Photo: Raimond Spekking / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.02 Days in Florence: The Art Lover's Itinerary
The Renaissance in 48 hours: the Duomo, Uffizi Gallery, Michelangelo's David and Ponte Vecchio sunsets. Designed for art lovers on a first trip, with where to stay, eat, and how to skip the lines.
Pick a style, a budget and a pace — the route and days below re-plan themselves.
7 stops · 4 meals · 1 hotelThis is the editor’s pick.
2 days, 2 neighborhoods
Each day takes one part of Florence, kept close so you walk more than you ride. The map shows the whole route — pick a day to zoom in.
San Lorenzo
The market district: the Central Market, San Lorenzo basilica and the Accademia with Michelangelo's David.
Photo: Txllxt TxllxT / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Santa Croce
The eastern quarter around Santa Croce: leather markets, the Sant'Ambrogio food hall and quieter streets.
Photo: Samuli Lintula, User:Samulili / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.5
Home to Michelangelo's David — arrive early to beat the crowds for this Renaissance masterpiece.
Brunelleschi's dome dominates the skyline — climb it for the best views in Florence, then explore the cathedral interior.
Florence's grandest historic café on Piazza della Repubblica, serving coffee and pastries since 1733.
Florence's central market with food stalls upstairs and leather goods downstairs — great for lunch.
The Medici family's opulent burial chapels with Michelangelo's sculptures and lavish decoration.
A boisterous Florentine institution serving hearty Tuscan classics family-style since 1871.
A classic hotel on the Arno with elegant rooms and a rooftop terrace overlooking the river.
Legendary schiacciata sandwiches with lines out the door — worth it for the truffle and burrata combos.
The Gothic church where Michelangelo and Galileo are buried, with beautiful frescoes and cloisters.
A treasure trove of Renaissance sculpture, including Donatello's David and Michelangelo's Bacchus.
Florence's oldest gelateria, serving dense, rich gelato in classic flavors since 1927.
A stunning Romanesque church above the city with incredible views and beautiful mosaics.
A cozy family-run spot near Sant'Ambrogio serving honest Tuscan home cooking at fair prices.
Stay put: it's a 7-minute walk to Santa Croce basilica.
Bases for how you travel
Ranked for first-timer travelers on a comfortable budget. The places this plan sleeps in come first.
Hotel Balestri
A classic hotel on the Arno with elegant rooms and a rooftop terrace overlooking the river.
Plaza Hotel Lucchesi
A refined riverside hotel with Arno views and a rooftop pool, perfectly placed between the center and Santa Croce.
Grand Hotel Minerva
A grand railway-station hotel with a stunning rooftop pool and panoramic city views.
Flights to Florence
Fly into Florence Airport (FLR)
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