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Florence is absolutely my favorite city in the world. I was lucky enough to study abroad there in college, and have gone back and spent weeks/months there several times since. I never get tired of visiting this city. It’s stunning, walkable, has some of the best restaurants in Italy & is the perfect homebase for exploring Tuscany and many other great spots in Italy.
If you’re short on time, or trying to see a lot of Italy, two days in Florence gives you enough time to see the highlights and get a good feel for the city. I’ve put together a detailed guide below on how I’d spend two pefect days in Florence.
Florence 2 Day Itinerary Overview:
Day 1:
- Visit the Duomo & Climb the Bell Tower
- Wander Palazzo Vecchio
- See Michaelangelo’s David
- Find a Wine Window
- Sunset Roodtop Drinks at the Westin
- Traditional Tuscan Family Style Dinner at Il Latini
Day 2:
- Walk the Ponte Vecchio
- Visit Palazzo Pitti & the Boboli Gardens (lunch at Gustapizza, best gelato in Florence)
- Sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo (dinner
Disclaimer: This article contains some links where I earn commission through booking. There is no extra cost to you, and I only recommend things I’ve used and love or places I’ve stayed and enjoyed!
Florence Day 1 Itinerary
Morning: Visit the Duomo & Climb the Bell Tower
The Duomo consists of four parts – the cathedral, the main church the duomo sits on top of, Brunelleschi’s infamous Duomo ,the dome you can take a tour of, the Baptistery, a standalone building next to the cathedral, and Giotto’s Bell Tower. You can visit all four of these, or pick which ones you’d like to see. The Cathedral is free and does not require a ticket – be warned the lines get insanely long. The other three require a ticket for entry and you’ll need to select a time. Depending on what you want to do there are multiple ticket options.
Personally, I don’t think you need to climb the Dome and the Bell Tower, but that is an option. If you’re choosing between the two – I think the view from the Bell Tower is better, because you get to see the cityscape as well as the Dome up close, but if you’re interested in seeing the artwork in the dome up close you’ll want to choose that option. There are also skip the line and guided tour options!
Bonus: Grab a Drink with Duomo Views at View on Art Rooftop
After visiting the Duomo stop by View on Art Rooftop for a drink with the absolute best views of the Duomo!
Late Morning: Wander Palazzo Vechhio
The next piazza down the street from the Doumo is Piazza Signoria, which is home to Palazzo Vechhio (also known as the Old Palace.) Palazzo Vecchio towers over Piazza della Signoria and it’s definitely worth exploring from the outside, even if you don’t buy tickets for the inside. The inside has three separate areas (the tower, the wall and the museum) you can buy individual tickets for each, or a combo ticket if you’d like to do all three.
If you decide you’d like tickets beware of really long wait times during peak tourist times. Tickets can be purchases ahead of time on Viator
Lunch at Classic Florence Spot
Florence has some of my favorite food in the world. For an authentic Firenze experience head to Mercato Centrale (Central Market) for lunch. There are tons of stalls serving local food. Another great option is the wildly popular All’antico Vinaio panini shop (be prepared for a bit of a crazy line!) For a sit down meal La Spada is a popular local osteria with AMAZING food if you want more of a sit down option. They have the best lasagna in Florence.
Early Afternoon: See Michaelangelo’s David
The David really is a can’t miss experience. It’s hard to explain why it’s so impressive when you see it in person, but it really is breathtaking. It’s located in the Galleria del’Academia. I’d definitely recommend you book your tickets in advance, you don’t need to, but the line is always super long for people waiting for tickets. Tickets online through their site are 16 euro, but you get to skip the line by selecting a time. These sell out so definitely get them in advance. If they are sold out you can get tickets on Viator or book a tour to get access
You ticket gets you access to the whole museum (admittedly we didn’t spend too much time here outside of seeing the David, but you can stay as long as you want!)
Late Afternoon: Find a Wine Window
The wine windows of Florence had a resurgence during COVID as a socially distanced way to serve wine, now finding them and ordering a glass of wine al fresco is just a fun stop in between exploring all of Florence’s famous historical sites. See my full blog post on the wine windows here with map!
Two windows that aren’t too far from The David are Cantina De’ Pucci & Osteria Belle Donne
Evening: Sunset Drinks at the Westin Rooftop
For some of the best sunset views in Florence head to the rooftop bar at the Westin for some sunset cocktails. The price tag for drinks is a bit high, but the views are worth it!
Dinner: Traditional Tuscan Meal at Il Latini
Florence has tons of great restaurants, seriously so many that I wrote a full blog post about it. All of the options noted on there are lovely, but grabbing a family style dinner at Il Latini is one of the absolute best ways to experience the food scene in Florence! You definitely need reservations in advance!
Try the “Family Style Meal” It’s a per person cost (around $60) and so much food! You’ll get:
- bread
- a charcuterie meats & cheese course plate
- a series of Crostini (bruschetta, etc.)
