Florence in one day on foot: seven places from the station to Mercato Nuovo

The center of Florence is more compact than it looks on the map. In one day you can walk it from Santa Maria Novella station to the bronze boar at Mercato Nuovo and visit seven places where Medici Florence has been preserved.

Below is the order of sights, prices, opening hours, and the honest catch of each place.

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How to plan a route through the center

💡 In short:

• Start at Firenze Santa Maria Novella station and finish at Mercato Nuovo: all the sights are in the center, so you won't need any transfers.
• Allow half a day for the basilicas and the library, and set aside another hour for lunch and the market.
• Book the main tickets in advance: access to the cathedral dome is by fixed time slots only.
• Prices and opening hours: as of 09/2026, verified on the official websites of each sight, links in the table

All seven sights are within walking distance of each other (see map). The logic of the day is simple: Santa Maria Novella shows Ghirlandaio's frescoes, San Lorenzo and the Medici Chapels give you Donatello and Michelangelo. Palazzo Medici Riccardi shows how the Medici lived, and the cathedral and the market round off the walk toward the river.

1. Tornabuoni Chapel in Santa Maria Novella

© Miguel Mendez · CC BYPhoto: Miguel Mendez, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

The Basilica of Santa Maria Novella stands directly opposite the station, and it's the best way to start the walk. Inside, look for the Tornabuoni Chapel with frescoes by Domenico Ghirlandaio.

The artist painted the walls on commission from Giovanni Tornabuoni, a relative of Lorenzo the Magnificent, and glorified the entire family. On almost every fresco, among the saints, you'll find the faces of the patron, his wife, daughter, brothers, and Lorenzo's mother. Ghirlandaio also painted himself and his friends, including Marsilio Ficino, the founder of the Platonic Academy. According to tradition, the young Michelangelo was studying in the artist's workshop in those years.

The basilica served as the city's main Dominican church, and its facade was designed by Leon Battista Alberti. The building was rebuilt over centuries, but the interior was largely spared by the ravages of time: the stained glass, the huge crucifix, and the chapels have come down to us as Florentine masters created them. Also step into the Cloister of the Dead (Chiostro dei Morti): the wealthiest and most noble citizens were buried in the funerary chapels here.

• How to get there: from Firenze Santa Maria Novella station across the square, entrance from Piazza Santa Maria Novella
• Admission: €7.5, reduced €5, children under 11 free (as of 09/2026, prices on the basilica website)
• Who it's for: if you arrived by train and want to start the route near the station
• The catch: on Sundays and holidays access is restricted by services, so check visiting hours on the website

2. Basilica of San Lorenzo

© Nelson Pérez · CC BY-SAPhoto: Nelson Pérez, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

San Lorenzo served as the Medici family church and is considered one of the oldest in the city: the first building on this site appeared as early as the late 4th century. The church was rebuilt over the centuries, and in the 15th century it took on its Renaissance appearance.

From 1464, after the lavish funeral of Cosimo de' Medici, all family members were buried in the underground crypt, and the grand dukes rest here. Note the two bronze pulpits by Donatello and Brunelleschi's Old Sacristy, while the building's plan itself follows the Latin cross. Attached to the church is the Laurentian Library, which you'll visit at the fourth stop on the route.

• Hours: Monday-Saturday 10:00-17:30, last entry 16:30, closed Sunday (as of 09/2026, basilica's official website)
• Admission: tickets are sold at the entrance or online; check the basilica's website for what's included and current prices
• Getting there: from the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, walk to Piazza San Lorenzo (see map)
• The catch: closed to tourists on Sunday, and tickets for different parts of the complex are sold separately

3. Medici Chapels

© Dimitris Kamaras from Athens, Greece · CC BYPhoto: Dimitris Kamaras from Athens, Greece, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

The Medici Chapels were added to San Lorenzo as the family's mausoleums, and this is the best place to see Michelangelo up close. He designed the New Sacristy himself, and light falls from above, symbolizing the immortality of the soul. The lower part remains in semi-darkness, as a reminder of death.

On the sarcophagi of Lorenzo, Duke of Urbino, and his uncle Giuliano, Duke of Nemours, lie allegories of Dawn and Dusk, Day and Night, and the master left the figure of Day unfinished. In the center of the hall stands Michelangelo's "Madonna and Child." The second hall, the Chapel of the Princes, is clad in colored marble and serves as the grand dukes' mausoleum.

• Admission: €11, reduced €2, free on the first Sunday of the month (as of 09/2026, tickets and concessions)
• Michelangelo's room: the "Stanza segreta di Michelangelo" with wall drawings is open by reservation only, ticket €32 (as of 09/2026, details and booking)
• Who it's for: if Michelangelo matters more to you than a general city panorama
• The catch: the "secret room" is not shown without advance booking

4. Laurentian Library

© Richard Mortel from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia · CC BYPhoto: Richard Mortel from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

The collection was started by Cosimo de' Medici, and the library was named after his grandson Lorenzo. In 1571 the holdings were opened to the people of Florence, and today it is one of the oldest public libraries in the world.

Michelangelo's staircase descends like a flow of lava, embodying an endless stream of thought. His contemporaries argued about it: some admired it, others believed the steps were impossible to walk without risking a fall. Tourists are not allowed to climb it, the reading room is closed to visitors, and you view the vestibule and hall from the threshold so as not to disturb readers.

• Admission: €5, open only on weekday mornings, Monday-Friday 10:00-13:30 (as of 09/2026, library hours and tickets)
• Getting there: from Piazza San Lorenzo through the basilica's cloister (see map)
• The catch: the visiting window is short, and the library is closed on Saturday and Sunday

5. Palazzo Medici Riccardi

© ho visto nina volare from Italy · CC BY-SAPhoto: ho visto nina volare from Italy, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

The first Medici palace looks deliberately modest: Cosimo demanded no luxury, and Michelozzo built a severe facade of rough stone. The ground floor housed servants, the kitchen, and stables; the owners lived on the second floor.

