Best Tours in Florence
Enjoy self-guided audio tours with included attraction tickets in one appTop sights in Florence
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Florence attracts visitors from around the globe to witness the masterpiece of Michelangelo, the David statue. This renowned sculpture is widely known as one of the most famous worldwide, representing the strength and beauty of youth in the Renaissance era. Visitors can obtain their tickets from the company representative before experiencing the Michelangelo Buonarotti museum.
Step into a time machine and travel back to the Renaissance period with a visit to the Uffizi Gallery! This world-renowned museum is located in a large building that dates back to the 16th century, designed by none other than the legendary architect, Giorgio Vasari. It's a treasure trove of ancient sculptures and paintings, spanning from the Middle Ages to modern times. The Uffizi Gallery is home to some of the most iconic art pieces of all time, including 14th-century and Renaissance paintings from the likes of Giotto, Simone Martini, Piero della Francesca, and Botticelli (just to name a few!). As you wander through the corridors, you'll be mesmerized by the masterpieces of European painting, with a particular focus on German, Dutch, and Flemish artists.
Skip the line and explore Palazzo Vecchio, the symbol of civic power in Florence for centuries, on a audio-guided tour. 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.
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.
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 self-guided journey through Galleria dell'Accademia's highlights and the historic center of Florence takes you through the birth of Renaissance art and into the living city that shaped it. NB! Entry ticket to the Galleria dell’Accademia is not included and should be purchased independently! Inside the museum, you will follow the evolution of art across centuries, from medieval gold-ground paintings to the revolutionary realism of the Renaissance. You will encounter works by Giotto, Sandro Botticelli, and Filippino Lippi, culminating in Michelangelo’s unfinished Prisoners and the world-famous David. Here you will also take time to scrutinise David up close, discover the story behind his biblical heroism, and understand why his head and hand appear disproportionately large. After the museum visit, Florence itself becomes your next gallery. Switch to GPS mode and continue on foot through the historic streets, where art, politics, religion, and daily life shaped the city during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. The route leads you to key landmarks, including the majestic Florence Cathedral, the House of Dante Alighieri, Palazzo Vecchio—where you will see the original site of Michelangelo's David—and finally the iconic Ponte Vecchio over the Arno River. Note: This tour is not affiliated with the Galleria dell’Accademia but is created by an independent creator.
This self-guided audio walk explores Florence through the rise of Medici power, Renaissance art, and the lives of figures like Michelangelo and Machiavelli. It suits first-time visitors who want a clear route through the historic center while seeing places that shaped the city’s politics, faith, and culture. Your route begins at the Ex Convento di San Marco, where the quiet cloisters and cells recall the spiritual world of early Renaissance Florence. From there, you head to the Medici Riccardi Palace and the Basilica di San Lorenzo, two key settings for the family that transformed the city. The walk continues into the civic heart of Florence at Piazza della Signoria, then passes Machiavelli Palace, the sculpted arches of the Loggia dei Lanzi, and the fortress-like Bargello. The final stretch leads you east to the Tabernacolo delle Stinche, Casa Buonarroti with Michelangelo’s early works, and Santa Croce, tied to the memory of Machiavelli, before ending at Villa Strozzi Machiavelli. Along the way, you will stand before rusticated stone palaces, open-air statues, chapel facades, and grand public squares. The most memorable moments include tracing the Medici legacy, seeing the settings of Florentine political drama, and walking streets where religion, ambition, and art still feel vividly close.
This self-guided audio walking tour explores Florence through the art, patrons, and places linked to Michelangelo and the Renaissance city that shaped him. It will especially appeal to first-time visitors who love art, history, sculpture, and the stories behind famous landmarks. The route begins at Basilica di Santa Trinita and leads through the historic center to the Bargello, Palazzo dell'Arte della Lana, and the Opera del Duomo Museum, where masterpieces by Michelangelo and Donatello deepen the story of Florentine art. From there, you continue to Piazza della Signoria and the celebrated David, then move on to Medici Riccardi Palace, San Marco Piazza, and the Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze. The tour ends at Casa Buonarroti, a fitting final stop connected directly to Michelangelo's family and legacy. Along the way, you will experience Gothic churches, powerful civic squares, Medici grandeur, and some of the most important Renaissance sculptures in Italy. The most memorable moments include standing before David, tracing Michelangelo's path across Florence, and feeling how art and city life still meet in its streets and piazzas.
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.
Discover one of the most famous art galleries in the world by learning about 20 of its most outstanding and popular artworks with this in-app audio tour. NB! Entry ticket to the Uffizi is not included and should be purchased independently! Your Renaissance odyssey in the Uffizi begins with earlier Byzantine artists like Cimabue and Giotto, through exemplars like Da Vinci and Raphael, and builds towards the Baroque movement with masterpieces by Michelangelo, Caravaggio, and more. As you go deeper, you'll notice a sea change in styles; from the masculine Madonna of Giotto to Filippo Lippi's more delicate version. Lippi's presence extends to other artworks, too. He taught Botticelli – whose Birth of Venus and Primavera are among the globally famous highlights at the Uffizi. Other coveted works include Leonardo da Vinci's incomplete but riveting Adoration of the Magi, Michelangelo's Doni Tondo (the Florentines loved circular paintings), and Raphael's intimate portrait of two Medici men, Pope Leo X and his cousin who would become Pope Clement VII.
