Help - Florence itinerary that includes a Monday

When is this trip?

12:30 Arrive at SMN train station, taxi to hotel and check in. Lunch at
Mercato Centrale Duomo Museum & Cathedral of SM del Fiore Basilica of
Santa Maria Novella Rick Steves Renaissance walk Dinner in hotel area
Evening walk to Ponte Vecchio

This seems like a lot. Assume you are at hotel, checked in by 1:30. Heading out again by 2- it's probably a 15-20 min walk to Mercato Centrale- arrive there 2:15, lunch then done by 3-3:30? To SM Novella- an hour or so there and it's now close to 5 pm.

Mercato is open every day and probably a lot livelier on a weekday.

I believe the Duomo is closed on Sunday, museum hours vary- depends when this day is
Is the Baptistry reno completed? you might want to see that as well

Duomo sites need to be on a different day

Put San Marco just before Accademia- they are close to each other.

Open Mondays: Brancacci Chapel, Santa Maria Novella, Santa Trinita, San Miniato, Benozzo Gozzoli chapel

See posts like this one: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/some-questions-about-florence-planning

Ruth,

We are visiting Florence next week for the 3rd time. It is an amazing city. A few notes on your itineary.

• Sunday the Cathedral is not open. I picked a random Sunday in September and the Duomo Museum is open and I highly recommend it. You can also climb the Dome in the afternoon, tickets can sell out. Looks like the Baptistry an the Bell Tower are also open on Sundays. Your schedule looks ambitious given that your train arrives at 12:30 p.m. If you really want to visit the Cathedral, you may want to switch your Sunday and Monday schedule as the Basilica of Santa Croce is open in the afternoon on Sundays. If you go to the Cathedral and want to avoid waiting in line to enter, you can take a guided tour. I did that in 2023 and completely bypassed the lines and the tour was excellent.
• Monday. If you are visiting the Basilica of Santa Croce, Scuola del Cuoio S.r.l. (Leather School) is directly behind the Basilica. Created in 1950 to provide training for war orphans, it is a working artisan workshop. If you go during the week and can see them honing their craft and then visit their lovely leather store. It is free to visit.
• The rest of your schedule looks relaxing.

Thank you so much for your suggestions!

This visit is Sept. 20-25 2026. We leave the day after tomorrow for Venice followed by the Village Italy tour, followed by Florence and Rome. I’ll probably jump back in here at some point for advice on a Rome itinerary, hah!

You’re right, the Duomo is closed on Sunday. It’s open Monday util 3:45 so I’ll put it on that day. The Baptistery renovation tour looks great but unfortunately is only on Saturday & Sunday. I have put San Marco before the Accademia.

Thank you nancys8 and SandyO for your ideas. I love the Scuola del Cuoio suggestion! I’ve stuck that in there.

Here’s my revised itinerary:

Sunday

12:30 Arrive at SMN train station
Check in to hotel
Lunch in hotel area
RS Renaissance Walk - Centro Storico
Basilica of Santa Croce
Scuola del Cuolo (Leather School) behind the Basilica
Dinner in Santa Croce area
Evening walk to Ponte Vecchio

Monday

Basilica of Santa Maria Novella
Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo), Duomo Baptistery or Duomo Museum
Palazzo Vecchio
Lunch
Cross Ponte Vecchio
Piazzale Michelangelo walk
Dinner in San Niccolo neighborhood

Tuesday

Bargello Museum or Galileo Science Museum
Lunch, Shopping
5:30p Uffizi Gallery
Cross Ponte Vecchio
Dinner in Santo Spirito area
Rick Steves Oltrarno walk
Evening stroll along the Arno

Wednesday

Morning: Palazzo Pitti & Boboli Gardens
Lunch - Mercato Centrale
Museo San Marco
4:45p Accademia (Tix printed out)
Dinner
Evening walk, whatever area we end up in for dinner.

Any other suggestions or recommendations would be welcome!

Cheers and regards