2 or 3 Days in Florence: A Realistic Itinerary by an Italian

Florence is compact, but David, the Duomo, and the Uffizi each deserve time. With two days, you can see them without turning the whole trip into a race between reservations.

I grew up in Bologna, a short train ride away, and I’ve visited Florence many times. I enjoy it most when there’s room for a proper meal and a walk down a street that catches my eye.

This Florence itinerary leaves room for both. Day 1 takes you from David and the Duomo to the view at Piazzale Michelangelo. Day 2 gives the Uffizi its own morning, followed by Ponte Vecchio and Oltrarno.

If you have a third day, stay in Florence for Santa Croce, Sant’Ambrogio Market, and a cooking class, or spend the day in Tuscany. I’ve laid out both choices below.

Only have one day? Follow my one-day Florence itinerary instead.

Florence Itinerary at a Glance

Before You Start: Tickets and Opening Days

Try to put Days 1 and 2 between Tuesday and Sunday. The Accademia and Uffizi are closed on Mondays. If you have three days and one is Monday, use Monday for the slower Day 3 route, then move the museum days to other dates.

Sant'Ambrogio Market is open on Mondays, so this swap works well. If you have only Sunday and Monday, choose one of the big museums for Sunday and use Monday for Santa Croce, Palazzo Vecchio, and the Duomo complex.

Book your Accademia and Uffizi entries first. Add the dome only if you want the climb and can get a slot that fits Day 1.

Florence's center is easy to cover on foot, but you will still be on your feet for hours. Wear comfortable shoes and leave space between reservations.

Day 1: David, San Lorenzo, and the Duomo

Start with David, take a real lunch break, and explore the historic center. Then cross the Arno for the view from Piazzale Michelangelo. Save Ponte Vecchio for tomorrow.

I took the WalksDevour Florence in a Day tour with Fran on his first visit (and I've taken many WalksDevour tours, so I know they are good!).

Our guide Nebojsa made even familiar streets interesting to me. That experience is why I like having a guide for Florence's art and history.

Start at the Accademia Gallery

Book an Accademia entry around 9:30 AM. Michelangelo's David is the obvious reason to come, but stay for the unfinished Prisoners, too. Their figures seem to be pushing their way out of the marble.

The four Prisoners were made for a grand tomb planned for Pope Julius II. Walk down their gallery toward David and notice how the rough marble contrasts with his polished figure.

An hour to 75 minutes is enough for the highlights without rushing. If you want more, the museum also has Florentine paintings and historic musical instruments.

My guide to Michelangelo’s David tickets compares the options in more detail.

Take a Short Walk Through San Lorenzo

From the Accademia, walk past Palazzo Medici Riccardi toward San Lorenzo. Spend about 30 to 45 minutes here. The outdoor stalls focus on clothes and leather goods, while the covered Mercato Centrale is the food market.

The Basilica di San Lorenzo is nearby, but this schedule does not include an interior visit. Head into Mercato Centrale for lunch when you are ready.

The traditional ground-floor market has shorter hours than the upstairs food hall. Do not count on every produce stall being open. Have breakfast before the Accademia, then eat lunch here around noon.

Have Lunch Around 12:15 PM

Head into Mercato Centrale after the short market walk. The upstairs food hall is handy for a flexible lunch. Fran and I found excellent vegan burgers there on a previous visit.

It is usually open daily from 9 AM to 11 PM. If you want a sit-down meal, choose a restaurant around San Lorenzo instead. Allow enough time to reach the cathedral in the early afternoon.

Explore the Duomo Complex

After lunch, walk a few minutes to Piazza del Duomo. The cathedral's white, green, and pink marble facade is worth a slow look before you go in. Circle the square to see Brunelleschi's dome, Giotto's Bell Tower, and the Baptistery.

Look for the Baptistery's bronze doors. The original Gates of Paradise are now in the Opera del Duomo Museum, along with sculptures once displayed outside the complex.

The cathedral itself is free to enter, but the security line can take time. Go inside before its usual 3:45 PM visitor closing time if the line fits your day. Otherwise, save your time for the square and the museum.

