Visit Florence in 2 days

Where to Stay in Florence

When you only have two days in Florence, location is everything: it determines how much of the city you see and how relaxed each day feels. Staying close to the core means you’ll spend more time enjoying masterpieces and less time on transit. Choose a base that keeps your walking between museums, cafés and squares short—Florence’s compact center rewards slow, on-foot exploration, so a well-placed room can turn a frantic itinerary into a pleasant stroll.

The city is organized around the river and the cathedral, with a dense medieval grid at its heart. The Arno splits the historical center, and most highlights cluster on or near the north bank. If you want to orient yourself quickly, think in terms of the river, the cathedral dome and the main piazzas. From a central point you can reach the Ponte Vecchio and the Uffizi in minutes, and the glorious silhouette of the Duomo is a useful visual landmark to navigate by as you move between sights.

For an immersive short stay, pick neighborhoods that put your top priorities within easy reach. If you want to wake up steps from medieval bridges and sunset views, stay near the river and the Ponte Vecchio. Art lovers who want early access to galleries will appreciate places within a short walk of the Uffizi and the Piazza della Repubblica, which keeps you centrally placed for both museums and lively cafés. Across the Arno, the Oltrarno quarter offers a quieter, artisan feel in the evenings without sacrificing proximity to the principal attractions.

Transport in Florence is simple: most visitors rely on walking supplemented by short tram, bus or taxi rides. The Santa Maria Novella train station sits just outside the historic core and is the easiest arrival point if you come by train; a direct tram now connects the center with the airport. Taxis are useful for luggage or late returns, but for two days you’ll likely find walking the most efficient—and the most pleasurable—way to move between the Duomo, museums and riverside.

Finally, be practical about the quirks of historic buildings: many charming accommodations occupy older palazzi with narrow staircases, so if stairs are an issue ask about lifts. In summer seek air-conditioning and in colder months confirm heating. Prioritize a location that reduces daily transfers rather than extra bells and whistles—comfort and proximity will make your short Florence visit feel unrushed and truly memorable.

Getting Around Florence

Florence feels smaller than you imagine, and that makes public transport delightfully straightforward: a compact center you can often walk, plus a modern tram and bus network for longer hops. The city runs the Tramvia lines and the local buses operated by ATAF, with clear stops, readable timetables, and drivers who are used to tourists. If you're comfortable reading signs and following a simple route, you’ll find that traveling from a train at Santa Maria Novella to a museum or piazza is low-stress and fast — and even the trams have space for bags so airport-to-center transfers are easy. 🚇

One very practical tip: always buy and validate your ticket before you ride. Tickets are sold at tabacchi, newsstands, machines at stops, and via the official ATAF app; validation machines are on board buses and at tram stops. A single ticket (usually affordable and valid for about 90 minutes) will cover transfers inside that time window, and there are day or multi-day passes if you plan many trips. Remember that the Firenze Card covers museums, not transport, so keep a separate ticket for buses and trams. 🎫

Use Google Maps or your preferred map app to plan door-to-door routes: it reliably shows walking time between the Ponte Vecchio, the Uffizi, and Piazza della Repubblica, plus which bus or tram to catch if you prefer not to walk. The app gives real-time departures and step-by-step walking directions, so you can choose scenic routes through the Oltrarno or the fastest path if you're short on time. I check it before leaving a café and it almost always points me to the best option for that moment.

To save money, walk when you can — many of the main attractions are a short stroll from each other — and buy a day pass only if you’ll take several long rides or a transfer to the airport. The tram to the airport is a fraction of a taxi fare and extremely convenient, while afternoon sightseeing on foot keeps your costs down and helps you stumble on alleys and shops you’d otherwise miss.

I remember arriving by train, buying a ticket at a newsstand, validating it, and walking from Santa Maria Novella to Piazza della Repubblica; from there we popped into the Uffizi and strolled over the Ponte Vecchio in less than 15 minutes — no transfers, no fuss. If your legs get tired, hop a tram or bus for one stop; the system is there to make your exploration feel effortless, and once you try it you'll feel like a local in no time. 🗺️

What to Pack for Florence

Florence is a city you explore on foot: the Duomo, winding streets, and those famous stone bridges invite hours of wandering. I’ve done days where I walked 12–15 miles (yes, my feet still remember), so I pack light but smart. Below are the essentials I bring on a 48-hour trip — practical, tested, and focused on comfort and convenience while admiring Renaissance architecture and crossing the Ponte Vecchio.

1. Comfortable walking shoes (required): Bring broken-in sneakers with good arch support — I wear New Balance 574s or leather Ecco sneakers. On my last visit I was out for 10+ hours and walked roughly 14 miles; blisters would have ruined the day. Cobblestones and uneven pavement make cushioning and a non-slip sole essential.

2. Cross-body bag (anti-theft): A small, zippered cross-body with RFID pocket kept my phone and passport safe when I stopped to photograph the Arno. Pickpockets can target crowded viewpoints and bridge sidewalks, so having your hands free and valuables snug against your body matters — I learned this after someone brushed past me near Ponte Vecchio.

3. Weather-appropriate layers: Florence days can swing — sunny afternoons and cooler evenings. I pack a light merino or cotton layer, a thin packable rain jacket, and a scarf. On one spring evening it dropped 10°C, and that scarf saved me while sipping wine on a terrace overlooking the skyline.

4. Power adapter (Italy: Type C/F/L, 230V): Cameras and hair straighteners need the right plug. I carry a small universal adapter so my phone and camera batteries don’t die before sunset shots of the piazzas. I once had to hunt a hostel desk for an adapter at 11pm — avoid that stress.

5. Power bank (10,000 mAh): A compact 10,000 mAh power bank kept my phone charged through a full day of navigation, photos, and audio guides — useful when I was out exploring architecture and bridges for 9–12 hours straight. Choose one charged to at least 80% before you leave the hotel each morning.

6. Optional — Collapsible water bottle & compact umbrella: Florence’s summer sun and occasional showers make a reusable bottle handy (I refilled at fountains) and a tiny umbrella fits a day bag. Both saved me money and discomfort on a rainy afternoon when I ducked into a café and waited out a sudden shower.