In short: a 3-hour, mostly free walk starting and ending near Santa Maria Novella station: Santa Maria Novella → San Lorenzo → Duomo → Piazza della Repubblica → Piazza della Signoria → Ponte Vecchio → Santa Trinita → back to the station. About 4 km. Leave your bags first at Via Palazzuolo 170.
If you only have a few hours in Florence, between trains, after check-out or before check-in, this loop shows you the essential city without tickets or queues. It’s designed to start and finish at the station, where your luggage is waiting in a locker.
Before you start
Register online, walk 4 minutes from the platforms to Via Palazzuolo 170 and store your bags (a medium locker costs €5.90 for 3 hours, €7.90 for 4). Wear comfortable shoes: the route is flat but paved in stone.
The route, stop by stop
1. Piazza Santa Maria Novella (5 min)
The green-and-white marble facade of the basilica faces one of Florence’s calmest squares. If you have time, the interior holds Masaccio’s Trinity.
2. San Lorenzo and the Mercato Centrale (10 min)
Walk east to the Medici parish church of San Lorenzo and the market streets around it. The Mercato Centrale food hall is the place for a quick lunch.
3. Piazza del Duomo (5 min)
The cathedral, Giotto’s bell tower and the Baptistery’s bronze doors. Entry to the cathedral is free; the climbs need a ticket.
4. Piazza della Repubblica (5 min)
The old Roman forum, with its carousel and historic cafés. A good coffee stop.
5. Piazza della Signoria (5 min)
Palazzo Vecchio, the copy of Michelangelo’s David and the free open-air sculptures under the Loggia dei Lanzi. The Uffizi courtyard starts here.
6. Ponte Vecchio (5 min)
Walk through the Uffizi courtyard to the Arno and cross the bridge of goldsmiths. For the best photo of the bridge, look back from the next bridge downstream, Ponte Santa Trinita.
7. Santa Trinita and Via de’ Tornabuoni (10 min)
Return across Ponte Santa Trinita and walk up Florence’s elegant fashion street.
8. Back to the station (10 min)
From Via de’ Tornabuoni it’s a short walk back towards Santa Maria Novella and Via Palazzuolo, where you collect your bags.
Want more time?
- +1 hour: cross Ponte Vecchio to the Oltrarno and the Pitti Palace.
- +2 hours: walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo for the view (or take bus 12/13).
- A full day: follow our one-day itinerary.
Remember: collect your luggage before 23:00, and leave yourself 10 minutes to walk from the storage to your platform.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the walk?
About 4 km. Allow 2–3 hours with stops, or 1.5 hours at a brisk pace.
Do I need any tickets?
No. Every stop on the route can be enjoyed from outside or for free. Tickets are only needed for museums, the dome and the bell tower.
Is it suitable with children?
Yes, the route is flat and full of squares to rest in, much easier without suitcases.
Start walking: get your access code and leave your bags with us.
Cover image: Yair Haklai / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)
