Florence is small enough to walk end to end in twenty minutes, which is exactly why three days works - if you book the right things. The honest tour-leader version: reserve the Uffizi, the Accademia for the David, and the Duomo dome climb, then walk everything else and cross to the Oltrarno, the left bank where Florentines actually live, for dinner. Skip the instinct to cram in a fourth museum; the city rewards lingering, not checklists.
Practical reality first: you will not use transit much - the center is compact and flat, and the only climbs are the dome and the hill to Piazzale Michelangelo. The non-negotiable is booking the big three on timed tickets, because the Uffizi and Accademia queues are brutal and the dome climb runs on slots. Reserve them the moment your dates are set and plan around the times.
3-Day Florence Itinerary
Day 1: The Duomo and the Center
Start at the Duomo complex: Brunelleschi's dome (booked climb), the Baptistery doors, and the bell tower for the view back at the dome. Walk to Piazza della Signoria and the Palazzo Vecchio, cross the Ponte Vecchio, and end the day climbing to Piazzale Michelangelo for the classic sunset over the rooftops.
Day 2: The Uffizi and the David
Spend the morning in the Uffizi with Botticelli's Birth of Venus and the Renaissance heavyweights, then see Michelangelo's David at the Accademia - both by timed ticket, booked ahead. Lunch at the Mercato Centrale, then Santa Croce for the tombs of Michelangelo and Galileo before an evening in the center.
Day 3: The Oltrarno
Cross the river to the Oltrarno. Take in the Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens, the Brancacci Chapel with Masaccio's frescoes, and the artisan workshops in the back lanes - this is the working, less polished side of Florence. Climb to San Miniato al Monte late afternoon for a quieter view than the Piazzale, and stay for the monks' evening service if the timing lines up.
Q&A: Florence in 3 Days
What must I book ahead?
The Uffizi, the Accademia (for the David), and the Duomo dome climb, all on timed tickets. In high season they sell out days in advance, so reserve as soon as your dates are fixed rather than queuing on the day - the lines for the first two are notorious.
Is three days enough?
For a first visit, comfortably - Florence is compact and you can see the big three, the center, and the Oltrarno without rushing. Three days even leaves room for a half-day in Fiesole on the hill above town, or a train to Siena if you want a taste of the countryside.
Do I need transit or a car?
Neither, really. The historic center is small and walkable, and a car is a liability with Florence's restricted traffic zone (the ZTL) and its fines. If you are day-tripping to Siena or the Chianti, take the train or bus, or rent only for the day you leave the city.
What should I eat?
Bistecca alla fiorentina (the giant T-bone, priced by weight), lampredotto - the tripe sandwich that is Florence's great street food - schiacciata bread, ribollita, and crostini di fegatini. Drink Chianti, finish with cantucci dipped in vin santo, and get gelato a few streets away from the Duomo, not on it.
When should I go?
Spring and fall are best: mild, with the light that makes the city glow and thinner crowds than midsummer. July and August are hot and packed; winter is quiet and atmospheric, the museums calmer, just with shorter days and the odd cold snap.