train from Venice, turn left at the station concourse and head to platform 16 for luggage store, which is a manned office. Take a taxi from the station to Pizzale Michelangelo for a view over Florence. Walk to the Duomo, crossing the Ponte Vecchio, and perhaps stopping for a coffee to soak in the atmosphere on Piazza della Signoria. If you wish to vsit the Uffizi Gallery then prebook for around 2pm, allowing for a 2.5 hour visit. If you don't want to visit the Uffizi, then depending on the time you have available after lunch, consider climbing the campanile, or visiting the Medici Chapels, or perhaps even the Bargello. You will need to start back to the station around 430pm at the lastest.

I think uffizi will consume a lot of time.
How can I cover the following. Which one I should and which I should skip. And what should be the route?

Palazzo Vecchio Tower, Duomo, Bardini Garden, Boboli, Santa Croce, Medici Chapels, San Miniato, Piazza Michelangelo, Bargello, Palazzo Pitti, David ( are there 2 Statues there. I heard the original is gone greenish and is over a hill), Markets at San Lorenzo, ... Anything else.

Should I just walk to these, or taxi or a day card is available for transport?

Just take your pick. You don't need our help. Can't go wrong on any of them.

You need to read up and see which ones you would like to do. You can't do them all so tailor it to your wants and the restraints of a 7 year old.

I do need the help as I know i cannot do all. Possibly only 5-6 in 8 hrs. I don't know which ones to choose and how long will it take in each. What should be my route as well and how should I cover them for cost effectiveness?

You also have two youngsters- choose only two stops from your list. Your complete list is a two day marathon at best.

Shall we also try to predict what the weather will be? Estimating how much me you will spend anywhere is an impossibility as we dont know your attention span, your spouses and your children's will be. That reality always affect travel. Only you know what you'll be able to do based on how everyone is feeling upon arrival.

You need to research everything that you and your family want to see. Then decide what's most important and make the effort. You are limited time wise and if traveling in the summer months lines will be long. Throngs of tourists will be everywhere.

If you want to see the actual David inside The Accademia you will need reservations and even with those you'll wait in line.

Why not just arrive at the train station and head straight to Duomo? If you can get into the Bapistry then absolutely do so. Its amazing. From there I'd visit The Bargello museum, or if you got tickets to the Accademia to see David do it. Otherwise from the Duomo head to Piazza del Sinoria to see the other David statue, then walk to mercanto centerale or along the Arno foot path, have lunch and then head back to the train station.

Keep it simple.

With two kids, I would skip the Uffizi on this trip. Start in the Mercato Centrale and then follow the Rick Steves Florence Walk shown here.

https://d3dqioy2sca31t.cloudfront.net/Projects/cms/production/000/004/456/original/f854d0e8c9b4a3aded25efdb2bce1e92/renwalk.pdf

http://podcasts.ricksteves.com/walkingtours/RenFlorenceWalk.mp3

If you follow this route, you can stop off and see the Duomo/Baptistry/ Giotto's Bell tower, Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio and Ponte Vecchio. This walk will end at the Ponte Vecchio. From there, cross the river and walk to the Piti Palace. Tour here if you like and then begin the journey back to the train station. Be sure to stop for lunch and gelato along the way!

I echo taking the Rick Steve's Renaissance walk. You can download it on the app. It will take you to many major sites including the Duomo, Bapistry, Bell Tower, Piazza Signoria & Palazzo Vecchio, Arno River and Ponte Vecchio. It ends at the Ponte Vecchio and you can decide about seeing sites over the bridge.
If you also decide to go to the Mercado Centrale you will be in the same area as the Medici Chapel and Bascilica of San Lorenzo.

I have found that many of the site are within a fairly compact area. Enjoy your trip. We were just there and also in the Cinque Terre.

Where is the original David in this route?

Do I need any day pass or reservations on any places.

As Claudia mentioned previously, "If you want to see the actual David inside The Accademia you will need reservations and even with those you'll wait in line."

Sketch out your day, allowing for reasonable time to get from one place to the next. You will see what is possible in your limited time and prioritise your preferred sights. On the day you will be able to make sure you are on track and avoid missing something because 'time got away'.

