Best Walking Tours in Florence

Top Walking Tours in Florence

Florence is easily one of the most recognizable places in Italy for tourists. The capital of the picturesque region of Tuscany, Florence has been important as early as the medieval times. Today, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is a highly touristy place with millions of visitors a year! And the throngs of tourists have a good reason, too.

At each turn, Florence offers an interesting piece of art and architecture that represents its deep history. As a haven of the arts, Florence is best explored on foot. This guide puts together some of the best walking tours in Florence you can have in the city. It’ll allow you an easy route to some of the greatest sights Florence has to offer.

Florence: Walking Tour

This tour’s unassuming name belies its perfect introduction to the tourist hive that is Florence. This takes tourists through some of the city’s most iconic sights, starting with the cathedral (Duomo) and the Baptistery of St. John. This side of Florence also includes the Sta. Maria del Fiore and its adjacent Giotto Bell Tower.

Another famous landmark (and influential art piece) the tour visits is the David sculpture by Michelangelo. Located at the Piazza della Signoria , this is also in the neighborhood of the Ponte Vecchio bridge.

The two-hour tour also takes you to the hidden side of Florence. With your professional guide giving you the lowdown on hidden places and other interesting nuggets most tourists don’t even have an idea of! The tour also includes a free scoop of traditional gelato as you pass by the La Strega Nocciola. 

Book this Florence walking tour here. 

Florence: Small Group History Walking Tour with an Aperitivo

This walking tour expands upon the idea set by the previous one. The three hour walk focuses not on the touristy places, but on the places instrumental to the birth not just of Florence of but of Italy in general. This history-buff-perfect tour starts at the Piazza della Repubblica, where Caesar first founded the city. You will also get a crash course in everything Florentian, from its architecture to its early politics.

Of course, you will also get a lot of eye candy. You will make your way to Ponte Vecchio, see part of the Vasari Corridor, stroll through the Piazzale degli Uffizi, enter the Palazzo Vecchio, and head to the Duomo, among others. You will also be treated to a cup of espresso and an aperitivo (plus a snack) during different points of the tour.

Book this Florence small group tour here.

Ultimate Uffizi: 2-Hour Priority Entrance Tour

If walking around a crowded city isn’t really your thing, this GetYourGuide Original tour will hit the spot. The Uffizi Gallery is famous for being the epicenter of Florence art, housing some of the most priceless art pieces in the world. Because of this, the queues here are often impossibly long, as hundreds of tourists clamor to get around the two-storey museum.

You can forget about the lines on this tour, though, which gives you priority access and a guide that will walk you through not just the museum’s highlights but also its secrets. Not only will you see masterpieces by da Vinci and Botticelli, but you will also know the history behind them. You can also gain access to all open exhibitions on the day you visit.

Book this Ultimate Uffizi tour here. 

Florence Dome Climb: 1-Hour Priority Entrance Tour

Another GetYourGuide Original, this takes you behind the scenes of one of the most famous cupolas in the world. Skip the lines and the crowds, and reward yourself with a breath-taking view of Florence as you reach the top! This is perfect for those who wish to have a rare bird’s eye view of the city.

Of course, the tour isn’t just about the climb. Hear the remarkable story behind the dome which took two centuries to complete. Marvel at both the artwork on the ceiling and the richness of materials used for the floors and pillars. The tour comes with a ticket to the rest of the Duomo, so you can explore the museum, the cathedral itself, the crypt, and the baptistry. It’s valid for three days, so if you have other plans you can skip and come back later!

Book this Dome Climb tour here.

Academia Gallery: Reserved Entrance and Guided Tour

The beauty of Florence art and culture is that it’s just as interesting whether you choose a widespread or a focused approach. The Academia Gallery tour is an example of the latter, with the famous David statue being the focal point.

The tour gives you an in-depth look at the life and times of Michelangelo, the immortal artist of the Renaissance. The 1-hour tour unfolds as you visit the collection of his masterpieces, along with that of other illustrious painters of the time. And if you think that museum tours are boring academic sessions (the museum’s name can be misleading, after all), the tour’s licensed and professional guides will prove you wrong!

Book Academia Gallery tour here.

Florence: Private Customized Walking Tour with a Local Guide

This is another way to look at Florence, and perhaps this is the one that will have the most impact. Anyone can look at the sights and absorb all the trivia, but only a few will be able to truly look at Florence with the eyes of a local! This guide gets one of Florence’s passionate locals as your tour guide, and shows you their way of life which is just as interesting (or even more so) than the tourist attractions.

The tour can last anywhere from two to six hours and takes you around the neighborhood of your choice. This is perfect if you’ll be staying in Florence for an extended vacation. Know all the ins and outs, like the best places to dine in or to shop from. Get insider tips and tricks, and a complete picture of Florentian life!

All the walking tour itineraries mentioned here are just snapshots of the infinite wonder that Florence has to offer. Don’t be afraid to take a sudden turn, to look close or to stand back, to veer off from the beaten path. That’s the surest way to find something new!

Book this Private Tour here.

Florence Food Tours

Italy is known for its delicious food and people often try to remake it at home. However, while in Italy it’s best to get the real thing to experience those amazing flavors in person. What better way to do that than to go on a food tour in the lovely Florence, Italy. 

Florence Italy Sunset Food Tour 

When you’re spending your time in this town, you want to do as much as you can in your allotted time. During the day, you can take a culture tour and soak in the history. When the sun starts to set, I recommend this food tour. You are led around the city to the best restaurants and bars in town. For 3 and a half hours, you’re in a food and wine paradise. Not only do you get to taste the expertly cured meat straight from the local deli, you also get to see a live demonstration at the famous Bistecca alla Fiorentina. This is a tour you won’t soon forget. 

Book this food tour here.

The Other Side of Florence 

This morning tour varies with the type of tour you want. If you bring along your family, there’s a tour for all ages. If it’s just you and your partner, the adult tour is for you. This 4 hour tour takes you behind the scenes of the well-known desserts and lets you sample Italian delicacies like fennel-spiced salami and the infamous Chianti wine. You really explore the other side of Florence on this awesome tours.

Book this eccentric food tour here.

Authentic Florence Home-Cooking Class

We all want to be able to show off our cooking skills at parties and holiday get-togethers. What’s even better is to be able to show off the cooking skills and recipes you picked up in Italy. Not only do you visit the local markets to pick up ingredients, you make an array of pastas and sauces from scratch while sipping on wine and making life long friends. In this 4 hour class, you cook, wine, and dine in a beautiful Florence home complete with a rooftop terrace. It’ll be a life enhancing experience.

Book this cooking class here.

Best Walking Tours in Tuscany was written by Karina Angela Ramos. She is a former preschool teacher turned travel blogger/ travel consultant and social media manager. She writes at Karla Around the World and Hungry Travel Duo. People call her an energizer bunny, a never-ending source of energy and laughter, who is a lover of adventure. She was bitten by the travel bug early on and enjoys talking about my action packed and adrenaline filled experience. While traveling, Karla loves to experience local culture, trying out local cuisine, meeting new people, most of all adventure. Follow her Instagram karlaroundtheworld and Facebook karlaroundtheworld.

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