Want to see the best of Florence in two days? You are in the right place.
After we visited the charming Tuscany multiple times and explored the Tuscan capital Firenze, we can show you how to spend the perfect 2 days in Florence.
The Best Places to Visit in Florence in Two Days
Florence is one of the best cities in Italy and offers many attractions.
We have selected the best highlights you can visit while being two days in the capital of Tuscany.
And the best part is you can enjoy all of them while walking around.
Before we share the itinerary for day 1 and day 2, we will give you our top highlights in Florence.
We included links to the tickets because you don’t want to spend half of the day waiting in queues.
The attractions in Florence are often fully booked, or you spend lots of time waiting.
Therefore, we recommend booking your tickets in advance, especially for the top 3 picks:
# 1 TOP-PICK
Galleria dell’Accademia
famous David statue
In addition to the sculpture of David, the Galleria dell’Accademia also showcases paintings by Giotto, Masaccio, and Michelangelo, as well as Russian icons.
# 2 PICK
Florence Cathedral
including Brunelleschi’s dome
The Florence Cathedral is one of the largest cathedrals in the world and is mainly known for the impressive dome by Brunelleschi.
BOOK HERE
# 3 PICK
Galleria degli Uffizi
famous paintings and sculptures
Botticelli’s Venus, Lippi’s Madonna, and sculptures and artworks by Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.
BOOK HERE
If you plan to visit more than one attraction in Florence, we recommend checking out the Florence City Pass.
You can access the most important museums and sights and receive additional discounts for other attractions.
Further down, you will find more information about the individual attractions.
Things To Do in Florence in Two Days
Since the sights of Florence are mainly in the historic city center and close to each other, you can explore the city during a self-guided walk.
You can join a guided tour to save yourself the hassle of booking all the tickets in advance.
A guided tour passes by the absolute highlights, which are quite close to each other.
When you arrive by train or from the airport, the best way to start is from the main train station.
Before we dive deeper into the itinerary, check out the overview of how to spend 2 days in Florence:
Day 1 in Florence Overview
| Time | Attraction |
|---|---|
| 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Galleria dell’Accademia (Michelangelo’s David) |
| 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Interactive Leonardo da Vinci Museum |
| 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM | Lunch Break |
| 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM | Florence Cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore |
| 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM | Piazza della Signoria with Neptune Fountain |
Day 2 in Florence Overview
| Time | Attraction |
|---|---|
| 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Uffizi Gallery |
| 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM | Ponte Vecchio |
| 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Lunch Break |
| 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM | Palazzo Pitti |
| 2:15 PM – 3:30 PM | Boboli Gardens |
| 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM | Piazzale Michelangelo |
| 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM | Arno River Cruise |
Day 1 in Florence
Michelangelo’s David in the Galleria dell’Accademia (Accademia Gallery)
The famous sculpture of David is located in the Galleria dell’Accademia.
This impressive sculpture is one of the top 3 attractions in Florence.
The tickets for the Accademia Gallery are very popular, and if you want to see Michelangelo’s David, you should definitely order tickets in advance.
In addition to the sculpture of David, the Galleria dell’Accademia also houses paintings by Giotto, Masaccio, and Michelangelo.
By the way, there are three David sculptures in Florence.
The original is in the Galleria dell’Accademia.
One replica is in front of the Palazzo Vecchio, and the third one is at the viewpoint of Piazzale Michelangelo.
Following our Florence in two days itinerary, you will encounter all the David sculptures.
→ BOOK A SKIP-THE-LINE ACCADEMIA TICKET
After visiting the Galleria dell’Accademia, the city tour continues to the interactive museum dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci before heading to the Florence Cathedral.
⭐ Travel Tip: If tickets are already sold out, try booking a guided tour. You might be lucky and can get inside the Galleria dell'Accademia.
Interactive Leonardo da Vinci Museum
If you have an hour to spare, you can visit the interactive Leonardo Museum.
It is located in Via de Servi, 66/r, on the way from the Accademia Gallery to the Florence Cathedral.
In the interactive museum, more than 50 working machines based on Leonardo da Vinci’s drawings are set up, and you can try some of the wooden models.
The museum also has an area where you can build domes and bridges.
In addition, some works by Leonardo da Vinci are exhibited here, and you learn more about his life. We enjoyed the museum a lot.
→ TICKETS FOR THE INTERACTIVE LEONARDO DA VINCI MUSEUM
Florence Cathedral – Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral
The Florence Cathedral (Duomo Complex) is mainly known for Brunelleschi’s impressive dome.
The cupola, which dates back to the 15th century has an incredible diameter of about 147 feet (45 meters).
The cupola (dome) alone is over 328 feet (100 meters) high. In addition, the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral is one of the largest churches in the world.
With a ticket that includes access to the dome, you can enjoy the highest view of the city.
Inside the cathedral are frescos by Vasari and Zuccari, and you can visit the Crypt of Santa Reparata.
A pre-booked ticket also includes access to the Cathedral Museum and Giotto’s Campanile, the bell tower next to the cathedral.
→ TICKETS FOR FLORENCE CATHEDRAL AND ACCESS TO CUPOLA
From the cathedral, the next stop is the Piazza della Signoria.
Piazza della Signoria with the Neptune Fountain
The Piazza della Signoria with the Neptune Fountain invites you to take another break.
You can let your gaze wander from one of the cafes overlooking the busy square.
However, the prices here are higher compared to the less crowded side streets.
