2 days in Florence

The 2-day plan, day by day

1. 1

   Day 1 · Wednesday — Florence historic center and Arno sunset

   Classic first day — Duomo streets, Renaissance squares and a river viewpoint

   7 stops€92 in stops, for two

   Morning

   1. 09:001

      Settle into the historic center and start around Piazza del Duomo

      Begin in the heart of Florence where the city’s marble facades, narrow lanes and busy piazzas immediately set the tone. This first stretch is ideal for getting oriented on foot and taking in the scale of the cathedral quarter before diving into the surrounding streets.

      €0

      TIPKeep your first walk compact here; most of the day’s stops are an easy walk from the square.

   2. 09:452

      Walk Piazza del Duomo and the surrounding lanes

      This area gathers Florence’s most iconic cityscape into a compact cluster of marble, stone and tightly woven medieval streets. Wandering here gives you a strong sense of the city’s layout, with grand facades opening suddenly onto lively corners filled with cafés and shops.

      Free

      TIPThe square is busiest late morning; pause on the side streets for clearer views and photos.

   3. 11:153

      Explore Piazza della Signoria and Via dei Calzaiuoli

      This route links two of the most atmospheric parts of central Florence: a busy shopping street and the city’s grand civic square. Expect elegant buildings, a constant flow of locals and visitors, and a strong sense of how compact the old center really is.

      Free

      TIPLook down the side alleys off Via dei Calzaiuoli for quieter lanes and traditional shopfronts.

   Afternoon

   1. 12:454

      Lunch around Mercato Centrale and San Lorenzo

      The San Lorenzo quarter is one of the easiest places in central Florence to sample local staples and browse a busy market atmosphere. It works well for a relaxed midday stop, with plenty of casual choices and a mix of produce stalls, counters and surrounding trattoria-lined streets.

      €18 per person

      TIPMarket counters are most lively at lunch; go a little before 13:00 for shorter lines.

   2. 14:305

      Stroll toward Ponte Vecchio along the Arno side streets

      This walk shifts the mood from cathedral crowds to riverfront Florence, with elegant streets leading toward the water and one of the city’s best-known bridges. The approach is part of the appeal, revealing changing views and a gentler pace as you near the Arno.

      Free

      TIPPause on nearby bridges as well as the main one for wider river views and fewer crowds.

   3. 16:006

      Cross into Oltrarno and wander artisan streets near Santo Spirito

      On the south bank, Florence feels more local and lived-in, with workshop streets, quieter squares and a slower rhythm than the main monuments area. This is a rewarding part of the city for simply walking, looking into courtyards and settling into the atmosphere of the neighborhood.

      Free

      TIPMany small artisan shops close in the early evening, so this is a better stop before dinner than after it.

   Evening

   1. 18:007

      Sunset walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo

      This hillside viewpoint opens Florence into a broad panorama of domes, towers, rooftops and the winding Arno. It is one of the city’s classic late-day experiences, especially as the light softens and the skyline becomes more dramatic.

      Free

      TIPArrive before dusk to watch the city change from daylight to evening lights.

   2. 20:008

      Dinner in the Santa Croce quarter

      The streets around Santa Croce make an easy finish for the evening, with plenty of traditional dining rooms, wine bars and animated pedestrian lanes. It is a pleasant area to end the day because the atmosphere stays lively without losing the feel of the old city.

      €28 per person

      TIPReservations are useful for sit-down dinner from about 20:00 onward, especially on central lanes.

2. 2

   Day 2 · Thursday — Art, markets and the Oltrarno

   Renaissance art and neighborhood Florence — gallery time, market flavors and riverside walks

   6 stops€148 in stops, for two

   Morning

   1. 09:001

      Walk into the Uffizi quarter and orient around Piazza della Signoria

      Start the day in Florence’s civic and artistic heart, where river approaches, stately facades and open squares sit close together. The area is compact and visually rich, making it a smooth launch point for a museum-focused morning.

      Free

      TIPThis short walk works best early, before the center fills and museum queues build.

   2. 09:452

      Morning at the Uffizi area

      The streets and courtyards around the Uffizi are among the most atmospheric parts of central Florence, combining monumental architecture with close river views and a strong Renaissance character. Spending the morning here gives the day a distinctly Florentine sense of place, with art-focused energy in every direction.

      €25 per person

      TIPTimed entry is wise here; book 1–2 weeks ahead on the official site for the smoothest morning visit.

   Afternoon

   1. 12:153

      Lunch around Sant'Ambrogio

      Sant'Ambrogio offers a more neighborhood feel than the busiest central squares, with a market-centered lunch scene and everyday Florentine rhythm. It is a good place to slow down, eat well and see a less polished but very characterful side of the center.

      €18 per person

      TIPAim for the market streets by midday, when counters and casual spots are at their liveliest.

   2. 14:004

      Afternoon walk through Santa Croce and toward the river

      This stretch combines one of Florence’s great piazza districts with easy walking lanes that lead back toward the Arno. It is a rewarding part of the center for browsing, people-watching and catching details that are easy to miss on a faster pass through the city.

      Free

      TIPUse the smaller lanes between the square and the river for a quieter, more atmospheric route.

   3. 15:455

      Cross to the Oltrarno for Palazzo Pitti and Boboli surroundings

      The area around Palazzo Pitti opens into broad spaces and calmer streets, creating a different rhythm from the dense lanes north of the river. Even from the surrounding streets and approaches, this part of the Oltrarno feels grand yet residential, with a strong sense of Florence beyond its busiest core.

      €16 per person

      TIPGarden visits take longer; if you want to go inside, start no later than mid-afternoon.

   Evening

   1. 17:456

      Early evening aperitivo around Via de' Tornabuoni and Piazza della Repubblica

      This central area is ideal for an elegant final stroll, with polished shopfronts, broad pedestrian space and a classic pre-dinner atmosphere. It works well for a relaxed drink and a last look at Florence’s evening street life in the historic center.

      €15 per person

      TIPMany bars include small snacks with aperitivo, but table service in prime squares may cost more.

   2. 19:307

      Wrap up in the center and head onward from Florence

      Finish the trip from the central districts where taxis and onward connections are straightforward to reach. Allow extra time in the evening center, where pedestrian streets can slow the final transfer slightly.

      €0

      TIPIf collecting bags first, leave a little buffer for navigating the pedestrian core.