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About Florence
The best walking tours to do in Florence are:
The best tours in Florence are:
The must-see attractions in Florence for a first visit are:
The best tours to do in Florence with kids are:
The best indoor tours in Florence for rainy days are:
Insider tips for visiting Florence
Rolf Laimbock is a local guide who has been publishing tours since 2024 for your discovery of hidden gems and local specialities of Florence on their personal guide page (view profile). Explore their expert tips planning trip to Florence.
I recommend at least three full days in Florence, and four if you like to slow down and really look. When I visit Florence, I keep one day for the historic center, one for the Oltrarno workshops and quieter churches, and one for museums and evening walks along the Arno. In my travel guide Florence notes, I always tell friends not to rush the city: the best things to do in Florence are often small moments, like an early cappuccino near Sant’Ambrogio Market or sunset from San Miniato al Monte. If you plan to visit Florence in summer, add extra time because the heat and crowds slow everything down.
When I visit Florence, I always start with the dishes locals actually order: bistecca alla fiorentina, pappa al pomodoro, ribollita, and crostini with chicken liver pâté. If you visit Florence in cooler months, ribollita tastes especially right after a damp morning walk. In my travel guide Florence notes, I also point people to schiacciata sandwiches and cantucci with vin santo, because they show the city’s simpler side. One of my favorite things to do in Florence is to step into Sant’Ambrogio Market around lunchtime and see what’s selling out first. Florence is at its best when you eat seasonally, not just famously.
For a first stay, I recommend balancing big sights with the Florence that locals still use every day. My favorite things to do in Florence begin early: walk from Piazza del Duomo to Piazza della Signoria before the streets fill, then cross to Oltrarno for artisan workshops and a long lunch. Among the essential attractions in Florence, I’d choose one major museum and one church, then leave room for wandering. When friends ask me what to see in Florence, I often say San Miniato al Monte at dusk tells you more than a rushed checklist. Even if you book tours in Florence, keep an unscheduled evening for the Arno and small wine bars.
When I’m in Florence, I usually divide my time between the historic center, Santa Croce, San Niccolò, and the Oltrarno. For classic attractions in Florence, the center gives you the grand façades and civic history, but I find Santa Croce more lived-in, especially in the morning around its cafés and leather workshops. If friends ask me what to see in Florence beyond the obvious, I send them to San Niccolò for quieter streets and the climb toward Piazzale Michelangelo. Oltrarno is where Florence feels most human to me—craft studios, small trattorias, and evening light on worn stone. Even with tours in Florence, I always leave time to simply wander there.
I recommend late April to early June or September into mid-October. In my travel guide Florence notes, those weeks give you the best balance: warm light, longer evenings, and fewer punishing crowds than peak summer. When I visit Florence in May, I can still linger in cloisters or cross the Arno at sunset without feeling wrung out by heat. Autumn is wonderful too, especially when the first cooler evenings make ribollita and red wine feel right again. If you plan to visit Florence in July or August, start early and rest in the afternoon. Many of the best things to do in Florence are far more enjoyable outside the hottest months.
When I visit Florence, I shop by neighborhood, not by souvenir street. For artisan goods, I always head to Oltrarno, especially around Santo Spirito and Via Maggio, where Florence still has bookbinders, leatherworkers, and small design studios. If you visit Florence for fashion and polished storefronts, the area around Via de’ Tornabuoni is the elegant answer, but I prefer mixing it with quieter side streets where the window displays feel less staged. In my travel guide Florence notes, I also flag Sant’Ambrogio for food shopping—olive oil, pecorino, and seasonal produce. One of the most rewarding things to do in Florence is to buy something made by hand, directly from the maker.
When families ask me, I usually recommend Boboli Gardens first. Of all the things to do in Florence, it gives children space to move while adults still get beauty, views, and Medici history. Florence can feel dense indoors, so the gardens are a relief, especially in the morning before the stone paths get too hot. Among the classic attractions in Florence, this is one of the easiest with kids because you can turn it into a treasure hunt for fountains, statues, and hidden corners. If you’re wondering what to see in Florence beyond museums, pair it with nearby Oltrarno for lunch. Even families who book tours in Florence often enjoy this more relaxed rhythm.
When I need a break from the main attractions in Florence, I head into the hills or to smaller towns that still feel tied to the city’s rhythm. Fiesole is my easiest recommendation: a short ride up, cooler air, Roman ruins, and a view that helps you understand Florence in its landscape. If friends ask me what to see in Florence and nearby, I often pair central Florence with a half-day in Chianti for vineyards and stone villages, or with Settignano for quiet lanes and old villas. Even if you book tours in Florence, leave room for these smaller places; they reveal the city’s softer, rural edge.