How To Spend 48 Hours in Florence, Italy

Florence is the capital city of the Tuscany region in Italy. From the fine wine in Tuscany to the rich art and history in Florence, this is a must-do stop if traveling through Italy. Centrally located in Italy and only requiring around 2-3 days, this can easily be added to your Italian travel itinerary. This article highlights the best museums, activities, and viewpoints to visit during your trip to Florence.

Key Things to Know Before Visiting

#1. There is no Uber in Florence so prepare to either walk most places or use the city bus system. Much of Florence is very walkable and is actually the easiest mode of getting around. I highly recommend against getting a rental car in Florence.

#2. Carry cash around with you! Unlike much of Europe, Florence still is cash-only in many of the shops and markets.

#3. Book museums in advance with the Galleria dell’Accademia and Uffizi Gallery having some of the most famous art in the world from artists such as Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. The lines for these museums can be really long and tickets often sell out in the peak summer months.

What To Do in Florence, Italy

Piazza del Duomo

The Duomo is truly the heart of Florence and will be on every travel guide of Florence. The massive size of this church is really breathtaking when you see it in person and I recommend taking time to admire the incredibly detailed design across the church. The square is also so lively here so plan to spend a bit of time in the area. The two most popular activities here are: climbing to the top of the Duomo and entering the church itself. If climbing, walking up ~500 steps is the only way up but will offer an amazing vantage point of the entire city. Make sure to make a reservation beforehand. For entering the church, there is typically a queue but it’s free admission and absolutely worth it!

Note: You cannot have your shoulders or any of your legs above the knee be uncovered to enter so dress accordingly.

Day Trip to Tuscany

Tuscany is the wine country of Italy with rolling hills of vineyards as far the eye can see. As you drive into Tuscany, you’ll see some of the most stunning views and small cobblestone villages. We chose to visit Chianti which is one of the most popular in the region with over 5,000 wineries and 170,000 acres of vineyards. We opted for this day trip through Get Your Guide which was €45 and included roundtrip transportation from Florence on a charter bus and two winery tours and tastings. This was one of our favorite days in all of Europe! The photos were taken at Riseccoli winery.

Walk and Shop in the City

One of the biggest charms of Florence are the town squares and cobblestone alleys filled with shops, historic churches, and Renaissance art. Santa Maria Novella, pictured on the left, is on the way from the Firenze Santa Maria Novella train station to the Duomo so I recommend stopping by for a quick pitstop! Leave yourself at least two or three hours to just explore the city on foot to admire its unique character.

Pont Vecchio Bridge

Pont Vecchio is the oldest stone bridge in all of Europe and is the only one standing after the destruction that happened in World War II. This crosses over River Arno which runs through the center of Florence. I found that the bridge separates the city into a city vs. nature focus. You’ll spend most of your time on the left hand side of the city exploring the museums, Duomo, and shopping versus exploring the parks and viewpoints of Florence on the right hand side. As you cross, you’ll find a mix of all kinds of shops lining the bridge, but most notably jewelers.

Galleria dell’Accademia

The “Gallery of the Academy of Florence” is a smaller art museum, showcasing world-class art from artists like Michaelango and Botticelli. The museum is mainly known for Michelangelo’s David statue which is worth getting a ticket to see alone. The details and large size of this famous reinassance piece is truly incredible in-person. I personally found the rest of the museum to be a fairly quick walk through given it’s small size so I don’t think you need to carve more than hour out if you aren’t a big museum goer.

Get Lunch at Sandwichic

This is one of the most famous lunch spots in Florence, and for great reason! The menu has no English translations to maintain the authenticity of the Italian shop and stay true to the names of all the local ingredients. Don’t let this discourage you from making a confident order! The three men working here take their time with each customer to explain the menu in English and create the best sandwich for you. I recommend getting one with their truffle! Both the experience of ordering here and the high quality of the food makes this my top rated lunch spot in the city.

Giardino delle Rose

If coming from nearby the Duomo, you’ll walk across Pont Vecchio Bridge to reach the Giardino Delle Rose (“The Rose Garden”). This is a key stop on it’s own, usually filled with those taking a stroll or having a picnic. This is a great stop on your way to Piazzale Michaelangelo (next section) as you can walk up the park to reach the steps.

Piazzale Michaelangelo at Sunset

Piazzale Michaelangelo is arguably the the best view in Florence! Crowds come to the steps here each evening to celebrate weddings, each other, and the sunset which makes for one of the most special and lively atmospheres in Florence. There is a cafe here called La Loggia which I recommend stopping at for a drink or appetizer if you are good on time!

Uffizi Gallery

Uffizi Gallery is another world-class museum located in the historic city centre of Florence. This is one of the most visited museums in Italy with works of art from Leonardo Da Vinci, Giotti, and Caravaggio. The art pieces are mainly centered around the Renaissance era, with one of its most famous pieces being The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli.

Stop for Gelato

You’ll find gelaterias at nearly every corner of every block so the options are endless to get a great gelato! This is a staple to a day well spent in Italy. Here are some of the top-rated gelato stops in Florence:

1. Perchè No – Translating to “why not”, this gelato shop has been family-run in Florence since 1939. Make sure to try one of their seasonal flavors!

2. Gelateria della Passera – This petite gelato shop won the 2022 Financial Times Best 25 Gelato Shops in the World.

3. Gelateria De’ Medici – To many, this is the top rated gelato shop in Florence, serving gelato with the freshest ingredients and flavors. My favorite was the basil!