If you're planning a short trip abroad, you want to make the most of every single second, ensuring that every bite of food is delicious and every museum is worth the queue.
To lend a helping hand in planning your next European adventure, I'm sharing a three-day guide from a recent trip to Florence, Italy, that saw my sister and I take in (almost) everything the city had to offer.
Getting there
First things first: you may not be able to get a direct flight to your chosen city, so be sure to keep that in mind if you're short on time. Before you book a second flight, check and see if a train from a nearby city is possible - they're often a much cheaper and more sustainable option.
Although public transport is available on arrival, it's worth noting that the airport is about a 20-minute drive to the city centre, and taxis from the airport are capped at about €22 to a variety of central hotels.
Get your steps in
Despite downloading two local taxi apps, Uber, and keeping an eye out for ranks, taxis were incredibly elusive in Florence. Public transport is readily available but, seeing as we had our walking shoes on, our visit was spent exploring every corner of the city on foot.
As well as taking in the incredible grounds of the Boboli Gardens at the Pitti Palace, we got a much better sense of the layout of the Tuscan city, taking in the various markets and stumbling across the charming Fotoautomaticas - vintage photo booths that print in just 4½ minutes for €2 a pop.
A taste of Florence
At a blistering 32 degrees, our appetites were generally suppressed until the sun dropped behind the horizon.
Mornings started with a shot of sugar and espresso from a selection of nearby cafés - not one place let us down, and our bill for two lattes, two filled croissants, and two bottles of water came in at a total of €7.20.
Top tip: Hold on to your water bottle or bring a reusable one as there are a variety of public water points available throughout the city. They even have a sparkling water option.
Keeping our energy up as we swanned around, we took a trip to La Strega Nocciola for a delicious cup of gelato (do not leave the country before trying a scoop of pistachio) followed by a shared sandwich from Pino's Sandwiches.
We split a 'Springtime' combination of prosciutto, mozzarella, fresh tomatoes, and pesto with an added dollop of their made-to-perfection garlic sauce. If you're escaping the sun for a while, this is the perfect opportunity to order a €2.50 glass of wine* or cool iced coffee.
With both locals and tourists opting to watch the incredible sunsets from various viewpoints around the city at 9pm (more on that later), dinner typically happens later in the night.
To make the most of our long-awaited meal, we booked ahead for a table at the very trendy Trattoria Zà Zà. In operation since 1977, this expansive establishment has become a favourite on TikTok and boasts a long list of Italian delicacies to sate any diner.
I opted for the Crostone with Povola cheese (I still think about it) and bolognese-style fettuccine, while my sister ordered the bruschetta (she still talks about it) and the creamy truffled sauce ravioli.
Our absolute favourite restaurant, though, was the humble Il Pizzaiuolo - a Neapolitan pizza spot located a stone's throw from Mercato di Sant'Ambrogio - Florence's oldest market.
The service was fast and friendly, the food was absolutely delicious, and the atmosphere was warm and lively. The perfect spot to round out an Italian adventure.
Another Florentine must-do is picking up a glass of wine from the various buchette del vino (wine windows) dotted around the city.
The story goes that when the Plague swept through Florence in 1634, merchants created tiny windows that would allow them to pass vino to buyers with little contact.
Over the years, many of the windows closed up, but some were repurposed during the COVID-19 pandemic when social distancing measures were put in place.
While the windows are no longer necessary, they have become popular with tourists and can be seen all over social media. We picked up a glass from Babae.
Sunset views
Florence is famous for its sunset views, with hundreds flocking to Piazza Michelangelo to take in heavenly sights and lively entertainment, with buskers often leading tourists into an evening of singing and dancing.
The long and winding road to the top of the city is steep, so opt for walking shoes over flip flops, and be sure to bring your water bottle while you battle the summer heat.
If you want to make life easier on yourself (as we did on the second night), simply walk along the River Arno until you land at Ponte Vecchio bridge.
As well as beautiful views and lively buskers, you will be able to wave at gondoliers as they pass by below, and pick up a vial of wine to-go from the First Glass enoteca.
We also heard that you can buy a combination ticket to the dome (also known as the cupola or Brunelleschi's Dome) in the evening so as to take in views from the top. Due to the suffocating heat, climbing the 463 steps didn't appeal to us, but it may be a good option in cooler months.
Museums and markets
As the birthplace of Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Dante Alighieri, and Galileo Galilei, there is a truly impressive list of museums, galleries and exhibitions to take in during a trip to Florence.
For our flying visit, we prioritised the majestic Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore; Michelangelo's awe-inspiring Statue of David in the Accademia Gallery (you can see a smaller copy of the statue in the Palazzo Vecchio); and a trip around the Uffizi Gallery, which is home to Botticelli's Birth of Venus.
We also dropped by the Gucci Gardens for a fun trip through mirrored rooms of vintage handbags, trippy flower displays, and an exhibition of celebrity gowns including Saoirse Ronan's Oscars dress and Lana Del Rey's Heavenly Bodies Met Gala look. A must-see for fashion lovers.
Final thoughts
Florence is a beautiful city steeped in history, coated in art, and stuffed with the most delicious of delicacies.
If you only have a few days to take it all in, be sure to book your must-sees ahead of time, pick up a few Italian phrases before you go, carry coins for the fotoautomatica, and lace up your walking shoes.
June is a busy time for tourists, so be sure to check for offers online. When visiting the Boboli Gardens, we noticed that we could book online on the spot and pick up our tickets from the box office, allowing us to skip the long and sweltering queue.
As well as taking in the sights (there are many), be sure to sit back and enjoy some time with the people; they're the real gems of the city and are often more than happy to share recommendations to lead you off the beaten path.
