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Trip ideas  /  Europe  /  Italy  /  Florence, Tuscany  /  2-day itinerary
Archie
Culture & Discovery
Florence, Tuscany: 2 days in Florence and TuscanyPhoto by Jonathan Körner on Unsplash
Culture & Discovery MarvelTrip idea · Florence, Tuscany

2 days in Florence and Tuscany

The 7-day plan, rearranged for 2 days: the best-ranked places stay, and each day keeps to one part of town.

2 daysAnyoneLate September8 places
Copy this plan to your own trips, then change anything you like.
Florence
Photo: Giorgio Galeotti, CC BY 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Florence
Photo: Sailko, CC BY 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
How many days?Pick yours and the plan rearranges.
Rearranged from the 7 day plan. See it as written

Best time to go

March to June and September to November are the most comfortable months for walking around.
  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Arrival day

Before Day 1. Florence is small and walkable, so settle in on foot and keep the first evening easy.Details
From the airport
Florence has its own small airport close to the center, and Pisa has a larger one with a train to Florence. Taxis and a tram or bus link the Florence airport to the center. Allow extra time if you arrive from a long flight.
Getting around
The old center is compact and mostly closed to ordinary traffic, so you will walk everywhere in Florence. Siena and Pisa are easy by bus or train. The Chianti and hill town days are easiest by car.
Your car
Collect the rental car on the day you first need it, on the edge of town, not at your hotel door, because driving and parking in the old center are restricted. Check the rules for your hotel before you arrive.
First evening
Walk through the old streets to the river and watch the light on the Ponte Vecchio, then have an early dinner. Day 1 starts at the cathedral, so you will already be close.

Day 1. Florence and Siena

7 stops · 104.7 km

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

  1. 1
    MorningWorth the time

    Florence Cathedral

    The great red dome over the city, with a patterned marble front. Walk around it and step inside, then look up at the painted ceiling of the dome.

    Go when Early morning, before the queues form.

    Local tip Look at the dome from the outside first, then from the street behind the cathedral, where the whole shape rises above the roofs.

    Florence Cathedral, Florence
    Photo: Gary Campbell-Hall, CC BY 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons
    About 7 min walk0.6 km
  2. 2
    MorningPick your rooms

    Uffizi Gallery

    One of the great art museums of the world, with a long run of Italian painting from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. Choose a few rooms and take your time.

    Go when First thing in the morning, with a booked time.

    Local tip Choose the rooms of the early Renaissance first. You will be tired before you see all of it, so stop early and take a break at the terrace.

    Uffizi Gallery, Florence
    Photo: Arek N., CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
  3. Lunch

    A schiacciata sandwich

    Schiacciata is a flat, salty Tuscan bread, split and filled with cured meats, cheese or vegetables. A quick, filling lunch from a small shop.

    Local tip Eat it standing, or take it to a sunny step and watch the street.

    A schiacciata sandwich
    Photo: Kent Wang, CC BY-SA 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons
    About 13 min walk1.0 km
  4. 3
    MorningWorth the time

    Galleria dell'Accademia

    The home of Michelangelo's David, and a smaller museum than most, so it is easy to enjoy in a morning. Book a time ahead.

    Go when Morning, with a time booked ahead.

    Local tip The David stands at the end of a long hall, so walk the whole hall before you stop in front of him.

    Galleria dell'Accademia, Florence
    Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
    About 58 min by car51.3 km
  5. 4
    MorningWorth the time

    Siena Cathedral

    A black and white striped cathedral, one of the most richly decorated in Italy. Look at the patterned stone floor inside.

    Go when Morning, as soon as you arrive in town.

    Local tip Look down as well as up. The pictured stone floor is one of the finest in Italy.

    Siena Cathedral, Florence
    Photo: Raimond Spekking, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
    About 4 min walk0.3 km
  6. 5
    MiddayWorth the time

    Piazza del Campo

    The shell-shaped square at the heart of the city, where the famous horse race is run. Sit on the sloping ground and watch.

