Many of my travellers ask me the same thing:

Rather than reply with a list, I prefer to show how I plan Florence — the way I do for clients who want meaning, not motion.

Even a short stay can feel complete when you allow the city to slow you down. The trick is rhythm: choosing what to see, when to pause, and where to breathe.

A refined base such as Al Palazzo del Marchese di Camugliano, an aristocratic residence turned discreet boutique hotel in the heart of Florence, makes that rhythm effortless. From here, everything unfolds on foot — art, food, gardens, light.

• 2 Nights
• 3 Nights
• 4 Nights
• 5 Nights or More

4 Nights

Shape: add movement; let the city’s rhythm settle in.

• Days 1–2: as per 3 nights.
• Day 3: E-bike into Chianti with E-Dway; back by mid-afternoon for a museum-free evening.
• Day 4: Bellosguardo morning loop then a long lunch; late aperitivo under the Loggia Roof Bar arches.

5 Nights or More

Shape: add a light day trip or a cultural evening.

• Day trip by train to Lucca or Pisa — easy, car-free, and restorative.
• If visiting April–June, reserve an evening at Maggio Musicale Fiorentino.
• Fill remaining windows with the places that felt best to you — another rooftop, another wander in Boboli, or that pizzeria you loved.

The Essential View – Sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo

Every visitor climbs here; few understand what they’re seeing.

At Piazzale Michelangelo, the city doesn’t shout — it unfolds. The Duomo rises like a pulse, the Arno gleams bronze, the bridges turn to silhouettes.

Arrive an hour before sunset. Watch as chatter softens and bells begin to echo across the river. That’s Florence breathing in real time.

Walk a little higher to San Miniato al Monte: marble, mosaics, and silence. The view hasn’t changed in centuries — only the viewers have.

Just below Piazzale Michelangelo lies a quieter secret: the Giardino delle Rose, a sculptural rose garden designed in 1865 by architect Giuseppe Poggi.

It was created as part of the city’s grand reimagining — a green pause between the historic centre and the monastery of San Miniato al Monte.

Today, this small hillside park offers a thousand rose varieties, Mediterranean shrubs, and twelve whimsical sculptures by Belgian artist Jean-Michel Folon.

In late spring, the air is perfumed; in autumn, a few late blooms hold on — defiant against the season.

It’s one of those places where locals come to sunbathe, read, or just sit on the stone steps watching the city stretch below: a natural balcony over San Niccolò, with the Duomo framed in pink light.

Art and Elegance Without the Rush

The Uffizi is extraordinary — and perilous for anyone who tries to conquer it.

The key is restraint. Two hours. No more.

Linger where the air feels charged: Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, Leonardo’s quiet sketches, Raphael’s calm radiance, Caravaggio’s sudden dark.

Skip the queues; arrive early or late. Let a private guide pace the silence between masterpieces.

When you emerge, cross the Ponte Vecchio and walk into the Boboli Gardens, the Medici’s open-air theatre of cypress and fountains.

Gardens and Green Escapes

If Boboli is Florence’s grand stage, the Giardino dell’Orticoltura is its secret garden.

Created in 1852 for the Società Toscana di Orticoltura, it’s a calm corner of the city where locals read, chat, and escape the summer heat.

At its heart stands the Tepidarium Roster, a glass-and-iron greenhouse built in 1880 — a rare piece of Florentine Art Nouveau that glows in the afternoon light.

Come for a stroll, stay for the quiet.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by GIARDINO DELL’ ORTICOLTURA 🌳 (@giardinodellorticoltura)

Florence in Scent and Craft – Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella

Founded by Dominican friars in 1221, the Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella is one of the world’s oldest apothecaries — part boutique, part museum.

Step inside and you’re surrounded by vaulted ceilings, marble counters, and the scent of centuries-old formulas.

Everything is made by hand: rose water, iris powder, bergamot cologne.

Even if you buy nothing, the place itself lingers like perfume.

Active Experience – E-Bike Tours in Florence & Chianti

Florence is compact enough to walk, but exploring by e-bike offers a different kind of freedom.

With E-Dway Authentic Experience, small guided groups ride gently into Chianti’s vineyards and olive groves — stopping for tastings, photos, and stories along the way.

It’s a relaxed outing that suits all fitness levels and pairs perfectly with a morning start and lazy afternoon lunch.

Florence Still Sings – The Maggio Musicale Fiorentino

Since 1933, the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino has set the tone for Florence’s musical life — opera, ballet, and orchestral performances in one of Europe’s most elegant theatres.

Even a single evening here brings another layer to the city’s beauty.

Performances run from April to June, with concerts year-round. I can include tickets as part of your itinerary if you’d like a touch of culture between dinners and walks.

Aperitifs and Dinners with a View

As the city softens into evening, Florence becomes theatre.

The ritual of aperitivo is about light, timing, and atmosphere — knowing where to sit as the bells begin to ring.

A 16th-century loggia with open arches framing Santo Spirito — romantic, never hurried.

Contemporary, sociable, and ideal for cocktails before dinner.

Refined Tuscan cuisine with Brunelleschi’s dome in view.

One table, panoramic skyline, Tuscan dishes done with grace.

Eating Well in Florence – From Pizzerias to Trattorie

Florence isn’t about food trends — it’s about precision and pride.

The Gambero Rosso 2026 Guide highlights a few names that reflect this balance between quality and warmth:

La Divina Pizza – Organic flour, slow fermentation, and natural wine.

Giovanni Santarpia – Naples skill, Florentine sensibility.

Cipriano Pizzeria – Young, inventive, and already acclaimed.

Da Burde – Family-run since 1901, awarded Tre Gamberi for authenticity.

Il Vecchio e il Mare – Outstanding seafood and calm service.

Giotto – Modern Tuscan dishes done with care.

Lo Spela (Greve in Chianti) – Country restaurant worth the detour.

Florence Beyond – Day Trips by Train to Lucca and Pisa

Florence connects effortlessly to Tuscany by rail, so you can explore without driving.

In just over an hour, Lucca welcomes you with its Renaissance walls and Puccini heritage, while Pisa offers marble splendour and calm cloisters beyond the famous tower.

Both towns are best enjoyed early in the day or later in the afternoon when the tour groups thin — perfect for travellers who value art and architecture at a human pace.