How to Spend 2 Amazing Days in Florence

Visiting Florence? I’m so excited for you! Florence, Italy is one of my absolute favorite cities in the world! And what’s not to love? Beautiful architecture, extensive history, and amazing food! Florence is a dream come true, and I could spend forever there – but most people only pass through Florence on their Italy trip, so I’ve put together a list of the best places to visit in Florence in 2 days. And this list may seem like a lot, but I wanted to include things to choose from, although you can totally extend these activities into more days or keep them in your mind for your next trip to Florence.

• • • The Duomo
    • Giotto’s Campanile
    • Ponte Vecchio
    • Statue of David
    • The San Lorenzo Market
    • The Central Market
    • Boboli Gardens
    • Uffizi Gallery
    • Piazzale Michelangelo
    • Piazza del Duomo

There is a lot to see in Florence. From the Duomo to the many museums, it can be tempting to try to do it all. But because all of the spots are popular, waiting in line is an inevitability. Some of the lines just to get in were over an hour-long, and we really didn’t want to spend too much time indoors. You can easily admire the Duomo from the outside (I have been inside before and it is beautiful, but it’s also just as stunning from the outside), visited Ponte Vecchio at sunset, and spent more of our time walking around than in museums. Saving that for our next trip to Florence, we chose to go to the Uffizi and check out Pitti Uomo with my cousins on this trip. I do want to explore Boboli Gardens on our next visit, it’s so large and beautiful!

Do I Need to Book Tickets in Advanced for the Uffizi Gallery?

It depends on your schedule, but I would highly recommend booking in advance. I booked our tickets two weeks before online, for 8 AM and it was the best thing I could have done. We just breezed right in, it was largely empty of crowds at that time on a Tuesday and didn’t have to worry about finding ourselves in a long lineup outside with no guarantee of getting in that day. I do this for anything I know might have a long line, such as when we went to the Vatican, I don’t like to waste my time in lines when I could be exploring other parts of the city or enjoying a leisurely lunch. And if you can, I would book in advance for any other popular attractions in Florence or any city in Italy, especially if you are going late Spring to early Fall, the peak tourist season.

Where to Shop in Florence

Santa Maria Novella – You know how you are always looking for something special while you’re traveling that you cannot find in Canada or North America? Well, I have just the place for you! While Santa Maria Novella does have a store in the US and you can purchase it online, there are a few things in this “oldest pharmacy in Florence” that you cannot find in Canada such as their special tonics, skincare, and medicines. It is truly a special place I highly recommend visiting and having a tea! I first went when I was 14 and have gone twice since, the beautiful, simple church is also next door if you wanted to visit.

Loretta Caponi –  My newest discovery in town was when I stumbled across a 50-year-old store, housed in a 14th-century palazzo called Loretta Caponi. Warning: It’s quite costly but they have smaller handkerchiefs and things if you’re on a budget. It’s worth popping in just to see though!

Where to Eat in Florence

Osteria delle Tre Panche – This is an adorable hidden gem and it was recommended. We didn’t get a chance to go, our cousins took us to this pizza restaurant near our Airbnb (which was also great, I just can’t remember the name). You definitely need a reservation because there are only three tables.

Mercado Centrale – This is a perfect lunch spot that offers anything and everything your heart desires. I picked up a couple of arancini balls, we tried dumplings (which weren’t great, but we needed something else besides pasta or pizza), there are a few wine bars inside, and you can grab small bites.

Konnubio – We stumbled onto this chic courtyard in the city center walking back from Pitti Uomo. There are a restaurant and a courtyard cocktail bar. We, of course, opted for an apertivo before dinner, it was a lovely outdoor space serving up decent cocktails and ambiance. I would go back to try out their dining room that has great reviews online!

How many days should I stay in Florence?

We stayed in Florence for 2 days, but we wish we had more time! Not necessarily to see more things, but to be more relaxed, eat more gelato, and visit the market multiple times!

If you do have the time, consider staying for 3 or 4 days. But if you’re just passing through then choose your favourites from the list to plan the perfect one day in this amazing city! I would stick with 1-3 things and save time to have a leisurely meal and wander for a bit.

How to Get into Florence

We actually drove into Florence from Lake Garda as part of our Italy road trip and then continued on to Treviso and Venice.

I would definitely recommend driving through Italy if you can, there’s nothing like stopping to take photos in the Italian countryside! I don’t know how many little towns we drove through or amazing vistas we stumbled on doing so.

But there are other ways to get into Florence, and a train is a great option also!

The Stazione di Santa Maria Novella is the train station in Florence and is only a 10 minute-ish walk from the city center. This is a great option if you’re not renting a car, as you can still get in and out of most of the major areas in Italy.

Where to Stay

Okay first up, my friendly reminder that if you’re new to Airbnb, click this link and sign up. You’ll get $40 off of your first stay, so it’s definitely worth it if you’ve got some travel coming up.

I highly recommend staying in an Airbnb, our Airbnb was perfect! There were two bedrooms, a large bathroom, kitchen, charm and air-conditioning! Loved the location, while it wasn’t the city center, it was on the border in a locals neighbourhood (I think Campo di Marte) full of restaurants, boutiques and if you are driving, a couple of parking lots! It was about a 15-20 minute walk to the duomo that we enjoyed taking each day. You walk past little cafes, pastry shops, mobile bookstores, and florists. Lots of charm and fewer tourists.

I hope this quick little guide helps you out with your next trip to Florence! It’s a city where there are so many hidden gems to discover while on foot. Also check out my Italy section to see my guides to Rome, Lucca, and Lake Garda!