How To Spend 48 Hours in FLORENCE in 2023

Florence is a city that deserves much more than 48 hours, but if you’re visiting for the first time you may want to explore further afield. To get a taste of this beautiful little city, we recommend dedicating two days to seeing the sights and trying local delicacies before moving on. Here’s how to spend 48 hours in Florence.

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Pro Tip: It’s easier to organize your trip when you have all your resources in one place. Create a browser folder and bookmark this post along with our dedicated guide to Florence for more planning resources and our best Florence tours. Don’t have 48 hours to spare? Find out how to see Florence in a day.

Action-Packed Itinerary For 2 Days In Florence

Only in Florence for 48 hours? We definitely recommend staying longer if you can, but if this is your first time in the city, you can use this 48-hour itinerary to see Florence’s top sights, art, and monuments as well as enjoy authentic Florentine cuisine in just two days. Ready to explore Florence?

Day 1

You’re going to have a big first day. Prepare to breathe in the Accademia and Uffizi galleries, pay a visit to a bronze boar for luck, try an adventurous lunch, and have an affordable high-end dining experience, among other things. You’ll end with an evening walk to Florence’s viewpoints for a stunning sunset and some celebratory drinks.

Morning—Coffee in Piazza Della Repubblica

Before diving into the city, start your morning off with a quick coffee (and maybe a delicious pastry) at Caffe Concerto Paszkowski. This café occupies a prime location in the piazza and has basically been there since the square was re-done in the 19th century.  

Paszkowski was a Polish brewery that opened in the 19th century and was converted into a café in the early 20th century. In 1991, it was proclaimed a national landmark in Italy! 

You’ll definitely find some tourist traps in the main squares, but this café is really nice. The place often has live music, an amazing ambiance, and is in an incredible location. It’s a great place to come for your morning coffee and enjoy the piazza. Also, it will likely cost less than your drive-through Starbucks at home. Fuel up, you’re headed to the Accademia Gallery next!

Address: Piazza della Repubblica | Caffe Concerto Paszkowski

Morning—See the David at the Accademia Gallery

When in Florence, definitely see the iconic David by Michelangelo. It’s in the Galleria dell’Accademia and there’s always a line to see it. Michelangelo’s David is a masterpiece. He literally carved it out of a piece of marble that was discarded by other master sculptors because it was too difficult to work with. 

The beauty and detail of David are beyond explanation. The best way to sum it up is with Michelangelo’s passion.  When he saw the block of marble, he was emotionally attached to it—like a father trying to save a child from drowning. 

Michelangelo said he did not carve or create David. He believed David was always inside the marble, locked inside the stone, and he hammered at it until he was free. To unleash him, it just took the world’s greatest sculptor who ever lived. 

Seeing the David and other works of art in a guided tour will give you greater insight into the period and artists that created these masterpieces. We run tours of the Accademia Gallery that will get you skip-the-line access and also cover other parts of the city on this itinerary such as Piazza della Republica, the Duomo, the Baptistry and Doors, the Bronze Boar, Orsanmichele Church, Ponte Vecchio, and other points of interest. 

Address: Via Ricasoli, 58/60

Not ready to book a tour? Find out if an Accademia and David tour is worth it.

Morning—Pay a Visit To the Bronze Boar

After a tour of art and history in the Accademia, hit the streets to experience a piece of Florentine folklore and superstition. Your next stop is to pay a visit to Il Porcellino, or the Bronze Boar, which is a bronze copy of a bronze copy of a Roman marble copy of a Greek bronze boar. 

Difficult to follow, right? The Greeks were the original artists of western civilization and famously Hellenized other cultures. While the Romans may have conquered the Greeks, the Romans assimilated more of Greek culture than vice versa—this is Hellenization.

The Greeks made a lot of bronze sculptures and the Romans took them as spoils of war. However, they would often melt them down and reuse the bronze—but not before creating marble copies. 

The Roman marble copy of the Greek bronze boar was purchased over a thousand years later by the Medici who then made a bronze copy. Later, another bronze copy was created and that is what you see today. 

You’ll notice the boar’s nose is finely polished from all the people rubbing its nose, which is the first step in the tradition. Once you’ve rubbed the boar’s nose, which is how you get to know him, you need to grab a coin and place it on the boar’s tongue. 

