Spending 2 days in Florence is a great experience. There is so much to see in this Italian city of the Renaissance period.
I visited Florence several times and it's always great to be in the city. There are museums, galleries and historic buildings. Learning about the amazing history of Florence is such a fun thing to do!
Besides that, there are amazing restaurants in Florence that serve great dishes. Furthermore, this is the perfect place for ice cream.
The first time I went to Florence I couldn't believe how much the city had to offer. But even after visiting the city several times, it's still so much fun to go there.
If you want to visit a city with lots of history and art, then you should visit Florence. So if you're in Italy, you should definitely see this city as well!
Also, 48 hours is the perfect amount of time to see the highlights of the city. You can discover most of what the city has to offer this way.
As there is so much to see in the city, it's important to have a good plan. I first start with some important information to know before going to the city. After that, I'll show you the best way to spend 2 days in Florence!
Table of Contents
Getting to Florence
There are several ways to get to the city of Florence. The most common ways are by bus, car, airplane, and train.
Bus
Several companies connect the city of Florence by bus to other parts of Italy. Furthermore, there are international connections as well. For example, Flixbus goes to the city.
This is often a cheap way to go to Florence and you also have options for overnight buses. That way you can travel while you are sleeping. This is very convenient.
Train
You can also go to Florence by train. There are many direct train connections to the city. You can buy tickets for the train online at the website of Trenitalia.
The city of Florence is a quick trip from many Italian cities. This is because of the good high-speed rail network.
For example, you can get to Florence from Venice in only 2.5 hours.
You arrive at the Santa Maria Novella train station. This train station belongs to the busiest station in the country as there are about 160,000 people per day. From here you can walk to all things in the city center. But, you can also take the bus.
It's a great idea to travel by train if you're 2 days in Florence. It saves a lot of time as you arrive in the center!
Car
If you are traveling through the Tuscany region, going by car is convenient.
You can get to Florence in a very short time span from many places nearby.
Airplane
Most international visitors to Florence go by airplane. This is easy and there are two main airports you are most likely to travel to.
The first one is the Airport in Florence. This one is closest to the city and thus most convenient for your 2 days in Florence.
From here, you can reach the city center by bus or by taxi. This bus departs every 30 minutes and takes about 20 minutes. Also, you take a taxi. The taxi is a bit faster, but also more expensive.
The other airport that many people arrive through is Pisa Airport. This one is much farther away from the city of Florence. But, many low-cost flights go here.
From Pisa Airport you can go to Florence by train. You have to go to the main train station in Pisa first. You can do this either by walking there or by taking the Pisa Mover.
Another way to get to Florence from Pisa is by taking the bus. There are some companies that have direct connections.
Furthermore, to get from Pisa to Florence, you can take a taxi. But, this is much more expensive. You can also rent a car.
Where to stay when you’re 2 days in Florence?
Now that you know how to get to the city, you need to know where to stay.
Florence is not that large, so everywhere in the city is a good place to stay. You can walk to all parts of the city.
But, if you want to have the most central place to stay. Then stay somewhere next to the large cathedral, Duomo! This is in the middle of the city and you can get everywhere you want from here. Staying there is very convenient if you're 2 days in Florence.
Moreover, there are various types of accommodations in Florence. For example, you can stay in a hotel or a hostel. Depending on your budget and your requirements, you can decide what is best for you.
Getting around in the city
The easiest way to move around the city is by walking. Florence is quite small, so doing everything on foot is very easy. Furthermore, walking in the city is a fun thing to do. The streets of Florence are lovely.
Besides that, there is a good bus network. You can use the bus to get to places a bit further from the city center. So, if you want to go there, use the bus!
Things to know before going to Florence for 2 days
Avoid queues of museums by buying tickets online
Some museums have very long queues. This is in particular in summer. For that reason, it's convenient to buy tickets online. This can save you a lot of time for your 2 days in Florence.
You can also buy the Firenzecard that allows you to visit almost all the museums in Florence. If you follow this itinerary, it isn't going to save you money, but if you want to visit more museums it can be convenient.
Buy your bus tickets in advance
If you're planning on traveling by bus to Florence, it's better to buy tickets in advance. You can find a shop that sells bus tickets with the ATAF sticker. The tickets on the bus cost more. Furthermore, often, there are no tickets on the bus.
Many museums aren’t open on Monday
Many museums in Florence aren't open on Monday. This itinerary for 2 days also contains museums, so keep that in mind.
The amazing itinerary for 2 days in Florence
Now you know the most important information about visiting Florence. So let's start with the itinerary for 2 days in Florence. If you follow this guide, you will definitely have a great time and see all highlights!
2 Days in Florence: Day 1
You arrived in the city. You are now ready to explore the city. On this first day, I recommend starting at the central square in front of the Duomo.
Breakfast
In a typical Italian way, I recommend having breakfast at one of the cafes in the city. One of the best places to do so is Caffe Astra al Duomo. Going here is a very nice way to start your day.
It is common for Italians to have a quick coffee and a pastry. And they do this while standing at the bar So, for an Italian experience you should also try this!
Duomo
After breakfast, head over to the Duomo.
The Duomo is the main cathedral of the city. And it is a beautiful one to see.
The Duomo is one of the most famous sights in Florence. You can find it in Piazza del Duomo. The historic center of Florence is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the Duomo is part of this.
Seeing the Duomo is a great thing to do, as the architecture is amazing. It's a very high building and the colors of it are very nice. Furthermore, learning about the history of the cathedral is great as well.
If you're 2 days in Florence, you should definitely go here. Furthermore, the square in front of it is the perfect place to discover the atmosphere of the city.
