Florence in March: Weather, crowds, events and what to do

• Morning: Uffizi Gallery at 8:15am with a timed ticket. Start in the Botticelli rooms while the floors still feel quiet.
  
• Breakfast: Caffè Gilli on Piazza della Repubblica for a cappuccino and pastry before heading east.
  
• Midday: Walk through Piazza della Signoria and into Palazzo Vecchio. March light on the stone façades is sharp, and the square is lively without being clogged.
  
• Lunch: Buca dell'Orafo near the river for seafood or a simple Tuscan lunch; it is an easy walk from the Uffizi.
  
• Afternoon: Cross to the Oltrarno and spend a few hours at Pitti Palace or Boboli Gardens, depending on the forecast. If the day is bright, take the garden route.
  
• Evening: Dinner at La Casalinga in the Oltrarno. Order ribollita if the evening turns cool, then walk up toward Piazza Santo Spirito for a drink.

This first day works because everything flows on foot. You cover Florence's political center, its biggest painting museum, and the quieter side of the Arno without backtracking.

• Morning: Accademia Gallery at 9am or late-morning with priority entry. Seeing David before lunch keeps the day compact.
  
• Breakfast: Forno Pugi near San Marco for schiacciata all'olio or, if you are early enough in the month, schiacciata alla Fiorentina.
  
• Midday: Walk through Piazza del Duomo, circle the Baptistery doors, and step into the Cathedral if the queue is short. March is good for this because outdoor waits are still tolerable.
  
• Lunch: Trattoria Mario near San Lorenzo for a no-nonsense Tuscan plate. Go early; the room fills quickly.
  
• Afternoon: Climb Brunelleschi's Dome or visit the Opera del Duomo Museum if you want something less physical. The museum is a strong backup when clouds roll in.
  
• Evening: Book aperitivo in Santo Spirito, then dinner nearby. Finish with a slow walk over Ponte Vecchio once the daytime crowd thins.

This day is central, dense, and realistic. You keep the longest indoor queues in the morning, then use the afternoon for the Duomo area when the city loosens up a little.

• Morning: Start at Mercato di Sant'Ambrogio around 8am. Look for spring greens, artichokes, and local pantry staples before the market turns visitor-friendly.
  
• Breakfast: Coffee and a budino di riso from a nearby bar or bakery in the Santa Croce area.
  
• Midday: Take the bus or hop-on hop-off route toward Fiesole if the weather is clear. The views back over Florence make more sense in March than in foggier winter weeks.
  
• Lunch: Keep it simple in Fiesole or head back into Florence for something light so you do not waste the afternoon.
  
• Afternoon: Use the better light for Boboli, Bardini, or a relaxed neighborhood walk through Santa Croce and back toward the center.
  
• Evening: Save your last night for dinner in the Oltrarno. Order crostini, pasta, and a glass of Chianti, then finish at Piazzale Michelangelo if sunset timing works.

Day 3 gives you the version of Florence most people miss: markets, hillside air, and a slower pace that fits March much better than a marathon of museum halls.