walking tour florence town

Self-guided Walking Tour of Florence (With Maps!)

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Florence, located in Italy’s Tuscany region, serves as its capital. It’s an exquisite city boasting centuries of history and showcasing remarkable Renaissance art and architecture. Among its renowned landmarks are the iconic Florence Duomo, the Galleria dell’Accademia, where Michelangelo’s masterpiece sculpture “David” is housed, and the Uffizi Gallery.

Whether you have just a day to explore Florence or an extended stay in this picturesque city, there’s an abundance of activities to keep you occupied. As one of my preferred Tuscan cities, Florence never fails to offer fresh discoveries!

Uffizi Gallery

If you had to choose just one Renaissance location to visit in Florence or in the entire world, the most obvious and compelling choice would be the Uffizi Gallery. Housed in the Palazzo degli Uffizi, originally intended as the offices of magistrates, this magnificent structure was constructed in the 16th century by Giorgio Vasari for Cosimo Medici, the first Duke of Florence. It became an ideal space to house the Medici family’s remarkable art collection and has grown to become one of Florence’s most popular tourist attractions.

The Uffizi Gallery boasts an awe-inspiring collection of must-see works of art, including masterpieces by Sandro Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Caravaggio, among others. The interior decoration, particularly the intricate ceilings, is equally spectacular and worth exploring. With over 50 lavish rooms to wander through, visitors may find it challenging to absorb everything in one visit. Taking a break and recharging at the on-site café with a terrace is highly recommended, offering unparalleled views of Florence.

Due to its world-class status, the museum is often crowded, and long queues are not uncommon, especially during peak seasons. Booking tickets in advance through the official website can significantly reduce wait times and may offer discounted rates.

The Uffizi’s internal courtyard, designed by Vasari, is a long and narrow space opening towards the Arno River through a Doric screen, and its innovative architectural features set a precedent for standardized streetscapes in Europe. Michelangelo’s masterpieces, including “David” and the “Doni Tondo,” can also be admired within the gallery, displaying his extraordinary talent as both a sculptor and a painter.

Overall, the Uffizi Gallery is a true treasure trove of Renaissance art and a captivating experience that immerses visitors in the beauty of history and creativity.

Museo Galileo

From the Uffizi Gallery walk under the archway and onto the road overlooking the Arno river. Turn left and the next building you come to is the Uffizi Gallery.

The museum dedicated to Galileo Galilei in Florence is a remarkable tribute to the renowned scientist and a must-visit destination for anyone interested in the history of science and astronomy. Galileo, born in Pisa in 1564, made groundbreaking discoveries that revolutionized our understanding of the universe. His telescopes and lens, which played a pivotal role in observing Jupiter’s moons, are on display, providing a unique opportunity to connect with the scientific legacy of this great mind.

One of the highlights of the museum is the large-scale reconstructions of Galileo’s experiments on motion, weight, velocity, and acceleration. These interactive displays, sometimes demonstrated by knowledgeable staff members, offer visitors a hands-on experience of the scientific principles Galileo explored.

The museum also pays homage to the Academy for Experimentation (“Accademia del Cimento”), founded in 1657 in Florence, making it the world’s first scientific institution. The academy was established as a tribute to Galileo, and its pioneering inventions are proudly showcased here. Early thermometers, hygrometers, and barometers developed by the academy members provide fascinating insights into the early advancements in scientific instruments.

Aside from Galileo’s contributions, the museum features other historical artifacts related to exploration and navigation. The 1554 world map created by Portuguese cartographer Lopo Homem and the nautical instruments devised by Sir Robert Dudley are just some of the treasures that visitors can admire during their visit.

Overall, the museum dedicated to Galileo Galilei is a journey through the scientific legacy of one of history’s most influential figures. It offers a unique opportunity to appreciate the wonders of astronomy, scientific experimentation, and the remarkable innovations that emerged during Galileo’s time.

Visiting Museo Galileo: Daily 09:30 – 18:00, Tuesday 09:30 – 13:00 € 13,00 Buy Now

Piazza della Signoria

From the entrance turn left and walk down Via dei Castellani. Turn second left into Via della Ninna.

Signoria Square, located alongside the Cathedral Square, is a significant center of attraction in Florence and serves as the city’s civil heart. Dominated by the formidable Palazzo Vecchio, a fortified palace, the square is steeped in historical importance as it was the birthplace of the Florentine Republic. This square holds a special place in the hearts of the locals, serving as a hub of social life and evoking images of Michelangelo’s “David,” which once stood here in its original location, now replaced by a replica.

The square’s central location dates back to Roman times when it was a small town called Florentia, surrounded by a theatre, baths, and a textile workshop. Over the centuries, various additions were made, including a church, a loggia, and an enormous 5th-century basilica, as revealed during excavations in the 1980s.

One of the captivating aspects of Signoria Square is its asymmetrical shape and the multitude of artworks it houses, both large and small. This makes it a favourite spot for photographers, who capture the square’s beauty from various angles. Even without a camera, standing in the middle of the square and taking in the 360-degree view is a mesmerizing experience.

The square is dominated by the formidable Palazzo Vecchio , a fortified palace. Adjacent to it is the “ Loggia dei Lanzi ” or Lanterns’ Lodge stands, functioning as an open-air museum accessible to the public free of charge. The lodge boasts an impressive collection of statues, including the renowned “Rape of the Sabine Women,” “Hercules and the Centaur,” and a bronze “Perseus,” all strategically positioned to engage the visitors.

Palazzo Vecchio (Old Palace)

The Palazzo Vecchio, also known as the Old Palace, is an essential site to visit in Florence, offering a profound understanding of the city’s history and culture. This grand Romanesque-style palace has been a significant seat of power in Florence since its construction in 1299, serving as the town hall for centuries and currently housing the office of the Florence mayor since 1872.

During the reign of Cosimo I de’ Medici, who became the Grand Duke, the palace underwent a transformation as it was enlarged and renovated in the Renaissance style. The palace’s facade is adorned with shields depicting the city’s political history and is embellished with a series of sculptures, including remarkable works like Michelangelo’s “David,” Donatello’s “Judith and Holofernes,” the “Hercules and Cacus,” and the heraldic lion symbolizing Florence known as “Marzocco.”

Exploring the Palazzo Vecchio offers a captivating journey through time. From the grand Hall of the Five Hundred (“Salone dei Cinquecento”), designed to celebrate the Duke’s victories, to the more intimate quarters, visitors are immersed in historical intensity and artistic wonders. Giorgio Vasari’s iconographic program has adorned the private quarters of the Medici rulers with magnificent decorations, providing a glimpse into their secluded lives.

The palace’s Tower of Arnolfo is an additional attraction, and access may require an additional fee. Marvelling at the breath-taking ceilings in each room is a memorable experience, although it may lead to a crick in the neck due to their grandeur.

One of the remarkable sculptures in the grand hall is Michelangelo’s marble group, “The Genius of Victory.” Originally intended for Julius II’s tomb, the sculpture represents an allegory of triumph rather than a moment of battle. The expressive treatment of the surfaces and the contrast between the young and elegant genius and the dominated older captive create an extraordinary visual impact.

In addition to the museum, you can also climb the Torre di Arnolfo , tower of Palazzo Vecchio. The tower is 95 metres high and you have a great view over the city centre of Florence. You can also go up to the fortress wall. There are tickets for the museum, for the wall and for the tower individually or as a cheaper combination ticket.

Visiting Palazzo Vecchio (Old Palace): Museum:   €12.50 Friday to Wednesday 9:00 am – 7:00 pm and Thursday 9:00 am – 2:00 pm Palazzo Vecchio Tower (Torre di Arnolfo): €12.50 Friday to Wednesday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm and Thursday 9:00 am – 2:00 pm

Top Tip for Visiting Palazzo Vecchio: The queues at the ticket counter in Palazzo Vecchio are often very long. Waiting for 2 hours or more is not uncommon. Skip the Line tickets for Palazzo Vecchio are available. These tickets without queuing are slightly more expensive at about €20.00. You also have the option of taking a Palazzo Vecchio Guided Tour (€50).

Loggia dei Lanzi

The 14th-century loggia that showcases remarkable works of art. Among these are Giambologna’s “Rape of the Sabine Women,” Benvenuto Cellini’s bronze “Perseus” (1554), and Agnolo Gaddi’s “Seven Virtues” (1384–89). The loggia derives its name from the Lanzichenecchi, Swiss bodyguards of Cosimo I, who were stationed here. Present-day guards continue this tradition, vigilantly monitoring crowd behaviour and strictly forbidding anyone from carrying food or drink within the area.

On the Loggia dei Lanzi, the statues are arranged in three rows. In the first row, there are two lions, and on the right and left of them stand two very well-known statues. In the middle row, there are three sculptures, and behind the back wall, there are six more statues.

Complesso di San Firenze & Zeffirelli Museum

Walk past the Replica of statue of David and turn left at the Fountain of Neptune. The Palazzo Gondi built in 1490 is on your left. Turn left into Piazza di S. Firenze, the Complex of San Firenze, located on the southeast corner of San Firenze Square.

The complex of San Firenze (Complesso di San Firenze) in Florence is one of the rare examples of the Baroque style in the city, which now houses the Museum Zeffirelli (Museo Zeffirelli) and the Church of San Filippo Neri (Chiesa di San Filippo Neri). A part of it was used as the city court until a few years ago.

The museum exhibition at the Franco Zeffirelli Foundation takes visitors on a journey through Zeffirelli’s life and career, starting from his humble beginnings in 1953. The exhibition is organized into 20 chapters, each represented in different rooms, showcasing nearly 300 sketches, posters, fliers, costumes, set-design models, original drawings, and behind-the-scenes photographs from his film sets. Zeffirelli’s work includes notable films such as “Tea with Mussolini,” “Hamlet,” “Jane Eyre,” “The Taming of the Shrew,” and his acclaimed 1968 version of “Romeo and Juliet,” which earned him an Academy Award nomination. The museum also features a tearoom on the ground floor, extending into the palazzo courtyard, providing visitors with a pleasant space to relax. Adjacent to the tearoom, a store offers Zeffirelli’s books and film memorabilia, allowing enthusiasts to delve deeper into the legacy of this extraordinary filmmaker.

Visitng Zeffirelli Museum: €12, 10.00 to 18.00 from Tuesday to Sunday.

Museo Nazionale del Bargello

Continuing up Via del Proconsolo you soon come to the Museo Nazionale del Bargello on your right.

The Bargello Museum in Florence is a must-visit destination for architecture enthusiasts and art lovers alike. Housed in a medieval fortress, the museum boasts a remarkable collection of some of Italy’s most treasured sculptures and artworks. Originally known as the People’s Palace (“Palazzo del Popolo”), the Bargello is one of the city’s oldest structures, dating back to 1255. Over the centuries, the building has served various functions, including housing the “Captain of the People,” the chief of police in Florence, known as the “bargello,” which gave the palace its name. Later, it was used as a prison until the mid-19th century when it was transformed into a museum showcasing a vast array of Gothic and Renaissance sculptures.

Inside the museum, visitors can admire works by renowned artists such as Michelangelo, Verrochio, Brunelleschi, and Donatello, among others. Donatello’s statue of David is a particular highlight, as it holds great significance as the first male nude sculpture publicly exhibited since ancient times, representing a pivotal moment in the evolution of European art.

The Bargello’s inner courtyard provides an elegant space adorned with relief and freestanding sculptures, creating a picturesque setting for visitors to enjoy. The gallery, located off the courtyard, and the spacious exhibition area above house some of the museum’s most famous pieces.

In addition to its exceptional Renaissance treasures, the museum’s collection includes rare artifacts from the Byzantine, Roman, and Medieval periods. Visitors can also appreciate jewelry pieces from the European Renaissance and Islamic origins, adding to the diverse and enriching experience.

To enhance the visitor experience, all exhibits at the Bargello Museum are accompanied by English descriptions, ensuring that art enthusiasts from around the world can fully immerse themselves in the historical and artistic significance of the museum’s remarkable collection.

Visiting Museo Nazionale del Bargello:  €11.00 Monday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday 08.15-18.50;   Wednesday, Thursday. 08.15-13.50. Bargello Museum: Skip the Line Tickets

Badia Fiorentina - Monastero

A little further up Via del Proconsolo on the opposite side of the road to the Bargello National Museum is the Badia Fiorentina – Monastero

The Badìa Fiorentina is a beautiful old monastery that is situated in the historical centre of Florence. It is also known as the Abbey of Santa Maria Assunta and is one of the five ancient abbeys of the city. It is located very close to where Dante grew up. Established in 978 by Willa, the widowed spouse of Count Uberto of Tuscany, it has witnessed centuries of religious and cultural significance. The tomb of their son, Count Ugo, sculpted by Mino da Fiesole, adds to the abbey’s historical importance and showcases the skilled craftsmanship of the Renaissance era.

Inside the church, visitors are treated to Filippino Lippi’s masterpiece, “The Virgin Appearing to St Bernard,” a captivating artwork that brings life and emotion to the sacred space.

Exploring the Chiostro degli Aranci, or “cloister of the orange trees,” provides a tranquil retreat within the abbey complex. Although the orange trees cultivated by the monks are no longer present, the cloister’s early frescoes and the glimpse of the hexagonal 14th-century campanile mentioned by Dante in “The Divine Comedy” create a unique and enchanting atmosphere.

Casa di Dante (Dante House-Museum)

Continue up Via del Proconsolo and turn first left onto Via Dante Alighieri. The second turning on the right is the Museo Casa di Dante. It stands opposite the early 14th century Torre della Castagna. The tower is called Chestnut, as the city council that used to place chestnuts in special bags during voting.

During the Renaissance, Florence witnessed extensive reconstruction, yet the eastern part of the city retains a distinctive medieval atmosphere. As you wander through the intricate maze of narrow alleyways and concealed passages, you will encounter scenes that would still be familiar to Dante Alighieri, the beloved Italian poet. Casa di Dante, his former residence, still stands near the parish church where he first caught sight of his beloved Beatrice Portinari.

Inside the three-story house-museum, you will find a captivating display of artifacts that shed light on crucial moments in Dante’s life. The first floor is dedicated to his early years, while the second floor showcases documents relating to his exile in 1301 and the final chapters of his life spent in Ravenna. As you ascend to the top floor, you will be greeted by an extensive collection of Dante’s personal belongings, including original items and carefully crafted replicas. Among these treasures, take delight in the miniature copy of the “Divina Comedia,” a testament to its enduring legacy as the smallest printed edition.

In Dante’s epic poem, he embarks on a journey through Hell and Purgatory, guided by the poet Virgil, only to be led through Paradise by his beloved Beatrice. Although Dante initially referred to his work as the “Comedy,” it gained immense popularity. Eventually, a lavish edition published in Venice in 1555 assumed the title we now universally recognize.

Visitng Casa di Dante: €8.00 Winter: November 1 – March 31: Tue. – Fri. 10am – 5pm & Sat. and Sun. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Summer: April 1 – October 31: Daily 10am – 6pm

Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore (Florence Cathedral)

Walk along the lane to the side of the museum. Turn left into via del Corso and then first right onto Via dello Studio at the end of which lies Florence Cathedral.

Indeed, the Florence Cathedral, commonly known as the Duomo, is a true architectural marvel and a symbol of Renaissance ingenuity. Its dome, designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, remains an engineering wonder to this day. The entire cathedral complex, including the dome, is a testament to the skill and creativity of the Renaissance masters who contributed to its construction.

