Best Tours in Florence
Enjoy self-guided audio tours with included attraction tickets in one appTop sights in Florence
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This self-guided audio walk introduces first-time visitors to the heart of Renaissance Florence. It is ideal for travelers who want famous landmarks, Medici history, and the atmosphere of the old city in a route that is easy to follow on foot. The tour starts in Florence’s historic center and leads you into the city’s political, religious, and artistic core. You begin with the wider story of Florence, then continue to the Basilica di San Lorenzo, where the Medici left their mark, and to the stern stone facade of the Medici Riccardi Palace. From there, you reach the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and focus on Brunelleschi’s dome, the engineering feat that still dominates the skyline with its red tiles and massive brick shell. The route then turns into narrower medieval streets at the House of Dante before opening onto the grand spaces of Palazzo Vecchio and Piazza della Signoria, where towers, statues, and the Neptune fountain fill your view. The walk ends at Ponte Vecchio over the Arno, with its small shopfronts perched above the water. Along the way, the most memorable moments include standing beneath the cathedral’s marble facade, tracing the power of the Medici through church and palace, stepping into the world of Dante, and finishing with the glow of the river under Florence’s most famous bridge.
This guide will accompany you on a journey into the past to discover the ancient magnificence of the Roman Florentia. The tour was carefully planned to allow you to retrace the principal phases of the discovery and the most important findings of the Roman city. Florence hides the memory of its past splendors: the defensive walls, the aqueduct, the theatre and amphitheater, the forum, the remains of paleo-Christian churches. At first, you will learn about one of the Romans’ preferred spots – the Forum and the Capitolium that were situated on the Piazza della Repubblica. Then you'll walk around the one-of-a-kind Pagliazza Tower that rests on the wall of a circular bath of the Roman Florentia and has a unique and fascinating history. On the pavement of Via del Proconsolo, you will see the traces of excavations, where once the remains of the Roman walls were discovered. And from there, the tour will bring you to the Palazzo della Signoria and Palazzo Gondi where once stood the Theater of Florentia and the Thermae Maximae – one of the major structures in the whole Roman Florence. Feel like a real archaeologist and embark on a journey in search of traces of ancient culture in the most amazing city on Earth!
Explore one of the most special churches 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 church's opening hours: Mo-Sa 09.30 am - 5.30 pm., Sun: 12.30 - 5.45 pm. Buy the ticket (€9) at the office counter next to the entrance on the left side of the church. The tour starts on the square in front of the church and ends in an amazing monks' dining room. As you walk through the church, you will uncover the stories of amazing Renaissance art, Franciscan faith, and spirituality. You'll see wonderful things like the Church with a typical floorplan, a devout Sacristy, richly decorated family chapels, and a Refter. Most of them contain fresco cycles, amazing paintings, and Renaissance sculptures. Discover a perfect-sized Pazzi chapel, the Cimabue Cross, and the Franciscan monks' dining room which is truly one of a kind. Last but not least: At the big nave are all kinds of monumental tombs of Italy's greatest characters like Dante, Machiavelli, Galileo Galilei, and Michelangelo! Note! Opening hours: Mo-Sa 09.30 am - 5.30 pm, no admission after 5 pm. Sunday and religious holidays: Epiphany (6-jan), Assumption (15 aug), All Saints (1-nov), Immaculate Conception (8-dec): from 12.30 - 5.45 pm.
The tour is a personalized path into the enchanting rooms of the main gallery of the Pitti Palace - the Palatine Gallery. Here the history of architecture and art is merged with a Baroque illusion. Note! This audio tour DOES NOT include an entrance ticket to the palace! We provide you with a selection of masterpieces because a few hours are not enough to understand the development of three centuries captured on the walls of the Pictorial Gallery. There are some paintings and statues selected to describe the movement of art through history briefly, crossing different styles. You'll see art masterpieces by Botticelli, Raphael, Andrea del Sarto, Caravaggio, Tizian, Canova, Pietro da Cortona, painters of the Dutch and Flemish schools, and many more! The psychological intensity of the portraits is enough to provoke a Stendhal syndrome. Inside each canvas, there are a lot of stories, landscapes, and feelings called humanity. The narration of the wonder of the Palatine Gallery is a walk through history starting from the Late Renaissance.
From a local's perspective, this walking tour explores Florence's hidden history. You'll see all the main attractions as well as off-the-beaten-track spots. The tour begins with a visit to Piazza Santa Maria Novella. Here you'll find an ancient church and why it was used for horse racing once. In addition, you'll learn why Italians are so gambling. On the way to the house of Satan, you'll see the street of beautiful women. Along that path, you'll learn about medieval Florence and how to get cheap wine at the wall holes. Palazzo Tornabuoni-Corsi is your first stop as you explore the noble palaces of Florence. You will discover who introduced lyrical opera to the world. The tour includes a stop at the famous Piazza Santa Trinita, where you will have the chance to admire many beautiful buildings of different architectural styles. It is a worthwhile opportunity to learn about Florentine gastronomy by visiting Lambretesca Street. You'll also know how many kilos of pasta and liters of coffee each Italian drinks yearly. During the last chapter of the tour, you'll find out what you can do to find good luck. You will discover the Heaven of the Innocents, built by Brunelleschi. Get ready to explore Florence with me!
Visit the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral in Florence with a ticket that includes access to Brunelleschi's Dome. Climb 463 steps to the top to see Vasari's Last Judgment fresco and enjoy amazing views of Florence. Explore the Baptistery, Cathedral, Opera del Duomo Museum, and Giotto’s Bell Tower with this three-day pass. Valid for 72 hours, the ticket allows ample time to visit each site without rushing.
Cities in Italy
About Florence
The best walking tours to do in Florence are:
- Florence: Accademia Priority Entry Ticket and Audio Tour with a City Walk
- Mini Walking Tour in Florence: Explore Piazza della Signoria
- Florence: Accademia Audio Tour with a City Walk (Without a Ticket)
- An Insider's Guide to Florence's Local Food and Drink
- Florence: City Tour Through Michelangelo's Masterpieces
The best tours in Florence are:
The must-see attractions in Florence for a first visit 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.