0930 Arrive Florence and store luggage
1000 Take a taxi from the station to Pizzale Michelangelo for a view over Florence.
1100 Start walking to the centre
1130 Ponte Vecchio
1200 Piazza della Signoria & Palazzo Vecchio
1230 Duomo
1330 Lunch
1430 Markets
1500 Accademy for David or the Medici Chapels
1630 Start back to the station
1700 Collect luggage
1730 Train departs

Have a snack on the train from Venice to Florence. Once you arrive at S.M.N. station at 9:30, after checking your luggage, head directly towards Mercato Centrale. Browse the stands and the leather shops outside on the periphery (Massimo Leather on Borgo la Noce is a favorite) then go inside to graze for lunch. Tourists may like the upstairs area, which is newer, Mario Batali-influenced, and manufactured. I prefer browsing the 1st floor, buying honey, grapes, prosciutto, stopping at the 130-year old Nerbone beef stand for a sandwich. The real Florence.

After lunch, yes, walk over to L'Accademia. Think about making a res a couple days in advance if you want a set time, otherwise the ticket office is across the street. You can buy a ticket right there for 30 minutes in advance, 45, whatever. In high season this ease of entry may not be possible, but on a March weekday we were able to queue right up and be inside within 15 minutes. The museum is small, with of course David as the cornerstone. But the other sculptures/paintings inside are beautiful as well, and you can be in & out within an hour.

Then--just to say you've done it--mosey on over to the Ponte Vecchio bridge and see all the jewelry shops. Wander back towards the station by walking along the Arno River, maybe stopping for an afternoon espresso pick-me-up. I am saying 'no' to Il Duomo, which will no doubt be overrun with crowds and selfie sticks. Il Duomo is best at night, when all the people have disbursed, and you can walk right up and hand-inspect the detail of the facade. Incredible.

Enjoy your planning!

Should we buy the firenze card? Do we still need to buy individual museum tickets.

I guess if we skip uffizi then accademia is the only other place where we would need advance reservation. Is this correct.

Off the top of my head I would say no to the Firenze card, unless you plan on going museum-to-museum-to-museum, which would allow you no chance at enjoying the flavor of Florence itself.

If you are targeting Accademia as the only museum to visit--probably a good choice given your limited time--you can buy the tix in advance online.

You are the ones visiting the museums -- are you glance-at it-once-and-take-a-picture visitors or immerse-myself-in-the-artwork-for-15-minutes or somewhere in between ? You can "see" a lot of places from the outside and get some nice photos without having to pay admission fees or stand in lines.

I'd say somewhere in between. I dont want to just click pics from outside on all. Also dont want to spend fortune on tickets for each place and then just rush through it in 30 mins. So need to choose which one's to buy tickets for.

Wow such great information! I am gonna use some of the suggestions for our one day in Florence too. We drive there and stay the night then catch our train to Venice with two teens. Maybe we will pass by you?

You didnt mention the Galileo Museum which the kids might enjoy. There are usually no lines there. I would definitely try to do Accademia as the David is jaw-dropping and will probably be memorable even for the younger one.

interested in this topic as we are headed there this summer (2 kids, 10 & 17).. (I'll be posting my question soon, by the way!! ; ) ) I love all the ideas.. Since you stay is so short, maybe you should look into hiring a tour guide? I'll be curious to see what you pick!

Definitely don't skip the David! The Uffizi is large and you really do not want to just run through it - save it for another visit.

I would walk Florence so as to get a real feel of Florence. The city is very small and unless it's rainy, it will be the most pleasant way.
Down From the Station, first go to San Lorenzo Church and Medici Chapel, then goes to the Mercato Centrale where it will give you a hint of what Tuscan food is about, if it's lunch time, eat near the Mercato Centrale. Then continue to Piazza del Duomo, where you will find the Cathedral, baptistery and the campanello. Then go to Piazza della Signoria and have a coffe at Rivoire's and admire Palazzo vecchio, then go to ponte vecchio, cross it until Piazza Pitti, have at least a look at the entrance Of Palazzo Pitti, if sunny And still have time go And relax in Boboli Gardens, come back through via Maggio, look at the antique's, cross Trinità Bridge, have an ice cream at the corner, pass by Palazzo Strozzi, and if you really feel like Leaving Florence, go back to the station and go to the cinque Terre, but why on earth not stay 2 days in Florence and 1 in CT?

I think i missed a very vital information here. The day would be 19th june which is a sunday.

Does that change things and planning. Should i expect huge queues at some points.

While many other Florence museums are closed on Sunday, Accademia is open, 0815-1850. Best to reserve a time with advance tickets, then, and work your other wanderings around that.

Have fun!

If you want to have nice sea sceneries why don't you tour Elba Island? Still so genuine!