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By Monika

2-4 Days in Florence: A Realistic Florence Itinerary You’ll Actually Enjoy!

If you’re planning your Florence itinerary, you might be wondering how many days you’ll need in this amazing city to fit everything in without turning your trip into a rushed checklist.

Florence may look compact on a map, but once you start adding up the must-see sights – the Duomo, world-famous art galleries, historic squares and bridges – trying to organize your days may quickly start to feel overwhelming.

I totally get it – we allowed one 1.5 days to explore Florence during our recent visit to Italy, and it turned out not to be enough, so we missed out on a few things from our “to-do list”.

That’s why I created this Florence itinerary – to spare you my mistakes and help you plan your visit better.

You’ll learn what to do in 2 days in Florence, what to add if you have more time and which day trips are worth adding to your trip.

I’ll give you easy-to-follow daily outlines and maps, with flexible options so you can adjust them to your travel style – plus all the practical tips you need to enjoy yourself and soak in the atmosphere and not run from place to place.

Let’s explore Florence!

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Before we start:

I’ll highlight the main features of each attraction in this itinerary, but you’ll find all the information (like tickets, opening hours, guided tour options and more), as well as other essential Florence details (like how to get there, where to stay and the best time to visit) in my guide to the best things to see in Florence.

• Florence is a walkable city so this is a walking itinerary, but I will give you a public transportation option where appropriate.
• For the purpose of this itinerary, we’ll assume you’re staying in the historic center of Florence, as it is the most convenient area for it. We stayed at Hotel Collodi near Piazza del Duomo and loved both the vibe and location.

Day 1: Duomo Complex, Palazzo Vecchio, Uffizi Gallery + Il Porcellino for good luck

Morning:

Florence Cathedral

No Florence itinerary is complete without visiting the Florence Cathedral complex and other monuments of Piazza del Duomo.

Important: Piazza del Duomo monuments and the entire historic center of Florence are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  

I covered all you need to know (+ some crucial tips) to visit that area in my guide to Florence Cathedral (and climbing the Duomo!), but here is how I recommend you spend your morning:

• Climb Brunelleschi’s Dome (remember to leave your luggage first!) – admire the frescoes and the stunning views of the area
• Visit Santa Reparata and Florence Cathedral (entering the Cathedral through Santa Reparata will save you time – the line to the Cathedral is usually very long)
• Visit the Baptistery
• Climb Giotto’s Bell Tower for some stunning views of the Dome
• Visit Opera del Duomo Museum – see the art collection and go onto the viewing terrace for a close-up view of the Dome – then pick up your luggage from the storage unit next door.

Tickets: I recommend getting the Brunelleschi’s Pass to enter all the monuments. It is the only pass that gives you access to the Duomo. If you know you’re not going to climb it, there are other ticket options you can choose.

For other ticket options and guided tours, click here.

Time needed: allow half a day to explore all monuments, about 4 hours for an unrushed experience.

Afternoon:

Uffizi Gallery and/or Palazzo Vecchio, Arnolfo Tower, Piazza della Signoria

6-minute walk from the Florence Cathedral

All these sites are located around Piazza della Signoria – a lively square framed by historic buildings and cafes, with a replica of the iconic statue of Michelangelo’s David near the entrance to Palazzo Vecchio and a signature Fountain of Neptune.

If you’re an art lover, I recommend you visit the Uffizi Gallery – one of the most famous art museums in the world, the Uffizi is home to masterpieces by Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, and Michelangelo.

Even if you’re not a huge museum person, it’s an incredible place to see some of the most important works of the Renaissance.

Tickets are timed, and you should purchase them in advance – they do sell out. Buy them on the official website or here.

Time needed: 2-3 hours

Then visit Palazzo Vecchio – literally next door. It is both Florence’s city hall and an art museum.

You have choices here:

• Visit the art museum in the Palazzo, for which you need a ticket – buy from the official website.

You’ll need about 1 hour to visit.

• See the free art exhibit in the main lobby of Palazzo Vecchio, known as Michelozzo’s courtyard, which is worth visiting if you don’t feel like touring the entire palace.

You’ll need about 30 minutes to see it.

• Climb the Arnolfo Bell Tower for some great views of the city. You need a separate ticket to go up the 223 stairs.

You’ll need 45-60 minutes for the tower.

Helpful hint: If you’d like to visit both the Uffizi Gallery and Palazzo Vecchio museum, that will take up the rest of your afternoon in Florence. Visit the Uffizi first – the opening hours are shorter, and you need to secure your ticket for a specific time.