The construction of the cathedral took several generations of architects and craftsmen, and Brunelleschi’s innovative approach to completing the dome was a game-changer. His use of large-scale models and specially designed machinery demonstrated his genius as an architect and engineer. It is fascinating to know that Leonardo da Vinci, one of history’s greatest polymaths, was inspired by Brunelleschi’s machinery and created sketches of it.

The statue of Brunelleschi standing in the piazza in front of the Cathedral pays tribute to his contribution and serves as a reminder of the extraordinary effort that went into creating this architectural masterpiece.

Inside the Dome, the fresco “Dante and the Divine Comedy” by Domenico di Michelino adds to the artistic and historical significance of the Cathedral. Depicting the renowned poet Dante Alighieri holding his masterpiece, “The Divine Comedy,” alongside scenes from Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven, the fresco celebrates Dante’s legacy. The inclusion of depictions of 15th-century Florence in the painting offers a unique perspective on the city’s history.

The exterior of the Cathedral, with its intricate mix of marbles, is another splendid aspect of the structure. The skilful combination of marbles creates a visual spectacle, almost resembling a work of art rather than solid stone.

Visiting Florence Cathedral: There are 3 types of ticket available see https://operaduomofirenze.skiperformance.com/

• Santa Reparata (Cathedral) : daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., but on Sundays only from 1:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m., probably because there is a service in the morning.
• Baptistery: Mon – Sat: 8:15 to 10:15, then small break and again from 11:15 to 19:30. On Sunday continuous from 8;15 to 13:30.
• Cathedral-Museum Florence: opening hours every day from 9 to 19 o’clock
• Giotto’s Bell Tower: Very long opening hours every day from 8:20 to 19:15, also on weekends.
• Brunelleschi’s Dome: 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., on weekends shorter in the evening (Saturday to 5 p.m., Sunday to 4 p.m.).

Campanile di Giotto (Giotto's Bell Tower)

The famous Giotto’s Bell Tower is a freestanding belfry belonging to the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral in Florence. It was designed by the acclaimed painter and architect Giotto di Bondone, after whom it is named. Giotto is widely regarded as the first of many great Italian artists who contributed to the Renaissance. Soaring to a height of 85 metres, this tower stands as an exceptional example of Florentine Gothic architecture, adorned with intricate sculptural decorations and vibrant marble embellishments.

Tragically, Giotto passed away during the tower’s construction, and the project had to be completed by two other architects. Besides his contributions to Renaissance architecture, Giotto also left his mark as a skilled painter and sculptor. His artistic legacy is evident in the exquisite white, green, and red marble adornments on the tower, as well as the grand figurative cycle within the belfry, which he left unfinished.

Exploring the interior of the tower is possible, and out of the three major tall structures in Florence, climbing this one is arguably the easiest. Despite the seemingly daunting 414 steps, the staircase is designed in a way that allows for rest stops along the way. Each level within the tower houses a large bell, totaling seven bells—one for each musical note. Unlike the crowded spaces of the Duomo Cathedral and the Arnolfo Tower in the Old Palace (or “Palazzo Vecchio”), the resting areas within Giotto’s Tower are relatively spacious and engaging, offering visitors diverse and remarkable views of the city below.

From the very top, one can observe the Cathedral’s dome and the Baptistery of San Giovanni from a unique and somewhat unconventional perspective. The sweeping view of Florence includes its timeless alleys and rooftops that have retained much of their charm over the past five centuries.

Battistero di San Giovanni (Baptistery of St. John)

The exquisite Florence Baptistry, named after Saint John the Baptist, the patron saint of the city, is located in the Cathedral Square and San Giovanni Square, diagonally opposite the Duomo Cathedral. It was constructed in the 7th century atop a Roman structure believed to have been a temple dedicated to Mars. The baptistery has an octagonal shape, a common feature of baptisteries since early Christian times. The number eight symbolizes regeneration in Christianity, representing the six days of creation, the day of rest, and the day of re-creation through the sacrament of baptism.

During its reconstruction in 1059, the baptistery was adorned with white and dark green marble, creating a striking zebra-like pattern. However, it is most renowned for its three sets of bronze doors. The south doors, designed by Andrea Pisano, depict scenes from the life of St. John and elegantly illustrate the eight virtues of Christianity in bronze. The north doors, crafted by Lorenzo Ghiberti, took him 21 years to complete and portray the life of Christ. Ghiberti was then commissioned to create the east door, on which he worked for an additional 27 years. These doors were famously dubbed by Michelangelo as the “Gates of Paradise,” and the ten panels on this door depict “the Story of Joseph.”

Inside, visitors can admire magnificent mosaics adorning the ceiling and a baptismal font that has been in place since 1576, used for the baptism of the son of Francesco I de’ Medici, the ruler of Florence. Besides members of the Medici family, the baptistery witnessed the baptisms of many Renaissance-era personalities and almost all Catholic Florentines until the 19th century. Exploring this architectural marvel is, therefore, a journey into the rich Catholic history of Florence.

Palazzo Medici Riccardi (Medici Riccardi Palace)

Walk down Via dei Servi to the north east of the Cathedral. Turn left down Via de’ Pucci. On your right is the Palazzo Pucci, owned by the aristocratic Pucci family since around 1480. The present palace was designed around 1748 by the architect Paolo Falconieri. Walk on another two blocks until you come to Riccardi Medici Palace.

The first Medici palace, once the residence of Cosimo the Elder and Lorenzo the Magnificent, served as a bustling hub for numerous prominent Renaissance artists, including the prodigious Michelangelo, who was discovered by Lorenzo while still in his formative teenage years.

This grand edifice was an imposing spectacle of its time, setting a new standard with its three tiers of progressively textured stonework and sizeable, evenly spaced two-light windows. A magnificent cornice adorned the entire exterior, exemplifying its imposing presence. The building encloses an elegant square courtyard at its core, in stark contrast to the commanding impression projected by its façade. Together, they symbolize the duality of the Medici family, projecting an image of wealth, influence, and even ruthlessness to the outside world, while fostering an atmosphere of refinement as patrons of the humanist Renaissance within their sanctuary.

While the courtyard and gardens offer a delightful and complementary experience, it is undoubtedly worthwhile to pay the admission fee and ascend to the upper rooms. These spaces exhibit designs, decor, style, furnishings, and collections that bear testament to the profound power, far-reaching influence, and immense wealth of the Medici dynasty.

A hidden gem within the palace is the Magi Chapel, mesmerizing with its diminutive size yet resplendent floor-to-ceiling frescoes by the gifted artist Benozzo Gozzoli. The intricate details within the artwork, such as the elaborate costumes, depictions of animals, and picturesque scenery, captivate the observer’s gaze. One can spend an hour studying the reputed likenesses of various members of the illustrious Medici clan, along with notable figures like the Wolf of Rimini: Sigismondo Malatesta. The vibrant colours – considering the work was started in 1459 – create a visual feast where the composition unfolds in a bit of a whirlwind.

Near the end of the tour is the astonishing Galleria, a completely “over-the-top” Baroque marvel, resplendent with walls covered in shimmering gold and a grand domed ceiling adorned with scenes from Greek mythology. Additionally, there is an underground sculpture museum, housed within the former stables. Fortunately, there are minimal queues for entry, allowing visitors to relish the magnificence of the rooms comfortably and at their leisure.

The Medici Chapels & Basilica di San Lorenzo

Continue along the road to the square and the Basilica di San Lorenzo.

This grand edifice was an imposing spectacle of its time, setting a new standard with its three tiers of progressively textured stonework and sizeable, evenly spaced two-light windows. A magnificent cornice adorned the entire exterior, exemplifying its imposing presence. The building encloses an elegant square courtyard at its core, in stark contrast to the commanding impression projected by its facade. Together, they symbolize the duality of the Medici family, projecting an image of wealth, influence, and even ruthlessness to the outside world, while fostering an atmosphere of refinement as patrons of the humanist Renaissance within their sanctuary.

A hidden gem within the palace is the Magi Chapel, mesmerizing with its diminutive size yet resplendent floor-to-ceiling frescoes by the gifted artist Benozzo Gozzoli. The intricate details within the artwork, such as the elaborate costumes, depictions of animals, and picturesque scenery, captivate the observer’s gaze. One can spend an hour studying the reputed likenesses of various members of the illustrious Medici clan, along with notable figures like the Wolf of Rimini: Sigismondo Malatesta. The vibrant colors – considering the work was started in 1459 – create a visual feast where the composition unfolds in a bit of a whirlwind.

Piazza della Repubblica

Head back towards Riccardi Medici Palace and turn right down Borgo S. Lorenzo. You pass the Battistero di San Giovanni and soon arrive at Piazza della Repubblica. .

The Piazza della Repubblica stands as the center of Florence. The Colonna dell’Abbondanza, or Column of Abundance, signifies the exact geographical midpoint of the city, originally the ancient midpoint of the Roman Forum. It also serves as the boundary between three of Florence’s four historic neighborhoods on this side of the Arno River: the Santa Croce azzurri, San Giovanni verdi, and Santa Maria Novella rossi; while the Santo Spirito bianchi neighborhood is situated in the Oltrarno district across the river.

A part of the current piazza was once used as a market due to its significance in terms of commerce, politics, and social activities in the city. Many stories and tales related to Florence originate from this square. According to one such tale, in 1245, St. Peter Martyr was trying to preach to a large crowd when the devil, disguised as an imposing black horse, attempted to disturb the onlookers by running wildly through the market and endangering them. Recognizing the danger, St. Peter raised his arm and made the sign of the cross towards the skittish horse, which immediately stopped and vanished. Centuries later, in memory of this event, Bernardo Vecchietti commissioned Giambologna to create a bronze standard-bearer in the shape of a small devil, placing it at the corner of his palace between Via Vecchietti and Via Strozzi.

The current appearance of the piazza can be attributed to urban renovations that took place during Florence’s period as the capital of the Kingdom of Italy, known as the Risanamento. During this time, older buildings, including medieval towers and noble palaces, were demolished and replaced with elegant structures, including the historic Caffè Le Giubbe Rosse, which transformed Piazza della Repubblica into a sophisticated center of public life.

Palazzo Davanzati

Walk directly across the Piazza and right into Via Porta Rossa.

The Davanzati Palace, originally constructed in the 14th century as the residence of the Davizzi family, who were merchants and bankers, now bears the name of the Davanzati family, who were bankers for the Popes at Avignon. The Davanzati family acquired the palace in 1578 and added their large coat of arms to the facade. Today, the palace is open to the public as the Museum of the Old Florentine House, offering a captivating and invaluable glimpse into a typical wealthy Florentine home from the Medieval to Renaissance era. Visitors can explore frescoes, paintings, sculptures, and period furniture that adorn the interior.

To visit the upper floors of the palace, which showcases the rooms where a wealthy family would have lived, including a kitchen equipped with period-appropriate equipment, a guide is required. Visitors can either book in advance on the website or arrange a time with the receptionist. It is highly recommended to see these upper floors, as the bedrooms, in particular, boast stunning wall paintings. However, the lower floors, holding delightful collections of embroidery and lace-making, can also be visited without a guide.

For older children, this experience will be both educational and fascinating, surpassing any description in a history schoolbook. The Museum of the Old Florentine House offers a unique opportunity to step back in time and immerse oneself in the opulence and lifestyle of a wealthy Florentine family during the Medieval and Renaissance periods.

Ponte Vecchio

Head back along Via Porta Rossa and turn right into Via Calimala.

The Ponte Vecchio, also known as The Old Bridge, first appeared in documents in 996. During World War II, while all the other six local bridges crossing the Arno River were destroyed by retreating German forces, Ponte Vecchio was miraculously spared. This Medieval stone arch bridge stands as a testament to the lasting legacy that a monarch can create.

Today, the bridge is still lined with shops, just as it was in the Middle Ages. These days, the shops are occupied by jewelers, art dealers, and souvenir sellers. However, in the past, the bridge’s tenants were all butchers who disposed of rotten animal carcasses directly into the river below. It wasn’t until the 16th century when Grand Duke Fernandino I de’ Medici ordered that all the butcher shops be replaced by goldsmiths. This not only got rid of the unpleasant smell but also transformed the bridge into one of the most charming and golden spots in Italy.

From a distance, the bridge reveals a fascinating secret—a hidden upper level that features a kilometer-long tunnel connecting the Pitti Palace with the Old Palace. Historically, this tunnel provided a secure route for Duke Fernandino to move between the two palaces discreetly when he felt uneasy in public. Although the passageway has been closed for safety reasons since 2016, the Uffizi Gallery has exciting plans to reopen it.

One of the legends surrounding the bridge is the origin of the economic term “bankruptcy.” The story goes that a money-changer who couldn’t pay his debts had his trading table physically broken by soldiers as punishment for his insolvency. The table was called “banco,” and from this incident, the term “bancorotto” came into existence.

Today, the Old Bridge offers a delightful stroll, especially in the evenings, if it’s not packed end to end with thousands of tourists crossing the river over its cobblestones.

Palazzo Pitti (Pitti Palace)

The Pitti Palace is truly an architectural marvel in Florence, and missing a visit to this splendid site would be a regrettable omission. Its main highlight is undoubtedly the stunning Renaissance architecture, complemented by the breathtaking gardens that offer new adventures at every turn.

Today, the enormous palace houses several museums under one roof. However, its origins trace back to being the official residence of the immensely powerful Medici family from the 16th to the 18th century. Initially built in the second half of the 15th century for Luca Pitti, the construction remained unfinished at the time of his death in 1472. In 1550, the palace was acquired by Eleonora di Toledo, the wife of Grand Duke Cosimo I de’ Medici. Later, when the Medici dynasty ended, the property passed into the hands of the House of Lorraine, and during the early 19th century, Napoleon Bonaparte used it as a power base during his rule over Italy.

Every aspect of this palace exudes elegance and sophistication, whether it’s the Palatine Gallery featuring over 500 paintings, the opulent Royal Apartments of the Medicis, the “Medici Treasury” housing priceless 15th-century silver, the Costumes Gallery, or the Porcelain and Carriages Museums. The impressive painted ceilings, walls, and intricate ground decorations create an ambiance of a private royal residence. Remarkably, since 1919, the palace and all its contents have belonged to the Italian people, attracting over 5 million visitors each year.

Visiting the Pitti Palace offers an extraordinary opportunity to immerse oneself in the grandeur and cultural richness that defines Florence’s history and artistic legacy.

Forte di Belvedere

Fort Belvedere stands as a remarkable example of Italian Renaissance and military architecture, dating back to the end of the 16th century when it was built by Grand Duke Ferdinando I de’ Medici. This grand fortress served a dual purpose: to protect the city of Florence and to showcase the power and prestige of the Medici Family. It also functioned as a repository for the Medici’s treasury and offered a secure refuge for the Grand Duke during times of potential attack. To facilitate this, the fort was connected to the Old Palace (“Palazzo Vecchio”) via a corridor over the Old Bridge (“Ponte Vecchio”), as well as through other passages linking it to the Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens.

From a military perspective, Fort Belvedere, being the largest fortress in Florence, occupied a strategic vantage point over the city and its surroundings. In the context of warfare during the Renaissance period, forts played a crucial role in defense strategies, and Belvedere excelled as a citadel and garrison for over a century after its completion. Its walls were intentionally positioned at angles to one another, enabling effective observation and, if necessary, crossfire to defend the neighboring walls. Interestingly, the renowned scientist Galileo Galilei used the fort for astronomical observations and, following his life imprisonment sentence in 1633, resided nearby at Villa Arcetri.

