Florence for a day from Rome
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 17
Florence for a day from Rome
Hello - First time to Italy. We are staying a week in Rome and have 1 free day to spare and would like to take the train to Florence for a day.
Any suggestions on what to do for a day, areas to walk to or must see places while we're there?
I know we need more than a day to see the city but our time is limited (8Hrs) to at least experience Florence for a day.
FYI - we're pretty athletic family and have older teens with us as well.
Appreciate any recommendations.
Grazie!
Any suggestions on what to do for a day, areas to walk to or must see places while we're there?
I know we need more than a day to see the city but our time is limited (8Hrs) to at least experience Florence for a day.
FYI - we're pretty athletic family and have older teens with us as well.
Appreciate any recommendations.
Grazie!
#2
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: SFO, VCE
Programs: AA EXP >4 MM, Lifetime Plat
Posts: 2,881
Hello - First time to Italy. We are staying a week in Rome and have 1 free day to spare and would like to take the train to Florence for a day.
Any suggestions on what to do for a day, areas to walk to or must see places while we're there?
I know we need more than a day to see the city but our time is limited (8Hrs) to at least experience Florence for a day.
FYI - we're pretty athletic family and have older teens with us as well.
Appreciate any recommendations.
Grazie!
Any suggestions on what to do for a day, areas to walk to or must see places while we're there?
I know we need more than a day to see the city but our time is limited (8Hrs) to at least experience Florence for a day.
FYI - we're pretty athletic family and have older teens with us as well.
Appreciate any recommendations.
Grazie!
#3
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: SEA
Posts: 3,955
Assuming a same day arrival/departure, I'd probably try to squeeze in two meals, a long walk, and one place of interest.
Since you're going to start and end at Firenze SMN, I'd stop at the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella first. Its close to the station (obviously), but really underrated because the Duomo is nearby. Not enough people stop to see this building, IMHO. After that, lunch at Sergio Gozzi (they are not open for dinner) near Piazza San Lorenzo, or the Mercato Centrale as a backup choice. After lunch, take a long loop thorugh the historic center - walk generally toward the Duomo, and from there zigzag through the central streets, going south, through Piazza della Signoria, through the courtyard of the Uffizi, cross Ponte Vecchio, down through Piazza Pitti. From there you can turn back on Via Maggio - that crosses back over Ponte Santa Trinita and turns into Via Tornabuoni. That street lights up really nicely at night, and is also an avenue of high end shopping and former palaces. Have dinner at Cipolla Rossa before heading back to the train station (Mercato Centrale also being a good secondary plan, or a primary). That walk is probably a couple of hours at a reasonable pace, so obviously stop to see anything you like along the way.
The historic center of Florence is really compact, so it is doable as a day trip. There won't be much depth, but you can always go back. We usually spend a week per year in Florence and haven't gotten bored yet.
Since you're going to start and end at Firenze SMN, I'd stop at the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella first. Its close to the station (obviously), but really underrated because the Duomo is nearby. Not enough people stop to see this building, IMHO. After that, lunch at Sergio Gozzi (they are not open for dinner) near Piazza San Lorenzo, or the Mercato Centrale as a backup choice. After lunch, take a long loop thorugh the historic center - walk generally toward the Duomo, and from there zigzag through the central streets, going south, through Piazza della Signoria, through the courtyard of the Uffizi, cross Ponte Vecchio, down through Piazza Pitti. From there you can turn back on Via Maggio - that crosses back over Ponte Santa Trinita and turns into Via Tornabuoni. That street lights up really nicely at night, and is also an avenue of high end shopping and former palaces. Have dinner at Cipolla Rossa before heading back to the train station (Mercato Centrale also being a good secondary plan, or a primary). That walk is probably a couple of hours at a reasonable pace, so obviously stop to see anything you like along the way.
The historic center of Florence is really compact, so it is doable as a day trip. There won't be much depth, but you can always go back. We usually spend a week per year in Florence and haven't gotten bored yet.
#5
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: SFO, VCE
Programs: AA EXP >4 MM, Lifetime Plat
Posts: 2,881
"I know we need more than a day to see the city but our time is limited (8Hrs) to at least experience Florence for a day."
PS (Post Script): If you only have 8 hours, keep it simple. Don't stress it out with a major itinerary, just enjoy.
PSS: (Post Post Script): The reason why your plan is a good idea is because you are staying 7 days in Rome, which gives you time for a day trip. If you were spending a week in Italy and wanted to squeeze in Florence, Cinque Terre, the Amalfi Coast, Milan, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa all in one week, you wouldn't get to see anything. However, seven days in Rome, with one side trip, is great trip planning.
PS (Post Script): If you only have 8 hours, keep it simple. Don't stress it out with a major itinerary, just enjoy.
PSS: (Post Post Script): The reason why your plan is a good idea is because you are staying 7 days in Rome, which gives you time for a day trip. If you were spending a week in Italy and wanted to squeeze in Florence, Cinque Terre, the Amalfi Coast, Milan, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa all in one week, you wouldn't get to see anything. However, seven days in Rome, with one side trip, is great trip planning.