Inside there is a square courtyard with columns, sculptures, and lemon trees. Many aristocratic families later built their homes on this model. In 1659 the Medici sold the palace to the Riccardi family, and the new owners added Baroque interiors and gave the building its second name.

Today the ticket includes the Chapel of the Magi with Gozzoli's frescoes, the Mirror Gallery, the archaeological route, and the marble museum. The chapel admits 10 people every 5 minutes, so visitors are sometimes asked to wait their turn in the courtyard (as of 09/2026, visit schedule).

• Admission: €15 from March through November, €10 in the other months, reduced €10 in summer and €7 in winter (as of 09/2026, palace seasonal rates)
• Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday through Sunday 9:00-19:00, ticket office closes at 18:00 (as of 09/2026, current opening hours)
• Who it's for: if you're interested in how the Medici lived, not just their collections
• The catch: Wednesday is always closed, and admission is more expensive in summer than in winter

6. Florence Cathedral

© Petar Milošević · CC BY-SAPhoto: Petar Milošević, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

Brunelleschi's dome, built of brick, still rises above the city, and it is the most recognizable silhouette of Florence. The cathedral was designed to hold all the city's residents inside, and construction stretched over nearly six centuries: the modern facade was completed only at the end of the 19th century.

Inside the cathedral, look for Uccello's clock: it works, but the hand moves in the opposite direction. Entry to the church itself is free, while the dome and bell tower are accessed only by fixed-time slots, so get your ticket in advance from the official Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore ticket office.

The full Brunelleschi Pass combines the dome, the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, the Santa Reparata excavations, the baptistery, and Giotto's bell tower (as of 09/2026, official cathedral ticket office). If you don't need the dome, compare the shorter Giotto Pass and Ghiberti Pass options. Museum tickets for the city can be bought in advance on Tiqets.

• Entry: the dome, bell tower, and baptistery are accessed with a single pass with a time slot; compare the three passes on the official ticket office
• Getting there: from Palazzo Medici Riccardi, walk to Piazza del Duomo (see map)
• The catch: without a dome slot, you'll stay down by the main facade

What else is nearby: Dante's house

Next to the cathedral stands Dante's House (Museo Casa di Dante): the poet's personal belongings have not survived, but the exhibition tells the story of his life through paintings, documents, and drawings. A separate room is dedicated to the love between Alighieri and Beatrice, and the meeting itself, according to legend, took place in the church next door.

© Draupnir3 · CC BY-SAPhoto: Draupnir3, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

7. The Piglet Fountain

© Nan Palmero from San Antonio, TX, USA · CC BYPhoto: Nan Palmero from San Antonio, TX, USA, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

The route ends at the Piglet Fountain (Fontana del Porcellino) in the loggia of the Mercato Nuovo. The bronze boar has stood here for nearly four centuries, and its marble predecessor is kept in the Uffizi Gallery.

The tradition is simple: you put a coin in the boar's mouth, and if it slips through the grate, your wish will come true. If it doesn't work, rub its snout, that counts too. No ticket is needed here, you can come at any time, and around the market vendors sell leather bags and souvenirs.

• Cost: free, you can see it around the clock
• Getting there: from the cathedral, walk toward the river; the loggia stands between Via Calimala and Via Porta Rossa (see map)
• Who it's for: if you're traveling with kids and want a final stop with no ticket and no schedule

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

Can I cover all seven places in one day?

Yes, if you start in the morning near the train station: all the points are in the center, so you don't need any transfers. The two basilicas and the library take about half a day, and the palazzo and cathedral add another couple of hours with a proper look around. Plan lunch near the Mercato Nuovo, which is also the final stop of the route.

How much do tickets to the main central sights cost?

Santa Maria Novella 7.5 €, reduced 5 € (entrance prices), Medici Chapels 11 €, Palazzo Medici Riccardi 15 € from March through November and 10 € in winter (palace tickets and hours). The Laurentian Library is the cheapest at 5 €. Children under 11 enter the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella for free.

When should you go to the Medici Chapels to avoid paying admission?

On the first Sunday of the month, admission is free (Medici Chapels page). On other days, arrive at opening time: there aren't many rooms, but Michelangelo here is worth taking your time to study the sculptures without rushing or crowds.

Do you need a timed slot for the cathedral dome in advance?

Yes, you can only climb Brunelleschi's dome with a ticket that has a fixed date and time (dome tickets with a time slot). You choose the slot when you buy the ticket, and it can't be changed at the entrance, so plan your climb around your schedule.

What can you see for free in central Florence?

Entry to the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is free; you only pay for the dome, the bell tower, and the baptistery. The Porcellino Fountain at Mercato Nuovo is also free, and you can approach the boar at any time. You can also wander for free around the squares of San Lorenzo and Piazza del Duomo.

In short: what's worth booking

If you have one day: start near the station with Santa Maria Novella, then San Lorenzo, the Medici Chapels, and the Laurentian Library before 1:30 PM. After that, Palazzo Medici Riccardi, the cathedral, lunch near Mercato Nuovo, and finish at the Porcellino Fountain.

If you only want Michelangelo: go for the Medici Chapels and the New Sacristy, and leave the Laurentian Library for another day, since its visiting window only runs until 1:30 PM.

If you're traveling with children: end at the bronze boar, where it's free and you can make a wish.

The only thing worth booking in advance is the dome slot: without it, you can't go up. Guided tours of Florence on GetYourGuide can help you cover the museums in one pass.