The dome climb is optional. It has 463 steps, no elevator, and narrow passages. Your entry time is fixed, so fit the rest of the day around it. Check exactly what your ticket includes before paying. My Duomo tours guide compares guided visits.

If you skip the climb, use that time for the Opera del Duomo Museum. On Sundays, the cathedral is closed to sightseeing, but afternoon dome slots may still run. Check the calendar for your date.

Walk Through Piazza della Signoria

Walk through Piazza della Repubblica, which stands over the site of Florence's Roman forum. Then continue to Piazza della Signoria, the city's civic center. Look for the copy of David outside Palazzo Vecchio. The original once stood here.

Step under the arches of the Loggia dei Lanzi for a free collection of sculptures. Take a moment for the statues and the Fountain of Neptune before deciding whether to enter Palazzo Vecchio.

Going inside Palazzo Vecchio is optional. Its rooms chart Florence's political history, and the huge Salone dei Cinquecento is the main draw. Allow about 90 minutes and cut another optional stop. A late-afternoon visit will not work on Thursday.

See Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo

From Piazza della Signoria, cross the river at Ponte alle Grazie and walk through San Niccolò. The climb to Piazzale Michelangelo has steps, but the view takes in the Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio, Ponte Vecchio, and the Arno in one sweep.

Go before sunset if the weather is clear. It is a popular viewpoint, so expect company. The square is free to visit and needs no ticket. If the uphill walk sounds like too much after a full day, take a taxi to the top.

In winter, leave the historic center earlier to catch the light. Skip the optional Palazzo Vecchio interior if its 90-minute visit would make you miss the view.

Back in the center, I would go for bistecca alla Fiorentina if you eat meat. I celebrated a birthday at Trattoria Dall'Oste on Borgo San Lorenzo and really enjoyed it. I recommend booking a table.

Day 2: Uffizi, Ponte Vecchio, and Oltrarno

The Uffizi gets its own morning today. After that, you will cross the Arno, eat lunch in Oltrarno, and choose one major afternoon stop. Finish with a food and wine tour that doubles as dinner.

Give the Uffizi the Morning

Book an early Uffizi entry and allow at least two hours. Botticelli's Birth of Venus is a highlight, but leave time to look down the long sculpture-lined corridors and out toward the river.

The building began as offices for Florence's rulers. Now its rooms take you from early Italian painting to the Renaissance. Look for Botticelli's Primavera and Michelangelo's round Doni Tondo, too.

Cross Ponte Vecchio and Have Lunch in Oltrarno

From the Uffizi, walk to Ponte Vecchio. The current bridge dates from 1345, and goldsmith shops still line both sides. Look up for the Vasari Corridor, the elevated passage that linked the Medici's government offices to Palazzo Pitti.

If you want a photo of the bridge itself, look back from another bridge or the riverbank.

On the other side, wander toward Piazza Santo Spirito and its plain-fronted Renaissance church. The lanes nearby still have artisan workshops. Keep lunch fairly light if you are doing the evening food tour, which will be your dinner.

Two easy lunch options fit this route: Caffè degli Artigiani near Piazza della Passera for a sandwich or piadina, or Gustapizza near Santo Spirito for pizza. Check the day's hours and leave room for dinner.

If you skip the food tour, La Casalinga is a sit-down Tuscan option. After lunch, Gelateria della Passera is close by for a quick stop.

Spend the Afternoon at Boboli Gardens

Walk toward Palazzo Pitti and enter the Boboli Gardens behind it. The Medici shaped this hillside into a formal garden with an amphitheater, fountains, sculptures, and long paths. Look for the Fountain of Neptune as you climb.

The Buontalenti Grotto is another landmark near the palace side of the gardens. Access to its interior can be limited, so do not build the route around getting inside.

Keep your plan simple: allow time to wander rather than trying to tick off every corner. The paths and slopes also mean it is less of a rest than the word “garden” might suggest.

In winter, aim to enter by about 1:30 PM. That gives you time before the 4:30 PM closing.