After undergoing a five-year renovation to enhance safety measures, the fort reopened to the public in July 2013, now primarily serving as an exhibition center. The nominal entry fee is well worth it, as visitors can freely explore the site and enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of Florence and the surrounding hills. Fort Belvedere remains a captivating testament to the rich history and architectural prowess of the Italian Renaissance period.

Basilica di San Miniato al Monte

San Miniato, perched on one of the highest points in Florence, is celebrated as one of the most exquisite examples of Romanesque architecture in Tuscany and one of Italy’s most splendid churches. Though it may present challenges for those with limited mobility, it forms a delightful combination with the nearby Michelangelo Square (“Piazzale Michelangelo”). The best part is that admission to San Miniato is completely free, allowing visitors to explore the church and the adjacent Olivetan monastery, situated to the right of the basilica as they ascend the stairs.

According to legend, St. Miniato, also known as Minas, an Armenian prince serving in the Roman army under Emperor Decius, was denounced as a Christian after becoming a hermit. He was brought before the Emperor, who ordered him to be thrown to wild beasts in an amphitheater. Surprisingly, a panther summoned to attack him refused to harm him. Despite eventually being beheaded in the presence of the Emperor, St. Miniato is said to have picked up his own head, crossed the Arno River, and ascended the hill of Mons Fiorentinus to his hermitage. A shrine was later established at this spot, followed by a chapel in the 8th century.

The present-day basilica was funded by a guild of cloth merchants, who took responsibility for its upkeep. Adorned with stunning mosaic decorations, an exquisite marble inlay altar, and even a “pagan” horoscope, the basilica is a spectacular sight, showcasing remarkable craftsmanship by some of Florence’s most esteemed artists. San Miniato’s architectural beauty and historical significance make it a must-visit destination for those exploring the cultural treasures of Florence.

Piazzale Michelangelo (Michelangelo Square)

Florence undeniably captivates with its stunning beauty, and Michelangelo Square stands as irrefutable proof of this fact. Designed by Giuseppe Poggi, this expansive space, adorned with souvenir stalls, offers a magnificent panorama of Florence’s rooftops. The most iconic and photographed view from here showcases the Duomo Cathedral and its cupola, along with the Giotto Bell Tower and the Old Palace (“Palazzo Vecchio”). Over time, this famous vista has graced countless postcards, yet other notable landmarks can also be spotted nearby, such as Fort Belvedere, the Holy Cross Basilica (“Santa Croce”), and the Old Bridge (“Ponte Vecchio”).

The square itself was laid out in 1869 when Florence served as the capital of Italy, during an urban renewal program known as the “Risanamento” or “Rebirth” of the middle class.

Dedicated to the renowned Renaissance sculptor Michelangelo, the square features replicas of some of his works found elsewhere in Florence, including the famous “David” and the four allegories from the Medici Chapel of San Lorenzo. While the originals are crafted from white marble, the bronze copies displayed here were transported uphill by nine pairs of oxen, likely leaving them rather sweaty, to fulfil Giuseppe Poggi’s visionary concept.

Thousands of visitors flock here to witness the sunset, which is truly a sight to behold. Finding the perfect spot, you can revel in the sun’s reflection on the Arno River while sipping a glass of wine. Bringing your own drink is a good option, unless you prefer to take advantage of the various restaurants and bars situated around the square, with the most renowned boasting a Neoclassical design. Considering the prime location, prices here are actually quite reasonable.

Midway up the main staircase, you’ll discover a delightful city rose garden, where you can spend a serene half-hour strolling amidst the trees and roses, enjoying enchanting views of the Duomo and the cityscape.

After sunset, you can easily descend the hill, relishing the tranquillity of dusk along the way. Michelangelo Square provides an unforgettable experience that captures the essence of Florence’s timeless charm.

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Florence, located in Italy’s Tuscany region, serves as its capital. It’s an exquisite city boasting centuries of history and showcasing remarkable Renaissance art and architecture. Among its renowned landmarks are the iconic Florence Duomo, the Galleria dell’Accademia, where Michelangelo’s masterpiece sculpture “David” is housed, and the Uffizi Gallery. Whether you have just a day to […]

Free Self Guided Walking Tour of Florence Italy: One or Two Day Itinerary

If you’re visiting Florence, Italy for just one or two days – or you want to get to know the main attractions of the city quickly – this free self guided walking tour of Florence is perfect for seeing Firenze by foot.

You’ll find two versions of our suggested Florence walking tour itinerary in this post, plus some food and gelato recommendations.

The first itinerary is for doing Florence in one day on a low budget (no entrance fees and cheap food).

The second Florence itinerary is still for budget travelers, but it includes visiting a couple museums and other places of interest . If you don’t go into the museums, this itinerary can also be done in a single day, however, it’s more manageable spread out over two days.

These itineraries and Florence walking routes are based on my previous study abroad experience in Florence; our recent visits together in Fall 2017, 2019, and 2022; and – of course – lots of research online!

If you’re an independent budget traveler like us, these are the top things to do in Florence that we would recommend. Buon viaggio!

Updated: January 2024. Published: Sept 2017.   

Florence walking tour map

This map includes our one day walking tour of Florence Italy in blue , plus optional attractions and places to eat for a two day visit in brown .

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you book through one of our links, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.

A. Il Duomo: Top Florence Attraction

You don’t have to start here, but this is an absolute must see and it gets crowded quickly , so we recommend heading there first thing.

Tip: For crowd-free photos in peak season, 7am is best (though you won’t be able to go inside until later).

Note that a dress code is enforced – knees and shoulders must be covered and hats removed – and visitors are expected to be respectful and quiet.

Want to dive deeper? Book a Duomo complex tour with a guide >

B. Mercato Centrale – Food, Shopping, and Culture

If you’ve had an early start to see the Duomo, you might be ready for an Italian espresso ( caffe ) or cappuccino and some snacks.

We enjoyed our morning coffee at the Mercato Centrale in the typical Italian way: standing in front of the coffee bar.

From 9am to midnight, you can visit the Mercato Centrale on the second floor (or European “first floor”) for a wide variety of eateries . 

On the streets surrounding the building are outdoors stalls with leather goods, jewelry, clothes, and souvenirs. If you’re looking for souvenirs in Florence , you have plenty of options at both the indoor and outdoor market stalls.

If you’re here around lunch or dinner, check out our food recommendations below for some delicious places to eat in the market.

You can also gather fresh fruit, meat, and cheese for a picnic – just note that only the vendors are allowed to touch the produce in Italy.

C. Piazza della Republica

Little remains of the Piazza della Republica’s historical significance as the old market and forum. It’s not necessarily worth going out of your way to see, but since it’s central and on the way of our tour, we’re including it here.

Grab a bench to watch the street performers and tourists if you need to rest your feet. There’s a carousel and several cafes around this hub of activity in downtown Florence.

D. Piazza della Signoria

One of the most famous pieces of art in Florence is The David by Michelangelo. This impressive, biblical statue is now housed in the Accademia (included in Walking Tour #2 below), but a replica can be found at the statue’s original location – Piazza della Signoria.

For those of us on a budget or who don’t have time to wait in line for museums, a free viewing of the replica in this grand square can be just as good.

E. Uffizi Gallery Courtyard

With limited time and budget, you can always enjoy walking through the long courtyard, Piazzale degli Uffizi, for free. It’s a short, scenic way to get from Piazza della Signoria to our next stop: Ponte Vecchio.

Want to visit inside Uffizi Gallery? Save time with a skip-the-line Uffizi Gallery ticket or take a guided tour .

F. Ponte Vecchio

Above the shops, you’ll notice a passageway with windows. This is part of the Vasari Corridor , an elevated passageway that connects the Palazzo Vecchio to the Pitti Palace. It was constructed in 1565 so Duke Cosimo Medici could move securely between his home and “office.”

G. La Strega Nocciola Gelato – Artisanal Gelateria in Florence 

Let’s take a gelato break! By now, you’ve probably seen countless gelaterias on your journey, but not all gelato is the same . We’ll talk about this more in the gelato section below – yes, it deserves its own section.

For now, delight your taste buds at La Strega Nocciola. If you like hazelnut, or  nocciola , it’s their signature flavor. Out of this world creamy!

H. Piazzale Michelangelo Scenic Viewpoint

On the south side of the Arno River is a large square with panoramic views of the city: Piazzale Michelangelo.

You can reach it via the rose garden or by walking up from Porto San Niccolo. The square has some bronze copies of Michelangelo’s statues, but the real draw is the view.

We suggest walking up via the stairs that follow the rose garden – you can pop into the garden for a breather – and taking the Piazza Poggi stairs back down, past the tower of San Niccolo.

Lay Over in Florence / Day Trip Walking Tour Notes

By the way, if you have just a few hours to spend (if you’re doing a layover or day trip in Florence), you can use our self-guided walking tour itinerary to see the highlights of the city in a very short time. 

Click here to access our self-guided Florence walking tour map > Book a highly rated guided walking tour of Florence here >

From the Santa Maria Novella train station, you could walk to points A through G on our map and return to the station within an hour or two , if you’re in decent walking shape and set your mind to it.

Add another 45 minutes to an hour to include the viewpoint of Piazzale Michelangelo (point H), as it’s an uphill climb.

Read on for additional Florence sights, plus transportation options to and from Florence airport.

Additional Stops for a 2 Day Itinerary in Florence

The first version of our walking tour was completely free – with the exception of food along the way. Of course, you can expand your self guided walking tour if you have more time or your budget allows for attractions with a price tag.

Here is a suggested two-day itinerary for Florence with more info on the optional activities below.

1. Il Duomo

2. Visit Galleria dell’Accademia

3. Lunch at Mercato Centrale

4. Piazza Santa Maria Novella

5. Take out dinner from La Spada

6. Picnic on the river or Piazza della Republica

7. Piazza della Signoria

8. Visit Uffizi Gallery

9. Ponte Vecchio

10. Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens

11. Picnic dinner at Piazzale Michelangelo

* Access our Florence walking tour map here *

Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens

Palazzo Pitti, or Pitti Palace , has been home to the wealthy Medici family, other ruling families, and was even a base for Napoleon.

It is now a giant museum of royal apartments, modern art, silver, porcelain, costume jewelry, carriages, and more. Many visitors also enjoy visiting the expansive Boboli Gardens behind the palace.

Book your Pitti Palace ticket in advance or enjoy this top rated guided tour of the Palace, Boboli Gardens, and Palatina Gallery .

Piazza di Santa Maria Novella and Piazza di Santa Croce

Depending on which side of town you find yourself on, check out either of these two church squares . Browse the shops, people watch, grab a snack, and pop into the church if you’re up for it.

Florence Museums: Accademia or Uffizi Gallery

Art is a central part of Firenze’s history and it is said that the city is home to nearly one third of the all the world’s art treasures.

We typically don’t visit many museums in our travels, to be honest. (We’re more about the local life, not to mention keeping costs low.) But as a student, I visited both of these famous galleries, and most visitors to Florence will try to see one or both.

From May through September, be sure to book your Accademia and Uffizi museum tickets in advance to avoid waiting in hours-long lines. Or go with a guide on this top rated 4-hour tour of the Uffizi and Accademia (entry tickets included).

A pre-booked ticket does involve choosing a date and time for your visit in advance, as well as an extra booking fee. The Accademia – featuring the original David and other works by Michelangelo, Botticelli, etc. – is 16 euros booked in advance.

The Uffizi Gallery – the most visited museum in Florence, home to 2200 works of art – costs 20 euros online.

Both museums are open Tuesday through Sunday from 8:15am to 6:50pm (closed on Mondays).

If history is more up your alley than art, then perhaps you’d prefer museums like Palazzo Vecchio , Galileo, Leonardo da Vinci, Vasari Corridor (temporarily closed), or the Natural History Museum .

P.S. State museums like the Accademia, Uffizi, and Pitti Palace are free to the public on the first Sunday of the month!

Where to Eat in Florence on a Budget

It’s no surprise that food is a huge part of Italian culture, so eating is definitely something to look forward to in Florence!

A Note About Traditional Florentine Foods

We used some left over frequent flyer points to book a street food tour for the first day of our trip. We learned that regional foods particular to Florence include:

• Bisteccha alla Fiorentina (thickly cut steak, served mostly rare),
• cantucci con vinsanto (almond biscotti dipped in sweet “holy wine”),
• finnochiona (salami with fennel seeds),
• black and white truffles,
• balsamic vinegar (exclusively made from grapes originating in Modena),
• chicken liver pate,
• lampredotto (the second part of the cow’s stomach, much like tripe) and
• pecorino cheese served with honey.

Book your Florence street food tour here >

Pasta is, of course, a staple of the nation. And though pizza is ubiquitous, our guide emphasized that it was not a Florentine dish and recommended eating pizza in its birth place of Naples.

I did some careful research on where we could enjoy good food in Florence without overspending.

Generally, it’s not too hard to find reasonably priced meals – especially with fixed price menus at some restaurants – though the cost of eating out can still add up quickly. We countered this by doing grocery store breakfasts in our Airbnb apartment.

Below are some of our recommendations for eating on a budget in Florence, starting with the cheapest options and going up in price.

See all these recommendations on our Florence map >

Restaurante La Spada take out

Around the side of the restaurant, on Via del Moro, is the take out counter where you can order rotisserie chicken, lasagna, and roast vegetable sides to go (cash only).

After 13 years of being away, I tried my luck ordering our student special, “speciale di Bruno,” and it worked! I walked away with a foil dish of juicy rotisserie chicken and heavily seasoned roast potatoes, plus an extra side of vegetables – all for 5 euros. Jedd and I split the meal, which was just as tasty as I remembered.

Lampredotto Stands

Lampredotto comes from cow stomach – originating from the cuisine of the poor, back when it was financially essential not to waste any part of the animal. This savory meal is hit or miss for people, depending on whether you’re an adventurous eater. But being street food, it’s not expensive (4 euros).

Mercato Centrale

As mentioned earlier, Mercato Centrale is not only a good place to pick up fresh picnic supplies, it also has an abundance of little eateries as well.

Remember, the ground floor produce market is open 7am to 2pm Monday through Saturday. The eateries upstairs are open from 9am to midnight.

Pasta Fresca – Must Try at Mercato Centrale

Order your meal from the window by choosing a noodle and a sauce. Eat standing at the little counter or take it out with you for a picnic.

We were blown away by the rich, savory walnut sauce (salsa di noci) on ravioli for 6 euros. We made sure to stand in line right at 11am when they open, and it was still as fantastic as the first time.

Upstairs is a newer food court area with lots of options, ranging from classic Italian to sushi and Chinese dumplings. Order and pay at a restaurant stall, then sit down at the communal tables where wait staff come by to take your drink order separately.

We loved the wood fired margherita pizza at La Pizzeria Sud (8 euros). For something unique, try the loaded Popeye veggie burger at the Veg & Veg cart (8.50 euros).

La Prosciutteria

If you’re looking for somewhere with more of a restaurant atmosphere that’s still budget-friendly, try La Prosciutteria on Via dei Neri.

Check out the menu on the wall and order a panino, salad, or prosciutto and cheese board from the counter.

Seating is limited and there is no table service, so you’ll grab your own napkin, forks, and pull a drink from the fridge – or order wine from the bar.

Fiaschetteria Nuvoli

For more casual dining with good quality food and wine, look for an osteria or fiaschetteria . 

Fiaschetteria Nuvoli was a stop on our guided food tour. Although very central, prices are still reasonable and locals still frequent this place for simple, traditional meals. Head down to the cellar to order plates of meats, cheeses, wines, and more.

