Hi All! My trip to Florence is a week from tomorrow (I leave on the 4th) and after weeks of planning this is what I've come up with. My trip is October 5-10th and I need some help with my itinerary.

October 5th: Arrive in Florence at 3:20. Already scheduled transfer service to hotel from airport. I figure with getting luggage, passport control, and hotel check in we're not going to be free until at least 5:00. Does anyone have any idea what we should do at this time? Most of the museums and sights will already be closed or closing, so going to a particular sight doesn't sound like it would be an option.

Friday, October 6th:
Reservations for the Accademia are at 10:30. Most other sights aren't open until 9 or 9:30 so I figured Mom and I will just leisurly walk to the Accademia that moring and take pictures along the way.
-After Accademia we'll have lunch
-After lunch a short visit to San Lorenzo followed by Santa Maria Novella (our hotel is about halfway from Santa Maria and the Duomo). A friend of my mom's suggested these two sights after he lived in Florence for 6 months.
-No further plans-any suggestions? I figured it would be about 4:30 at this point, maybe earlier.

Saturday October 7th:
-8:30 Duomo and the Duomo's dome
-Afterwards Piazza Signoria & visit to Palazzo Vecchio before crossing Ponte Vecchio for good measure
-Lunch will be during this time
-After lunch maybe Santa Croce? Don't really have any firm plans
-4:15 is our reserved time for the Uffizi until it closes (if not before)
-Afterwards no further plans.

Sunday October 8th: Excursion to Pisa
11:20 is the reservation for the tower. I had originally planned to see the other sights on the Field of Miracles before my scheduled time slot, but I goofed that the Duomo doesn't open until 1:00 and since I would like to see it, we'll have to stick around longer than I thought. Oh well.
-After we return from Pisa I figured we could do some shopping, but this may fall flat due to it being a Sunday
-Early evening trip to Pizzale Michelanglo for the panoramic views

October 9th: Day trip to Siena & San Gimignano
-I know many say leave a day for Siena, but I just don't have the time and I would like to visit both cities

October 10th: Unfortunately this is back to the USA as our flight leaves early morning.

I have a lot of holes and other than the reserved sights and Day trips, I'm willing to re-arrange if someone else has any further suggestions. Thanks so much Fodorites!

Hi E,

On one of your evenings take the no. 7 bus from the SMN station up to Fiesole to watch the sun set over the city from the terrace of the Bar Bleu.

20 min - 1E each way.

On Saturday afternoon you might go to the Oltrarno (the neighborhood across the river) and wander. You could aim to see a few sights--the Brancacci Chapel at Santa Maria delle Carmine, the Pontormo frescoes at Santa Felicita, Pitti Palace . . . This is the less visited part of Florence. You'll lose most of the crowds and find quiet streets, some lined with antique and artisan shops.

I think your trip sounds wonderful. On your first evening, you might want to just wander around a bit to get your bearings and get familiar with the city, if you haven't already been there. You could walk to Piazza Signoria and have a hot chocolate at Cafe Rivoire, or to Piazza Repubblica and have a drink at one of the cafes there. And of course you can never see the Ponte Vecchio too many times! You and your mom will have a great time---enjoy!

Agree with ira re Fiesole, but you might also consider a late-day bus trip (bus #13) to Piazalle Michelangelo for dinner and sunset.

You can visit San Miniato al Monte. It's a church at a 45 minute uphill walk from Ponte Vecchio. You can also take the bus 13 to go there.

The church is beautiful and the view of Florence is amazing. The monks celebrate mass at 5pm singing gregorian chants.

That church is my favorite landmark in Florence.

Thanks for the suggestions. I wish we had more time to include more sights and day trips (Pitti Palace, Lucca, an entire day in Siena). But I have a feeling we're going to return someday...

I'm thinking we will just walk around Florence that first evening and get an "overview" of the city, or at least the city center.

Don't know about the trip to fiersole, but I'll try to fit it in.

After visiting Assisi and San Gimignano I wasn't really impressed by Siena. Since you know you're going to return to Italy, I think it's a good thing that you're visiting it along with San Gimignano. I wish I hadn't spent an entire day in Siena on my last trip to Italy. San Gimignano is tiny, so I think Siena and San Gimignano are doable in a day as long as you don't pretend to see everything each location has to offer.

Hey Jen-
My wife and I will be in Florence from Oct. 6th and leaving the 10th for Lucca. I don't know what kind of day you will have from Florence to Pisa, but you may be able to stop of for a short time at Lucca if it' on the way. The pictures I've seen of it look great. Have a wonderful trip.
Terry Dadd

Thanks Tdiddy. Wish I could stop in Lucca, but we just don't have the time. It's unfortunate because I would love to visit there. But with everything already planned in Florence itself and well as the other day trips to Siena, S.G. & Pisa it is just not possible for such a short trip.

Next time!

If you want to grab an evening wine tour, we really, REALLY, enjoyed the tour with The Accidental Tourist. Small group, picked up some lovely wine and olive oil and had the most fantastic 5 course meal made by 2 women at a private estate with unilimited wine, and specialy family recipe liquors or Walnut and Rose. This was a highlight of our time in Italy. Have fun!