Posted: 27-3-2024 | March 27, 2024
Florence is one of the most popular cities in Italy. The beautiful Renaissance architecture gives it an iconic look, and the abundance of art can keep any traveler busy for weeks. There’s the Uffizi Gallery, home to some of the world’s most important Renaissance pieces; by Michelangelo David, one of the most recognizable works in the world; and the towering Duomo, a Gothic cathedral and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
To see everything and learn more about this beautiful destination, I always like to take a walking tour (or three!) while I’m here. I think walking tours are a great way to get to know a place and see some non-touristy sights.
And Florence has a lot! From free introductory tours to in-depth history and culinary tours, here is my list of the best walking tours in Florence.
Best overall tour
To take a walk
Take Walks is my favorite tour company in Italy, offering access to places no one else gets and with incredibly knowledgeable guides. I always have fun and learn a lot on these tours. I can’t recommend them enough.
Their VIP David & Duomo tour offers exclusive access before or after all other tours, offering a unique skip-the-line experience without the crowds. They also have a Best of Florence tour that covers all the highlights of the city over a fun and educational three hours.
Best Free Tour
Free guided tour of Florence
This is the best (and most popular) free tour in the city. The main offering is a solid two-hour introduction to Florence covering all the highlights. It’s a great way to kick-start your trip if you’re on a budget.
For something more unique, there is also a free tour that focuses on the dark side of the city, including some of the more terrifying myths and legends of the past. Don’t forget to tip your guide at the end!
While these may be the best free and paid tours in the city, Florence has much more to offer. Here are four other insightful and educational tours:
1. Devour food tours
Devour is my favorite food tour company. The offering is always super informative and delicious. In Florence, Devour has a number of different ones, so there is something for everyone.
If you love wine like me, the Oltrarno at Sunset tour is the best choice for you. This evening tour lasts just over three hours and includes stops at five family-owned restaurants, where you can enjoy aperitifs, dinner (including a taste of the famous Florentine steak), and desserts.
Devour also organizes a filling 3.5-hour Tastes and Traditions tour that includes a visit to Sant’Ambrogio Market, as well as wine, espresso and some unforgettable dishes. On both tours you will fill up and learn a lot.
Tours start at 79 EUR.
2. Italy Pass Tours
If you’d like to learn more about the Duomo, the enormous cathedral that rises from the picturesque skyline, Italy Pass Tours offers an excellent short tour that serves as the perfect introduction. You’ll get skip-the-line access and tour the beautiful cathedral while learning about its history and how it’s intertwined with the famous Medici family who helped put Florence on the map. It’s an educational, affordable tour that goes deeper than the standard free tour, without being too long or overly academic.
Tours start at 13 EUR.
3. Tours and guided tours
If you want to explore the home of some of the world’s best Renaissance art, Tours and Tours organizes a 90-minute guided tour of the Uffizi Gallery. You will admire the world-famous works of masters such as Botticelli, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci while avoiding the huge lines. They also run a short but insightful skip-the-line tour of Brunelleschi’s Dome. It is an engineering masterpiece and offers fantastic views of the city.
Tours start at 41 EUR.
4. Global experiences
If you want to get off the beaten track and get to know the dark side of Florence, Global Experiences organizes a three-hour pub crawl/ghost tour that takes you through the city and shows you the sights as you bounce between cool bars. It also highlights some of the more scandalous stories from the past, as well as darker and more mysterious tales. Overall, it’s a fun tour to take after a day of highlights.
The company also organizes a more traditional food tour where you can taste traditional Florentine steak, Tuscan meatballs, almond biscotti, gelato and more!
Tours start at 60 EUR.
Florence is one of the most popular cities in Europe. It’s a beautiful, energetic place bursting at the seams with great museums and galleries, UNESCO-worthy sights and a wealth of history. If you take one of the above walking tours, you are guaranteed a fun, informative and authentic visit to this Italian metropolis.
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Book your trip to Italy: logistics tips and tricks
Book your flight
Use Skyscanner to find a cheap flight. They are my favorite search engine because they search websites and airlines all over the world so you always know there is nothing going on.
Book your accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the largest inventory and the best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently offer the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels.
Don’t forget travel insurance
Travel insurance protects you against illness, injury, theft and cancellations. It is comprehensive protection in case something goes wrong. I never travel without it as I have had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that provide the best service and value are:
Looking for the best companies to save money with?
Check out my resources page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the apps I use to save money when I’m on the road. They will also save you money when you travel.
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