How many and which museums to see in Florence in one day

You could do the first 3 on one day
Skip Pitti-a real time suck

Hopefully not a Monday or free Sunday?

Agree, I would skip Pitti. Can you move the Academia to the night before? Then visit the Uffizi when it opens.

3rd vote to skip the Pitti. As previously said, it's a real time suck. Just trying to do the Uffizi, Accademia and duomo museum in a day might leave your eyes crossed by the time you're finished!

I went to the Academia in the morning and the Uffizi in the afternoon.

I can honestly say that by the end of the Uffizi, I was overwhelmed. But then I'm not a big art museum person.

I don't what kind of art you enjoy or want to see, but it will help to have a plan, especially for the Uffizi. For instance, is going to the Accademia just to see the David, or the David and the other sculptures, or the whole museum? Just the David does not take long.

For the Uffizi, it doesn't really work well to start at the first room and then keep going until you drop because then you may miss a lot of things you wanted to see that are in some of the later rooms --- this will give you an idea: https://www.visituffizi.org/museum/uffizi-floor-plans/ Last year, when I visited the Uffizi for the whole day (a 2nd visit), I had a map with each room labeled, and I circled some rooms and crossed out others --- you feel kind of bad just skipping things, but it's better to skip them on purpose than because you are exhausted. I have more museum stamina and museum interest than anybody I know, but the Uffizi is a LOT. I highly recommend going to the Uffizi first thing in the morning when it opens, unless you are really not a morning person.

The Duomo museum seemed OK for wandering around in without a plan --- it's not so intense, not so packed. Not so full of crowds, either. I have purposely skipped the Pitti despite spending a total of 12 weeks in Florence, but I'm not a fancy palace fan and much of the art is a later period and/or not as high quality as what I really want to see (also have skipped the Doge's palace in Venice).

I agree with others in skipping the Pitti Palace.

I spent about an hour in the Accademia Gallery with David and about the same in the Duomo Museum. I really enjoyed the Duomo because it was not crowded when I visited and exhibits are well described. Wandering around and following my interests was very pleasant. I agree with others in that the Uffizi requires a bit of planning. I used the RS audio guide tour and was very happy with this introduction and highlights of the gallery. An alternative would be to take a tour. It can be quite overwhelming!

Have a wonderful time in Florence!

I believe you can purchase timed tickets well ahead of your visit for Uffizi and Academmia. Be sure to take advantage of that. I’d try to do Uffizi early morning. Even with timed tickets the place is a mob scene, so give yourself some space. You’ll probably tap out about the three hour mark. Give yourself room for a nice lunch break and see Accademia in the afternoon. Accademia is small, but you’ll spend more time in there than you’d imagine. Skip past the painting galleries and focus on the Michelangelo. You should be able to fit Duomo museum before the end of the day. I’d also skip Pitti Palace.

the Academia doesn't take a long visit so I would add the Bargello...with a lovely lunch in between. Have been to Uffizi several times and it is overwhelming for sure....same as Pitti Palace. Enjoy exploring the city more than too much museum time indoors. Art all around!! IF you want another choice, the Santa Croce church is never crowded and gorgeous! then you can sit in the piazza with a gelato and people watch a bit as well.

Like June, I recommend going to the Bargello if you can. It is a totally different experience than the others you mentioned. I have only walked in the garden at the Pitti, so I can't comment further on that.

As june and Gwen have mentioned, the Bargello should, if at all possible, be included in your one day. It's very low-key, especially compared to the Uffizi. I also agree about Santa Croce...it was awe inspiring.

Accademia is small, but you’ll spend more time in there than you’d
imagine. Skip past the painting galleries and focus on the
Michelangelo.

I will kindly disagree. It's sort of unfortunate that Mike's big naked guy seems to the only reason so many people darken the halls of this museum as there are quite a number of paintings that are well worth seeing. As one example, a panel of Filippino Lippi's Deposition from the Cross (originally intended for the altar of Florence's church of Santissima Annunziata) that was unfinished when he died in 1504, and completed by Perugino, A young Raphael may also have contributed to the final product. The other half of the 2-sided panel, - Assumption of the Virgin - and attributed solely to Perugino is still in that church.

Other reasons to go:
https://www.galleriaaccademiafirenze.it/en/collections/

I love museums but can only handle about 3-4 hours a day in a museum. Doing three in a day you would be on your feet for several hours.