48-hour destination guide
48 Hours in Florence: A Neighborhood Itinerary
Pick your Florence — the Duomo, the Signoria, Santa Croce, the Oltrarno or San Marco — and settle in.
Florence’s historic centre is small enough to cross on foot in half an hour. The Duomo and Piazza della Signoria hold the big sights and the Uffizi; Santa Croce and Sant’Ambrogio, to the east, are livelier and more local; the Oltrarno, across the Ponte Vecchio, has the Pitti Palace, the Boboli Gardens and artisan workshops; Santa Maria Novella is by the main station; and San Lorenzo has the central market and Michelangelo’s David. Book the Uffizi, the Accademia and the Duomo dome in advance. Confirm hours before you go.
Where to base — pick a neighborhood
Each card opens a full neighborhood guide: gallery, mini 48H plan, named recommendations, and specific places to stay.
Duomo
Brunelleschi’s dome and the Bargello.
First-timers who want the sights on the doorstep.
Open neighborhood guide →
Signoria & Ponte Vecchio
The Uffizi, Palazzo Vecchio and the old bridge.
Art lovers and first-timers.
Open neighborhood guide →
Santa Croce
Michelangelo’s tomb and a collector’s palace.
Travelers who want local evenings close to the sights.
Open neighborhood guide →
Sant’Ambrogio
The Synagogue and Michelangelo’s house.
Repeat visitors and food lovers.
Open neighborhood guide →
Oltrarno
Pitti Palace, Boboli and Santo Spirito.
Repeat visitors, food lovers and anyone after a quieter base.
Open neighborhood guide →
Santa Maria Novella
The marble basilica and the station quarter.
Day-trippers and train travelers.
Open neighborhood guide →
San Lorenzo
The central market and the Medici.
Food lovers and budget travelers.
Open neighborhood guide →
San Marco & Santissima Annunziata
Michelangelo’s David and Brunelleschi’s loggia.
Art lovers and quieter-street seekers.
Open neighborhood guide →
Day 1: The centre
Dome, Uffizi, Signoria.
08:15 – Brunelleschi’s Dome
Climb in a booked slot.
12:30 – Mercato Centrale
Lunch upstairs.
14:30 – Uffizi Gallery
Booked entry.
19:00 – Ponte Vecchio
Cross the bridge at dusk.
Day 2: Across the river
David, Pitti, Boboli.
08:15 – Galleria dell’Accademia
David at opening.
11:30 – Palazzo Pitti and Boboli
Palace and gardens.
18:30 – Santo Spirito
Evening on the square.
Optional day trips
Add at most one. Stacking both usually costs you the city day.
Siena
Full day
The shell-shaped Piazza del Campo and the striped Siena Cathedral, with its pavement and Piccolomini Library.
How to get there: Buses or regional trains from Florence to Siena; check schedules.
FAQ
- Where should I stay in Florence for 48 hours?
- First visit: the Duomo or the Signoria. Local evenings: Santa Croce or Sant’Ambrogio. Quieter and artisan: the Oltrarno. Day trips by train: Santa Maria Novella. Value and food: San Lorenzo. Calm and close to David: San Marco.
- Do I need a car?
- No. The centre is walkable and mostly a limited-traffic zone (ZTL); use trains or buses for day trips.
- Are stay links affiliate links?
- Hotel stays use Roam48’s Expedia Creator tracked links; each neighborhood also has a Vrbo vacation-rental search. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Links use rel=sponsored nofollow.