- A course of Pappa al Pomodoro, Ribollita, Bolognese & a Wild Boar Pasta
- Bistecca alla Fiorentina with roasted potatoes & canella beans
- a dessert course
Florence Day 2 Itinerary
Morning: Walk the Ponte Vecchio
The Ponte Vecchio (or Old Bridge) is one of the most famous landmarks in Florence,and is my personal favorite! You don’t need tickets or anything, it’s simply somewhere you must see in Florence! As you walk across the bridge it is lined with jewelry shops on either side for those looking to splurge! Also, make sure you check out the views of the Ponte Vecchio from the bridges on either side.
Late Morning: Visit Palazzo Pitti & The Boboli Gardens
I definitely recommend a trip to the Boboli Gardens, it’s one of my favorite parts of Florence.
They are part of Palazzo Pitti (the new palace the Medici’s built across the Arno) You can tour both the Palace and the Gardens or just one or the other. The gardens are massive and you can spend hours walking around. The gardens are also a great way to get a glimpse of those stunning Tuscan country sides if you don’t have time to venture to Tuscany on your own! You can buy tickets online or opt for a skip the line or private tour with Viator
Lunch: Try Florence’s Best Pizza at Gustapizza
For the absolute best pizza in Florence (and maybe anywhere) head to Gustapizz (not far from the Boboli Gardens) There will likely be a line, but this place is unreal and worth the wait. You can also grab a pizza to go and eat at Piazza Santo Spirito
Bonus: Get Florence’s Best Gelato at La Carraia
Not far from Gustapizza is La Carraia, home to some of Florence’s best gelato!
Afternoon: Choose Your Adventure
Spend your last afternoon in Florence at your own pace, there’s so much to see and do, but it’s also my favorite city to wander around and stop at cafes and patios for a drink. Personally, i’d spend a lazy afternoon wandering along the Arno, or exploring the picturesque streets around the Duomo. Some of my favorite spots to grab a drink with views are Signovino along the Arno with Ponte Vecchio views and Amorini Panini e Vino Firenze with Duomo views.
If you’re an art lover you can spend your afternoon at the Uffizi – The Uffizi is one of the most popular art museums in the world.You can easily spend your full afternoon exploring the Uffizi. Buy tickets at their official website ahead of time. If tickets are sold out through the official website or you’re interested in a guided tour, try Viator
Some other highlights are Santa Croce church, or the Central Market if you’re looking to buy leather or souvenirs!
Evening: Sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo
Piazzale Michelangelo is an absolutely can’t miss Florence spot! It’s a large piazza overlooking the entire city and offers the best sunset spot in Florence. Sit back on the stairs with a bottle of wine (you can buy them at the top) and enjoy the stunning views. It’s free to visit. Be warned there are a lot of stairs, but it’s totally worth the climb! If you’re not up to it you can take a taxi or car to the top as well.
To get there take a “Ponte alle Grazie” bridge (one down from the Ponte Vecchio) across the river into San Niccolo (located on the opposite side of the river from the Duomo) Follow via de San Niccolò to the left to Via S. Miniato through the Porta San Miniato (big stone gate) After you pass through the gates a little way up on your left will be the stairs that lead your to Piazzale Michelangelo. There are signs, so it’s easy to follow + you can usually just follow the crowds!
After sunset grab dinner in Oltrarno, this less touristy side of the river is home to some of Florence’s best restaurants. I love Beccafico, 4 Leoni & Trattoria Il Bordino.
Florence Travel Map
Where to Stay in Florence
Florence is a a fairly small city, so no matter which area you choose to stay in you’ll be less than a 20 minute walk from almost any other area of the city. There are a ton of hotel options in addition to hundreds of rental properties, so finding your ideal location and price point should be possible. I’ve stayed in Florence mostly on longer term trips so I’ve opted for VRBO’s most of the time, but I’ve also stayed at a few hotels and have included recommendations in each area.
Piazza del Duomo:
The Duomo is the center of Florence, towering over the city. You can catch glimpses of the massive dome from many different streets and areas of the city. If you want to be right in the heart of the action, staying in Piazza del Duomo is a great option. A few hotels I’d recommend: Granduomo for the views, Hotel Cerretani for a more modern hotel, Palazzo Niccolini al Duomo for a charming Renaissance vibe or Guest House Bel Duomo if you’re looking for a lower price with an unbeatable location! VRBO also has tons of options near the Duomo!
Oltrarno:
Now that I’ve spent a significant amount of time in Florence, the Oltrarno (literally meaning “other side of the river”) is my favorite neighborhood. It right across the Ponte Vecchio, and is still close to the Duomo & train station, but I find that it has a bit more of an authentic feel. And some of my favorite restaurants, and spots in Florence are in the Oltrarno area of Florence. My top recommendations would be Hotel Pitti Palace Al Ponte Vecchio (that terrace view alone is enough of a selling point) Hotel La Scaletta is also a nice option and a bit cheaper. If you’re looking to splurge 10/10 recommend would recommend Hotel Lungarno. There are fewer hotels on this side of the river, but there are plenty of VRBO options
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