Take some time to just stroll around Piazza della Signoria and don’t miss Loggia dei Lanzi (also known as Loggia della Signoria) – an open-air museum right by Palazzo Vecchio, framed by arches and ornate columns, showcasing Renaissance art and sculptures.

Evening:

Ponte Vecchio

4-minute walk from Piazza della Signoria

Make your way to the city’s famous medieval bridge – Ponte Vecchio. These days, it’s known primarily for being home to high-end jewelry stores, so do some window shopping while you take in the views of the river Arno.

Piazza della Repubblica

4-minute walk from Ponte Vecchio

This is another vibrant plaza in Florence – a perfect place to end your first day in Florence.

Stop by one of many historic cafes or go for a ride on the charming vintage carousel.

Then walk back to your accommodation – you’re only 4 minutes away from the Florence Cathedral.

Helpful hint: if you decide to skip the Uffizi Gallery, take a short walk (6 minutes) to the Basilica of Santa Croce before you head for Ponte Vecchio. It is the burial place of famous artists like Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli, and the largest Franciscan church in the world.

Day 1 in Florence at a glance

Day 1 in Florence itinerary map

Day 2: Michelangelo’s David, stunning churches, and sunset views

Morning:

Galleria dell’Accademia

This is where you’ll see the iconic statue of David by Michelangelo.

I recommend you book your ticket well in advance – they are timed and sell out quickly. Grab a morning spot so you can spend the rest of the day exploring the city without any time constraints and having to stick to a schedule.

 Buy them on the official website or here with free cancellation in case your plans change.

We really enjoyed our visit to this museum. It’s not very big, which is great for those who are not exactly art connoisseurs and just want to see the famous sculpture.

In my opinion, if you only have time, budget and/or interest for one gallery in Florence, I would choose the Accademia Gallery.

Time needed: 1-1.5 hours

Basilica di San Lorenzo

7-minute walk from the Accademia Gallery

Make your way to this amazing church – one of the largest and oldest in Europe. Visit the Cloiste, the Scaristy, the Medici Chapel, and more.

You do need a ticket, which costs €9 – you can purchase it onsite.

This is the part of the itinerary where I’m preventing you from making my mistakes and missing out on some important and beautiful Florence landmarks.

I only saw the Basilica from the outside, at night, but even then, it looked impressive!

Time needed: 30-60 minutes

Helpful hint: Basilica di San Lorenzo is located next to San Lorenzo Market, where you can browse local products and souvenirs. It also has an indoor area, called Mercato Centrale, dedicated to food – it’s a great place to have lunch!

Afternoon:

Basilica of Santa Maria Novella

5-minute walk from San Lorenzo Church

This Basilica is best known for its stunning façade and the frescoes inside.

You do need a ticket to enter, which costs €7.5 and you can buy in person at the ticket office.

Again – go inside and visit both the church and the museum it houses.

It’s only 3 minutes away from the Firenze Santa Maria Novella train station, where we were every day during our visit, and yet somehow never stepped inside… Another one of our mistakes you can avoid by following this Florence itinerary!

Time needed: 30-45 minutes

Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella

3-minute walk from Basilica di Santa Maria Novella

This historic pharmacy is a real gem and a must-see!

From the entryway to vintage cabinets, display cases, and bottles to frescoes on the ceiling, you feel like you stepped back in time, all the way to 1221 when it was first established.

It is still a fully operational store, full of perfumes, soaps, creams, potpourri sets, and so much more – all beautifully presented and displayed.

You can learn more here. 

Time needed: at least 30 minutes – but you may enjoy it so much that you’ll want to stay longer!

Piazzale Michelangelo

33-minute walk from Basilica di Santa Maria Novella

This plaza is said to be one of the best viewpoints in Florence. It’s located on a hill, offering a stunning panorama of the city.

We planned to head over there after our Cinque Terre tour but completely underestimated how tired we would be that day. I really wanted to see another replica of Michelangelo’s David there!

It’s also a perfect spot to watch the sunset and have dinner at one of the many restaurants in the plaza. 

Time needed: as long as you wish to spend there!

Helpful hint: if you don’t feel like walking that long, you can take bus #13 or #13 from Rotonda Barbetti stop and ride 18 stops to Piazzale Il David. The bus ride takes about the same amount of time as the walk.

 Evening:

Wine Windows

To end your day 2 in Florence, have a glass of Chianti at one of Florence’s famous Wine Windows (Buchette del Vino)

While not exclusive to Florence, they are found only in Tuscany, and I can’t recommend that experience enough!

They are small windows, typically next to a café or restaurant, through which you can buy a drink of your choice. Just ring a bell or just knock on the shutters. Someone will open and take your order.

