2 Days in Florence: A 48-Hour Plan and What to Book First (2026)

With 2 days in Florence, you can see the Uffizi, David and the Duomo with its dome climb. However, doing all three leaves little time for the city itself. So this plan shows which one to drop, what to book first and how to split the 48 hours.

Last updated: September 27, 2026

Want the two headline sights with a guide in one go? Then start with our page on a Florence walking tour with David and the Duomo.

2 days in Florence at a glance

In short, each day stays on one side of the historic center. As a result, you spend your 48 hours looking at Florence rather than crossing it. Have only one day? Then read our plan to visit Florence in 1 day. Have a third day? Then see our 3 days in Florence itinerary, which adds a day trip to Pisa, Siena or Chianti. For the city as a whole, see our Florence travel guide.

Uffizi, Accademia or dome climb: which to pick with 2 days in Florence

Most people can fit all three into 2 days in Florence. Still, three timed entries in 48 hours make a tight schedule. So here is how the three compare, using the official sites (checked September 2026).

Choose the Uffizi if

• You want painting: Botticelli, Leonardo and the Renaissance masters in one building.
• You can give it a full morning, since the collection is large.
• Your trip has no Monday, or you can move the museum day around it.

Choose the Accademia if

• Seeing David in person is the reason for the trip.
• You want a short, focused visit that leaves time for the city.

Choose the dome climb if

• You would rather see Florence from above than from inside a museum.
• You are fine with a long, narrow staircase.
• Your 2 days in Florence include a Monday, when the two galleries close.

However, the Brunelleschi Pass page advises against the climb for heart problems, vertigo, claustrophobia or pregnancy (checked September 2026). In that case, the cheaper Giotto Pass swaps the dome for the bell tower. For the three Duomo passes side by side, see our Florence Duomo tickets guide.

What to book first for 2 days in Florence

In fact, only three things need a timed slot. Also, each booking narrows the next one, so book them in this order.

1. The dome slot

First, book the dome, since it is the least flexible. The Duomo FAQ says a pass cannot be changed, canceled or refunded (checked September 2026). It also says the Brunelleschi Pass is valid for three calendar days, starting on the dome date you pick at checkout. In addition, you give your name and nationality at purchase, and staff check an ID at the dome. According to the Duomo opening hours page, the last dome slot is 6:45 p.m. on weekdays and 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. On Sundays and public holidays, slots run only from 12:45 to 4:30 p.m.

2. The Accademia

Next, fit David around the dome, on the same day. The Accademia visitor page lists opening hours from 8:15 a.m. to 6:50 p.m., with last admission at 6:20 p.m. (checked September 2026). It also says reservations are highly recommended, because the wait without one may be long. Our Accademia Gallery guide covers the museum in detail.

3. The Uffizi

Finally, book the Uffizi for the other day. According to its visitor page, the gallery opens Tuesday to Sunday from 8:15 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and the ticket office closes at 5:30 p.m. (checked September 2026). The ticket page also lists a €16 ticket for entry from 4 p.m. onward. Our Uffizi tickets guide explains the options.

How the weekdays change your 2 days in Florence

Above all, check the two weekdays of your trip before you book anything. In practice, three closing rules decide which plan works. For example, a Sunday and Monday pair needs a very different order from a Tuesday and Wednesday pair.

The Duomo hours page confirms both church rules (checked September 2026): the cathedral opens Monday to Saturday, from 10:15 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., with no ticket, and the museum closes on the first Tuesday of each month. Meanwhile, the first Sunday of the month is a trap. The Uffizi free-Sunday page says entry is free, but without reservations (checked September 2026). Only people with disabilities and pregnant women are exempt. So expect long lines, and move the Uffizi to your other day if you can. Our guide to free museum days in Italy covers the national rule.

Day 1: the Uffizi, the Ponte Vecchio and an Oltrarno evening

On day 1, start at Piazza della Signoria, the city’s civic square, with the Uffizi right beside it. An early entry works best, since you leave the gallery before lunch. If you arrive in Florence at midday instead, flip the order: explore Signoria first, then use the 4 p.m. ticket.

Morning: the Uffizi

The collection is large, so decide in advance which rooms matter to you. Otherwise, a guide keeps the pace. For example, compare our page on a Uffizi Gallery guided tour, which suits first-time visitors with limited time.

Afternoon: across the Ponte Vecchio

After lunch, cross the Ponte Vecchio into the Oltrarno, the artisan district on the south bank. Then pick one of two. For example, Palazzo Pitti holds the former royal apartments and galleries, while the Boboli Gardens climb the hill behind it. The Palazzo Pitti page lists the same Tuesday to Sunday hours as the Uffizi, 8:15 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (checked September 2026). However, with 2 days in Florence, many visitors skip both and simply walk the side streets. In that case, save your energy for the climb to Piazzale Michelangelo at sunset.