Last edited by Perche; Mar 3, 2018 at 4:06 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Massachusetts, USA; AA Plat, DL GM and Flying Colonel; Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 24,233
Have you considered a day trip to Pompeii instead? Much more practical to see all of the ruins in one day, plus a stop at one of the Amalfi Coast towns (Positano? Sorrento?) in the bargain. Then you can visit Florence on another trip when you have time to see more of it. You can get to Pompeii either on an organized day trip, which lots of companies offer, or by train to Naples and then a half-hour trip on the local Circumvesuviana train to the ruins.
#7
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: SFO, VCE
Programs: AA EXP >4 MM, Lifetime Plat
Posts: 2,881
Have you considered a day trip to Pompeii instead? Much more practical to see all of the ruins in one day, plus a stop at one of the Amalfi Coast towns (Positano? Sorrento?) in the bargain. Then you can visit Florence on another trip when you have time to see more of it. You can get to Pompeii either on an organized day trip, which lots of companies offer, or by train to Naples and then a half-hour trip on the local Circumvesuviana train to the ruins.
However, Rome to Naples, to the Circumsuviano to Pompeii, Pompeii to Sorrento to take the bus to Positano on the Amalfi coast, take the bus from Positano back to Sorrento, take the Cirumsuviano at Sorrento back to Naples, take Trenitalia from Naples back to Rome. Oh my gosh, that's a heart attack. It would be like an episode of Survivor.
Last edited by Perche; Mar 6, 2018 at 9:06 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Massachusetts, USA; AA Plat, DL GM and Flying Colonel; Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 24,233
I would normally yield to someone from that area, over the considered opinion of a tourist who has visited Italy several times, but I don't want to let this go by with no comment. First, the perspective of a local often differs from that of a visitor. The visitor perspective can sometimes be more valuable to another prospective visitor than the perspective of someone who lives there - even though the visitor may come up short in terms of detailed knowledge or specific facts. Also, consider the reviews here of a typical day trip from Rome to Pompeii on TripAdvisor. I am quite aware of the pitfalls of relying on TripAdvisor reviews and the fact that some reviews are paid fakes, but when 279 reviewers (13 on TripAdvisor, 266 on Viator) give a day trip such as this an average rating of 5 - not 4.9, but 5, therefore at least 4.95 before rounding - it goes beyond the practical ability of any company to fake them and suggests that this would not be a waste of a day.
That said, I have nothing against visiting Florence. I've done that. I just suggested that they look at this option. I get no commission from the Pompeii ruins people and have no vested interest in someone going to one place or the other. I simply hate to see people do the first thing that comes to mind. If they end up doing the same thing after they look at other options, great!
That said, I have nothing against visiting Florence. I've done that. I just suggested that they look at this option. I get no commission from the Pompeii ruins people and have no vested interest in someone going to one place or the other. I simply hate to see people do the first thing that comes to mind. If they end up doing the same thing after they look at other options, great!
#10
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: SEA
Posts: 3,955
I would normally yield to someone from that area, over the considered opinion of a tourist who has visited Italy several times, but I don't want to let this go by with no comment. First, the perspective of a local often differs from that of a visitor. The visitor perspective can sometimes be more valuable to another prospective visitor than the perspective of someone who lives there - even though the visitor may come up short in terms of detailed knowledge or specific facts. Also, consider the reviews here of a typical day trip from Rome to Pompeii on TripAdvisor. I am quite aware of the pitfalls of relying on TripAdvisor reviews and the fact that some reviews are paid fakes, but when 279 reviewers (13 on TripAdvisor, 266 on Viator) give a day trip such as this an average rating of 5 - not 4.9, but 5, therefore at least 4.95 before rounding - it goes beyond the practical ability of any company to fake them and suggests that this would not be a waste of a day.
That said, I have nothing against visiting Florence. I've done that. I just suggested that they look at this option. I get no commission from the Pompeii ruins people and have no vested interest in someone going to one place or the other. I simply hate to see people do the first thing that comes to mind. If they end up doing the same thing after they look at other options, great!
That said, I have nothing against visiting Florence. I've done that. I just suggested that they look at this option. I get no commission from the Pompeii ruins people and have no vested interest in someone going to one place or the other. I simply hate to see people do the first thing that comes to mind. If they end up doing the same thing after they look at other options, great!
#11
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,633
I did something similar (overnight in Florence after Rome trip) and it worked fine.
I too would have liked (much) more time in Florence, but the evening I spent there was enjoyable none-the-less. It's a compact, very walkable city, full of beautiful buildings, art works, etc.
If you do decide to, for example, go to see the statue of David, check the gallery schedules, and buy tickets in advance. As I recall, the museums are not open every day, and many only allows limited entries.
I too would have liked (much) more time in Florence, but the evening I spent there was enjoyable none-the-less. It's a compact, very walkable city, full of beautiful buildings, art works, etc.
If you do decide to, for example, go to see the statue of David, check the gallery schedules, and buy tickets in advance. As I recall, the museums are not open every day, and many only allows limited entries.
#12
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: SEA
Posts: 3,955
#13
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Syracuse, NY
Programs: Alaska, United, Marriot
Posts: 23
To add on to the aforementioned walking destinations, I throw my vote in for the Piazzale Michelangelo. It has my favorite views of the city, a replica of David (one of many in the city), and could incorporate a walk along the Arno while enjoying gelati. Its on the order of a mile (20-25 minutes for an athletic walker), and you can go through the Rose Garden from the Piazzele. It adds on a little time for a loop, but is also closer to seeing the Facade of the Basilica di Santa Croce.