TWO DAYS TOUR
Spending two days in Florence allows you to visit the most representative places of the city and taste the typical dishes of the area. Here’s a simple and suitable tour for everyone among the beauties of the city.
First tip: move on foot or by bike to optimize travel time and book museum tickets online to avoid waiting in line.
WHAT TO SEE:
Day 1
- Piazza Duomo
- Palazzo Vecchio
- Galleria dell’Accademia
Day 2
- Ponte Vecchio
- Uffizi Gallery
- Boboli Gardens
WHAT TO EAT:
- Schiacciata at All’Antico Vinaio
- Covaccini near Ponte Vecchio
- Ideas for the aperitif
- Lampredotto at Mercato Centrale
- Fiorentina: at Perseus or at I’ Tuscani
INSTAWORTHY SPOTS:
- Piazzale Michelangelo
- Boboli Gardens
- Find Dante’s Nose
- Uffizi Gallery
- A selfie with David
- Suggestions on Ponte Vecchio
WHERE TO STAY
If you are staying in Florence for one night, you can check the website https://www.info-alberghi.com/en/tuscany/florence to choose a hotel or a B&B.
Day 1
Piazza del Duomo
You can start your visit from Piazza del Duomo, where the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is located. The monumental complex also includes Giotto’s Campanile, Brunelleschi’s Dome, the Baptistery of San Giovanni, Santa Reparata, and the Opera del Duomo Museum. If you are interested in visiting multiple monuments, we recommend purchasing a pass on the official website of the Florence Cathedral. There are different types of passes depending on the itineraries you want to follow: Brunelleschi (gives access to all the mentioned monuments), Giotto (includes all the monuments except Brunelleschi’s Dome), or Ghiberti (includes the Baptistery, the Opera del Duomo Museum, and Santa Reparata). On the same website, you can also book guided tours.
Palazzo Vecchio
It is located in Piazza della Signoria and can be visited in a couple of hours. Particularly noteworthy is the Salone dei Duecento, now the seat of the City Council. Inside, there are also remarkable works of art, including Donatello‘s Judith, works by Bronzino in the Eleonora Chapel, and Michelangelo‘s Genius of Victory. As it is an institutional building, it may have closures due to events and meetings, so we recommend checking the website before planning a visit to Florence: https://cultura.comune.fi.it/pagina/musei-civici-fiorentini/museo-di-palazzo-vecchio You can buy the ticket online by booking the time slot for the visit to avoid queues: https://ticketsmuseums.comune.fi.it/
Galleria dell’Accademia
It houses some of the most important collections of paintings and sculptures in the world. The most famous artwork preserved here is Michelangelo’s David, a majestic sculpture that embodies the principles of the Florentine Renaissance. Its imposing and powerful body appears tense with restrained violence, visible only in certain details such as the pulsing veins of the arms, the posture of the hands, the concentrated gaze, and the tense muscles. The Gallery also exhibits a very rich painting collection, ranging from the 12th to the 18th century, sculptures from the 16th to the 19th century, and an important collection of musical instruments that belonged to the Grand Dukes of Tuscany, the Medici, and the Lorraine family between the 17th and 19th centuries. You can visit the Gallery independently or with a guided tour, allowing at least 2 hours of time. We recommend booking the ticket on https://www.galleriaaccademiafirenze.it/visita/
Day 2
Uffizi Gallery
It is one of the most important museums in the world for the vastness and historical and artistic value of the works it houses. Italian painting from the 14th and Renaissance centuries features prominent artists such as Giotto, Botticelli, Beato Angelico, Piero della Francesca, Michelangelo, and Caravaggio. The sculpture section is also noteworthy, displaying statues and busts that belonged to the Medici family, including works by Bernini and pieces of Roman and Hellenistic art. Visiting the Uffizi may require several days, but it is advisable to dedicate no more than 2-3 hours per day to avoid fatigue. It is better to book the ticket online to avoid queues: https://www.uffizi.it/biglietti
Ponte Vecchio
After the Uffizi, continue to Ponte Vecchio, a symbol of Florence. Built around 1100, it crosses the Arno River between two rows of jewelry shops, leaving space for the view of the river in a small central area. Above, the Vasari Corridor, a covered passageway 760 meters long, was created by Giorgio Vasari in 1565 for Cosimo I de’ Medici, providing the Grand Dukes with a protected passage from Palazzo Pitti to Palazzo Vecchio. The bridge is crowded with tourists all year round, so if you want to visit it in peace, it is better to prefer the early hours of the morning or the evening. The visit to the bridge is free, and it is always open, while the Vasari Corridor is managed by the Uffizi Gallery: you can follow the page https://www.uffizi.it/corridoio-vasariano to stay informed about openings and entrance tickets.
Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens
Palazzo Pitti was the personal residence of the Medici family: Cosimo I de’ Medici acquired it in 1550 and made it his grand-ducal residence. Later, it became the palace of the Habsburg-Lorraine dynasty and then of the Savoy family (until 1865). Today, it is visitable and hosts several museums: the Treasure of the Grand Dukes, the Museum of Russian Icons, the Palatine Gallery, the Imperial Apartments, the Palatine Chapel, the Gallery of Modern Art, and the Museum of Fashion and Costume. Behind it extends the Boboli Gardens, the first Italian garden created by the Medici and later taken as an example in many European courts. It is rich in statues, caves, and monumental fountains. Among the most characteristic places to visit in Boboli are the Kaffeehaus Pavilion and the Limonaia (lemon groves). Visiting Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens takes at least half a day. You can buy a single ticket or a combined ticket to visit Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens, which is more convenient. The ticket can be booked and purchased online at https://www.uffizi.it/en/tickets
Schiacciata at Antico Vinaio
The historic place to taste the typical Florentine “schiacciata” filled in many different ways. A must-try! It is located at Via Neri 65-74-76-78. Info and menu at https://www.allanticovinaio.com/
Covaccini near Ponte Vecchio
Amici di Ponte Vecchio is a small traditional place just a stone’s throw from Ponte Vecchio (Via de’ Bardi 49R) where you can enjoy “covaccini,” which are round flatbreads filled in the most original ways. Highly recommended!
Ideas for the aperitif
If you are looking for an atmospheric place, you must try Atrium bar. Perfect for an aperitivo, but also for lunch and dinner, it offers a very unique location, where soft lighting and background music contribute to a timeless atmosphere. It is located at Borgo Pinti 99.
For an old-time atmosphere, instead, try Il Locale, housed in the halls of Palazzo Concini (via delle Seggiole, 12). The bar offers special cocktails, and the restaurant serves a sophisticated menu accompanied by a prestigious wine list.
The Lodge Club offers alternative evenings from aperitivo to exclusive dinner and dancing, in a multi-level location that recalls the setting of a real jungle but with a panoramic view of Florence.
Lampredotto at Mercato Centrale
Head to Piazza del Mercato Centrale, less than 10 minutes on foot from Santa Maria Novella station, if you want to taste a typical dish and immerse yourself in a lively and engaging atmosphere. The Mercato Centrale, in fact, houses a series of artisanal shops that cook many different dishes, from fried food to “schiacciata,” from pizza to grilled meat, and it is the right place to taste “lampredotto,” a typical Florentine dish cooked with the traditional recipe. You can choose whether to eat it on the spot by choosing a table inside or take it away. In any case, if you want to avoid queues at the cash register, you can book the dish at https://zerofila.mercatocentrale.it/
A Good Fiorentina Steak
Perseus is a cult place to eat meat and traditional Florentine dishes, accompanied by a glass of good Chianti.
I’ Tuscani San Pancrazio restaurant is an authentic place, also frequented by locals, where you can enjoy meat and, in particular, the Fiorentina steak. It is located in Piazza San Pancrazio.
Piazzale Michelangelo
The most exceptional panoramic view in Florence is from Piazzale Michelangelo. The view is splendid, and taking a photo here is a must. Get inspired!
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Boboli Gardens
The Boboli Gardens are rich with natural inspirations and charming corners.
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Find Dante’s Nose
If you pass by Dante’s House, don’t forget to look for the profile of the Supreme Poet. And, of course, Instagram it!
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Uffizi Gallery
The artistic paths offered by the Uffizi Gallery are so rich and numerous that you won’t have any difficulty getting captivated by the beauty of the artworks.
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A selfie with David
If you are visiting the Galleria dell’Accademia, the first thing that will come to your mind to photograph is Michelangelo’s David, undoubtedly the most famous artwork on display there. Here, the challenge is to capture a unique and original shot!
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Suggestions on Ponte Vecchio
Ponte Vecchio is perhaps the most photographed place in Florence: try to capture it in a unique way, using the light of dawn or sunset, for example. Get inspired!
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