Ultimate 2 Day Florence Itinerary

Florence is the capital of the Tuscany region in Italy making it a must-visit city while exploring this country. There is so much to see and do here, but you can check off a lot with this ultimate 2 day Florence itinerary.

If you want to experience an Italian city, Florence is a great place for you to travel to. It’s filled with beautiful historical buildings, cafes, local restaurants on every street, stunning parks, palaces, shopping areas, and more!

There’s definitely plenty to do in Florence, Italy, so I’ve narrowed it down for you below. Plan your visit and learn how to spend two days in Florence!

To help you make the most of your trip, below are some Italy travel guides. From packing to transportation, I've got you covered when it comes to Italy travel. Enjoy your visit to Florence. It's time to prepare for your trip!

DAY 1

Breakfast at Melaleuca

Start your Florence trip off right with a delicious breakfast from Melaleuca Bakery + Bistro. Here you will find a great variety of drinks, an array of fresh pastries, as well as a full breakfast and brunch menu. We also saw a few people working on their laptops here, so if you need a spot to get some work done while in Florence, this is a great place to do it!

The Duomo

If you spend time and money on one “attraction” while in Florence, let it be Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, or the "Duomo". This cathedral is a must see while in Tuscany due to its fame, incredible architectural feat, and its history.

While it is free to get into the main part of the cathedral, given you are wearing appropriate clothing (i.e. covering your shoulders and down to your knees), the tickets to get into the Duomo itself are so worth it. You can also climb the bell tower and visit the Baptistery of St. John if you purchase tickets!

Gelato Break

While you’re exploring the cathedral and the surrounding piazza (there’s lots to do in just this one area), take a yummy break and stop by Gelateria Edoardo. You simply cannot explore an Italian city without stopping for gelato at least once. Our go-to flavors are fior di latte and pistachio!

Lunch at Il Granaio Ristorante

After exploring the Cathedral and surrounding Piazza, stop at Il Granaio Ristorante for a delicious lunch and glass of wine. We recommend trying anything with truffle in it while you’re here in Florence. It is SO good, you won’t be disappointed. Some fan favorites here are the truffle pecorino pasta and truffle risotto!

Uffizi Gallery

Once you’re recharged and ready for more exploring, head to the Uffizi Gallery to admire some incredible artwork and history. If you’re a lover of arts, then this is definitely a place for you to check out. This gallery is filled with ancient sculptures and paintings dating back to the Middle Ages.

Dinner at I’Pizzachhiere

End your first day in Florence with the best pizza you’ll probably ever have. I’Pizzachhiere is a “street food” restaurant in the sense that it’s fast, affordable, and small. Because the restaurant itself is small, make sure you leave time to wait in case it’s really busy (it’s so good, so it is popular).

This is a fantastic place with incredible pizza run by a husband and wife duo who also sell their own wine in store! We loved this restaurant so much that we ate here multiple times while in Florence; we highly recommend it (wink wink).

DAY 2

Madeleine

Enjoy some delicious pastries and coffee for breakfast at Madeleine to start your second day of exploring Florence. This patisserie offers an incredible selection of pastries, cakes, and sandwiches as well as delicious espresso, caffe lattes, cappuccinos, and more! Plus, it's an adorable little cafe with a charming vibe.

Boboli Gardens

Next, walk on over to Boboli Gardens, a famous Italian park filled with lush flowers, lemon trees, ponds, and more. It was originally designed for the Medici family, and opened to the public in the late 1700s. This garden is a beautiful display of Italian flora, and it provides a wonderful place to explore for part of your day.

Pitti Palace

Attached to the Boboli Gardens is Pitti Palace, or Palazzo Pitti. Immerse yourself in the art and history of Florence and admire the greatest collection of Rafael’s artwork in Palazzo Pitti. You can buy joint tickets for both Boboli Gardens and Pitti Palace online, or you can walk up to the ticket counter where they offer combined tickets and separate tickets for the gardens and the palace.

Gelato and Snack Break

Stop for a light lunch from Pinsa Romano and a scoop or two of gelato from Gelateria Della Passera. These two stops are right across the street from each other so its a great area to stop if your group wants different things, or maybe you’re solo traveling and you want something sweet and savory!

Ponte Vecchio

You can’t visit Florence without seeing Ponte Vecchio, the famous medieval bridge filled with jewelry stores. It’s fun to walk across and window shop, people watch, and admire the happenings of everyday life in Florence on the Ponte Vecchio. It also offers a great photo spot as well; use it as a backdrop from further up the street for an authentic Florence vibe.

Dinner at Osteria del Pavone

Make the most of your last evening in Florence, Italy, and splurge a little on a fantastic dinner at Osteria del Pavone. We picked this restaurant last minute for our last night in Florence and it did not disappoint one bit! The food here is delicious, and they offer some unique dishes as well as traditional ones.

They also have a great selection of wine, which you cannot miss while in Italy, and the service here is exceptional, which is not the norm in many European countries. I highly recommend this restaurant.

Is 2 days in Florence enough?

You can explore a lot with 2 days in Florence. The city is very walkable and many popular places are within walking distance of each other. If you stay near the city center, in either the Santa Croce or Santa Maria Novella neighborhoods, you'll be close to many sights and activities mentioned in the above 2 day Florence itinerary.

Two Days in Florence

Florence, Italy is an incredible city, with bustling streets, high-end shops, delicious food all around, and sites to see for days. While there is so much more to see and do here, you’ll get to experience the best of this wonderful city with this 2 day Florence itinerary.

Enjoy some of the city's most famous sights, dine at amazing restaurants, sip on a cappuccino, and savor a gelato. Now you know how to spend two days in Florence, it's time to get al-packing those bags.

If you have any other questions regarding Italy travel planning, check out my other travel guides to help you make the most of your time in this amazing country. Some people overlook Florence when they’re planning an Italy vacation, but I promise you, you do not want to miss out on this city.

So head to the land of la dolce vita, soak in the views, learn about the history and culture, sip on wine all day, eat your body weight in pasta, and live life to its fullest in Florence, Italy.

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