Things to do in Florence for self travelers

Skip the line to five of Florence's hottest attractions! Take in one of the world's greatest collections of Renaissance art at the Uffizi Gallery, gawp at the sumptuous decor of the Palazzo Pitti, and explore the leafy Tuscan paradise of the massive Boboli Gardens.

This 7-hectare park, immersed in a forest on the hills surrounding Pistoia, is home to 550 animals, belonging to 100 different species. With a 50+ year history, it is among the most important Italian zoological institutions for its commitment to the conservation of biodiversity, and for its ability to involve visitors in exciting and fun experiences with nature. A visit to the Park is an opportunity to interrupt the frenzy of the world and relax with the people you love most. Every season and day of the week offer different observation points: the fresh scent of spring, the joy of summer or the colors of autumn are the backdrop to days of silence during the week or to the festive weekends when the park comes alive with many free activities for visitors of all ages.

This self-guided audio tour includes your ticket to Leonardo da Vinci Interactive Museum® and takes you through Florence's streets on a walking route. (!) Please note that while your ticket to the museum is included and available within the app, the audio tour inside the museum is not provided. Start at the Leonardo Interactive Museum, where wooden models from da Vinci's notebooks come alive. Then, unpause the tour and stroll through Florence's iconic landmarks like the soaring Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the elegant Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, Palazzo Strozzi, Orsanmichele Church with its guild sculptures, Palazzo Vecchio, the replica of Michelangelo's David, Uffizi Gallery, Vasari Corridor, ending at the jewel-packed Ponte Vecchio. Travelers will handle working models of Leonardo's inventions like the Air Screw and Giant Tank, marvel at Brunelleschi's innovative dome, peer into historic wine holes, and trace Medici influence amid vivid frescoes and sturdy palaces.

There's more than one breathtaking dome in Florence! With its enormous green patina dome, the Great Synagogue of Florence is an architectural treasure and one of the most important synagogues in Italy. Constructed between 1874 and 1882, with the goal of going toe-to-toe with Florence's immaculate architecture, it remains one of the largest and impressive synagogues in Europe to this day. Take a wander around this beautiful corner of Jewish and Florentine history, and admire its remarkable marble floors, majestic mosaics, frescoed walls, and stained-glass windows. Then, explore the adjoining Jewish Museum. Here, you can delve deeper into the amazing stories surrounding the building's inception and the long, proud history history of Florence's Jewish community, and the challenges they have faced and overcome with grace and fortitude over the centuries.

Your tickets to the Salvatore Ferragamo Museum in Florence will launch you on the way to discovering the history of the Ferragamo company, the life of its founder and his spectacular creations! Discover the history of the shoemaker who moved to California from a little village in the province of Naples and began a career designing and creating shoes for the movie industry. Ferragamo returned to Italy in 1927 and opened a workshop in Florence. His creations - like the famous cork wedge heels, metal-reinforced high heels and invisible sandals soon made him famous all over the world. See them all at the museum in the medieval Palazzo Spini Feroni - the historical headquarters of the company.

Explore The Museum, located between Palazzo della Signoria and the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. The first floor features original sculptures by renowned Florentine artists from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, adding historical charm to the building. But the art experience doesn't stop there! Head to the second floor for a breathtaking panoramic view of Florence that will leave a lasting impression. Continue your journey to discover the marble tabernacle of the Madonna delle Grazie in the in-house church—a place of worship where holy masses are held.

Explore one of the most special buildings in Florence at your own pace and guided by an in-app audio tour created by a local guide! Note! This tour DOES NOT include an entrance ticket but may be used anytime during the palazzo's opening hours: Mo-Su 09.00 am - 7 pm. Thu 09.00 am - 02.00 pm. Buy the ticket for €13,50 at the office counter on the main floor of the palazzo. 18-25 years: €10; under 18: free entrance. The tour starts on the square in front of the Palazzo with exploration of architecture & Michelangelo's David and ends in a room full of Renaissance maps on the third floor. As you walk through the Palazzo, you will uncover the stories of amazing Renaissance art and the power of the Medici family. You'll see wonderful things like huge battle frescos in the biggest public room in the world in those days. A special intimate study with a lot of gems and many other connected rooms with all different kinds of moral art messages awaits. Most of them contain fresco cycles, amazing paintings, and Renaissance sculptures. Discover a perfect-sized Eleonora chapel, the Room of the Elements, and the Room of the 500 which is truly one of a kind! Note! This tour is not affiliated with the Palazzo Vecchio but is provided by an independent creator.

Find a wealth of statues and plants in the lush greenery of the Garzoni Garden. Enjoy the different waterfalls, and fountains, or follow the paths from the Water Staircase to distinct corners like the Labyrinth. The Butterfly House is the highlight of the garden. It houses hundreds of vibrant butterflies that come from tropical regions and live freely among the tropical vegetation present in the garden.

Skip the line and explore Palazzo Vecchio, the symbol of civic power in Florence for centuries! This multimedia-guided tour gives you the lowdown on what you're looking at as you climb the Tower of Palazzo Vecchio for fantastic views over Florence, and visit the museum that's still the seat of the local city government. Learn the rich history of what was once the residence of the Medici family, and gaze in awe at the incredible sculptures, paintings and also the magnificent views of Piazza della Signoria, one of the most famous symbols of Florence. Thanks to your 55-minute high-resolution video guide on a tablet, you can walk and be talked through the Michelozzo courtyard, the Chapel of Eleonora, the Salone dei Cinquecento (Hall of the Five Hundred) and the Map Room, and more.

This tour is a treat for lovers of art, history, and architecture. Including your ticket to the Boboli Gardens, this self-guided adventure caters to those eager to delve into the heart of the Renaissance at their own pace. We'll embark on our adventure from the ticket office of the Pitti Palace (Piazza Pitti 1) where you will need to swap your smartphone voucher for a paper ticket. Then you'll reach the gardens through the main entrance. Due to safety regulations, this is currently the only entrance to the Boboli Gardens. While this tour provides only a brief audio guide inside the Boboli Gardens, the exterior journey through Florence's storied streets is detailed and captivating. After your visit to the gardens, you'll embark on a journey that leads you through Florence's most celebrated landscapes and timeless achievements. The tour format allows you to immerse yourself fully in the city's heritage, narrated in your ear at each fascinating stop. Your route will traverse grandeur and simplicity, from the regal Pitti Palace to the sacred Basilica of Santa Maria Novella. Begin surrounded by the greenery and sculptures of the Boboli Gardens before venturing to the medieval stores on the Ponte Vecchio, and pass by the remarkable facade of the Uffizi Gallery. Along the way, marvel at the iconic Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, crowned by its magnificent dome, and soak in the artistic splendor at stops like the Palazzo Vecchio and the Orsanmichele Church.