Panini at Antica Porchetteria Granieri 1916

This tiny shop features roast pork sandwiches. The meat is carved straight from the roast, bread toasted fresh, and then wrapped up in paper to go. Sandwiches are 5-8 euros each, with beer and house wine also available for take out.

We enjoyed the Assi-sano sandwich with porchetta, fresh tomatoes, lettuce, and balsamic glaze. 

See all these recommendations on our Florence map

Aritsanal Gelato in Florence

Gelato (the Italian word for ice cream) is typically made with less egg than other ice creams, and it’s churned more slowly to give a denser, creamier texture.

We learned that the artisanal shops are fresher and use better ingredients. While heaping piles of gelato on the counter looks tempting, it’s a sign of low quality – look instead for gelato that’s displayed in smaller tins . This means it’s made daily in smaller batches.

You can typically order your gelato in a cup or a cone at varying sizes. Trying out a few samples before choosing your order and getting two flavors in one is usually allowed. Prices for a small tend to be around 2.50 or 3 euros.

La Strega Nocciola

We mentioned this one in our walking tour above, and it’s a personal favorite. It’s on Via de’ Bardi, close to Ponte Vecchio on south side of river, open from 11:30am-10:30pm. Their namesake gelato, nocciola (hazelnut), is truly wonderful.

Gelato Neri

This old-fashioned gelateria is on Via dei Neri, open 10am-midnight. They also serve espresso and granitas.

Gelato Vivoli

Another great artisanal gelateria if you’re in the Santa Croce area is Vivoli on Via dell’Isola delle Stinche, open 7:30am-midnight.

Make your own gelato in Florence!

If you love gelato as much as we do, consider treating yourself to this Gelato Making Class . Learn all about Gelato and get hands-on experience in making your own flavor from scratch.

Check price and availability for the Gelato Making Class here >>

Food Tour in Florence

If you love pasta and gelato, you’ll enjoy this 2.5 hour food tour in Florence with a local foodie. Explore city cuisine that range from fresh pasta and truffles to gelato and pastries.

Check price and availability for this food tour here >>

Where to Stay in Florence Italy

I personally aim to stay between the train station and the Duomo , for convenience when using the train to come in and out of town.

There are cheaper places on the outskirts but it will require taking a public bus or walking into town – on top of all the walking you’ll already be doing.

Here are a few highly rated accommodation options in central Florence:

Hotel del Corso – $$/$$$ – Just two blocks from the Duomo, this place has a friendly staff and nice extras. There’s even a “maisonette” with kitchen available, great for families. Check photos, price, and availability for Hotel del Corso >>

Helvetia&Bristol Firenze – $$$$ – Five minutes walk from the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio. Elegant 19th Century palace decor, on site restaurant and bar; breakfast included in some packages. Check photos, price, and availability for Helvetia&Bristol >>

TIP: 🛏️ When it comes to accommodations, finding the right balance between cost, location, and comfort is worth getting right. But it doesn’t have to take hours of online searching!

I’ll teach you how to pinpoint your own perfect accommodations efficiently and avoid disappointing stays in my Smart Stay Finder course .

Quick Florence Travel Tips

Getting to Florence Italy

Florence has its own small airport right outside of town. The next closest, larger airport is Pisa. From Pisa to Florence is about an hour by train. Rome, with its two airports, is also within a half day’s journey by train.

For those arriving to Florence airport , in 2019 they added a convenient tramway line going from the airport to the train station (stop name: “Unita”).

The tram is 1.70 euros and about 20 minutes one way.

You can purchase tickets on the platform with credit card or euro coins (we saw folks having trouble with euro bills). Be sure to validate the ticket with a time stamp via the machines inside each tram.

It appears the dedicated airport bus is no longer running.

Note that Florence has two train stations. The one in the center of town is Santa Maria Novella station (sometimes denoted Firenze S.M.N. ), so that is where you will most likely want to book any train tickets in and out of.

Crowds in Florence

Florence is an extremely popular destination. We’ve visited in “shoulder season” before and after the pandemic. The crowds can still be overwhelming in the touristy parts of town.

Your best bet for quiet, crowd-free experiences are at 7am. 

For museums and galleries, you may also wish to purchase skip-the-line tickets in advance, to avoid wasting hours of valuable time waiting in long lines.

Other Tips for Intentional Travel in Florence

• 🤝 Try to make a local connection , whether it’s meeting a friend-of-a-friend you find through social media, staying with locals, or hiring a local guide
• 💬 Learn essential Italian phrases , like “Do you speak English?” and use Italian whenever you can.
• 🛍️ Shop at locally owned, independent businesses rather than familiar chains like Starbucks. This is where the espresso originated, so try it locally!
• ❤️ For more guidance, see:  how to have authentic, meaningful travel experiences in touristy areas and our simple rules for intentional travel series .
• 📱 Master phone travel essentials with our Smartphone Savvy Travel course to travel safely, confidently, and improve connections with locals.
• ᯤ Stay connected with an eSIM – learn more and look for our discount code in this eSIMs for travel post .
• ✈️ Find better flight deals to Florence with our Book Better Flights tutorials .
• 🛏️ Pinpoint perfect accommodations efficiently and avoid disappointing stays with our Smart Stay Finder course .

What travel restrictions and rules are in place in Italy? Find post-pandemic travel updates for Italy here: What you need to know about Italy travel right now

Read next: Hidden Gems on Tuscany’s Etruscan Coast Lucca Italy Day Trip Guide & Self Guided Walking Tour Best Castles to Visit or Stay in Tuscany Best Tuscany Beaches

(Disclosure: These are affiliate links and we will get a commission on your booking, at no additional cost to you.)

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Hello, I’m planning a trip in May. I went last year for a day, from Rome and that wasn’t enough. planning on staying in Hotel. I’m a bit intimidated by the B&B places. what do you suggest?

Still waiting for my interactive map? Great post! Il lampredotto is made by the 4.th part of the cow’s stomach. La Bistecca fiorentina comes from Chianina cows, weighs at least 1 kg.

Thanks for these notes, Karen! My records show that the map email was delivered to you on October 1. Have you already checked spam and promotions folders? It would be coming from michelle [at] intenitonaltravelers.com

These are awesome photos! It captures Florence’s beauty very well. I will have to read more on Italy articles before I make a trip there in the future!

Great photos. In our last trip, we had only a day to explore Florence, and missed a lot. Love your suggested itinerary and restaurants recommendation. I will just add Galileo’s house on the list 🙂

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Exploring Florence with a Guided Tour

There are so many things to see and do in Florence that everyone visiting the city can find it a challenge to decide which ones to visit, what to see and do! There are many museums, churches, piazzas and bridges to visit and explore, artisans workshops, boutique shops and local markets to buy a souvenirs to take back home and much more. A month-long holiday in Florence wouldn't be enough to discover all its wonders.

The best solution to this "problem": join a guided tour of the city to help you visit a selection of the city's best attractions and sights, making sure you do not miss the best of the Cradle of Renaissance!

You can book a guided tour of many of the city's museums, but particularly of the Uffizi Gallery , to better enjoy the marvelous works of art in the museum considered to be one of the most important in the world, skipping the long lines you always find at the entrance. See the best of Florence in a "highlights" or "best of" tour in walking guided tours and learn interesting details about the history of the city. If you prefer to tour the city with a little less walking, you could enjoy a eco-friendly electric cart tour or the flexibility of the hop-on, hop-off double-deck buses. How about a cooking class where you can learn to make pasta and then enjoy it as lunch? Food tours, wine-tastings, bike tours ... there is something for everyone , no matter which one you'll choose, it will make your time in Florence unforgettable !

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Top Experiences in Florence

Wine Tastings in Florence & Chianti

Whether you have an hour or an entire day, don't leave Florence without doing some wine tasting! You can join a class in town on Tuscan wines and taste or go on a half or full day tour into neighboring Chianti or as far as Montalcino or Montepulciano to get your chance to taste great Tuscan wines.

Walking Tours of Florence

One of the best ways to see Florence, especially if you're short on time, if to join a walking tour to see the highlights of the city and get an insider's view on local history. Then go back to the spots you enjoyed to spend more time there!

Bike in Florence and Surrounding Hills

Ride the hills of Florence in the company of expert cyclists Piero and Elena and see the city from unique vantage views! Easy, moderate routes through the hills will make your ride fun and a dream come true.

7 Tours for Family Fun with Kids in Florence

The best way to keep the family & kids engaged while exploring the beauty of Florence? Include one of our 5 tours for family fun. They are adventurous & exciting, but most of all a great opportunity to create unforgettable vacation memories.

Wine Tasting and Dinner in Florence

Want to do wine tastings of the best Tuscan wines right in Florence? At the Piazza del Vino wine bar/shop/restaurant you can enjoy a great late afternoon aperitivo and taste Tuscany's great wines: Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, Nobile di Montepulciano and Bolgheri wines.

Cooking Classes in Florence

Want to bring back home a special taste of Tuscany as souvenir of your holidays? Learn how to prepare typical Tuscan dishes and traditional recipes to try then back home with your family and friends and taste whenever you want the original flavours from Tuscany. Enjoy one of the many cooking classes organized in Florence, there are many that vary depending on the duration time and prices, take a look at our proposals below.

Why visit Florence in the low season?

There are many reasons, including being more budget-friendly and enjoying less crowded sights! Read our article for more reasons why visiting Florence in its low season is a good idea.

Museum Tickets and Tours

Florence's Uffizi and Accademia Galleries are among the most visited museums in all of Italy and this means long lines. Save money and time by booking your tickets ahead of time! Or better yet, get the most of these museums with a guided tour that will make the best use of your limited time as well as present the artworks in the best way possible.

A Day Tour to Cinque Terre

If you have to absolutely go visit the Cinque Terre from Florence, we highly recommend this group day tour: travel faster by bus to have more free time in each town and then go on an absolute must, the boat ride!

Twilight Itineraries: Florence Charm at night

Under the stars and the light of the moon, these 3 itineraries are best enjoyed as a relaxing stroll with no specific goal in mind. The summer sun can burn you out too fast & winter gets dark so fast, but these twilight itineraries can be rewarding and particularly romantic - even on your own.

8 Ways to Enjoy Florence when it is Hot

Aimlessly wandering the summer streets of Florence can prove to be a bit much if you don’t like the heat. These are our top 8 choices for keeping it cool with an organized tour while on holiday in the beautiful Renaissance City.

6 of the Best Tours This Fall

With the onset of cooler temps, Florence offers many new opportunities to explore both inside & outside the city. And the best thing of all? You don’t need to do it on your own. These professionally organized tours are great additions to your itinerary

Top Winter Tours: Organising your Vacation in & around Florence

The winter weather shouldn't interfere with your holiday plans, especially when there are so many exciting things that can be organized in & around Florence with the help of a professional guide and tour agency. Here are our top ideas to jump-start your winter vacation.

Join an exclusive tour of Florence's cathedral

Be sure to see it all! This private tour with an exclusive visit to the Rooftop Terraces of the Duomo in Florence is perfect. With this tour you can skip-the-line with your personal guide into the cathedral and to the terraces, then climb the rest of the way to visit the cupola, then the Bell Tower, Baptistery & Duomo Museum on your own.

Walking Food Tour: Small Group Tour of Food & Art in Florence

Art and food are the perfect mix in this guided tour organized in Florence: enjoy a walk through the streets of Florence with a local expert guide to learn cultural and historical trivia while also tasting its wine and food specialties of the city along the way with stops at wine shops, the San Lorenzo market, delis and gelato shop!

What to see at the Uffizi? A guide can help you!

Have limited time to visit the Uffizi? A visit with a guide can help you make your way through the museum’s main rooms so you don’t miss any of the most important masterpieces by Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and more!

Our Travel Guides

12 BEST Walking Tours of Florence, Italy by a Local

By: Author Stefania Guglielmi

Posted on Last updated: July 11, 2024

Categories Europe , Italy

Florence, the capital city of the Tuscany region, is a treasure trove of art, architecture, and culture. With so many landmarks, museums, and historical sites, a walking tour is an excellent way to soak in the city’s vibrant atmosphere. 

In addition to the traditional walking tours, several specialized tours offer a unique perspective on the city . These include art-focused tours, jam-packed trips around the city, and even food experiences.

If you’re spending at least 2 days in Florence , I highly recommend choosing a comprehensive tour to gain an in-depth introduction to the city .

This list also features family-friendly tours and even a Dan Brown’s Inferno -themed one! Read on to find the best walking tours in Florence , and choose the one that best suits you.

Why should you trust my guide to Florence walking tours? Raised in Bologna, just a quick 30-minute train ride away, I’ve spent countless days exploring Florence as if it were my backyard.

With a decade of experience in the Italian travel industry, I’ve curated a list of walking tours that offer you Florence in its most authentic form. You’re getting nothing but the best, carefully selected to make every step of your journey unforgettable.

I generally use Viator and Get Your Guide to book tours around the world. I especially recommend them for their great cancellation policy. If your plans change, you can cancel most activities up to 24 hours in advance and get a full refund. 

Limited time? These are the best tours :

The BEST Florence Walking Tour 

If you’d like to squeeze in as many Florentine sights as possible in your trip, Florence in a Day With David, Duomo, Uffizi & Walking Tour is the perfect option. 

I’ve personally gone on this exact tour and thought it was the perfect introduction to the city. Even if I had already visited Florence many times, I learned a lot thanks to our knowledgeable guide.

This is a full-day tour that starts with a visit to the Accademia Gallery to marvel at the world-famous Michelangelo’s David .

Then, you’ll walk around the city center to admire sights like Ponte Vecchio, the Florence Duomo, and Piazza della Signoria. Basically, all the highlights of the city!

After a break and some free time for lunch, the tour continues with skip-the-line access to the Uffizi Gallery. This art gallery is home to some of the finest Renaissance works. 

Even if you’re not an art or history buff, you’ll be captivated by some of the stories behind these paintings.

Why is this the best tour? Because it introduces you to Florence in an in-depth, comprehensive way. Not only is it very informative, but fun and engaging.

On top of that, it includes tickets to one of the city’s most sought-after attractions (which can be hard to get on your own!)

Read what the reviews say :

“A great tour of Florence to enjoy the city, visiting the most interesting cultural sites with excellent explanations by a well-qualified guide. This tour is a must if you just have one day to visit this wonderful city or if you want you have a first thorough insight of Florence. Superb!” Alba – Read more reviews

This tour includes : A guided walking tour, skip-the-line access to the Accademia and Uffizi Galleries, and a local guide. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

➤ If you prefer, you can book the same exact tour, under the name Florence in a Day: Michelangelo’s David, Uffizi and Guided City Walking Tour , on Viator. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

Limited Time? Join A Quick Florence Walking Tour

▶️ Join an expert guide to explore the city’s iconic landmarks on this Florence: Guided Walking Tour that takes merely 1.5 hours.

Stand in awe in front of Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral at Piazza del Duomo. As you admire it, your guide will regale you with facts about its architecture and construction.

Walk along both busy and hidden streets, following the footsteps of Botticelli and Michelangelo. Delve into their connection with the city and the lives they led there.

The walking tour will take you past the most iconic attractions, including Piazza della Signoria, and Ponte Vecchio.

This tour includes : A guide, and a walking tour. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

▶️ Travel back in time to discover the story of the Medici Dynasty on this Florence: Mysteries of the Medici Guided Walking Tour .

Explore the streets of Florence and uncover the secrets of this banking family which came to be one of the most important ruling houses in the city. 