At the edge of Piazza della Signoria, you will also find the Loggia dei Lanzi, where various sculptures are located.
This is where we sat down and enjoyed a view of the big Piazza della Signoria.
You can visit the Palazzo Vecchio.
In the courtyard, you can see ornate columns and the bronze statue “Putto with Dolphin”. This area is free to visit.
You can also book the guided secret passages tour with the secret Medici rooms and a mysterious staircase if you want to see more of the palace.
Bonus Stop: Enjoy a glass of wine from a wine window
You can end your day 1 in Florence by enjoying a glass of wine from a wine window.
There are some wine windows where you can ring a bell and a glass of wine or other beverages are served through a small window which actually looks like a door for a dwarf.
One popular still functioning wine window is at the Osteria Belle Donne in Via delle Belle Donne, 16R, 50123 Firenze.
⭐ Overwhelmed by planning your trip to Italy? Check out our Italy Travel Planning Checklist.
Day 2 in Florence
Uffizi Gallery – Galleria degli Uffizi
In 1560, Prince Cosimo I built an administrative building (Uffizi), which later became the Galleria degli Uffizi.
His son Francesco had studios and workshops set up on the top floor of the administrative building and built the octagonal Sala della Tribuna.
This room is now one of the most important rooms in the Uffizi Gallery. Later, more and more rooms were used for the famous museum.
Today, there are about 80 rooms with paintings and artworks, busts, and weapons.
Some of the most famous artworks are Botticelli’s Birth of the Venus, Lippi’s Madonna representations, and works and sculptures by Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.
The Uffizi Gallery museum is one of the most visited buildings in Florence, and the ticket queues are usually quite long. Therefore, we recommend booking Uffizi tickets online in advance.
→ SKIP-THE-LINE TICKETS FOR THE UFFIZI GALLERY
⭐ Pro Travel Tip: There is a beautiful view of the Florence Cathedral from the café on the top floor and from the museum of the Ponte Vecchio.
Ponte Vecchio
The Ponte Vecchio, which means old bridge, is one of the landmarks of Florence.
This special bridge is located near the Uffizi Gallery and is one of the oldest segmental arch bridges in the world.
There are shops on either side on the bridge, and it doesn’t feel like you are crossing a bridge. You get a direct view of the Arno River only in the middle of the Ponte Vecchio.
From the Ponte Vecchio, you continue walking to the next attraction in Florence:
Palazzo Pitti
The Palazzo Pitti is located on the left bank of the Arno River and can be reached via the Ponte Vecchio.
The Palazzo Pitti is an impressive palace housing six different collections and the beautiful Boboli Gardens.
The collections at the Palazzo Pitti include the
- Galleria d’Arte Moderna (modern Tuscan art)
- Galleria del Costume (costume history)
- Galleria Palatina and Appartamenti Monumentali (splendor of the Tuscan Medici princely family)
- Museo degli Argenti (silver museum) and
- Museo delle Porcellane (works of porcelain manufacturers)
Because of the many things to see inside Palazzo Pitti it’s a great idea in case you’re experiencing Florence on a rainy day.
→ TICKET FOR THE PALAZZO PITTI
Giardino di Boboli (Boboli Gardens)
The Boboli Gardens are an extensive park located behind the Palazzo Pitti. In the gardens, you will see sculptures, several grottoes, and fountains.
The Boboli Garden was laid out in the 16th century. Some of the carefully crafted statues date back to the 16th century.
Behind the Palazzo Pitti, there is also an arena worth visiting.
→ TICKET FOR THE BOBOLI GARDENS
From the Giardino di Boboli, you walk to the best viewpoint of the city:
Piazzale Michelangelo
The Piazzale Michelangelo is an elevated square, where you get the best views over Florence. The popular square is dedicated to the famous artist Michelangelo Buonarroti.
At the square, you find the second replica of the David statue, as well as other replicas of some of Michelangelo’s famous works.
Bonus Tip: River Cruise At The Arno River
Before you head over to dinner and end your second day in Florence, you can hop on a boat to see the city from the water. You can enjoy an aperitivo aboard before you end the day in the Tuscan capital.
If you’re not interested in a boat trip, you can alternatively explore Florence at night during a guided tour.
Where to Stay in Florence
- 🏨 The St. Regis Florence: Next to the Arno River, the St. Regis hotel is located in a historical building built by Brunelleschi. It features luxurious rooms with antique, Italian furniture. Check prices and availability
- 🏨 Hotel Rapallo: The Hotel Rapallo is within walking distance of the most important sights. Check prices and availability
- 🏨 Flor in Florence: The B&B is within walking distance of the highlights. They offer Italian and continental breakfast and comfortable, stylish rooms. Check prices and availability
How to Get to Florence
The best way to visit Florence is by flying directly to Florence airport. Alternatively, you can fly to Rome International Airport.
From there you can take the fast train to Florence, or book a rental car. This way, you can also drive along the stunning, rolling hills of Tuscany.
Recommended related articles:
⭐ Plan your Florence trip with our Florence travel guide.
⭐ Day trips from Florence to Tuscany.
⭐ Want to see more of Tuscany? Don’t miss out on the best small towns in Tuscany
⭐ Not sure how many days in Florence you should add to your itinerary? We help you decide based on your interests and share the best itineraries with you.
⭐ The best cities near Florence
⭐ Florence in 3 days: what to see and do
What do you think? Is Florence worth visiting?