Evening: dinner in the Oltrarno

Afterward, walk back down into the Oltrarno. Then head for Piazza Santo Spirito and the streets of San Frediano, with their bars and small restaurants. Start with an aperitivo, the early-evening drink served with snacks; see our guide to aperitivo in Italy. After that, find a trattoria, a simple family-style restaurant, for dinner. For more ideas, read our guide on where to eat in Florence. Prefer to eat with a guide? Compare the best food tours in Florence.

Day 2 of 2 days in Florence: the Duomo, David and San Lorenzo

On day 2, stay north of the Arno. In fact, the Duomo and the Accademia are about ten minutes apart on foot. So a morning dome slot and an early-afternoon David slot fit together easily.

Morning: the dome climb and the cathedral

First, arrive with light bags. The Brunelleschi Pass page says backpacks and larger bags go to the luggage storage first (checked September 2026). Also, only five minutes of delay are allowed after your slot. Then visit the free cathedral interior, the Baptistery and the museum on the same pass. For a guided version, see our page on a Florence Duomo dome climb.

Afternoon: David at the Accademia

After lunch, walk north along Via Ricasoli to the Accademia. Want the background? Then see our page on an Accademia and David tour.

Evening: San Lorenzo, a food tour or a cooking class

Finally, loop back through San Lorenzo, with its leather stalls and the covered Mercato Centrale. For your last night, you can eat with a guide on a Florence food tour. Alternatively, learn a few Tuscan dishes in a Florence cooking class.

Swap: countryside instead of a museum

Did you drop one of the big three? Then use the free half day outside the city. However, the Chianti wineries are spread out. So a guided trip, such as a Chianti wine tour from Florence, is the practical option.

What 2 days in Florence leaves out

Two days cover the core of the city. However, they leave no room for a day trip, which is the main difference from our three-day plan. So in 2 days in Florence you skip Pisa, Siena, Chianti by day and the Cinque Terre. Also, you will likely miss Palazzo Vecchio, Santa Croce and San Marco. Prefer a guide for most of the trip? Then our guide to the best tours in Florence for a first visit compares the formats.

Arriving, getting around and where to stay

In practice, most visitors arrive by train at Santa Maria Novella station, a short walk from the Duomo. From Rome, read our guide to the Rome to Florence train. Once there, walk everywhere, because the historic center is compact and mostly closed to traffic. For two nights, stay near the Duomo or Santa Maria Novella for convenience, or in the Oltrarno for calmer evenings. Whichever area you choose, however, Florence charges a nightly tourist tax at check-in. See our guide to the Italy tourist tax before you book.

2 days in Florence in fall

In fall, two closures matter. According to the Duomo hours page (checked September 2026), the bell tower closes for maintenance from November 9 to 13, 2026. Then the dome closes from November 16 to 20, 2026. So if you travel that week, choose another pass or move your dates.

Florence tours that fit this 2-day plan

Meanwhile, these experience pages on our site match each part of the plan. Each one lists prices and ratings read on Viator:

• Uffizi Gallery guided tour: day 1, morning.
• Florence Duomo dome climb: day 2, morning.
• Accademia and David tour: day 2, afternoon.
• Florence walking tour with David and the Duomo: both headline sights in one go.
• Florence food tour: either evening.
• Florence cooking class: the last evening.
• Chianti wine tour from Florence: if you trade a museum for the hills.

Landing in Florence or Pisa? See our guide to Florence airport to city center.

Short on time in Florence? Our guide to private tours in Italy compares what private and small-group tours cost. If you plan to shop for leather, also check how the VAT refund in Italy works before you pay.

2 days in Florence: frequently asked questions

Are 2 days in Florence enough?

Yes, for the historic center. Two days cover the Uffizi, David, the Duomo and the Oltrarno. However, they leave no time for a day trip.

What should I book first for 2 days in Florence?

Book the Duomo dome slot first, because the pass cannot be changed or refunded. Then book the Accademia on the same day and the Uffizi on the other day.

Which sight should I skip if I cannot do all three?

Skip the dome if you avoid stairs or heights. Otherwise, skip the Accademia if you have seen David, or the Uffizi if views matter more than painting.

Can I spend 2 days in Florence on a Sunday and a Monday?

Yes. Visit the Uffizi and the Accademia on Sunday, then the Duomo complex on Monday, when the two galleries close.

What is there to do in the evening in Florence?

Watch the sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo, then eat around Santo Spirito. Alternatively, join a food tour or a cooking class.