2 Days in Florence: A Walking Itinerary for First Time Visitors

Florence is one of those cities where you don’t need public transport. You can walk everywhere and get 15-20k steps in per day to burn off the calories from all the pasta and pizza. It was never on my radar until I realised that I’ve been missing Italy :(, and flights from London to Pisa seem to always be very cheap (around £50-80). So I thought I would give Florence a try (it’s 1 hour away from Pisa). 2 days in Florence felt ideal for a first trip. The city is amazing but also overcrowded, which could get overwhelming if you are dealing with crowds for too long.

The itinerary I created for my trip, combines the major sights with some of the smaller places I visited, including leather shops, historic cafés, a wine window, an old perfume shop and restaurants. But if i’m being honest, 2 days in Florence was not enough for me to feel satisfied. There are so many other small towns close to Florence that are worth a visit. But if you only have 2 days in Florence, you can still fit a surprising amount in. So here is exactly how I spent mine.

Day 1

Caffè Gilli
Start your day the oldest caffe in Florence, dating back to the 1700’s, and it’s also one of the city’s most elegant coffee shops. The cafe is famous for its “Schiacciata alla Fiorentina”, a traditional Florentine sweet sponge cake.

Accademia Gallery – David (8 minute walk)

The Galleria dell’Accademia is best known for Michelangelo’s original statue of David, one of the most famous sculptures in the world. It was carved from a single block of marble in the 1500’s, and it’s over five metres tall. I recommend getting here as early as possible…if you don’t want to be squished like a tin of sardines.

Duomo + Baptistery + Giotto’s Bell Tower (8 minute walk)

Florence’s Duomo complex is probably the most popular attraction in the city. Next to the Duomo (church), you will find Giotto’s Bell Tower and the Baptistery of San Giovanni. I will be honest in saying that I didn’t actually go inside any of them this time, as I had already visited another popular church in Florence.

Piazza della Signoria + Palazzo Vecchio (6 minute walk)

Piazza della Signoria is pretty much like an open air museum. It’s a square full of Renaissance sculptures (including a replica of Michelangelo’s David statue) The square also has Florence’s historic town hall, which was once “the seat of power” of the Medici family.

Spezierie Palazzo Vecchio (2-3 minute walk)

Okay…so this one is a perfume shop. People always suggest getting perfume from the Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy in Florence. Don’t do that…unless you want an empty wallet. There are lots of cheaper good quality shops selling perfume in Florence, and this place is one of them. I got two amazing perfumes here for £50 each.

Lo Schiacciavino– Lunch (7 minute walk)

Okay…so Florence is popular for the local schiacciata sandwiches (they are huge!). Everyone on social media recommends going to “All’Antico Vinaio” to eat them. Sorry to say, but it’s a tourist trap type of place and the queues are ridiculously long outside. The city has so many other schiacciata places that are just as good. This one that I went to was delicious and almost empty when I arrived at 12pm. I ordered the “Mielosa” schiacciata, which was filled with Tuscan salami, pecorino cheese, honey, and caramelised onions. The combination of sweet and savoury was just delicious!

Basilica of Santa Croce (3 minute walk)

This is one of Florence’s most important churches, as many historic Italian figures are buried here. Michelangelo, Machiavelli, and Galileo are all buried here. The church is huge and famous for its Renaissance art, so it really does take at least 45 minutes to visit.

Scuola del Cuoio (5 minute walk)

This is the “school of leather” and it is right behind the Basilica of Santa Croce. This is where you can see leather goods being made through the windows, and you can also buy authentic leather goods here. I will give you an honest warning that many “souvenir” shops in Florence are known for selling fake leather goods. This is one of the reputable places to buy from. I picked up a leather bookmark and bracelet from here.

Vivoli (8 minute walk)

Take a short walk to the popular “Vivoli”, which is a historic ice cream shop that has been around since the 1930’s. It is popular for its affogato, which is like ice cream with a hot shot of coffee poured in the middle.

Piazzale Michelangelo (20 minute walk uphill)

To digest the ice cream…it’s a good idea to take a long walk to one of Florence’s most popular viewpoints. It is quite steep, so I wouldn’t do it in heat or if you have mobility needs. It’s a popular spot where many people go to watch the sunset. When I went, there were drink trucks at the top selling drinks/snacks.

Trattoria Giovanni– Dinner (25 minute walk downhill)

This place is popular so it’s best to make a reservation online in advance. I was feeling lazy before my trip so I didn’t, but they were kind enough to let me in. I recommend ordering a traditional Tuscan dish, wild boar pasta.

Babae Wine Window (5 minute walk)

Florence’s “buchette del vino” (wine windows) are small openings in the wall that started in the 16th century. They were used by wealthy local families to sell wine from their vineyards to the public. Buyers would knock on the little wooden window, hand over their money, and receive wine in return. The concept died out but was started again during the COVID pandemic. So you can visit this popular “wine window” and order a glass.

Day 2

Uffizi Gallery
This art gallery holds many masterpieces by Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo. I recommend getting the first ticket of the day to avoid queuing, and buying it online in advance. I did this and was one of the first 10 people inside at 8am.

Ponte Vecchio (5 minute walk)

This is a very pretty and iconic bridge in the city, that has been around since the 1300’s. It used to be a place where people would sell meat, fruit, veg, etc. Nowadays, it’s full of goldsmiths and jewellers. Above the shops, you will see the Vasari Corridor which is what the Medici family would use to travel privately through the city.

Bottega del Giglio (2 minute walk)

Next to the bridge, you will find Bottega del Giglio. Unlike the many mass-produced and sometimes fake leather goods sold to tourists in Florence, this place sells locally handcrafted Italian leather goods.

Martelli Glove Factory (5 minute walk)

On the subject of leather, this is another reputable place within the same area. This is a family run Florentine glove making business, that has been around for more than 50 years. I like the fact that the gloves are lined with luxurious materials such as 100% silk or 100% cashmere.

Mercato Centrale (12 minute walk)- lunch
This is an indoor food market. Downstairs you will find vendors selling Italian food produce, so it is a great place to pick up some food souvenirs. Upstairs there is a food hall where you could stop for lunch and try a range of different Italian dishes.

San Lorenzo Leather Market

This is right next to Mercato Centrale. I have to be honest and say it’s not the best place to buy leather, and it is what could be classified as a “tourist trap”. It’s great to walk around and look at everything, but be very careful if you are thinking of spending a lot of money here. Many of the stalls in this market are selling mass produced “leather” goods from other countries.

Medici Chapel (5 minute walk)

The Medici Chapels are the burial place of Florence’s famous Medici family, so it is worth visiting if you are interested in the history of the city.

Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy (10 minute walk)

It has been labelled one of the oldest pharmacies in the world and dates back to the 12th century. It’s very pricey but also worth visiting even if you don’t buy anything, as the rooms are beautifully decorated with frescoes and antique furnishings. It looks like a mini museum in there!

Pitti Palace (15 minute walk)

This Palace used to be the residence of the Medici family. You can walk around the royal residence and see some more works by famous artists.

Giacosa (drink a Negroni) (15 minute walk)

Did you know that Florence is the birthplace of the Negroni cocktail?…so it would be rude not to try one while you are there! Giacosa is the bar that specialises in making them.

La Buchetta (15 minute walk)- dinner

I suggest this restaurant in particular because it has become popular for its truffle pasta.