You’ll learn about the most remarkable members of the dynasty, who used their wealth and influence to shape the Renaissance. Visit the Medici Chapel, and other city spots related to the family. 

Marvel at the Commesso Fiorentino, and learn about the intense rivalry between the Strozzi, Pazzi, and Medici families. You can choose between a shared group or a private walking tour.

This tour includes : An expert guide, a walking tour, and optional Medici Chapel entrance. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

The Best Walking Tours of Florence with David 

▶️ Get ready to soak up the magic of the Renaissance with the Best of Florence Walking Tour With David & The Duomo . You’ll enjoy three hours of exploration with a knowledgeable guide, and get to admire Florence’s top attractions. 

Marvel at Michelangelo’s David in Galleria dell’Accademia, and learn about the Medici family. Rulers of the city for many centuries, they sponsored most Renaissance artists, including Michelangelo!

See the open-air sculpture gallery at Piazza della Signoria, which includes a replica of David , and check out Ponte Vecchio. You’ll also discover the fascinating history behind the Florence Duomo during your visit.

This tour includes : A local guide, a walking tour, and skip-the-line access to the Accademia Gallery and the Duomo. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

▶️ Check out this comprehensive Skip-the-Line Florence Highlights and David Walking Tour . Stroll around Piazza della Repubblica and Piazza della Signoria, and admire the opulent Pitti Palace.

Then, stand in front of the legendary Duomo as you learn about the history and culture of the city from your guide. 

Cross the iconic Ponte Vecchio bridge, and head into the Bohemian neighborhood of Oltrarno. There you’ll delve into the heritage and modern customs of Florence.

A visit to the striking Galleria dell’Accademia is included as well, so you can marvel at Michelangelo’s David from up close. The tour can be upgraded to become private. 

This walking tour in Firenze includes : A guide, skip-the-line access to the Accademia Gallery, and headsets. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

A Food Tour in Florence

The Oltrarno at Sunset: Florence Food & Wine Tour is a great foodie experience. Count your time in Florence with meals, not hours, as you follow a guide to the most authentic eateries and bars in the Oltrarno neighborhood. 

Considered the building block of Tuscan cuisine, it bustles with spots where you’ll sample delicious Florentine bites. From focaccia and pecorino cheeses to olive oils, and balsamic vinegar, you’ll eat your way through the district… and then embark on a tour around the enotecas!

Discover how wine is produced and stored, and sample the best Tuscan wines paired with local aperitivos. You’ll even get a glass of wine served through the famous wine windows! 

This tour includes : A local guide, a walking tour, and all food and drink tastings. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

Looking for more options? I’ve written an entire post about food tours in Florence . Check it out!

Private Walking Tours in Florence, Italy

▶️ Ready to explore the Renaissance city like never before? Best of Florence Private Tour: Highlights & Hidden Gems With Locals is the answer.

This half-day experience accommodates up to 8 people, and is led by a knowledgeable guide dedicated solely to you and your group.

While you can tailor the tour to your interests, some of the must-see spots included are Piazza del Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, and Piazza della Signoria. During the tour, get ready to tantalize your taste buds with included antipasti and wine tasting.

This tour includes : A local guide, a walking tour, antipasti, wine, and Santo Spirito Church entry. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

▶️ The Florence Private Food Walking Tour with Locals: 6 or 10 Tastings is a one-of-a-kind experience. It takes you on an insider’s tasting journey through the city’s vibrant food scene.

With a foodie local guide by your side, you’ll sample regional delicacies while visiting some of the area’s most historic spots. 

Your food journey begins in Piazza Santo Spirito, one of the most important squares. Browse the morning market for fruits and vegetables, and head to Ponte Vecchio to sample cantucci and coccolo ripieno . 

Continue to the most beloved eateries in town for sweet and savory bites paired with refreshing drinks. While you eat, pay attention to your guide’s introduction to the city’s culinary scene!

Vegetarian alternatives are available. 

This tour includes : A guide, and 10 food & drink tastings. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

Florence Walking Tours by Night

▶️ Wanted to explore the city in a different light? Join this Florence: Dark History Walking Tour with Bar Stops to drink, walk, and party.

Start your adventure at the famous Piazza della Signoria, and from there stroll toward Ponte Vecchio as you learn about its fascinating history.

Then, head to the Oltrarno district, where you’ll experience the authentic Italian nightlife scene with a Negroni or Spritz. As you explore the city, delve into the darker side of Florence’s history with tales of murder, mystery, and intrigue.

This Florence night walking tour includes : A tour guide, bar visits, a cocktail, shot, and wine. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

▶️ Experience a splendid excursion with this Florence: Sunset Sightseeing Tour and Wine Tasting . Walk through the charming Oltrarno district and marvel at Florence’s iconic landmarks as you learn about them from your guide.

You’ll also taste some of the finest wines from the Chianti region, and satisfy your taste buds with crostoni, cheeses, and cold cuts.

This tour allows you to delve into the history and culture of Florence, so it’s highly recommended.

This tour includes : A guide, wine tasting, and snacks. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

Best Family Friendly Walking Tour in Florence

The Florence Tour for Kids and Families with Gelato is perfect for those traveling with children, as it’s specifically designed for them. It’s a 2.5-hour experience that takes you around the city on foot. 

Discover hidden gems and beautiful alleys off the beaten path as a guide tells interesting stories about the city and its landmarks. Games and trivia will keep the children entertained and eager to learn as you also walk past the most remarkable attractions in Florence. 

Uffizi Gallery, Piazza della Signoria, San Lorenzo Market, the Duomo, and Ponte Vecchio are a few of the landmarks you’ll get to see! Cap off the tour with delicious Italian gelato. 

This tour includes : A guide, a family-friendly walking tour, and gelato. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

A Tour for Dan Brown’s Fans

If you are an avid reader, this Florence: Dan Brown’s Inferno 2-Hour Walking Tour might pique your interest. The tour gives you a chance to follow the adventures of Robert Langdon, the protagonist of the best-selling novel.

You’ll visit the key locations featured in the novel and be reminded of details and important facts linking the book and the city. Piazza della Signoria, Florence Cathedral, and the Gates of Paradise are a few of the attractions you’ll visit. 

This Florence Inferno walking tour includes : A tour guide, and entrance tickets. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

Stefania Guglielmi is the founder of Every Steph. Originally from Bologna, Italy, she's been traveling full-time since 2016 and has visited over 50 countries across 6 continents. She believes sustainable travel and luxury travel can go hand in hand and has been advocating for responsible tourism since 2014. Stefania's advice and travel experiences have been featured in important publications such as Business Insider, Refinery29, and Yahoo Money.

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Walk e Talk Florence

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Small group Uffizi Florence experience

Enjoy this one single opportunity to discover the Uffizi Gallery, Italy most important museum

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Come aboard this Florentine Gondola for a romantic and unique cruise on the Arno river and an aperitivo right before dinner!

Walk & Talk - Florence walking tour on the Medici's footsteps

A pleasant walk in Florence is just what you need to be introduced to the city and its splendor and secular heritage!

1 hour tour with David - Guided tour of the Accademia Gallery in Florence

Meet the authentic Michelangelo's David in all his magnificence, and discover the other masterpieces housed in the Accademia Gallery museum

Walking Tour of Florence & Michelangelo's David Visit

Discover Florence with a professional guide that will walk you through the city and meet David, the greatest masterpiece by Michelangelo

FLORENCE THE MAGNIFICENT: Best of Florence WALKING TOUR + Skip The Line ACCADEMIA + UFFIZI Gallery MASTERCLASS

Discover the treasures of Florence in one day, with a guided walking tour of the city and visiting the Accademia and Uffizi Gallery

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Florence Walking Tour with Statue of David

Uncover the best of Florence at the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio, and skip the line at Accademia

Max 18 Guests

Want to see the heart of Florence and Michelangelo's David in just a few hours? This walking tour is the perfect introduction to Italy’s Renaissance city! With an engaging local guide to show you Florence’s most important areas and landmarks, learn the city’s rich history as you stroll past iconic sites such as the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, and Piazza della Signoria. To top things off, you’ll have skip-the-line tickets to the incredible Accademia Gallery, home to the famous statue of David!

Tour Overview

Select participants and date.

Check Available Tours

What's included

Skip the line tickets

Accademia Museum

Statue of David

Walking tour of Florence highlights

Passionate English-speaking guide

Small group size

Meet your guide at Piazza Santissima Annunziata

Accademia Gallery

Florence Duomo (exterior)

House of Dante (exterior)

Bronze Boar

For Reference Only. Itineraries are subject to change

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530 Ratings

Ruth Rappaport

September 11, 2024 09 am EST

Allen Sanders

September 08, 2024 05 am EST

Eddie Stephens

September 07, 2024 08 am EST

Luna Carolino

September 07, 2024 05 am EST

Florence Walking Tour

Sean Brearcliffe

September 06, 2024 09 am EST

Our guide was Nebojsa, and he was truly the best guide we have ever had. Extremely knowledgeable about all the art and architecture we saw. He did not waste a minute of time and showed us all we had hoped to see and answered all of our questions. When you do this tour in Florence ask for him.

pickpocketed

charles kalsted

September 02, 2024 01 am EST

I was pickpocketed but our guide, Lucy, was terrific; very helpful

shirley collins

September 01, 2024 10 am EST

Diane Bussolaro

August 23, 2024 05 am EST

The tour gave us a small taste of Florence. Cozzetta our guide was very passionate about her lovely city.

Michelle Maselli

August 23, 2024 03 am EST

Alex Cannone

August 11, 2024 03 am EST

Truly amazing tour, our guide Lucia was so informative and passionate, and great fun as she talked us through this must do tour. Highly recommend.

Maria Ledoux

August 10, 2024 04 am EST

nicholas turchi

Ishmael was great and very knowledgeable had a great time!

Tullan Cunningham

August 09, 2024 08 am EST

Rita Cossaro

August 09, 2024 07 am EST

Really Great Walking tour and I loved seeing the Statue of David in Person!!

Judith Anderson-Bruess

August 07, 2024 12 pm EST

Our tour guide was so nice and informative. He answered all of our questions. It was perfect. I learned so much background information and I was loving it. Highly recommend this tour.

Robert Ventura

July 28, 2024 22 pm EST

Statue of David is a must in Florence if you haven’t see it. Many other pieces of art are also on display on this tour but this masterpiece of Michelangelo is one the most famous and magnificent. It will be packed so skip the line with this tour is definitely worth it plus the accompanying education you get is invaluable.

Erin Phillips

July 27, 2024 17 pm EST

Alida Baroco

July 27, 2024 06 am EST

Florence walking tour with Statue of David

Sally Langsford

July 26, 2024 17 pm EST

We had the most amazing knowledge guide …. Best tour guide I have had and made the experience anazing! Also I made an error in my booking and your company quickly helped me rectify the error with refund … I would recommend your company any time

July 22, 2024 11 am EST

James A Willis, Jr

July 20, 2024 11 am EST

Great Tour - We Learned So Much!

Heather Malone

July 19, 2024 07 am EST

Thank You to Angelo A for an incredible tour! He was so passionate and informative- we leaned a great deal about Florence and the deep meaning behind the sites we visited.

Dana Gruber

July 18, 2024 07 am EST

Loved this! Angelo was a fabulous guide with lots of wonderful information and historical perpsective.

July 18, 2024 06 am EST

Perfect taste of Florence

Jeffrey Schlosser

July 12, 2024 10 am EST

Sara was amazing. As a native, she gave us a great overview of Florence as well as all the great art at the Academy and around town. Really learned quite a bit! Well worth it.

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Walk and Talk - Florence Walking Tour Highlights of the City Center-

Embark on this guided walking tour of Florence to fully delve into the city’s deep historical and cultural roots. Explore the UNESCO World Heritage-listed historic center as you follow Florence’s transformation from its ancient Roman beginnings to its influential role during the Renaissance, and experience the lively character of the city as it stands today.

About this tour:

Flexible reservation

Guaranteed Departure

Runaway success

• Discover Florence’s unique secular heritage and breathtaking beauty with an expert local tour guide
• Find out about the historic and architectural evolution of the city, including its Renaissance masters the Medici.
• See the spots where the greatest minds and artists were inspired
• Admire the best-known sites in Florence, including the Piazza della Signoria, the Duomo, and the Ponte Vecchio
• Stop for a surprise “tasting” during your pleasant and relaxing walk

Spend a day exploring Florence's most important and scenic landmarks on a UNESCO World Heritage walk, guided by a knowledgeable English-speaking expert.

Get to know Florence’s secrets with our local guides

Florence holds a pivotal place in world history, and there’s no better way to delve into its grandeur and secular legacy than with a guided walking tour. This experience will lead you through the heart of the UNESCO-listed center , where a local, knowledgeable English-speaking guide will unravel the mysteries of the Renaissance’s birthplace. From the city’s Roman beginnings to the Florence of today, every detail will be uncovered!

Delve into the Medici legacy with an expert guide

While in Florence, you'll delve into the city's historical and architectural journey, spanning from its Roman beginnings through the Middle Ages and into the transformative Renaissance. The Medici family , who ruled Florence, emerged as influential figures in the Western world during the 14th and 15th centuries. They rose to prominence during a period of social and economic turmoil, and their pioneering banking methods amassed them immense wealth. This fortune was used to usher in a new era of revolutionary art and science.

Experience Florence’s most historic sites on your tour

This walking tour will guide you through the very spots where some of history's most brilliant minds and artists drew their inspiration. Key sights include Piazza della Signoria and the Palazzo Vecchio , the majestic Duomo, the Baptistery with its renowned “Gates of Paradise,” Giotto’s bell tower, Brunelleschi’s Dome, as well as the Santa Trinita and Orsanmichele Churches, and the iconic Ponte Vecchio . You’ll also get a chance to view the elusive Vasari Corridor from the outside, meander through famous shopping streets, and discover the Oltrarno District. Additionally, you’ll have the opportunity to savor a delightful surprise tasting of local delicacies during your stroll.

Important Information

Please let us know in advance any special need or impaired mobility of the clients and we will do our best to accomodate them. Please note we do not visit the inside of monuments and museums.

Rain Policy

This tour runs on rain or shine.

Meeting Point

The meeting point is in our booking office in Piazza Mentana 2red, Florence (opposite the Arno River).

Starting from

price per person

* for last minute booking only

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A Charming Walking Tour of Florence Italy (with maps)

Florence is the the quintessential artistic and cultural symbol of the Renaissance period. Historical buildings filled with amazing art abound in Florence’s medieval old town. So put on your walking shoes and let’s go together on a walking tour of Florence, Italy.

Florence (or Firenze in Italian) is the center of Renaissance art. The quantity and quality of art all around the city can be overwhelming. Everything you have learned in school books about the Renaissance is available right in front of your eyes just by walking through the streets of old Florence and visiting its art museums. Let’s go together on a charming walking tour of Florence.

In this article:

The Center of Old Florence

The center of Florence is packed with tourist attractions. Roughly, Florence’s main attractions are spread from the Santa Maria Novella train station to the church of Santa Croce.

Since driving inside the old city center is prohibited, it is best to start our Florence walking tour at the train station.

1. Santa Maria Novella Church

2. Basilica di San Lorenzo

Next stop on our walking tour of Florence is the large and imposing Basilica di San Lorenzo (Basilica of St. Lawrence). This is one of the largest churches of Florence, Italy, situated at the center of the city’s main market district. Loaded with local history, Basilica San Lorenzo is the burial place of all the principal members of the Medici family, from Cosimo il Vecchio to Cosimo III. The Medicis were one of the most powerful families in Italy and they maintained religious and political control of Florence for generations. This is a large church building complex made up of several other buildings, so walk around a little bit and take your time.

