On your 4th day, I recommend planning a day trip to explore a different part of the region. Florence is only one of the provinces of Tuscany, and the others are only 50 minutes away.

Prato is an industrial city 16 miles northwest of Florence, important for textiles since the 12th century, and it has a textile museum. You’ll get the chance to see world-class Renaissance ...

Discover the couture side of Tuscany—with stays in ancient castles and guided tours directly from fashion legends.

Taking a free Florence walking tour is the best way to get your bearings on your first day in the city. It’s low-key so if some members of your group are jetlagged, they can rest and meet you later.

One doesn’t really need to take a cab or even a bus to explore Florence as it can be walked from one end to the other in an hour with most attractions five to 10 minutes from each other.