Rome to Florence Day Trip

Start the day with an early-morning train ride from Rome. You’ll want to start early so you can make sure you have time to see all of Florence. The train takes about 1.5 hours and will take you into Firenze's Santa Maria Novella (SMN) station.

Start the morning off by seeing the most iconic landmarks of Florence. Head to the Duomo (Cathedral di Santa Maria del Fiore) to admire the magnificent dome. Walk around the area to see the bell tower and the dome. You can climb the duomo and the bell tower, but you may not have time if you are trying to squeeze everything in! While in Piazza del Duomo, stop into Don Nino. They have the absolute best cannoli, and what better way to start the day than with a cannoli!

Once you are done at the Duomo, head over to the Galleria dell ’Accademia. This museum houses the famous David sculpture. Spend some time exploring the museum and marveling at Michelangelo’s iconic David. I highly recommend buying tickets online beforehand to avoid waiting in long lines. The museum is not huge, so this won’t take more than one hour.

Head over to Piazza Della Signoria. This whole square is filled with historic buildings and sculptures! Take time to walk around the bustling square. This square houses Palazzo Vecchio as well as the Uffizi. Palazzo Vecchio is in this square, which is the town hall of Florence. You can go into this building if time allows!

Piazza della Signoria is right near the Arno river. Walk down to the river and walk along it a little to take in the views. Cross over Ponte Vecchio to the other side of the river. The views from Ponte Vecchio are spectacular. There are also a bunch of shops along the bridge.

At this point, you are probably starting to get hungry! Eating in the Oltrano district (across the river) is highly recommended. If you are looking for a sit-down restaurant, I highly recommend Osteria Santo Spirito. This restaurant is known for its truffle gnocchi, which is mouth-watering good. If you are looking for something a little quicker, head to Gustapizza. Order a delicious pizza (you can even ask them to make it in the shape of a heart) and take it to go. I recommend sitting on the church steps in the square to enjoy your pizza and take in the atmosphere!

After lunch, you have two options. If you are into art and history and want a relaxing stroll, head over to Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens. Pitti Palace is one of the houses of the most famous family in Florence, the Medici family. This house is filled with important pieces of art. Walk through the palace and explore the expansive gardens in the back. If you are looking to sit and chill for a little while, the gardens are a great place to do so!

If you would prefer a panoramic city view and a nice walk, head to Piazzale Michelangelo. The view from this square is breathtaking of the whole city of Florence. Take the walk (which can be a little tough as it's uphill) or take a taxi up to the top. I suggest buying a bottle of wine at the top and relaxing for a little while to take in the views.

Florence is known for its shopping and leather. Head over to Via de Tornabuoni for some high-end shopping or Via del Corso for more local shopping!

If you are big into art, you can also go explore the Uffizi gallery!

Before you leave Florence, gelato is a must! My favorite gelato is from Edoardo, il gelato biologico, near the duomo. Other famous gelato places are Vivoli or Gelateria dei Neri.

Once you have had your gelato and have seen everything you want to see, head back to the train station to go back to Rome.

A Rome to Florence day trip is a good way to see Florence if you don’t have the time to spend a few days in Florence and the Tuscan countryside.

I recommend a Rome to Florence day trip to people who want to see Florence but don’t have the time to spend a few days in Florence. The atmosphere of Florence is not to be missed!

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to Florence. In need of further inspiration? Check out Gabrielle Palmer’s guide, Florence, Rome & Positano: One Week Italy Honeymoon Itinerary.