3. Sagrestia Vecchia

4. Accademia

The Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze, or “Gallery of the Academy of Florence”, is one of the largest art museums in Florence, Italy. It is best known as the home of Michelangelo’s sculpture David. It was founded by Pietro Leopoldo, the Grand Duke of Tuscany, in 1784 as a teaching facility for the Academy of Fine Arts students nearby. You can skip the line and buy your Accademia ticket in advance .

5. Florence Cathedral

6. Piazza Della Signoria

We continue our walking tour by heading south and stopping in the large Piazza della Signoria. To one side you see the imposing Palazzo Vecchio with its crested towers, and in front of you you’ll find the Loggia dei Lanzi with its open air museum. Loggia dei Lanzi is a remarkable display of beautiful old sculptures as an open air museum. While very crowded in the summer, it can provide some shade – a great place to sit and relax if you can find an open spot.

Piazza Della Signoria is a great place to simply sit, relax and look at the hustle and bustle of tourists and locals mingling.

7. Ufizzi Gallery

No walking tour of Florence is complete without a visit to the world famous Ufizzi Gallery. The Ufizzi Art Gallery contains countless recognizable Italian Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque paintings and sculptures. It is just unbelievable to visit. Our kids liked this art gallery even though it takes a while to go through and visit everything. Buying tickets from the Ufizzi Gallery ticket office, while cheaper, will force you to wait a long time in line. In the summer, Ufizzi is very crowded and it took us 2 hours to be able to get inside. I highly recommend buying tickets to Ufizzi in advance and avoid most of the lines. Even when you buy a ticket in advance, you still have to wait in a separate line, but this line is much shorter.

8. Ponte Vecchio

Taking a stroll on Ponte Vecchio takes you back to an old world with more time for detailed embroideries and jewelry.

From the Uffizi Gallery we continue our Florence walking tour by finally getting to the Arno River to the south. Ponte Vecchio means Old Bridge, and it is the only old Florentine bridge that survived allied bombing during World War 2. Ponte Vecchio is lined with shops on both sides and has served as a model for several other bridges in Europe. A quick example is Pulteney Bridge in Bath, UK .

9. Santa Croce Church

The Church of Santa Croce (Holy Cross) is our last stop north of the Arno River. While beautiful on the outside, the church of Santa Croce is most famous for its inside. Once you step inside, you will see the tombs of famous people like Galileo Galilei. It is a somber place, but amazing to see. You can buy skip-the-line tickets to Santa Croce and avoid the large crowds waiting to buy a ticket, especially in the summer.

Across the Arno River

Florence is a large city with lots of attraction across the Arno River to the south of the old Florence center.

You could also stay in the Oltrarno to the south of the Arno river to be among the artisan workshops, antique furniture galleries and to the Pitti Palace and Boboli gardens.

10. Piazzale Michelangelo

11. Pitti Palace

We come to the last stop on our walking tour of Florence. Palazzo Pitti is a large palace with beautiful art and the lush, manicured Boboli Gardens . It was the last somptuous residence of the Medici family.  Here you can see the royal apartments and a large number of Renaissance art in addition to the beautiful gardens.  Buying a guided tour of the Pitti Palace will allow you to skip the line and give you a great history lesson about the Medici family.

From Pitti Palace, if you walk to the top of the hilly gardens you can get some pretty views of Florence.

Plan Your Trip to Florence, Italy

When planning a trip to Europe I always focus on maximizing my resources. So, I spend time researching my destination and pick things carefully so I can maximize my time and budget while traveling. Florence takes some planning in order to make it work with your expectations.

Stay in Florence . We stayed outside of the city center since we had a rental car and needed free parking. Plus, dealing with Florence traffic and finding parking in the old city center is really, really difficult. So, we stayed at the very reasonable Novotel Florence North . This hotel has a free shuttle that takes you straight to the Florence train station where you can start exploring. You can also find other budget hotels in Florence .

Rent a car in Italy . You need a rental car if you want to reach smaller places in the countryside. Get a cheap rental car for Italy by saving up to 30% by comparing the best companies to rent from in Europe.

Find parking near Florence center . This is not an easy proposition and I strongly recommend not bringing a car. However, if you have to drive into Florence I recommend parking near the train station .

Check out the Uffizi Gallery official site for schedule and current events.

Check out the Academy of Florence official site for current schedule and events.

Is Florence Worth Visiting?

Absolutely yes! Florence is the essential destination in Italy. With so many things to see, it is impossible to cover it all in one single day. I recommend you plan on spending at least two full days visiting this beautiful city.

• Charming Tuscan Itinerary
• Charming Things to Do in Pisa
• Charming Walking Tour of Florence
• Amazing Churches of Florence
• Best Things to Do in Siena
• Best of San Gimignano
• Charming Volterra
• Best Things to Do in Lucca
• Is Cinque Terre Overrated?

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Thank you for the suggestion to add walking time. I will try adding some indication about how long it might take between attractions. However, it really depends on every person and how much they want to see and how fast/slow they walk.

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Europe ‎ > ‎ Italy ‎ > Florence  >  Free Florence Walking Tour

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Free Florence Walking Tour

Location :  Florence’s City Center Cost : Free ( optional costs below ) Style : Do-It-Yourself Walking Tour ( Self Guided ) Start : Florence Cathedral ( Duomo ) End : Republic Square Walking Distance : 2.2 Miles Time Required : 70 Minutes for the walk ( average time with sights is 6 hours, assume 1+ hours per museum which can take 2-3 days to fully tour everything ) Fun Scale : 10 out of 10

Overview of Central Florence:

Not only is central Florence the heart of town, but since the 1500s it was also the heart of the Italian Renaissance.  While many of Florence’s neighbors never recovered from plagues and famines, thanks to its river access, powerful military, and ruthless Medici rulers, Florence grew into a European powerhouse in the Age of Enlightenment.  We hope to give you a glimpse of the town’s glory on this free Florence walking tour.

While previously settled lightly by the Goths, a formal Roman town was established here by Julius Ceasar in 59BC.  Called Florentia after the Roman Goddess of flowers Flora, they symbol of town is the Lilly.  In 285 Emperor Diocletian established in Florence the headquarters of all of Tuscia.  Their power grew in the 300s when Etruscan villages of Volterra and Chiusi were defeated and Roman colonies of Pistoia and Lucca grew making Florence also in charge of Umbria.

Villanovan (entruscan) settlements since 800BC,  Etruscan  walls of Fiesole 8th century BC settled recorded as a town in 283 BC Faesulae

goths attack in 406 and are beat, Byzantines attack in 553, Lombards conquer Florence in 570, Lombards rule from Lucca, Lombards name Saint John Protector of Florence, Charlemagne, founder of the Holy Roman Empire, was in Florence at least 2 times: 781 and 786. Florence is attacked by Vikings and Magyars (Hungarians) • 854. Lothair brought together the two counties of Florence and Fiesole. 978 florence becomes Tuscan capital

How To Divide Your Time In Florence:

You can breeze through central Florence pretty quickly if needed whizzing through the city center and viewing all of the walking tour sights from the outside in under two hours.  Most visitors following our free Florence walking tour map average between 6-7 hours to get their fill, although it can take 2-3 full days to see every stop in full detail.

This 6-7 hour mark assumes you will spend 1-2 hours walking around town, 90 minutes at the Duomo & Bapistry ( book ahead ), 30 minutes seeing the David ( book ahead ), 1 hour at both the Bargello & Uffizi Museums ( book ahead ), plus time to eat. See a theme?  Book your entrance tickets ahead of time you can end up wasting all day in line, which a lot of tourists do.

If you don’t want to make your day any longer than 6-7 hours, you are going to have to make some tough choices on which museums you want to tour.  Of the two that take the hour, we like the Bargello the most and find the Uffizi to be a bit overrated.  On a tight schedule, we even prefer to skip the Uffizi altogether and spend that time instead climbing to the top of the dome at the Florence Cathedral ( book ahead ).

Prioritizing your stops and limiting how much time you spend touring in a day is important as the evenings in Florence as best enjoyed at a slow pace.  The hours leading up to dusk are meant for watching the sunset over town while sipping a local wine, digging into a rare Florentine steak, or taking a relaxing passeggiata stroll.

Free Florence Walking Tour:

1. florence cathedral ( duomo ):.

About The Duomo :  Officially called the Cathedral of Santa Maria of the Flower ( del Fiore ), Florence’s Cathedral ( Duomo ) is the most monumental landmark in town.  Before the current church was started in 1296, the Romanesque Cathedral of Santa Reparata sat here dating back to the Gauls in the 400s.  Because the architect died in 1310, work slowed for 30 years until the survivors of the Plague of 1348 revived the project.

The delightful white, pink, and green striped marble wrapping the exterior of the massive Florence Cathedral is stunning.  We love staring at the colorful patterns on the facade especially while inspecting the detailed statues and three large bronze front doors.  The powerful green doors were cast from 1899-1903 and represent scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary whom the cathedral is dedicated to.

Above it all, the masterpiece of the Florence Cathedral is the massive double-shelled dome designed by Brunelleschi in 1420 and built without scaffolding.  We will see the dome ( which we suggest climbing ) and the interior of the church in greater detail next on this free Florence walking tour.

Guided Tours :   For an additional 20€ you can get a guided tour of the Baptistery of St. John, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and the Opera del Duomo Museum with priority access to the sights and the Duomo’s Hidden Terraces.   Online Tickets & Dome Reservations : Here .  Guided Tour Info : Here .  Themed Tours Info : Here .   Cathedral Website : Here .

Time Required : 10-15 minutes to see the outside of the Cathedral ( 2-3 hours with all Duomo sights ).

2. Duomo Interior :

About The Duomo :  If you have already been inside the grand cathedrals in Siena, Venice, or Rome, it can be easy to find the interior of Florence’s Duomo to be quite boring in comparison, but it is worthwhile.  As you enter the mostly barren massive church, it can be overwhelming to grasp how large it really is inside.  A majority of the enormous Florence Cathedral is empty with a geometric patterned marble floor and large sequoia-sized stone pillars holding up the roof.  Most of the Medieval artifacts from the interior that still survive are on display at the Duomo Museum which we will stop at later on this free Florence walking tour.

The first of the few interior highlights of the Florence Duomo is the great liturgical clock above the bronze front door.  This Medieval, single-hand clock from 1433 is very rare as it uses Old Italian Time which is much different than today’s clocks.  In Old Itlain Time there were still 24 hours in a day, but they were divided evenly between night and day each with getting 12, but the length of the hours varied throughout the year with more or less daylight.

Above the clock, is a rose window called Christ Crowning Mary As Queen from the 1300s which is mirrored by the Coronation of the Virgin designed Donatello in the 1400s at the other end of the cathedral.  Our favorite artwork in the church is the View of Florence in 1465 by Domenico di Michelino which gives us a great cityscape mixed with scenes from local author Dante’s novel The Divine Comedy.  In the middle of the church are a canvas equestrian paintings from the 1800s copied from a famous fresco by Andrea del Castagno in 1456.

There are stairs to go down below the marble floor of the Florence Cathedral and into the Crypt of Santa Reparata.  We find the crypt to be fascinating as you can see mosaic floors from the ancient Church Santa Reparata.  This old world church from the 400s drastically predates the Duomo built over the top of it stating in the late-1200s.  The floor shows the names of the 14 donors of Latin origin who financed the construction of Santa Reparata.  Foundations of homes and pieces of the original Roman wall have also been found under the Duomo.

Tombs in the church include those of Bishop Zenobius of Florence, painter Giotto di Bondone, Pope Nicholas II, Pope Stephen IX, and the designer of the Florence Cathedral’s dome Filippo Brunelleschi.  Next on this free Florence walking tour, we will inspect Brunelleschi’s famous dome.

Cathedral Visiting Hours :  Monday-Friday 10am-5pm ; Saturday 10am-430pm; Sunday 1:30-4:45pm.  Cost : The interior of the Florence Duomo is free, however, a Cumulative Ticket for all Museum sites valid once per site over 72 hours is 18€ and allows you to skip the lines. You can also pre-book a Dome Climb timeslot.   Dress Code : As it is an active church, access with bare legs and shoulders, sandals, hats, and sunglasses is not permitted. Bulky backpacks and bags are not allowed.

Clock Tour : Can take a 30 minute guided tour of the inner workings of the clock by special request for an additional 12€ fee.   Crypt Tour : Are self-guided and included in the Duomo combo ticket.   Themed Tour Info :   Here .   Cathedral Website :   Here .

Time Required : 15-20 minutes to tour the inside of the Cathedral ( 2-3 hours with all Duomo sights ).

3. Brunelleschi’s Dome :

About Brunelleschi’s Dome :  The concept for the iconic dome was started by the Florence Cathedral builders in 1296, but this masterpiece of the church wasn’t realized until the designs of Brunelleschi ( previous a goldsmith ) in 1420.  Brunelleschi had the idea of creating the massive dome with an octagonal double-shell to support the weight as the use of buttresses-style of their French rivals was forbidden in Florence.  To prove his design, Brunelleschi built a 15-foot-tall and 30-foot-wide brick model of the dome inside the nave of the unfinished church.

Astonishingly without scaffolding, the massive dome was finished in just 26 years ( 1420-1446 ) and became a symbol of Florence’s power.  At 375.5 feet ( 114.7 meters ) tall and 138.5 feet ( 42.2 meters ) wide the marvelous dome is even bigger than Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome.  It was the first major Cathedral dome completed since ancient Roman times and is within a foot in size of Rome’s Pantheon.

Brunelleschi finished the dome and had just started on the marble cupola lantern capping the top when he died.  In 1461, 15 years after his death, the marble lantern was finished and adorned with a 7.5 foot wide ( 2.3 meters ) copper ball weighing 18 tons.  In 1492 the large golden ball was famously struck by lightning as Lorenzo de Medici died.  Then later, in 1601 the orb was stuck again and fell off crashing into the ground where there is now a white marble circle marker in the pavement behind the cathedral.

The cupola lantern today serves as a viewing platform with sweeping views almost 40 stories above Florence.  To reach the viewing platform you must take a slightly claustrophobic but rewarding climb of 463 steps ( no elevator ) up to the top which takes around an hour round trip.  During your climb up ( book in advance ) you will get a unique insight on the inner workings of the double-layers design and an up-close perspective of the wonderful paintings lining the bottom of the dome.

As requested by Cosimo I de’ Medici, an enormous scene from the Bible’s Last Judgement was painted on the underside of the dome starting in 1568 by Giorgio Vasari’s and completed by Federico Zuccari in 1579.  Seeing the 100-foot-wide mural while climbing the rafters of the dome is far more impressive than only looking up as it from the cathedral floor far below.

Dome Climbing Hours : Monday-Friday 8:30am-7pm; Saturday 8:30am-5pm; Sunday 1-4pm.  Closed on the first Tuesday of each month.  The neighboring bell tower can also be climbs, is almost as high, has extended hours, and a shorter line if you forget to book ahead.    Dome Climbing Cost :  A Combo Ticket for all Museum sites valid once per site over 72 hours is just 18€.   Duomo Climb Entrance : The entrance is at the Almond Door ( Porta della Mandorla ) at the Northside of the Cathedral.  There is no ticket purchasing booth at the dome entrance so buy online beforehand.