If It Rains, Visit Pitti Palace Instead

If the weather makes Boboli unappealing, step inside the former Medici residence. In the Palatine Gallery, paintings by Raphael, Titian, and Rubens hang in richly decorated rooms. The palace also has a Gallery of Modern Art.

Choose Pitti instead of Boboli for this afternoon so you still have a break before the evening food tour. If you have had enough art after the Uffizi, linger in Oltrarno instead.

Because the tour is dinner, you do not need a second restaurant reservation. If you would rather eat on your own, skip the tour and book a table around Santo Spirito. I compare more choices in my Florence food tours guide.

Day 3: Santa Croce and a Cooking Class, or a Tuscany Day Trip

If you choose the city route, book the cooking class at a time that suits you. Then fit the market, Santa Croce, and any extra sight around it.

Visit Sant'Ambrogio Market and Santa Croce

Browse the food stalls at Sant'Ambrogio in the morning. The covered market is an everyday food stop east of the busiest tourist streets, and it closes at 2 PM. Then walk to Santa Croce, where Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli are buried.

Inside Santa Croce, look beyond the tombs for Giotto's frescoes and the Pazzi Chapel in the cloister. Give the complex 60 to 90 minutes. If you book a morning cooking class, skip the market and visit the basilica later.

If Day 3 falls on a Sunday, skip the market and move Santa Croce to the afternoon. Use the morning for a relaxed walk, brunch, or a sight you missed. On a Monday, this day is also a useful substitute for either museum day.

Fit in Another Sight If You Have Time

The Duomo Museum, Palazzo Vecchio's interior, or another sight you skipped can fill a free slot. Choose one only if it fits around your class. If the weather is lovely, wandering and stopping for coffee is a perfectly good plan, too.

The class Fran and I took was a different experience, led by a chef named Raffaella. Unfortunately, this class isn't available anymore. I am from Bologna, but I had never learned to make fresh pasta properly.

We rolled dough, made sauces, and sat down to eat the pasta we had cooked. We had a lot of fun, and it remains one of my favorite memories from that trip.

Or Take a Tuscany Day Tour

Use the whole third day for this alternative. Skip the Florence stops above and choose hill towns with a winery lunch or a day focused on wine. Both tours leave from Florence.

Have more time for the countryside? My 7-day Tuscany itinerary combines Florence with Chianti, Siena, and the region’s hilltop towns.

Where to Stay in Florence

For this itinerary, the historic center and Santa Maria Novella are handy bases. Compare the room type and total price for your dates before booking.

FAQ: Two or Three Days in Florence

When is the best time for this itinerary?

Spring and early fall are my favorite seasons for walking around Florence. Summer brings heat and bigger crowds, so book morning museum entries and take a longer break in the afternoon.

In winter, shorten the Boboli visit or head to Pitti Palace instead. The gardens close earlier, and rainy days can change the plan quickly. On one of my November visits, the rain made an outdoor garden day unrealistic.

Are two days enough for Florence?

Yes, for a first visit. Two days let you see David, the Duomo, the Uffizi, Ponte Vecchio, and Oltrarno at a reasonable pace. A third day adds room for Santa Croce, a market, and a cooking class (or take a day trip to Tuscany).

What should I do in Florence on a Monday?

Use the optional Day 3 route or spend more time outdoors. The Accademia and Uffizi are closed on Mondays, but Sant'Ambrogio Market and Santa Croce normally open. Palazzo Vecchio is another option. Always check holiday schedules for your dates.

Do I need to climb the Duomo?

No, it's not a mandatory visit. The 463-step climb gives you a memorable view, but it is narrow and physically demanding. The square, cathedral exterior, and Duomo Museum still make a great visit without climbing.

Should I visit Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens on the same day?

With an evening food tour booked, choose one for the afternoon. Boboli is the default in good weather. Pitti Palace replaces it if it rains or you want more art. Doing both would make Day 2 feel crowded.

I was a guest of WalksDevour for the Florence in a Day Tour and the pasta-making class I took with Raffaella. All opinions are my own.

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