You can get inside the cathedral, which is an amazing experience. There is no entrance fee for the regular entrance to see the inside.
Also, you can go to the top of the Duomo. You need to buy tickets to get in Brunelleschi's Dome.
From the top of Brunelleschi's Dome, you can get a wonderful view of the city. It is one of the largest buildings in the city, so the view is beautiful and very wide.
Also, during the walk up you can see the inside of the cathedral from above. This is very nice to see as well.
Furthermore, there are many shops in the area surrounding the Duomo. So it is a perfect place to combine history, views, and a shopping spree!
Lunch
Now that you have seen the Duomo, it is time for lunch!
One of the best lunch places in Florence is All'Antico Vinaio. This is a good place to get a delicious sandwich. They use bread that is typical for the region: schiacciata. It is a lot like focaccia bread.
Furthermore, you can get all kinds of toppings you want.
Piazza della Signoria
All'Antico Vinaio is very close to Piazza della Signoria.
Piazza della Signoria is a beautiful square in front of the Palazzo Vecchio. The Palazzo Vecchio is a former palace. Nowadays, it is the town hall of Florence. The building is from the 15th century.
This building is amazing to see and you can get inside. Inside there is a museum where you can learn more about the city. Furthermore, you can see beautiful decorations in the rooms. For example, there are artworks by Michelangelo. This is amazing to see if you like art.
Also, go to the top of the tower for a beautiful view of the city!
In front of the Palazzo Vecchio, there is an outdoor gallery with statues. You can stroll along these for free. It is amazing to see these statues in the middle of the city!
Furthermore, there is a replica of the statue of David. You find the real one nowadays in Galleria dell'Accademia.
Galleria dell'Accademia
Next, you can go to the Galleria dell'Accademia! This is a beautiful art gallery with many statues and paintings. The gallery itself is not that large, but worth your time!
The highlight of the museum is the statue of David by Michelangelo. This is a must-see when you visit the city of Florence. The statue looks very impressive.
Dinner
One of the best places to have dinner in Florence is Mercato Centrale. This is a market with all kinds of products during the day. But, there is more to it.
When you go upstairs there is a food court with several stalls. There are so many options to choose from! This is a great place to go if you're 2 days in Florence.
Also, if you are with other people, everyone can select what they like. You can then choose a table and eat together. That way, everyone is happy!
2 Days in Florence: Day 2
There is still a lot to explore in the city on the second day.
Uffizi
After breakfast, you can start your day at the Uffizi Gallery. No trip to Florence is complete without visiting this museum.
It is one of the best museums in the world. There are many masterpieces. For example, there are artworks by Raphael, Botticelli, and Leonardo da Vinci.
If you want, you can stroll here for hours and see so many things!
By the way, there is a way to avoid the enormous queue. You can order your tickets online and collect them at a building near the entrance!
Ponte Vecchio
Next to the Uffizi is the Ponte Vecchio. This is a remarkable bridge connecting the two parts of the city. You have to see it when you visit Florence.
What's amazing about this bridge is that there are buildings and shops on top of it. This makes this bridge very special!
Also, there is an alley connecting the Uffizi with the Pitti Palace. There were many attacks on the ruling family at the time of construction. This alley was there to protect them when going from one palace to the other. This way they could do so!
Lunch
Near Ponte Vecchio, there are many places to have lunch. Pasta, pizza, sandwiches. Whatever you like, you find it here.
One place I recommend for their delicious pizza is Gustapizza. Their pizzas are very tasty. Furthermore, you can get a pizza in a heart shape. This is very cool!
Boboli Gardens and Pitti Palace
After lunch, go to the Boboli Gardens! These are next to the Pitti Palace. Moreover, they belong to the palace.
It's very interesting to see the structure of the Boboli Gardens. There, you can see the Italian garden style that the Medici family created. This style became a model for a lot of courts in Europe.
Furthermore, there are many statues to see. You can see both Renaissance statues and ancient statues, so that's very interesting.
The gardens are a perfect place for a relaxing stroll. But, there is more to see. For example, there are beautiful fountains. Moreover, you can go to a higher point for a wonderful view.
It is also interesting to go here during autumn. In autumn the colors of the trees change. This makes the garden look even more stunning.
Ice cream
It is only a short walk from the Boboli Gardens to the next place. Along the route, you walk along the water.
If you want to taste delicious ice cream, then this is the best time to do it.
Near the river, you'll find Gelateria Santa Trinita. This ice cream shop has some of the best ice creams in Florence. They produce their ice cream every day with fresh ingredients. I liked the ice cream here very much.
When you're 2 days in Florence, you should have some ice cream for sure!
Piazza Michelangelo
From Piazza Michelangelo, you have one of the best views over Florence. You have to climb a bit, but it is worth your effort.
You can see the Ponte Vecchio, the Duomo, the river, and much more! Furthermore, this is the best place for watching the sunset.
Also, there's a restaurant where you can have a drink while looking at the view.
Santa Croce
After Piazza Michelangelo, head to another part of the city. When you walk across the Ponte all Grazie bridge, you'll end up at Santa Croce.
This is a beautiful church. Furthermore, it is the burial place of many famous Italians. For example, there are Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Dante, and Galileo Galilei. Also, many members of the ruling family Medici are here.
Dinner
Near Sante Croce, there are several restaurants where you can have dinner. There are many great restaurants in Florence!
If you're only in Florence for 2 days, then this is your last day. In that case, you should go to the square in front of the Duomo. After dinner, you can see the heart of the city for one last time!
If you want to stay in Italy for a longer time, it's also fun to discover some other cities in Italy. Or you could do a day trip to Cinque Terre too, as it's easy to get from Florence to Cinque Terre!
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