Mandatory Reservations :  There are only 125 people allowed to climb up every 30 minutes so even if you get in line early you will often wait in line for hours which makes booking a timeslot reservation to climb the Cathedral’s dome basically mandatory.  Skip-the-line reservations are free when made during your booking of the Cumulative Ticket.   Online Tickets & Reservations : Here .  Dome Website : Here .

Time Required To Climb The Dome :  60 minutes round trip to climb the dome and return with a pre-booked reservation, arrive 15 minutes early ( 1-5 hours in line if you don’t book ahead ).

4. Giotto’s Bell Tower ( Campanile ):

About The Bell Tower : 276 feet tall and 414 steps to top ( no elevator ).  slender bell tower, originally considered the toughest challenge, more than the dome.  The design matches the icon white, green and pink marble of the Florence Duomo’s facade.

Bell Tower Climbing Hours :  Daily 8:15am-7pm.  Cost : A Combo Ticket for all Museum sites valid once per site over 72 hours is 18€ and allows you to skip the non-ticketed visitors.   Online Tickets & Reservations : Here .  Bell Tower Website : Here .   Time Required : 45-60 minutes round-trip to climb the bell tower ( go early or late to avoid midday lines ).

5. The Baptistery of Saint John ( Battistero di San Giovanni ):

About The Duomo :  named after John the Baptist who is celebrated in Florence every June 24th. in 1401 the Calimala Merchants’ Guild had a competition for the doors from the Bible showing the sacrifice of Isaac who had to kill his own son for God before being stopped by an angel. Ghiberti won

Women’s gallery and Attic tours give you magnificent views of the beautiful gold mosaics of the dome and marble inlays of the floors.  Travel back in time to the beginnings of Florence with this guided tour into one of the symbols of the city – the Baptistery. A masterpiece of Romanesque architecture, its dome is entirely covered in Byzantine mosaics. With this special itinerary through the women’s gallery ( matroneum ) you will see the splendid mosaics and inlaid marble floors from an extraordinary point of view. By climbing to the attic you will discover the secrets of the architecture of the roof, which inspired Brunelleschi’s famous Cathedral Dome. Your tour includes the visit to the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.

.The northern gate of the Roman town (PORTA AD EPISCOPI) sat near the NE corner.  There was a small Roman bath (BALNEUM MARTIS) near the gate which they have found two mosaic floored rooms. stately home ( Domus ) dating back to the first century AD, from which pieces of mosaic floors were found below the Baptistery.  To the SW part of the square they have also found the foundations of shops (tabernae), and courtyards (cavea).

Woman’s Galley Tours : Monday, Wednesday, & Friday 4:30-6pm.  Also includes brief Cathedral tour and access to the other complex sites once each within 72 hours.    Woman’s Galley Tour Booking : Here .   Dress Code : As it is an active place of worship, access with bare legs and shoulders, sandals, hats, and sunglasses is not permitted. Bulky backpacks and bags are not allowed.

6. Basilica of San Lorenzo & Cloister Courtyard :

About The Basilica of San Lorenzo :  Built outside of Florence’s original city wall, the timeless Church of San Lorenzo was consecrated in 393 by the first bishop of Florence, Saint Zenobius. The basilica is named after the early-Christian Saint Lawrence who was martyred by order of Roman Emperor Valerian in 258AD and burned alive on a grill.

The Church of San Lorenzo was the official Cathedral of Florence until the 800s when the bones of Saint Zenobius were moved inside the walls to Santa Reparata Church ( site of today’s Duomo ) to protect them from Hungarian invasions.  It’s said that during the transfer, his bones touched an elm tree and it became leafy in the dead of Winter.  A Medieval column with a cross ( 1384 ) next to the Baptistery of Saint John marks the former location of the famed elm tree.

Shortly after Gherardo of Burgundy ( Bishop of Florence ) was elected as Pope Nicholas II  in 1058, San Lorenzo received a Romanesque makeover.  In the early-1100s, the powerful Matilde di Canossa ( Duchess of Tuscany ) lived near the Basicila which helped to keep it important.  As it was their family’s parish, Giovanni di Bicci de’ Medici ( founder of the family bank ) financed the re-building of San Lorenzo in 1419 designed by Brunelleschi ( same guy as the Duomo’s dome ).

Completed in 1461 ( 15 years after Brunelleschi’s death ) the church included an all-new brightly lit nave on the front, elegant two-story loggia courtyard for the library, and the Old Sacristy ( Sagresta Vecchia, completed in 1428 ) which was the first Medici mausoleum.  The Old Sacristy ( tombs of Pietro & Giovanni de’ Medici ) was important as it was modeled after the Tomb of the Holy Sepulchre ( tomb of Jesus ) in Jerusalem as the Medicis were fascinated with the afterlife and the Bible.

The night sky painting underside of the central church dome reflects a desire for reglious power as it shows the stars as they appeared on July 4th, 1442 .  This was a significant day as it is when royal Renee of Anju ( King of Hungary, King of Naples, King of Anjou, King of Jerusalem, King of Sicily, Count of Piedmont, Count of Barcelona ) came to Florence to meet with the wealthy banker and commoner Giovanni de’ Medici about forming an alliance which was a springboard for his family.  The powerful Renee ( also the Brother-in-law to King Charles VII of France ) wanted Giovanni de’ Medici to team up for a Crusade to Jerusalem to gain riches and important relics as they were both members of the Fraternal Order of the Holy Sepulchre.  While they never did their Crusade, the meeting with Renee helped to further legitimize the Medici name and Florence as a growing power.

The inside the Basicila of San Lorenzo also has some famous works from Florentine sculptor Donatello .  The pieces included the sarcophagus of Roberto Martelli, plus two bronze pulpits in the nave below the dome.  Completed around 1460, the pulpits were his last work at age 70, and we especially love the one of the right depicting the Resurrection.  You can visit Donatello’s tomb in the crypt below the Basilica along with those of other famous people including Cosimo di Medici on the next stop on our free Florence walking tour.

Make sure not to miss the two-story, open-air cloister courtyard  attached to the library during your visit to the Basilica of San Lorenzo.  Green spaces like this 15th-century courtyard on the Southside of the church’s nave are rare in central Florence and it feels like you are walking through a Medieval monastery.  The library itself is skippable.

From the outside basilica still has an unfinished rough cut stone facade which makes it hard to believe there is a lot to see inside.  Local artist Michelangelo had designed an elaborate white marble facade for the church over 4 years of drafts ( 1518-1522 ), but it was never completed as the Medici Pope Leo X was already over budget on the project.

Basilica Hours : Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm; Sunday 1:30-5:30pm.  Closed Sundays November-February.  Basilica Cost :  6€ for the Church Interior & Old Sacristy; +2.50€ to add the Medicean Laurentian Library & Cloister Courtyard.   Basilica Website : Here .

7. Medici Chapels & Crypt ( Cappelle Medicee ):

About The Medici Chapels :  Michelangelo constructed the jaw-dropping New Sacristy ( Sagrestia Nuova ) Medici Chapel inside behind San Lorenzo Church starting in 1519, giving the powerful family a proper mausoleum.  The money for this 2nd mausoleum came after Giovanni di Lorenzo de Medici was elected as Pope Leo X ( from 1513-1521 ) and awarded the family their first ducal titles.  It was also pushed by Cardinal Giulio de Medici who would later become Pope Clemens VII.

Michelangelo’s most famous works inside San Lorenzo’s New Sacristy are the tombs of Lorenzo de Medici ( Duke of Urbino ) with statues of Dawn and Dusk, and the tomb of Giuliano de Medici ( Duke of Nemours ) with statues of Day and Night .  Each of the four statues on the two tombs are nearly 7 feet long and represent an allegory of life and death.  There were to be two additional large tombs in the New Sacristy for Pope Leo X’s dad ( Lorenzo Medici the Magnificent ) and Pope Clemens VII’s dad ( Giuliano de’ Medici ), but Michelangelo left in Rome in 1534 to paint The Last Judgment Wall in the Sistine Chapel and never finished the other tombs.

The final and most grandiose of the Medici Chapels was added inside San Lorenzo from 1604-1640.  Known as the Chapel of the Princes, this domed octagonal hall which covered in rich marble designed complete with 8 burial niches for the Medici Grand Dukes which look like large treasure chests.  Under the frescoed dome ( painted in 1828 ), the center of the room was supposed to hold the Holy Sepulchre ( tomb of Jesus ), but attempts to buy and then steal it from Jerusalem failed.  Due to the extreme cost to build the Chapel of the Princes, it’s said that the last member of the family, Anna Maria Luisa de Medici, was still paying it off when she died in 1743.  Anna, who was married to a German Prince, was important for signing the Family Pact in 1737 that kept the Medici artifacts in Florence after her death.

Medici Chapels & Crypt Hours : Open Daily 8:15am-5pm.  Closed the 1st, 3rd, & 5th ( if there is one ) Monday of the month and the 2nd & 4th Sunday of the month.   Medici Chapels Entrance : The Medici Chapels entrances is on the backside of the church.  Book Ahead : Because there can be medium length lines you will want to book a reservation & ticket ahead of time on their website at least one day in advance.   Medici Chapels  Website : Here .

8. Central Market ( Mercato Centrale ):

About The Central Market :  Housed inside an iron and glass building from 1874, Florence’s Central Market is one of the best places to shop for produce and get an affordable lunch in town.  The produce stalls range from fruit and vegetables, fresh fish, fried food and rissoles, meats and salamis, pasta, cheeses, chocolate and ice cream, wines, and sandwiches.  In addition to the produce stalls, you will find artisan restaurants, delicious delis, tasty cocktails, and vibrant shops.  The entire market is covered and there is community seating for over 500 people making it very easy to relax out of the sun.

We absolutely love The Cooking School of Lorenzo de ‘Medici located inside the historic Central Market as an easy way to take an Italian cooking class in Florence .  Multiple two-hour cooking classes start daily at both 11am & 7pm in the large professional Cucina Kitchen.  The cost is around half of the more private countryside options in Tuscany at 65-70€ a person and includes your meal.

Market Hours : Daily 10am-Midnight.   Market Website : Here .  Cooking Class Times : 11am & 7pm.  Cooking Class Cost : 65-70€.   Cooking Class Website : Here .

9. Medici-Riccardi Palace ( Palazzo Medici ):

About Medici-Riccardi Palace :  In 1444 , Cosimo the Eldest, the patriarch of the Medicis had architect Michelozzo di Bartolomeo build him a new palace here close the family’s Church of San Lorenzo.  This was considered the first Renaissance building erected in Florence and it has a magnificent loggia along with a 15th Century courtyard decorated with graffiti embellishments.  Like the nearby family Church of San Lorenzo, the mansion was also finished following models by Brunelleschi and with the help of Michelangelo.

Cosimo de’ Medici moved the dynasty’s main residence to Palazzo Vecchio in 1540 and later sold the Medici Palace to the Riccardi family in 1659, but it is still extremely well-preserved .  In addition to the courtyard, we also love the opulent Tapestry Room, Gallery of the famous Florentine people, and the Luca Giordano Hall ballroom.  Perhaps the most important section of the Medici-Riccardi Palace is today is the Private Chapel ( Cappella dei Magi ) frescoed in 1459 by Benozzo Gozzoli representing the Procession of the Magi .  Many visitors find this multi-paneled painting to be one of the finest in all of the museums on our free Florence walking tour.

Excavations in the basements have revealed the old riverbank from the Mugnone stream that once ran directly to the Arno but was later diverted by the Romans to reclaim land.  There were also artifacts and ancient medical devices found in the Roman foundations for studying human anatomy.

Palace Hours : Thursday-Tuesday 8:30am-7pm; Closed on Wednesdays.  Entrance Cost :  4€.   Palace Website : Here .

10. Academy of Florence Gallery ( Gallerie dell’ Accademia ):

About The Accademia :  The David, duh…  Michelangelo’s masterpiece may just be the great sculpture we’ve ever seen in person.  Is The Renaissance Man.  The then 26-year-old Michelangelo was fresh off completing the Pietà in Rome ( now in the Vatican )

The huge block of Carrara marble it was carved out of had been cut 40 years early and worked on by two previous artists (Agostino di Duccio & Antonio Rossellino) who gave up and discarded the damaged block.  Was originally meant for the roofline of the Duomo but was moved to the Priori instead so it could be adorned up close.

12 total a total of twelve large Old Testament figures were meant to the top but only Joshua was completed in 1410 by Donatello and Hercules in 1463 by Duccio both out of terracotta.

When David was finally done in 1504 the 6 ton ( 12,000 pounds ) statue was too heavy to lift up and a group of artists including Leonardo di Vinci chose a new location out of 9 options.

It replaced replacing Donatello’s bronze sculpture of Judith and Holofernes ( 1457–64 ) made for the Medici family.  This statue was also a symbol of heroic defiance and was moved into Palazzo Vecchio courtyard in 1494 as it stood for the Republican government of the city.

It was installed in front of the Priori during a time when the tyrannical Medici family was temporarily exiled from power ( 1494-1512 ) and positioned with a gaze toward Rome.  This helped the city embody the spirit of David as an underdog fighting off external enemies from independent city-states, attacks on civil liberties, as well as internal tyrants.  wake of Lorenzo de Medici’s death and Savonarola’s deranged austerity. Piero_the_Unfortunate had stayed nuteral as King Charles VIII of France attacked his allies then when the attacks came to Florence he got no help them (bitter) or local elites (under spell of fanatical Dominican priest Girolamo Savonarola) and gave up easily with bad terms which causes an uproar. The family fled, house was looted, and they were formerly exiled while the Rebulic reformed.

Now sits inside under a custom ren dome since 1873, replica at the original location in front of Palazzo Vecchio, and a bronzed replica towers over the city from its perch on Piazzale Michelangelo, a third plaster copy with  detachable fig leaf was given to the Queen of England in 1857 and sits in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

it depicts the young Israelite David confidently ready to battle the invading giant Goliath.

David is depicted before his battle with Goliath instead of during of after holding his head.  Also older, stronger, and ready for combat, tense with veins popping out, Greek-style heroic male nude, Mike’s signature twisting contrapposto pose

a symbol of strength, defiance, and youthful beauty

staff-sling ( fustibal ) in left hand, rock in over-sized right hand, large hand for manu fortis, and to symoblize the Hand of God that helped give the shepard boy the strength to win, like Flortines felt that they were devinely protected against their neighboring states

god? devine? (1501 and 1504) nearly triple lifesized 17 foot tall (5.17 meters).   Small genitals are thought of as a nod to the adolescent age of David and the foreskin was an odd choice since David was Jewish.  limb and head portions also believed to be a little of on purpose because it was meant to be on display high above the ground on the Dumo roofline.

Had some weathering plus damage when it was pelted with rocks at its unveiling, left arm broke in three places in anti-Medici riots of 1527, and in 1991 a guy snuck a hammer into the museum and smashed off a toe on the left foot.

Museum Hours : Tuesday through Sunday 8:15am-6:50pm; Closed on Mondays.  Entrance Cost :  8€.  Book Ahead :  More tourist wait in line forever just to get into the museum, but you can simply book your ticket and entrance reservation ahead online and skip the line for your time slot.   Museum Website : Here .  Visitor Info & Tickets : Here .

10. Basilica of Santissima Annunziata :

11. leonardo da vinci museum :, 12. florence cathedral museum ( museo dell’ opera ):, 13. dante’s house museum ( casa di dante ):, 14. bargello national museum :, 15. governors’ square ( piazza della signoria ):.

