🇮🇹Florence Travel Guide: Two Days in the Birthplace of the Renaissance

Florence sits on the Arno in central Italy, and it is where the Renaissance began. The entire historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the density of art per square metre is genuinely hard to process — which is exactly why a plan helps.

How long to stay

Two to three days for the city itself, plus whatever you add for day trips to Pisa, the Cinque Terre or Tuscany.

Getting there

Two airports serve Florence: Florence Airport (FLR), closer but smaller, and Pisa Airport (PSA), further out with more flights. Long-haul travellers usually fly into Milan or Rome and take the train. For flights within Europe, pick whichever is cheaper.

• FLR to the centre: tram, 20 minutes, €1.70
• PSA to the centre: airport coach, 1–1.5 hours, about €14

The train station is Firenze Santa Maria Novella, right at the edge of the old centre.

The two-day itinerary

Day 1. Morning at the Duomo complex — 3–4 hours covers the cathedral interior, the dome climb, Giotto's Campanile, the Baptistery and the museum. Lunch at the Mercato Centrale (order the lampredotto if you're brave). Afternoon at the Accademia for Michelangelo's David — the original, €24.

Day 2. Morning at the Uffizi — allow 3–4 hours, €29. Lunch around Piazza della Signoria. Afternoon wandering the Ponte Vecchio and the riverside. Sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo, which is the view on every postcard of the city.

If you have more time: the Medici Chapels (Michelangelo's Day, Night, Dawn and Dusk), Piazza della Repubblica, the Gucci Garden, the Museo Galileo, Santa Croce (where Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli are buried), the Pitti Palace with the Boboli Gardens, and the quieter Bardini Garden.

Where to stay

Near the station — the practical choice. Easy arrivals and departures, good value, and everything in the centre is walkable from here.

Around the Duomo — more atmosphere, and a fair number of hotels with cathedral views.

Near the Ponte Vecchio — worth it if you can get a room facing the Arno.

Driving? Florence has a strict ZTL (limited traffic zone) and the cameras are unforgiving. Book a hotel outside it or with a registered parking arrangement.

Getting around

Walk. Almost everything is within twenty minutes on foot. If you do need the bus, download the at bus app: single tickets are €1.70 and valid for 90 minutes.

Day trips

Doable by public transport, there and back in a day: Siena (1.5 hrs each way by train), Pisa and Lucca combined.

Better with an overnight: Pisa plus the Cinque Terre — base yourself in La Spezia.

With a car: the hill towns south of Florence deserve three days of slow driving.

Shopping: The Mall, the big designer outlet near Florence, is an easy half-day return trip.

Back to the Italy travel guide to see how Florence fits into a longer trip.