Figuring out Florence itinerary - input is appreciated

When you have any TBD or just extra time, add in:

Boboli Gardens
Bardini Gardens
San Miniato al Monte

Beautiful views over the city for a picnic down time

The outside of the Duomo and Campanile are the biggest attraction. All the real art is inside the Duomo museum. Actually going inside the Duomo is a long long line, and I wouldn’t consider it worth the time. Santa Maria Novella is the superstar church imho and it seems to fall off people’s list. Palazzo Vecchio is often open very late (23:00?) and is good to visit after the crowds die down a bit. Great views from the top there, and you actually get to see the Duomo from there (you can’t when you’re on the Duomo!)

You absolutely do need to see the Uffizi. It will be crowded no matter what. Just do as much as you can, and leave without regrets. There’s a nice cafe inside if you need a break.

If you can, book your food tour at the beginning of your stay vs. the end. You will likely be introduced to things or places you’ll want to experience again while you’re there. Personally, I’d hate to use my limited time in a cooking class, but different strokes for different folks.

There’s a lot of “small” sights in Florence that are worth stopping into. Keep these on your radar and play it by ear.

You can't visit S. Croce on Sunday morning; it is an active church and has services on Sunday.

As a general rule, your itinerary looks quite dense. After a week like that, I would welcome going back to work as a way of getting a bit of relax :-)

If you tour doesn’t go into the Duomo Museum,be sure to visit it

Thanks to all for the replies/suggestions! Forgot about Sunday re: Santa Croce, will have to move that around. We definitely plan to go into the Duomo museum, I think our first evening's tour is only exteriors. Will definitely keep in mind the gardens, thanks! I had been hoping to do the food tour earlier in our stay, but it just doesn't fit, haha! However, when we get to Rome (after Florence) we do have a food tour in Trastevere the first night.

I always approach an itinerary as a general outline, and if we decide to scrap some things or do different things, we will figure it out on the fly. I just don't like going without a basic (tentative) plan.

I almost didn't go to Florence based on not being that much into Renaissance art, but Florence converted me. Gorgeous art is everywhere (including the many churches) and it's beautiful beyond anything I imagined.

I did a small amount of study before my trip related to medieval vs Renaissance art, and I was glad I did; I enjoyed it more knowing a little bit about what to look for.

Melissa, we briefly considered skipping Florence also, for the same reason, but ultimately felt we HAD to go since it's our first trip to Italy.

I'm sure we won't regret it! :-)

Add San Marco, former monastery, Fra Angelico, a favorite place in Florence for us.

On my first night in Florence, I took a food and wine walking tour with Walks of Italy. It was one of the highlights of my trip! And as one of the other folks mentioned, it was a perfect way to get oriented both physically and culturally early in my visit.

San Marco is my favorite museum in Florence-you can see the art in its original location.

I assume some of your times are rough, but it always took me a little longer to get around than I would have planned. Partly due to having to look at a map and partly from looking at the scenery. Some of the tbd time may be taken up by wandering and getting lost. The mid-day and evening tbd's might be nice to do a relaxing meal instead of filling it with something organized, which might leave time to meander into some of the churches to see art that you or may not get to at the Uffizi (Santa Maria Novella, San Lorenzo Medici Chapel, Santa Trinita). Your last morning might be well used to just go for a walk and see the Duomo or other areas that you loved before all the tourists get there.

I appreciate all the ideas and suggestions. Thank you!

Yes, I'm trying to keep the schedule flexible, not necessarily add numerous set plans to my TBD times... just like to have a rough outline and assume we may change our minds, skip something, add something, etc. in the moment. Also helps to know what things must have times tix, like "the David" to maximize time (not spend it in ticket lines), and once I set those, the rest can work around those things.

BTW decided against the Bistecca cooking class. But did book a market food tour on Tuesday morning.

Some food recommendations from our visit last fall:

• Ora d’Aria – Michelin 1-star, more of a formal dining experience but also friendly and approachable – we loved it; they do have a 35 euro tapas tasting lunch if that’s more in-line with your budget; definitely make reservations which I think you can do online
• Burro & Acciughe – seafood-centric restaurant, very local feel and customers
• Cibreo Ristorante – gets a lot of buzz and it lived up; a little pricey
• Le Volpi e L’Uva – a wine bar with some food (flatbreads, charcuterie, cheese); we went at “off hours” and didn’t have trouble getting a table but it does get busy; they seem to reserve tables if you want to try calling ahead

Enjoy!

I do not know when you will be arriving Italy and where from but it seems you do not count with jet lag.
Even though, I feel that what you intent doing is a lot.
Feeling the soul of a town does not mean seeing everything but looking up to see how are their homes, streets, shops they are used to for their living, speaking and entertain with nationals.

I think you should take time to go to Piazza della Signoria and sip a coffee or cappuccino at Rivoire’s terrace.

Go to Ponte Trinita and get a nice ice cream at the corner with Via Maggio.

Visit craftmen’s Shops and boutiques.

Visit thé battistero, Museo Il Bargelo, i Uffizi, ( in Uffizi also look how the roof is, not just the painting and how it was built at the time, taking account of the river problematic). Better watch carefully 5 paintings that you love than seeing the whole museum.
Read on the people who made Florence:
Da Vinci, Fra Angelico, Galileo, Michelangelo, Cosmo di Medici. There are many more but this should already be a good start.
On one evening go to teatro del sale
https://mailchi.mp/teatrodelsale/blues-battisti-emaria-cassi?e=737cdc4a3d.
You will also eat there a memorable Tuscan Dinner.

Do a walking visit of Florence with a guide..

We loved Mercato Centrale Firenze. Fun to just look around but the food selections were great. Excellent place for lunch.

Again - thank you all for the great ideas. We will for sure make time for soaking in the city, enjoying the shopping, the coffee/gelato, etc! We'll be coming into Florence from Venice, after a week in Paris, so I don't think jet lag will be a problem by that time - thank goodness.