About Piazza della Signoria :  Named after the Governors ( Signore ) who oversaw Florence.  By the mid-100s a majority of the square was filled with a large thermal bathhouse after being enclosed inside the city wall.  the ancient Roman times there was the biggest (Thermae Maximae) of Florentina’s 3 Thermal Public Bathhouses on the Western end of the Square.  Was also home to the to two churched two churches (Santa Cecilia and San Romolo), their graveyards, and Fullonica which was a factory where they processing of textiles, which were washed in large vessels, treated and then dyed.  Was one of 3 dye factories with smaller ones outside the Eastern gate (Porta Orientalis) and one outside the Northern gate.

southern side of piazza della Signoria was occupied by a large fullonica, wool and silk

in 1268, when Ghibelline houses that stood in the area were demolished by the Guelphs victorious in Benevento and the square was paved around 1385.  Was the center of political life like the Mercato was the center of trade and Duomo was the center or religion.

Mike in front of the palace as Republic’s defiance for the tyrannical rulers, Medicis in defacto power from 1434-1531 then Dukes from 1531-1569 with just Alessandro 1532-1537 & Cosimo I 1537-1569; then Cosimo moved to Grand Duke which family held 1569-1737 before Habsburg-Lorraines took over until the 1800s

16. The Old Palace ( Palazzo Vecchio ):

About The Palazzo Vecchio :  The Eastern side of the complex was a theater in Roman Times built around 150AD (city Florentia was 59 BC by Julius Caesar ) on what was a natural 20-foot slope. It was seating for 8,000-10,000 people and had to be enclosed by an additional wall as it boarder the original city wall.  Was abandoned by the 500s, built over in the 1300s, a re-discovered in 1875.  Ruins below are small but can be toured.

Front facing part of the complex today was built from 1245-1302 as the seat of the Priors, Palazzo dei Priori

Signore, or governor.  1440 to 1460 renovated by Michelozzo, commissioned by Cosimo de ‘Medici

Tower built in 1299-1319, over the Foraboschi family’s Torre della Vacca, 223 steps all the way up, prison cell in the tower held banker Cosimo the Elder in 1433 ( then banished for a year for plotting against the Gov ) and Fra’ Girolmano Savonarola who had ran town for 4 years in 1498 ( burned in the square as a heretic ).  From the outside you can see the small window of the prison called l’alberghetto.   Top has a series of bells and a the Clock are made by Bavarian clockmaker Georg Ledel in 1667.   tower 95 meters (platform 86meters)

Museum Hours : Friday-Wednesday 9am-11pm ( Winter 9am-7pm ); Thursday 9am-2pm.   Tower Hours :  Friday-Wednesday 9am-7pm ( Winter 10am-5pm ); Thursday 9am-2pm ( Winter 10am-2pm ); Closed during rain.  Must be 6+ and with an Adult if under 18.   Excavations Hours :  Monday-Saturday 9.30am-1pm & 2-5pm; Sunday & Working Holidays 9:30-am12.30pm; must be 8+; limited to 25 guests at a time.  Cost : 18€ for the Museum, Tower, and Excavations; 14€ for Museum + Tower or Excavations; 10€ for Museum only; 8€ for Tower only; 4€ for Excavations only.   Museum Website : Here .

General Guided Tour :  4€ ; must be 10+; Friday-Wednesday 10:30am, Noon, 1pm, 3pm, 5pm; Thursday 10:30am & Noon.   Secret Routes Tour :  4€ ; must be 12+; Friday-Wednesday 10am, 11:30am, 2:30pm, 4pm, 6:30pm; Thursday 10 & 11:30am.

17. Loggia dei Lanzi :

18. uffizi gallery :, 19. the old bridge ( ponte vecchio ):.

About The Ponte Vecchio :  There first Roman bridge was built next to this one around 127AD and replaced by in 966.  was the only one to cross the River until 1218.  The first one was made of wood then turned into a stone bridge after the Flood of 1333 or 45? butchers (beccai) were based here, threw scraps in the river, and it stunk so bad that Cosimo de Medici had Vasari build him a suspended walkway to Pitti Palace. Rich people didn’t want to walk the stinky bridge either and had Goldsmiths move in.  Only bridge in town to survive WW2

20. Little Pig Market ( Mercato del Porcellino ):

21. republic square ( piazza della repubblica ):, featured article.

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• The Perfect Walking Guide To...

Discover Florence with This Perfect Walking Guide

Florence is, arguably, one of the most amazing cities in the world, and the perfect way to visit it is by walking down its narrow streets and discover its magnificent Medieval architecture, cool neighbourhoods and lovely green spots.

Piazzale michelangelo.

Architectural Landmark

Bardini Garden

Ponte vecchio.

Santa Croce

Be sure to continue to the Santa Croce neighbourhood for a free glimpse at one of the most spectacular buildings in town, the Basilica of Santa Croce. A visit inside is a must, too, because many of the most influential men of all times, such as popes, artists, writers and painters, are buried here. There is an entrance fee.

Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore

Cathedral, Church

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Central Market

Market, Italian, Vegetarian

Santa Maria Novella

Repubblica square.

Piazza della Repubblica, the main square in Florence, is the central point of the city. The ancient Romans used this place to calculate the distances of the town. Every tourist will cross this square during his or her tour of Florence at some point, so you will not miss it. This big square is surrounded by the most famous and elegant cafes in town and is the perfect spot for sipping an espresso before continuing your visits around the city.

Santo Spirito Neighbourhood

Historical Landmark

Boboli Garden & Palazzo Pitti

There is no better way to end your walking tour of Florence than with a visit to Boboli Garden. This big garden is hidden behind the magnificent Palazzo Pitti, the former residence of the Medici family, and is one of the most famous gardens in the world. It’s like an open-air museum with statues, fountains, caves and natural labyrinths that will keep you occupied for hours. For those who want to visit a real museum, there are plenty of options. Palazzo Pitti, indeed, includes seven museums, but the most important is, no doubt, the Galleria del Costume, a fashion art gallery that explains the history of fashion in Florence – the city where Made in Italy was born.

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TRY THE BEST STREET FOOD TOUR FROM OUR PARTNERS IN FLORENCE

Florence free walking tour

WE'RE SMALL BUT IMPRESSIVE.

Who we are and What we do: why choose Original Florence Free Walking Tour!

WHY CHOOSE US

Original Florence is a cultural association of certified and local guides , we love our city and to know people from any country to share our culture in a friendly but profesional way , we like to explain every aspect of Florence, because a tour is not just a boring lesson, is an exciting experience.

WHAT WE PROPOSE

Welcome to the free walking tour of the real Florence, a complete tour of the main landmarks of the cradle of renaissance.

A tour made by only certified and expert florentine guides,delivering a friendly tour, they will introduce the city to you. You will learn about art, Medici family, history, food, anecdotes, secrets and culture of Florence; with tips about the city,restaurants , museums,night life, told from the perspective of a local. The meeting point is in Piazza dell’Unità Italiana, very close to the main train station. Then we will walk through the beautiful streets and squares of one of the most iconic cities of the world. This activity includes: Medici chapel, San Lorenzo market, San Lorenzo church, Medici Riccardi palace, Duomo cathedral, Baptistery, Repubblica square, Orsanmichele church, Porcellino, Signoria square, Uffizi (external), Ponte vecchio, Santa croce square.

WHAT ARE FREE TOURS

Free walking tour concept has been around for quite a while but is a relatively new way to discover cities compared to the traditional tour concept, which of course has a much longer legacy. One question we are asked regularly is “how can the tours be free?”. The tours are ‘free’, because unlike regular tour providers’ services, there is no set price for taking a tour, no prescribed fee to pay regardless of the tour experience itself. Instead, you are free to ‘tip’ your guide as you see fit after your tour. We are guides but above all travelers and we all know what we want from a trip: authenticity, spontaneity and fun.

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A memorable private walk through the Renaissance

• The ultimate private walking tour of Florence
• Private guided tour of Florence led by a charming English-speaking guide
• Savor Florence’s best Gelato! (Italian ice cream in summer/ espresso or cappuccino in winter)

EVERY DAY at 10.00AM and 3.00PM

ALL YEAR ROUND

ITALIAN, ENGLISH, GERMAN, FRENCH, SPANISH

Description

Experience the bewitching beauty of Florence with your family and/or friends! Our exclusive private walking tour of Florence allows you to enjoy the best of Tuscany’s shimmering “cradle of the Renaissance” with the privilege of a dedicated private guide all for yourselves! Discover the charming city which gave birth to thousands of artistic masterpieces.

Meet your charismatic private English-speaking guide and set off on a private Florence walking tour you will never forget. UNESCO World Heritage Site, romantic, surprising, enchanting and irresistible, Florence is where countless geniuses such as Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Brunelleschi and Donatello lived, thrived and created some of the world’s most important works of art.

Unique among all private guided tours of Florence our private guided tour allows you to e njoy an authentic insider’s view of the town center. Admire the main landmarks and major sights, such as the Duomo, Baptistry and Piazza della Signoria, amazing Orsanmichele and Santa Trinita church. Take a break along the way and treat your taste buds to a luscious Italian gelato (or frothy cappuccino/espresso in wintertime).

Your guide will lead you to catch hidden views from the Ponte Vecchio, and then across it to get a glimpse of the evocative Oltrarno district. Stop for photos in evocative spots and learn all about Florence’s eventful history, heritage, legends and colorful traditions that still live on today. Make the most of your time in Tuscany with an exclusive private walking tour of Florence!

• Walking tour of Florence! Visit all the main sites of the city
• Florence walking tour with English speaking professional guide
• Only in English for the highest quality
• Gelato (Italian ice cream) (or espresso/cappuccino in Winter)

Meeting Point

FLORENCETOWN BOOKING OFFICE  - Piazza Mentana 2red - Florence -  SEE ON MAP

Please note, we do not visit the inside of monuments and museums. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Please let us know in advance any special need or impaired mobility of the clients and we will do our best to accomodate them.

Rain Policy

This tour runs rain or shine.

from EUR 93 p.p. (price based on a party of 4 pax)

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Dive into the Italian Experience! Sign up to enjoy 10% off your next tours and receive exclusive promotions and essential tips for your Italian trip.

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Florence Walk & Talk Guided Tour

A pleasant walk in Florence is just what you need to be introduced to the city and its splendor and secular heritage!

This tour was born to be the smartest walking tour of the city center at the best price. You’ll hear all the ‘hot gossip’ about Michelangelo , discover how Leonardo wanted to revolutionize the town, and even more astounding things that shocked the Florentines.

Take the chance to have a taste of one of the most important and charming cities of the World Heritage of UNESCO. Walking through the amazing center you can discover its unique secular heritage and breathtaking beauty with an e xpert and fun tour guide .

Our tour explores the historic and architectural evolution from the Roman foundations through the medieval centuries and then its glorious Renaissance period up to modern -age Florence. Stop for a surprise “tasting” , and learn about the culinary and wine treats of our unique cuisine.

Our guide will take you to some of the most important spots where the greatest minds and artists have stood and been inspired. During this walk, you can take in ALL the sights: Piazza della Signoria with the town hall Palazzo Vecchio , the Duomo , the Baptistery with its ‘Doors of Paradise’, Giotto’s Bell Tower , Brunelleschi’s Dome , Santa Trinita and Orsanmichele Church , Pontevecchio and the secret Vasari Corridor , as well as its famous shopping streets. We also take in the Oltrarno – the fourth and last district, the artisan’s neighborhood. This tour’s got something for everyone.

Victoria Pelishatska

a month ago

Lynne Hughes

2 weeks ago

Kevin Hughes

Hace 2 meses

Portan Velasquez

• Professional English speaking guide
• Surprise tasting

Departure time

Meeting point.

WHERE : Via dei Lamberti, 1

DURATION : 2 hours and 30 minutes

• The cradle of Renaissance, Florence historic centre
• A 2 hour enlightening walking tour with a passionate and art-lover local guide
• A funny surprise tasting!

Notes and advice

• Comfortable shoes suggested

Not included

Is italy for independent travelers.

Italy is one of the most rewarding destinations to travel independently. Times will be fun, but times will also be frustrating. It will be important to do plenty of research and planning.

Travel Tips

Palazzo vecchio, the heart of florence political life, piazza della signoria, the most famous square in florence, florence sightseeing: tips from a florentine, florence travel advice, tour may interest you.

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Ciao Florence Tours & Travel srl

Via Cavour, 36 R 50129 Firenze

[email protected] [email protected]

Tel. +39 055 354044

P.IVA 05823680482

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Discover the Best Free Tours in Florence with GuruWalk!

Exploring the historic and cultural wonders of Florence has never been easier or more accessible. Thanks to platforms like GuruWalk, travelers can now enjoy guided tours that fit any budget while experiencing the city through the eyes of passionate local guides. GuruWalk has revolutionized city exploration by creating a global community of guides and travelers. Operating on a pay-what-you-please model, GuruWalk allows visitors to book tours without any upfront costs. This model encourages guides to deliver exceptional experiences, ensuring accessibility for all travelers while motivating guides to offer engaging and high-quality tours.

What Will You See on a Free Tour of Florence with GuruWalk?

• Renaissance Revelations: Art, Medici, and Culinary Delights: This comprehensive tour dives deep into Florence's artistic legacy, the influential Medici family, and the city's gastronomic traditions. Highlights include visits to iconic landmarks such as the Duomo and Palazzo Vecchio, coupled with insights into local cuisine. Participants will gain an understanding of how the Medici family shaped the cultural and artistic landscape of Florence. For a more focused exploration of the Medici influence, consider joining the 'Medici's Florence' tour.
• Medici's Florence: Power, Patronage, and Artistic Revolution: Focused on the Renaissance period and the Medici dynasty, this tour uncovers the profound impact the Medici family had on Florence's art and architecture. Participants will explore sites like the Basilica of San Lorenzo and the Medici Chapels while hearing tales of political intrigue and artistic patronage. This tour provides a detailed look at the intersection of art and power in Renaissance Florence. Dive deeper into Florence's myths and legends with the 'Shadows of Florence' tour.
• Shadows of Florence: Myths, Mysteries, and Macabre Tales: For those intrigued by the darker side of history, this tour delves into Florence's haunting legends and mysterious past. From ghost stories to historical murders, it offers a unique perspective on the city's hidden narratives. Highlights include exploring lesser-known alleys and sites that are steeped in legend and mystery. To see Florence's architectural evolution, consider the 'Florence's Architectural Marvels' tour.
• Florence's Architectural Marvels: A Journey Through Time: This tour showcases Florence's most beautiful landmarks, providing context on the families and events that shaped the city. Visitors will gain insights into iconic sites like the Ponte Vecchio and Piazza della Signoria, along with tips for authentic local experiences. The tour offers a chronological journey through Florence's architectural evolution. For those interested in a broader historical perspective, the 'Florence Through the Ages' tour provides an extensive overview from Roman times to World War II.
• Florence Through the Ages: From Roman Roots to World War II: Offering a sweeping historical overview, this tour traces Florence's evolution from its Roman origins through the Renaissance and up to World War II. It's ideal for history enthusiasts seeking a comprehensive understanding of the city's past. Participants will explore ruins, Renaissance masterpieces, and stories of resilience during wartime.

Important Information

Faqs free walking tour florence, others cities to visit after florence, free walking tour near florence.

• Free walking tour in Prague
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After more than seven years experience in the tourism sector, Walks in town was born in 2023 from the desire of its owner to provide to the people high quality tours and services. Specialized in small group and private tours, Walks in town provides customized tours for every need. If you do not find what you are looking for on our website, you are more than welcome to get in touch with us.

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