We loved Osteria Bella Donne and Cantina de Pucci – they were fairly close to our hotel, but there are many others.

You can just search for them online or use the interactive map created by the Buchette del Vino Association, or just search for wine windows in Florence on Google.

If you’d rather leave the wine window finding task to a professional, you can book a guided wine window walk and let the guide show you the best ones in the city!

Day 2 in Florence at a glance

Day 2 in Florence itinerary maps

If you have more time:

Day 3: Pisa Leaning Tower + Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens

Morning:

Day trip to Pisa

If you have another day, I recommend starting it off with a day trip to Pisa – besides seeing and climbing the iconic leaning tower, there are other stunning monuments to see there, like the Cathedral, the Baptistery and my favorite – Camposanto.

The entire Piazza dei Miracoli is a UNESCO World Heritage Site – definitely worth a visit!

You can easily visit Pisa by train, like we did, or take a half-day guided tour.

Read more about how to visit Pisa and get all the tips on how to get there, how to buy tickets, and what it’s like to climb the leaning tower in this detailed guide to planning a day trip to Pisa!

Helpful hint: If you’d rather reverse the order of the day and take an afternoon tour to Pisa, book this excursion – it departs at 1:30 pm.

Afternoon:

Boboli Gardens and Pitti Palace

20–30-minute walk from Firenze Santa Maria Novella train station (where you’ll arrive from Pisa)

Helpful hint: you can also take bus #6 or #11 from the Stazione Scalette stop nearby)

Spend the afternoon strolling through the lush lawns, grottos, and fountains of Boboli Gardens.

Then visit the largest museum in Florence – Palazzo Pitti.

Both the gardens and the palace are located next to each other, and you can learn more about them, including ticket options, tours, and opening hours here.

Helpful hint: You can also use this time to visit any monument on your Duomo Complex Pass that you haven’t had a chance to enter yet. Remember – your pass is valid for 3 consecutive days but you can only enter each attraction once.

Day 3 in Florence itinerary map

Day 4: day trip to Cinque Terre

This is an all-day trip, and it’s wonderful. If you can fit it into your Florence itinerary, I highly recommend it!

Cinque Terre is a cluster of 5 mountain villages that are simply breathtaking.

You can just walk around admiring picturesque, colorful buildings, hike and take in amazing views, relax at the beach, and even try cliff-jumping!

We opted for a guided tour as it just seemed easier and faster than an independent train ride from the city. We chose the option with the hike and we absolutely loved it!

READ MORE: Best Things to Do in Cinque Terre: Complete Guide + Tips for Your First Visit

Finish your day with Chianti gelato from Edoardo Il Gelato Biologico – a small ice cream place located in Piazza del Duomo, close to the Cathedral. It’s delicious!

How many days in Florence is enough? 

As you can see, there is plenty to see and do in Florence to fill four days.

However, if you only have two – that will be enough to see the major highlights and get a feel for the vibrant atmosphere of the city.

Where to stay for this itinerary?

To follow this itinerary, it’s best to stay near Piazza del Duomo.

But you can explore other accommodation options in the historic center of Florence.

What to book in advance

To have a stress-free, well-planned visit to Florence, I highly recommend booking certain activities and tours in advance. That will ensure you can actually access the attractions you want to see (some things do sell out) and efficiently plan your days.

Here is what to book early:

• your Duomo Pass
• Palazzo Vecchio/Arnolfo Tower tickets
• Uffizi Gallery tickets
• Galleria dell’Accademia tickets
• Pisa Leaning Tower tickets
• Cinque Terre guided tour

Should you get Firenze Card?

Firenze Card is a 72-hour museum pass, so I would only consider it if you’ll be in Florence for 3 days or longer and you’re planning to visit a lot of museums.

We did not stay in Florence long enough to benefit from purchasing it, but you can find out more about all the perks (and purchase it if you choose to) here.

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Are you ready to plan your trip to Florence? Check out exactly what Florence has to offer in my detailed guide to the best things to see in Florence.

Traveling to Italy for the first time? Read this guide: 21 Practical Tips for Visiting Italy for the First Time.

👉 Don’t forget TRAVEL INSURANCE! I don’t travel without it. Get a quote from my personal #1 choice – Travel Guard – or check more options here!

🛜 Stay connected during your trip with an eSIM like Airalo, Saily or Sim Local!

👉 To learn about my trusted travel planning resources that help me (and will help you too!) plan trips easily and save money, read this guide: How to Plan a Trip to Europe: My Favorite Travel Resources Revealed.

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