You let it slide off the tongue and hopefully it will fall through the grate below the boar’s mouth. If it falls into the grate, you have good luck for the day. If not, bad luck.  Sounds easy, right? I managed to fudge it up twice! Among locals, this is a top Florence attraction.

Address: Piazza del Mercato Nuovo

Popular Florence Tours

Not ready to book a tour? Check out our article on the best Florence tours to take and why.

Lunch—Eat Lampredotto and Trippa at L’Antico Trippaio

Believe it or not, you haven’t been to Florence unless you’ve eaten lampredotto and/or trippa (tripe). Not everything in Italy is sunshine and pizzas, I’m afraid. Sometimes you have to eat slow-cooked tripe with herbs served on a sammie for an authentic cuisine experience.

If you enjoy lampredotto and trippa, we know just the place to have a good local sandwich. If you’re not sure about it, I highly recommend you try it—you might be pleasantly surprised. Head to L’Antico Trippaio and get their popular lampredotto and trippa sandwich.

You’re going to want that with a beer, which may or may not be the most enjoyable part of the experience. I went with an Ichnusa non-filtrata, which is a Sardinian non-filtered beer. Interested in giving some other local delicacies a try? Check out the best foods to try in Florence.

Where to get it: L’Antico Trippaio

Afternoon—Explore the Uffizi Gallery

Right around the corner from my favorite Lampredotto cart is the Uffizi Gallery. Just like the Accademia, don’t pass through Florence without going inside. The Uffizi is home to some very special works of art, like the Birth of Venus by Botticelli. 

Before I saw the Birth of Venus for the first time, I was not an art person at all. Standing in front of this masterpiece inspired me to leave Wall Street behind and start a tour company. One glance at Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and you may go from little interest in art to completely obsessed with it.

This museum definitely warrants a guided tour. We offer both a small group tour with skip-the-line access and a private tour for anyone looking for the ultimate Uffizi experience.  

Our guided Uffizi tours last from 2 to 2.5 hours and cover all the must-see artwork from the Proto-Renaissance and Renaissance. 

Address: Piazzale degli Uffizi, 6

Not ready to book a tour? Find out if an Uffizi Gallery tour is worth it.

Dinner—Eat at Gurdulù

After a thorough exploration of the Uffizi gallery, you’ll be hungry enough for an early dinner. At Gurdulú, food is the main attraction. I read about them in Florence and couldn’t wait to try them out. You don’t want to miss out on eating in this farm-to-table deli and restaurant.

Many people would agree that Italian food is the best cuisine on Earth for everyday eating but acknowledge that the French have superior cooking techniques. Gurdulú is the best of both worlds—Italian food cooked with French techniques. 

The chefs come from Michelin backgrounds but wanted to create an affordable but swanky restaurant, which, in my opinion, they accomplished. Enjoy a delicious dinner and maybe a cocktail or two.

Address: Via delle Caldaie, 12 R

Evening—Abbey of San Miniato and Piazzale Michelangelo

At this point, you’ll have eaten an early dinner and enjoyed a drink or two. It’s time to head over to some of Florence’s viewpoints for a powerful experience. At the Abbey of San Miniato, you’ll get some incredible views of the city.

On our visit, we then walked our way down to the far more crowded Piazzale Michelangelo. It’s a must-see viewpoint in Florence and there’s a beer cart where you can buy drinks and watch one of the world’s most amazing sunsets. Enjoy the rest of your evening in Florence. Tomorrow, your itinerary continues. 

Address: Abbey of San Miniato | Piazzale Michelangelo

Tours of Chianti and Florence

Not ready to book a tour? Check out our Florence Guide for more info.

Day 2

On day two, you’ll see the iconic Duomo (and climb the dome if you can), see the masterpieces of Brancacci Chapel, try some street food at the city’s central market, explore the Boboli Gardens, and enjoy a drink or two at a rooftop bar with views of the historic Ponte Vecchio and Vasari Corridor, among other things.

Morning—Brancacci Chapel and Santa Maria del Carmine Church

Ready for day two? Start by visiting the Brancacci Chapel—often referred to as the Sistine Chapel of the early Renaissance. It’s much smaller than the Sistine Chapel and less dramatic but is of profound importance for many reasons.  

