Florence in two days
Florence: Uffizi Gallery skip-the-line tickets
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Two days in Florence gives you enough time to see the Uffizi and the Accademia properly, explore both sides of the Arno, climb the Duomo dome, and still sit down for a proper dinner. This itinerary spreads the main museums across both mornings (when they are quieter) and leaves afternoons for the city’s streets, churches and neighbourhoods.
Budget estimate: €150–220 per person over two days, including museum tickets (Uffizi ~€30, Accademia ~€22, Duomo pass ~€20, Pitti Palace ~€16), two restaurant lunches (€15–25 each), two dinners (€30–45), gelato and coffee.
Book before you go: Uffizi, Accademia and Duomo dome require advance booking — often weeks ahead in April–May and September. Check our guides to how to book Uffizi tickets and how to book Accademia tickets.
Day 1: The great museums and the north bank
Morning: Uffizi Gallery (9:00–12:30)
Start with the Uffizi Gallery — the world’s finest collection of Italian Renaissance painting. Arrive at your timed entry slot. The museum is closed Mondays, so plan accordingly.
What to see with 3 hours:
- Botticelli rooms (10–14): Primavera and Birth of Venus — join the crowds early
- Michelangelo’s Holy Family (Room 35) — the only finished panel painting he made
- Titian’s Venus of Urbino (Room 83) — scandalised viewers for centuries
- The rooftop terrace view down the Piazzale degli Uffizi to the Arno
The Uffizi vs Accademia comparison explains why you want to see both if you have two days: they complement rather than duplicate each other.
Lunch: San Lorenzo neighbourhood (12:30–14:00)
Head north toward the San Lorenzo district for lunch away from the tourist bubble near the Piazza della Signoria.
Where to eat:
- Trattoria Mario (Via Rosina 2) — legendary, cash only, communal tables, ribollita and pasta for €10–15. Arrive before 12:30 or queue.
- Mercato Centrale (ground floor market, upper floor food hall) — the ground floor vendors sell excellent lampredotto sandwiches (€4), cheese, cured meat. The upstairs hall is touristier but convenient.
- Da Ruggero (Via Senese 89, slightly south) — proper Florentine cucina, lunch menu ~€18.
Afternoon: Accademia and the David (14:00–16:30)
The Accademia Gallery is 10 minutes’ walk north of the Duomo. The centrepiece is Michelangelo’s original David — 5.17 metres of Carrara marble, carved 1501–1504 when Michelangelo was 26. The museum also holds his unfinished Prigioni (Prisoners) series, which many visitors find more emotionally affecting than the finished David.
The visit typically takes 1.5–2 hours. The gift shop is on the exit route — unavoidable, genuinely good art books if you want them.
Practical: No bags larger than 30 × 30 cm in the museum (leave large bags at the cloakroom or your hotel). Photography without flash is permitted.
Late afternoon: the Duomo complex (16:30–18:00)
The Duomo exterior is free to admire at any time. With two days, spend this slot on the Opera del Duomo Museum (included in the Duomo complex pass), which is often overlooked. It houses:
- Ghiberti’s original “Gates of Paradise” bronze doors (the outdoor baptistery doors are modern replicas)
- Michelangelo’s Pietà (the marble group he carved for his own tomb)
- Donatello’s Mary Magdalene — hauntingly expressive
If you prefer the dome climb itself (463 steps, no lift), book the earliest available slot and do it on Day 1 afternoon or Day 2 morning. The Brunelleschi dome guide explains both options.
Evening: dinner near Piazza della Repubblica (19:30)
The first-night dinner calls for somewhere central and unhurried.
Reliable dinner picks:
- Buca dell’Orafo (Vicolo dei Girolami 28) — one block from Ponte Vecchio; Florentine classics, Chianti Classico by the glass, mains €18–26
- Osteria dell’Enoteca (Via Romana 70, Oltrarno) — more polished, Tuscan tasting menu ~€60
- Il Latini (Via dei Palchetti 6) — communal tables, set menu including wine, around €35; chaotic and fun
After dinner, walk across the Ponte Vecchio — at night, the bridge is less crowded, the goldsmiths’ windows are lit, and the reflection on the Arno is beautiful.
Day 2: The Oltrarno, Pitti Palace and the hills
Morning: Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens (9:00–12:30)
Cross the Arno into the Oltrarno for Day 2. The Pitti Palace houses six separate museums; for a morning visit, focus on the Palatine Gallery (second floor), which holds the Medici art collection including Raphael’s Madonna della Seggiola and Titian’s portraits. The rooms themselves — decorated with 17th-century ceiling frescoes — are as impressive as the paintings.
The Boboli Gardens behind the palace (included in the combined ticket) are 45,000 square metres of terraced Renaissance garden with statues, fountains and shaded allées. Worth 45 minutes if the weather is good. The garden gives an elevated view back toward the city.
