Cities / Florence, Italy

Florence in 48 hours 🎨

Day 1: the Duomo and the Uffizi

• The Duomo. Brunelleschi's giant dome. Climbing it needs a timed ticket, and it's 463 steps.
• Uffizi Gallery. Botticelli's Birth of Venus and a ridiculous amount of Renaissance art. Book ahead.
• Piazzale Michelangelo at sunset. Walk up from the river for the classic postcard view.

Day 2: David and the Oltrarno

• Galleria dell'Accademia. Michelangelo's David is much bigger than you think. Book a time slot.
• Ponte Vecchio. The medieval bridge lined with jewelry shops.
• The Oltrarno. The artisan side of the river: workshops, Santo Spirito square and Palazzo Pitti.

Eat this

• Schiacciata: Tuscan flatbread stuffed into giant sandwiches.
• Bistecca alla fiorentina: a huge T-bone steak, served rare. Share it.
• Lampredotto: tripe sandwich from a street cart, if you're brave.

Skip this

• Cafés right on Piazza della Signoria if you're on a budget. Walk two streets back.
• Gelato piled up in bright, fluffy mountains. Good gelato is usually kept flat in covered tubs.

Getting there

Trains arrive at Firenze Santa Maria Novella, a short walk from the Duomo, with fast trains from Rome, Milan, Bologna and Venice. Florence Airport is linked to the station by tram; many travelers also fly into Pisa.

Coming from somewhere else in Europe? Compare trains, buses and flights to Florence on Tryp.com (yes, that's where our team works; see About).

Quick answers

Is 48 hours enough for Florence?

It's enough for the Duomo, the Uffizi, the David and a sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo. Add a day for a trip to Pisa, Siena or the Chianti hills.

Do I need to book the Uffizi and the Accademia in advance?

Booking is strongly recommended. Both use timed entry and queues without a booking can be long.

How do I get from Florence airport to the center?

A tram runs from Florence Airport to Santa Maria Novella station.

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