One day in Florence: realistic itinerary and Firenze card or no?

Your plans are already ambitious, IMO, without trying to add additional things to do. The Uffizi can be a real time suck (in a good way), unless you keep an eye on the time . The Firenze card offers no advantage over separate timed entry tickets if you're only there for 1 day. In fact, even with the card you need to get a timed entry in advance for both the Uffizi and the Accademia. And no matter what, you'll be standing in the security line before entering anywhere.

If I had only one day in Florence, and I wanted to see something like the Uffizi and/or Accademia, I would buy a tour. They get you in real fast, they take you straight to all the "important" stuff, and fill you with information. Sure, it costs a little money, but you've only got one day.

Also, you say your parents "want to see the city." I wonder what you mean by "seeing the city." You will not see the city from the Uffizi Gallery. Unless you look out the window. Heck, you can hardly see the art in the Uffizi Gallery, it is so crowded.

Also, we tried Mercato Centrale for lunch and it was just impossible. It was so crowded, we went round and round and round just looking for a spot for 2 people. I would not do that. If you want to eat at the food court in Mercato Centrale, go at 6 PM (or 18 as they call it). People in Florence eat dinner at 9. If you eat at 6, or even 7, as most Americans seem to do, there are plenty of seats available.

We didn't find Santa Croce crowded at all. We were there a week ago, and we just bought a ticket and walked right in. There was no line. But it was about 10 in the morning, so maybe we were just ahead of the crowd.

I'm not trying to be negative, it's just that you picked the most crowded places with the longest lines in Florence for your one day.

Thank you both. We booked the first time of the day for Uffizi and a 17:00 for the Accademia. We have researched exactly what we want to see in Uffizi, so we are planning on 2-3 hours there, then Ponte Vecchio, lunch and Santa Croce. How long were you at Santa Croce?

Time allowing, we'll putz around near the Duomo or the Piazzale Michelangelo, maybe grab some gelato, then finish the day seeing David and grabbing some goodies at the market before hopping the train back to our house.

Adubs, we spent a couple of hours at Santa Croce, but we were not pressed for time. We pretty much drifted through our trip at a pretty slow pace.

The Piazzale Michelangelo is likely not reasonable given the other plans you have. You may be able to fit it in if you take a bus, but don't even think about walking to it. While it is very walkable, it is long walk with lots of vertical climb. What you have planned sounds like a fun, full day and will leave you with many wonderful memories. If the food court at the market is too busy to find a place to sit to eat, get your food to go and sit outside on one of the piazzas or try one of the many restaurants surrounding most piazzas.

We just had 4 full days in Florence and never managed to get to Piazzale Michelangelo. Given your schedule, stay in town and find a nice place to eat and watch the crowds. Near Santa Croce, Osteria dei Pazzi is good and fun.

Way too ambitious. Two museums in one day that we probably spent a total of 5-6 hours.

San Croce is worth a visit, but you have to walk there and take some time to see it properly. Also, same as the Duomo (make sure the Duomo is open for tourist that day).

I suggest doing one museum (Accademia) and spend more time savoring this wonderful city.