Florence Photo Diary: How to Spend 3 Inspiring Days

The birthplace of the Renaissance, a Florence Photo Diary

This August we spent our first summer in Italy. We spent about half a week in Tuscany (which isn’t long enough!) and 3 of those days were in Florence. Florence, known as the birthplace of the Renaissance, is an ideal setting to seek inspiration and embark on your creative journey. Just like the great thinkers, artists, and innovators of the Renaissance, you can find inspiration in the city’s rich history, art, and culture.

It’s this amazing city in Italy with breathtaking art and architecture everywhere you look. Plus, the food is to die for! The atmosphere in Florence is so charming, with cosy cafes and bustling piazzas that make you feel like you’re in a movie. And don’t even get me started on the gelato – it’s a must-try!*

What you’ll find here

Here you’ll find how to spend 3 days in Florence, in the form of a photo diary (it’s kind of like an itinerary, but I’m letting the photos speak for me). If you’re looking for some amazing spots to take photos I recommend having a look at my post The Best Places to Take Photos in Florence and Most Beautiful Places In Europe To Take Photos. Here we go!

Day 1 in Florence

What to see in Florence

Florence has so many beautiful places to see and I highly recommend you spend a few days absorbing the beautiful art in the city. Boboli Gardens and Pitti Palace are a must and will take you all morning. Uffizi Gallery will take you a good few hours and is next to Ponte Vecchio, Florence’s most famous bridge.

We also tried and failed to see Michelangelo’s sculpture David at The Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze, or “Gallery of the Academy of Florence”. The line was crazy and although we had ticket for 2pm (you get a 15 minute slot) they were running over an hour late and the only choice was to wait in the line in the sun (Florence was experiencing a heatwave) and hope your time slot came up before the gallery closed for the day. So is it worth paying to see Michelangelo’s sculpture David at Gallery of the Academy of Florence? I’d have to say no.

We also spent an afternoon at the Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore and walked up the tower to see the dome and views of the city. There are also smaller spots like Piazza Santa Maria Novella and Piazza Santa Croce that are worth seeing.

Day 2 in Florence

What to eat in Florence

We escaped the summer heat by eating lots of gelato. There are plenty of vegan gelato options (I don’t think I saw one veganless gelato shop), just ask at any gelato stand! We also tried pizza, pasta, and bruschetta. You can read my recommendations on my post A Vegan’s Guide to Florence for all the spots I visited. 

Where to stay in Florence

We booked our first hotel close to the train station because we were arriving by train and had quite a lot of luggage and knew we would be too tired to haul it around town. We also wanted to stay in the city centre as it made it easier to get around to some of the sites in the morning. This hotel was Palazzo dal Borgo, a gorgeous boutique hotel near Piazza Santa Maria Novella. You can read my review of Palazzo dal Borgo here. We then checked into a new hotel outside the city for the last two days, Art Hotel Villa Agape. You can read my review of Art Hotel Villa Agape here.

Day 3 in Florence