2 Days in Florence Itinerary

As part of our broader 10 days in Italy itinerary, we spent two days in Florence. While I would have loved to stay in Florence for another day or two, 2 days in Florence is plenty to experience a lot of what this beautiful city has to offer! This 2 day Florence Itinerary will help you decide how to get to Florence, where to stay in Florence, and what day trips from Florence you should take.

Getting to Florence

Getting to Florence is fairly easy from both the United States and Europe. If you are planning on touring through Italy, or several European countries, I highly recommend taking the train and using a Eurail global pass.

Flights to Florence Italy

If you are traveling from outside of Europe, or want a quicker trip than would be possible by taking the train to Florence, you can search for flights into Florence Amerigo Vespucci (FLR). From Europe, you should be able to find budget options on Vueling. Otherwise, the main European carriers all offer service to FLR.

Taking the Train to Florence Italy

We loved traveling through central Europe on trains. It was especially easy to take the train to Florence because all of Italy’s major cities are connected via highspeed rail. The train ride from Venice to Florence was only about two hours and fifteen minutes. Because Florence is near the center of Italy, taking the train to Florence from any major city in Italy will be less than 5 hours. We used google maps’ transit search to find train timetables during our journey. Taking the train to Florence also lets you maximize your time in each city since you don’t have to arrive very early for security screenings, or bag checks.

Where to stay in Florence Italy

After you’ve figured out how you’re going to get to Florence the next step in creating a 2 days in Florence itinerary is deciding where to stay in Florence. Being a fairly large city, there is no shortage of places to stay near the city center. Below you’ll find options of where to stay in Florence at 3 different price levels: budget hotels in Florence, the best place to stay in Florence for families (mid-range), and best luxury and boutique hotels in Florence.

Best Budget Hotels in Florence

We will classify budget hotels in Florence as those costing less than $110/night. There are some very nice options near most of Florence’s top attractions. All three of these budget options run from $58-$94 and are highly rated on both Hotels.com and TripAdvisor. The first two are even rated as 4-star hotels in Florence so you can beat their price point!

Orto De Medici Hotel

The Orto De Medici Boutique Hotel Florence is located just steps from the Galley of the Academia where Michaelangelo’s famous David Statue stands. This Florence Boutique hotel is also just a 10-minute walk from the famous Piazza del Duomo. Orto De Medici hotel offers a complimentary breakfast buffet and WiFi in its guestrooms. Check pricing and availability.

Globus Urban Hotel

Globus Urban Hotel in Florence beautifully blends the historical building its housed in with a modern design style. Globus Urban Hotel is located just a couple of blocks from Piazza del Duomo and is within walking distance of all of the major attractions in Florence. WiFi and breakfast are included in the room rate. Check prices and availability for Globus Urban Hotel in Florence.

Hotel La Fortezza

Hotel La Fortezza in Florence is honestly a steal. I saw rooms as low as $55 per night. It’s in the heart of the city, so if you’re trying to decide where to stay in Florence and want an ultra-low price and a convenient location, check out Hotel La Fortezza. You can check prices and availability here.

Best Place to Stay in Florence for Families (Mid-Range Price point)

These hotels in Florence are better suited to families than the budget hotels above. All include amenities that families desire when traveling abroad, such as breakfast included, childcare, and free WiFi. These hotels also offer either spacious suites or connecting rooms perfect for families.

Hotel Caravaggio

Hotel Caravaggio is a very affordable option nearby Academia and Fortezza da Basso. Great for families because they have triple and quadruple options starting at around $160/night. Check prices and availability for Hotel Caravaggio.

Hotel Garibaldi Blu

Hotel Garibaldi Blu has the perfect location right in the city center. This four-star Florence hotel is beautiful both on the inside and on the outside. Breakfast and Wifi are included in your room rate, and junior suites start at just $250/night. Check prices and availability for your Florence itinerary.

Hotel Spadai

Hotel Spadai is another great option for your family Florence itinerary. One of the larger hotels I’ve listed, they have 54 guestrooms all with recently updated bathrooms. Another Florence hotel with a great location, Hotel Spadai is steps away from Piazza del Duomo. Rooms at Hotel Spadai start at about $200/night, with deluxe rooms starting at about $285. Check prices and availability for Hotel Spadai Florence.

Best Luxury and Boutique Hotels in Florence

I’ve found that Italian cities really know how to do luxury hotels well. Luxury hotels in Florence were no different. Florence has some of the go-to classic options in luxury hotels like St. Regis and Four Seasons, but I’ve also included a couple of luxury boutique hotels in Florence.