One of the main reasons is that it shows an important step in art history. The artist Masaccio begins to build a stronger narrative in this series of new and old testament scenes. The most basic explanation is that Masaccio paints each figure individually instead of as a collective. Why is that important? Each figure carries different emotions and symbolism but feeds into a more complex narrative with more dimension. 

Address: Brancacci Chapel

Morning—See the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore “Il Duomo”

After the Brancacci Chapel, head across town to go inside the Duomo, one of Florence’s most iconic landmarks. Why should you go inside the Duomo? In general, I’m a big advocate of “going inside,” but the lines can be terrible. Book in advance and you shouldn’t have a problem. 

The Duomo is a Tuscany-style cathedral, which means the interior is not as dramatic and opulent as a Roman church or basilica. The main draw is the frescoes inside Brunelleschi’s dome and climbing the dome, which is amazing. 

We didn’t end up climbing the dome on our visit, but would only recommend entering if you can climb the dome.  That said, if you’re an art fanatic, the interior frescoes of the “Divine Comedy” are…well, divine. 

We run a skip-the-line tour of the Duomo that includes climbing the dome—an unforgettable experience that affords you breathtaking 360-degree views.

Address: Piazza del Duomo

Not ready to book a tour? Check out our article on the best Florence tours to take and why.

Lunch—Try Florentine Food at Mercato Centrale

By this point, you’ll be ready to eat. No trip to Florence would be complete without passing by Mercato Centrale. If you’re into authentic “street food,” then Da Nerbone is your place. These guys are the salt of the Earth and we love them. They make typical Florentine food, which is cheap and tastes great.  

By now, it will probably be the hottest part of the day. Italy gets really hot in the afternoon and the evenings are beautiful. So, I recommend gathering some energy when the temperature is at its highest. Take a short afternoon break back at your hotel.

Around 4 pm, you should be rested and ready to head over to the Pitti Palace. Not ready to take a break? Head straight to the Pitti Palace—there’s plenty to explore! 

Address: Mercato Centrale | Da Nerbone

Afternoon—Visit the Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens

When you think of Florence, what family comes to mind? Yep, the Medici! The Pitti Palace was the residence of the Medici throughout their prime and what a palace it is! It’s a gorgeous building on over 110 acres known as the Boboli Gardens. That means their palace and grounds were around the same size as the Vatican City—which is a country!

You can enter the Pitti Palace and explore the five museums with impressive collections of art. If you’re short on time or prefer gardens, spend your time taking in the extensive Boboli Gardens—they are really cool and a lovely place to be in the late afternoon.

Address: Piazza de’ Pitti, 1

Tours of Cinque Terre and Florence

Not ready to book a tour? Check out our article on the best Florence tours to take and why.

Afternoon—Have a Shake (and Snack) at Carduccio

Ready for a little break? We discovered this gem by chance. We were walking by il Carduccio when we were stopped by the cool refreshing aroma coming from inside. What a great find!  

We stopped in and ordered a couple of shakes—they were delicious! The place also has great salads and other breakfast and lunch items. It’s a great option if you are looking for a break from pizza and pasta. Definitely have a shake! 

Address: Sdrucciolo de’ Pitti, 10 R

Evening—Take in the Views at La Terrazza

La Terrazza is a cool rooftop bar in Florence and I was excited to try it out. Why did I care so much? Well, there are plenty of rooftop bars in Florence, but as a history nerd, not much beats seeing Ponte Vecchio and the Vasari Corridor from that close-up.  

The rooftop is literally right next to the bridge. The guy from Assassin’s Creed could make that jump no problem! Enjoy evening drinks and beautiful views of Florence on this trendy rooftop bar. It’s a great place to soak up the last rays of the day.

Address: Lungarno degli Acciaiuoli, 2r

Dinner—Pizza at Berbere

Pizza is not something I normally associate with Florence, but I had a craving that I couldn’t kick and I really wanted to try out Berbere. I’m happy I did! If you’re craving pizza, this is the place. It was really tasty, cheap, and they have good apps. 

The trick to eating pizza in Italy is to get a ton of apps and share the pizza. That way you won’t feel too full and you’ll get to try some different food.

Craving satisfied, you can now slowly make your way back to your hotel or head to the next spot for drinks. You’re on vacation and you’ve seen Florence in 48 hours!  

Address: Via dei Benci, 7