Europeans take so much for granted. They have an entire continent of little countries practically on their doorstep and will therefore never know the anguish of cramming as many of them as possible into a two-week vacation. They spend their entire lives 'doing' Europe and should they one day venture farther afield than the French Rivera, the Balearic Islands or Tuscany or the Swiss Alps or Amsterdam or London or any number of other amazing iconic places, they have six weeks per year in which to do it and the world's strongest currency to play with.
The rest of us have to plan a European vacation down to the last latte, because you do not want to be caught in Paris short the entry fee for the Eiffel Tower or in Rome on a Sunday when the Vatican's not open. Thus, here is a four-day guide to seeing Florence on the cheap.
Accommodation
Most of Florence's attractions are in the historic center. It's convenient staying here but if you do, guaranteed you will never venture out of it. For a more full Florentine experience – and to save some money – staying outside the city center gives you a taste of 'normal' life away from the tourists. Head away from the Duomo, across the Arno River and down a bit towards the nearby suburb of Gavinana. The 3-star Hotel Cavaliere has single rooms from USD 49 per night and it's only a 10-minute bus trip – or 30-minute stroll from the centro storico.
Transport
Buses around Florence are cheap and easy to master but for a more thorough experience of those cobblestone lanes and long paved paths that flank the Arno, bicycles are best. Florence is flat and bike-tolerant, with free bike rental from 'Mille e una bici' points around the city. Cycle up and down the river, explore the suburbs, take on the hills on the outskirts or join an organized bike tour, just remember to look both ways. http://www.visitflorence.com/moving-around-florence/by-bike.html
Day 1
It's probably illegal to visit Florence and not see Michelangelo's David or thePrima Vera. These are inconveniently situated in two different galleries, so you will need at least one full day of gallery-hopping and queuing to see the essentials. At the very least, queue for the Galleria degli Uffizi (Prima Vera,Birth of Venus) and the Accademia Gallery, each 6.5 euro. If you want to see a third 'gallery', make an afternoon trip to the Pitti Palace on the other side of the Arno. The ceiling frescoes, restored rooms and sculptured gardens of this former palace supply offer the renaissance art experience in excessive doses.
Day 2
Today, tick other major must-sees off your list – the Santa Maria del Fiori (the Duomo) and the Ponte Vecchio. These are in the historic center of town and you can't miss either of them. For the Duomo, depending on the queues, expect to spend at least half a day here. There are two parts – the main church and the dome. If you don't like stairs or tight spaces, too bad – man up and climb the dome because the view from the top – around 500 steps aloft – is a rewards all its own. In the afternoon, park your bike and wander across the Ponte Vechhio. This iconic little bridge over the Arno is prettiest in the afternoon light – so pretty you may feel compelled to loiter for a few hours, taking photos from every conceivable angle until hunger forces you to leave.
Day 3
Oh no, only two days left! By now, thoughts of quitting your job and becoming a fake handbag tout by the Duomo are becoming more frequent, but don't let this slow you down. Today you should devote time to random exploration of the centro storico. The last two days you've probably been rabidly going from point to point just to see things but today, take time to just discover. You probably raced through the Piazza della Signoria a few times, so head there for a proper look at the fake David outside Palazzo Vecchio, go to the San Lorenzo flea markets, browse the luxury stores on Via Roma, rest in one of the parks – the Piazza Massimo d'Azeglio is a handy inner city one. For sunset views, ride over to the Piazzale Michelangelo, or rather, park the bike at the bottom and climb to the top. There are tonnes of stairs but gelato and amazing views await. There's also another fake David statue here, and you can take pictures of this one.
Day 4
There are still so many things to see, so you're going to have to make an executive decision. You're in Tuscany, so a wine tour is probably in order. Or if you prefer fashion, The Mall fashion outlet is a short train trip away in Leccio – you can take the train to Rignano sull'Arno and from there it's a short cab ride. It's not any regular outlet, either, it's Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Fendi, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, La Perla, Salvatore Ferragamo, etc etc etc – basically a day in itself. Neither of these options is particularly budget-friendly – a wine tour is 50-100 euro and The Mall could easily destroy several credit cards – but you may never visit Florence again and it's your last day. To make up for overspending, grab a 2-euro slice of pizza or a massive Panini from the nearest pasticcerie and eat it by the Arno whilst saying tearful goodbyes.
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