Best Tours in Florence, Italy
Are you looking for the best tours in Florence, Italy?
Florence is an incredible city that is known for being the birthplace of the Renaissance. Very few cities in the world can rival Florence when it comes to art, architecture, history, and culture. Famous historical figures including Michelangelo, Galileo, Dante, and da Vinci all called Florence home in their time.
If you’re visiting Florence for the first time, I recommend at least three full days in this city. One of the great things about Florence is that it’s pretty compact and walkable, making it easy to get around.
Below I’ve rounded up the best tours in Florence for an unforgettable trip. These tours cover the city’s highlights, from can’t-miss art museums to important churches and historic sites. And, of course, food! Being the capital of the Tuscany region, Florence is also known for its delicious food (and wine.)
Here’s an overview of the best tours in Florence to discover this amazing city:
Uffizi Gallery Small Group Guided Tour
The Uffizi Gallery is the premier art museum in Florence, featuring works from Botticelli, Caravaggio, da Vinci, Titian, and other Italian Renaissance masters. This museum is a really good one to visit with a guide because a guide can really bring the art to life by providing more context and history.
This small-group guided tour includes skip-the-line access to the museum and a knowledgeable guide who’s an expert in art history to show you the highlights of the museum over the course of 1.5 hours. After the tour is complete, you are free to stay in the museum to explore it further on your own.
Accademia Gallery Guided Tour
Another museum you can’t miss in Florence is the Accademia Gallery. This museum is best known for being home to the famous David statue by Michelangelo, as well as many other works.
This guided tour of the museum will take you on a 75-minute journey through the Renaissance. It includes skip-the-line access to the museum and a passionate guide who will tell you more about Michelangelo and the iconic David statue, as well as other masterpieces inside the Accademia Gallery.
Pasta & Tiramisu Cooking Class with Unlimited Wine
As I said earlier, Florence is a great foodie destination — and one of the best ways to experience that is through a cooking class! This hands-on cooking class gives you the chance to become a chef for the afternoon and learn how to prepare your own handmade pasta and delicious tiramisu for dessert.
Over the course of three hours, you’ll whip up your own tasty meal using local ingredients and techniques, and then you’ll be able to enjoy the finished product with a glass (or several!) of wine.
Cathedral, Duomo Museum, and Baptistery Tour
The Duomo, formally known as the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, is one of the most iconic churches in Italy. This Gothic cathedral with Renaissance and Romanesque influences is the symbol of the city. Its striking facade is built from pink, green, and white marble, while the red-orange domed roof is visible from many viewpoints around Florence. And the inside of the cathedral is just as spectacular.
It’s free to enter the cathedral itself, but I recommended a guided tour like this one which includes access to the cathedral, the baptistery, and the Duomo Museum. You’ll learn much more about the history and significance of this cathedral, and go behind the scenes to parts most tourists don’t see.
Florence Guided Walking Tour
A great way to get oriented with the city of Florence is on a walking tour. As I mentioned earlier, Florence is a very walkable city, so you can cover a lot of ground in just a couple of hours. This 1.5-hour small-group walking tour offers the perfect overview of Florence, hitting many of the city’s top spots.
You’ll visit Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, Piazza del Duomo, Signoria Square, Ponte Vecchio, and more, learning about the history of Florence over the centuries from your knowledgeable local guide.
Private Electric Mini Car Tour with Local Guide
Although Florence is quite walkable, you might prefer to explore the city from the comfort of your own private electric mini car. This is a great option for families with young children, older travelers with reduced mobility, or anyone who simply wants to see the city of Florence from a different perspective.
On this private tour by electric mini car, you will spend 1.5 hours zipping around Florence past sites like the Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio, Ponte Vecchio, and the Uffizi Gallery. You’ll also head up to Piazzale Michelangelo where you’ll be treated to a sweeping panoramic view of the city from a higher vantage point.
Guided Tour of Medici Family Secrets and Chapels
You can’t visit Florence without hearing about the Medicis. The wealthy, powerful family ruled over the Republic of Florence for roughly 300 years throughout the medieval and Renaissance periods.
This walking tour is a great way to learn more about Medici Florence. Over the course of two hours, you’ll visit important locations in the city tied to the Medici dynasty while you learn about the family’s history from your knowledgeable guide. You’ll also get skip-the-line access to the Medici Chapels.
Walking Food Tour at Sunset with Tastings
Finally, one of the best tours to do in Florence is a walking food tour. This is a great way to experience Florentine cuisine. I recommend this 2.5-hour walking food tour with plenty of tastings.
As you make your way through the city, you’ll learn more about the history of Florence and the region’s cuisine. This tour takes place at sunset, so it’s the perfect alternative to having dinner out. You’ll enjoy tastings at each stop on this tour, including a hearty panino sandwich, gelato, and local wine.
Best Tours in Florence
These are the best tours in Florence, Italy to discover the city in a unique way.
Florence is a bucket list destination and it truly has something for everyone, whether you’re interested in art, history, architecture, food, beautiful cities, or a combination of all those things.
Enjoy your trip to Florence!
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