JK Place Firenze

I chose JK Place Firenze for our two days in Florence itinerary. It had great reviews and offered some extra benefits since I booked it through American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts. My full review will be up soon, but I think the service at JK Place Firenze was among the best of any hotel I’ve stayed at. This 30 room luxury boutique hotel in Florence was ranked in the top 25 best hotels in the world by Travel and Leisure. Check prices and availability for JK Place Firenze.

Four Season Florence

I was really eyeing at this hotel when we were trying to decide where to stay in Florence. We have had such amazing experiences at the Four Seasons Hualalai and Four Seasons Maui that we knew we’d be well taken care of if we stay at the Four Seasons Florence. Unfortunately, the only rooms available were larger suites at over $2000 per night, so we decided to stay at JK Place Firenze. You can definitely find rooms at this luxury Florence hotel for less than $500 per night if you plan in advance. Another option is using your travel credit card’s travel portal to book using points. Check prices and availability at the Four Seasons for your Florence Itinerary.

Bernini Palace

You will feel like royalty when you step inside Bernini Palace Firenze. From the opulent lobby to the classic well-appointed guestrooms this hotel in Florence is luxurious. Bernini Palace has a great central location near the major sites including Palazzo Vecchio, Ponte Vecchio, and the Duomo. Check prices and availability at Bernini Palace.

Activities in Florence Itinerary

If you only have 2 days in Florence there are a few things that should definitely make your Florence Itinerary. Thanks to the central location of Florence in the Tuscany region of Italy, there are also a lot of great day trips from Florence Italy that you can take.

Day Trips From Florence

While I definitely recommend spending some time in Florence walking around and experiencing the beautiful Italian city. You can make the most of being in Central Italy by adding one of these day trips from Florence to your Florence Itinerary.

Florence to Pisa Day Trip

It’s less than an hour from Florence to Pisa by train. Meaning you could catch the first train just after 6:00 AM get to Pisa by 7:30 snap your cliche photos holding up the leaning tower, grab breakfast at one of the great cafes in the surrounding area and be back to Florence before lunch. Another option is to take a half-day guided tour where you can skip the lines to climb to the top of the leaning tower of Pisa.

Wine Tasting in Tuscany: Half-Day Trip from Florence

Tuscany is one of the most famous wine regions in the world, and with Florence near the middle of it your 2 day Florence itinerary wouldn’t be complete without a day trip from Florence to a vineyard or two to taste the delicious Tuscan wines. We did a half-day afternoon tour to two vineyards in the Chianti region of Tuscany and it was one of our favorite guided tours on this trip. Another option is a full day trip from Florence to San Gimignano, the wine territory of Chianti, and the medieval town of Siena to see more of the Tuscan countryside.

Florence to Cinque Terre Day Trip

There is no doubt that the five towns that makeup Cinque Terre are among the most beautiful and picturesque places in the world. While the five towns definitely warrant a few days of their own, it is possible to visit them on a day trip from Florence. You can book a guided tour of Cinque Terre that offers ample free time to also explore parts of the villages at your own pace.

Guided Tours in Florence

There is so much history in Florence. It was at the heart of the renaissance and you can tell from the amazing architecture, art, and beautiful churches. We were only able to do one of these Florence Italy tours, but if you plan ahead you could definitely squeeze two or three into your two day Florence itinerary.

Michaelangelo’s David Guided Tour

Michaelangelo’s masterpiece, David is something everyone wants to see when they come to Florence. For good reason too, it’s simply incredible! If you want to see Michaelangelo’s David you should definitely book this skip the line tour because otherwise, you will be waiting a LONG time.

Climb to the top of the Cupola in the Duomo

Climb to the top of the famous cupola in the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, the largest church in Florence. Be aware that it is 463 steps to get all the way to the top, but it’s worth every step as you take in the 500-year-old frescos and get rewarded with an epic view of Florence from the top! Book your guided tour of the cupola today!

Marvel at Rennaissance Masterpieces at the Uffizi Gallery

Florence was the heart of the renaissance in the 15th century and masterpieces by several of the period’s greatest artists like, Michaelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Botticelli are housed in one of Europe’s oldest museums, the Uffizi Gallery. Book a guided small-group tour of the Uffizi here.

Learn How to Cook a Traditional Tuscan Meal

The perfect activity to go with your wine tasting experience in the Chianti region and a great addition to your 2-day Florence itinerary is learning how to cook a traditional Tuscan meal. You can learn how to make handmade pasta and what type of pasta goes with what sauce. Or you can visit one of Florence’s best food markets with a chef and then learn how to make a gourmet Tuscan meal at a top culinary school in Florence.

Finalizing Your 2 Day Florence Itinerary

I hope this post helps you plan your 2 day Florence itinerary. Florence is an essential stop for any trip through Italy. There is so much history and beautiful sites within the city, and its location is perfect to plan day trips from Florence. If you are planning a trip to Italy make sure you pin the image below so that you can find this post again!

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