Florence & Pisa 5-day Itinerary
Italy
Where to go and what to see in Florence to get the most from your trip – a 5-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Nicky Swallow.
Bucket list experience:
Laid out on the hill that stretches up behind the Pitti Palace, this 16th-century former playground for the Medici family is one of the most beautiful gardens in Italy.
This shady green oasis makes a wonderful escape on a hot, summer’s day and is criss-crossed by pathways, dotted with fountains and scattered with lichen-covered statues.
At the top is the walled Giardino del Cavaliere with wonderful views over the rural outskirts of Florence. Walk down via the Neptune fountain and the amphitheatre which was built to hold Medici court spectacles.
Don’t miss the Grotta di Buontalenti and the famous Mannerist statue of Cosimo I’s dwarf riding a turtle.
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Destination Guide >Recommended itineraries by our writers that include this experience
Italy
Where to go and what to see in Florence to get the most from your trip – a 5-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Nicky Swallow.
Italy
Where to go and what to see in Florence to get the most from your trip – a 3-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Nicky Swallow.
The garden is a 20-minute walk from Santa Maria Novella train station.
Most tourists stick to the area of the garden around the main Pitti Palace entrance; anyone wandering further afield to the lower garden is likely to find themselves with local Mums and their bambini and the odd Boboli cat.
The gardens are open all year round, seven days a week. It’s closed on the first and last Mondays of the month from November until May.
The garden is particularly magical early in the morning; it opens at 8.15am.
Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity
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Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Florence, Tuscany, Italy[0.4 miles]
Set on lively Piazza Santo Spirito, this charming three-star hotel has bags of character in addition to modern facilities and services. The top-floor loggia is a magical spot for an aperitivo.
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Florence, Tuscany, Italy[0.6 miles]
Set on the south bank of the Arno River, the Ferragamo-owned Lungarno is a central, stylish and luxurious place to be based for a stay in Florence.
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Florence, Tuscany, Italy[0.7 miles]
An aristocratic mansion set in a magnificent private garden, AdAstra offers 16 beautiful rooms filled with antiques, up-cycled retro pieces and quirky design touches.
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Florence, Tuscany, Italy[0.7 miles]
Cool, edgy Ferragamo-owned design hotel by the Ponte Vecchio in the heart of the city – the perfect base for sightseeing.
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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Tuscany, Italy
A heady mix of incomparable Renaissance art, gorgeous palazzos, Tuscan cuisine and home-grown haute couture.
Tuscany, Italy
The astonishingly beautiful region of Tuscany has it all: art cities and ancient hill towns, high mountains and long sandy beaches, alongside luxurious hotels and some of Italy’s best food and wine.
Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
Florence, Tuscany, Italy[0.3 miles]
Housed in the city’s most imposing palazzo, Florence’s second-largest art gallery is home to masterpieces by Raphael, Rubens, Botticelli and Van Dyck.
Best for ages: 18+ | £9
Florence, Tuscany, Italy[0.6 miles]
Florence’s oldest bridge spans the Arno at its narrowest point and was spared from bombing by the retreating Germans after World War II. Thronged with tourists, it is famous for its glittering gold shops which replaced the original foul-smelling butcher’s shops in the 1590s.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Florence, Tuscany, Italy[0.7 miles]
A ride down the river Arno in a traditional wooden boat or ‘barchetto’ is one of the more unusual ways to see the city.
Best for ages: 4+ | £45 | 1 hour
Florence, Tuscany, Italy[0.7 miles]
The world’s largest and most important collection of Renaissance and Mannerist art, home to 5,400 works spans art history from ancient Greece through to 18th-century Venetian painting.
Best for ages: 18+ | £10
Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..
Florence, Tuscany, Italy[0.5 miles]
For centuries, the Oltrarno neighbourhood south of the river has been known for its artisan workshops; it still is today.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free | 2-3 hours
Florence, Tuscany, Italy[0.8 miles]
This side chapel of Santa Maria del Carmine church (separate entrance) is decorated with world-class frescoes by 15th-century artists Masaccio, Masolino and Filippino Lippi. Highlights of these seminal works which profoundly influenced the Florentine Renaissance include Masolino’s Temptation of Adam and Eve and Masaccio’s The Tribute Money. Book ahead to climb up and see them up close.
Best for ages: 18+ | £7
Florence, Tuscany, Italy[0.9 miles]
This imposing palace on Piazza della Signoria has been at the centre of power in Florence since its construction in 1299 and still functions as the town hall. Now partly a museum, its sumptuously decorated rooms reveal magnificent frescoes, coffered ceilings and hidden chambers. Book skip-the-line tickets online here.
Best for ages: 18+ | £8
Florence, Tuscany, Italy[1 miles]
This 16th-century palazzo is home to one of Italy’s most innovative public art galleries. Rotating exhibitions showcase artists as diverse as Jeff Koons, Ai Wei-Wei and Bill Viola and Bronzino, Donatello and Pontormo. The ‘Strozzino’ gallery in the basement focuses on contemporary art and peripheral cultural events.
Best for ages: 18+ | £13