    Go when Midday, with a long lunch beside it.

    Local tip Sit on the slope of the square like the locals and watch the whole city go by.

    Piazza del Campo, Florence
    Photo: Mark Sehnert on Wikimedia Commons
    About 57 min by car50.4 km
  7. 6
    EveningWorth the time

    Ponte Vecchio

    The old stone bridge over the Arno, lined with small shops. Walk across and stop in the middle to look up and down the river.

    Go when Around sunset (about 7:26 PM), when the river turns gold.

    Local tip Cross it once, then walk along the river to a bridge nearby for the best view back at it.

    Ponte Vecchio, Florence
    Photo: Ingo Mehling, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
    About 14 min walk1.1 km
  8. 7
    EveningWorth the time

    Piazzale Michelangelo

    A wide terrace on the hill above the river with the best view over the city. Go for sunset.

    Go when About an hour before sunset (about 7:26 PM), then stay as the lights come on.

    Local tip Walk up the stairs beside the river rather than taking a car. It is a short climb with views the whole way.

    Piazzale Michelangelo, Florence
    Photo: Jörg Bittner Unna, CC BY 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
  9. Dinner

    A bowl of ribollita

    Ribollita is the thick Tuscan bread and vegetable soup that Florence is known for, hearty and warming. Start there and then see what the evening suggests.

    Local tip Order it as a first course and share the rest of the menu.

    A bowl of ribollita
    Photo: Ta4e Negodue, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
If it rains. Florence Cathedral, Uffizi Gallery, Galleria dell'Accademia and Siena Cathedral are covered, so keep them. Move Piazza del Campo, Ponte Vecchio and Piazzale Michelangelo to a dry day if you can.

Day 2. San Gimignano and Volterra

1 stop · 37.4 km

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

  1. Drive from Piazzale MichelangeloAbout 47 min by car37.4 km
    Where Day 1 ended.
  2. 1
    MorningWorth the time

    San Gimignano

    A hill town known for its medieval stone towers. Walk in through the gate and up the main street, and look up often.

    Go when Morning, before the tour buses arrive.

    Local tip Walk the main street, then climb to the highest square for the view across the towers.

    San Gimignano, Florence
    Photo: Chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
  3. Dinner

    A simple dinner in the walled village

    A few small restaurants sit inside the old walls. A bowl of pasta and a plate of local cheese is enough after a long day of driving.

    Local tip Book ahead in the busy season, because the village is tiny.

If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.

Departure day

After the last day. Plan the way to the airport the night before and the morning stays calm.Details
Check-out
Hotels in the old center will usually keep your luggage for a few hours after check-out, which helps if your flight is in the evening.
Returning the car
Return the rental car before your last day in the city if you can, so you are not looking for parking on the morning of a flight.
To the airport
Florence airport is a short ride from the center. For Pisa, take the train and allow extra time, because regional trains can run late. Pick the earlier option when in doubt.
If you have a few hours
Stay near the hotel: a slow breakfast, a last walk to the river, then go.

Questions people ask

When is the best time to visit Florence?

By average weather from 2021 to 2025, March to June and September to November are the most comfortable months for walking around Florence. This plan is built for late September, which is one of the best months. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.

How many days does this plan cover?

It covers 2 days in Florence, planned for late September. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.

Who is this plan for?

It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.

Is anything on this plan booked?

No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.

Can I plan my own days like this?

Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.

Can I change this plan?

Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.

How much walking is there?

Each day has about 104.7 kilometers between its stops, and 104.7 kilometers in all across 2 days. A short hop is a walk and a longer one a ride. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.

Keep exploring

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Photo: Gary Campbell-Hall, CC BY 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Arek N., CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Kent Wang, CC BY-SA 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Raimond Spekking, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons

Make this plan yours

Make it yours in a minute, then move days around and add what you want.

A trip idea · Updated October 2026

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