Opening hours: 9:15–18:30 (closed second and fourth Monday of each month). The Palazzo Pitti guide covers all six museums in detail.
Lunch: Oltrarno trattorie (12:30–14:00)
The Oltrarno has Florence’s best lunch-for-the-money ratio.
Best options:
- Trattoria Sostanza (Via del Porcellana 25) — butter and sage pasta and ribollita; cash only, book ahead, mains €12–18
- Il Santo Bevitore (Via Santo Spirito 64) — excellent wine list, seasonal Tuscan cooking, lunch around €25–30
- Buca Mario — see Day 1 options above, also works on Day 2
Afternoon: Oltrarno neighbourhoods (14:00–17:00)
The Oltrarno is where Florence’s artisan tradition survives. Spend the afternoon walking:
- Via Maggio — antique shops, palazzo facades, quiet
- Santo Spirito — Brunelleschi’s unfinished basilica with a plain stone facade that conceals a perfect Renaissance interior; free entry
- Piazza del Carmine — the Brancacci Chapel inside Santa Maria del Carmine holds Masaccio’s frescoes (1424–1428), which effectively invented perspective in Western painting. Entry €8, visits limited to 30 people at a time, book ahead
- San Niccolò neighbourhood — local bars, the Torre di San Niccolò (tower with city views), and the gentlest part of the Arno walk
Read our Oltrarno neighbourhood guide and the where to eat in Oltrarno page for more detail.
Late afternoon: Piazzale Michelangelo sunset (17:30–19:00)
No two-day Florence visit is complete without climbing to Piazzale Michelangelo for sunset. The walk from Ponte Vecchio takes 20–25 minutes uphill. The view — dome, Palazzo Vecchio, Arno, the surrounding hills — turns golden in the last hour before dark.
From Piazzale Michelangelo, continue up the steps to San Miniato al Monte for an even higher vantage point and a 12th-century Romanesque church that most visitors walk right past.
Evening: aperitivo and dinner (19:30)
Descend for an aperitivo in Oltrarno — Negroni birthplace territory. Then dinner:
- Alla Vecchia Bettola (Viale Ariosto 32) — serious Florentine food, excellent bistecca, no-frills setting, mains €16–22
- Il Guscio (Via dell’Orto 49) — neighbourhood gem, seasonal menu, €25–35 for a full meal
- Olio e Convivium (Via Santo Spirito 4) — deli-restaurant, excellent charcuterie and wine, quieter than most
What to skip with two days
- Day trips — Siena, Pisa and Chianti deserve a full separate day, not an afternoon. With two days, stay in Florence.
- Hop-on hop-off bus — the city is compact enough to walk; the bus wastes time
- Fake “skip-the-line” resellers — only book through GetYourGuide or the official museum websites. Resellers often charge 40–60% more for the same timed entry
Frequently asked questions about this itinerary
Can I do the Uffizi and the Accademia in the same day?
Technically yes, but it is exhausting and you’ll see neither properly. The Uffizi alone warrants 3 hours; the Accademia 1.5–2 hours. Split them across two mornings as this itinerary does — you’ll absorb far more and enjoy the day.
Is the Duomo dome climb worth it?
Yes, if you have no mobility issues. The 463-step climb takes 40–60 minutes and the dome fresco seen from inside (Vasari’s Last Judgement) is stunning up close. The panoramic view from the top is the best in the city. Book in advance — slots fill quickly.
How many days do you really need in Florence?
Three days is the sweet spot for most visitors — it adds Santa Croce, the Medici Chapels and time to breathe. Two days is enough for the essentials without feeling rushed. See our how many days in Florence guide.
Are museums closed on Mondays in Florence?
The Uffizi and Accademia are closed Mondays. The Duomo complex, Pitti Palace and most churches are open. Plan accordingly: if you arrive on Sunday, do Uffizi or Accademia on Sunday morning before the weekend crowds peak.
What is the best area to stay for two days?
Stay inside the historic centre — within walking distance of the Arno. The Oltrarno is quieter and slightly cheaper than the north bank. Santa Croce district is well-placed for both Uffizi and Accademia. Read our where to stay in Florence guide for hotel picks by neighbourhood.
Do I need cash in Florence?
Most restaurants and museums accept cards. Some traditional trattorie (Trattoria Mario, Sostanza) are cash only — worth checking before you go. ATMs are plentiful in the centre. The Mercato Centrale vendors are a mix.
Is it safe to walk in Florence at night?
Florence is very safe by European city standards. The historic centre is well-lit and lively until midnight. Normal urban caution applies — watch for pickpockets near the Uffizi and on crowded buses.
Top experiences
Bookable activities with verified prices and instant confirmation on GetYourGuide.
Florence: Uffizi Gallery skip-the-line tickets
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Florence: Accademia Gallery — David skip-the-line ticket
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Florence: ticket to Brunelleschi's Dome with panoramic views
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Florence: Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens ticket
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- Mobile ticket
Florence: walking tour
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