florence walking tour free

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Free tours in Florence

• Tours in Florence

A Romantic stroll in Florence

Florence is one of Italy’s top destinations to visit and there are plenty of reasons why. This Tuscan city oozes history, culture, and Italians even know a thing or two about romance. Whether you have a day or week to spare, there are so many things to keep busy with. Visit the prominent art museum, Uffizi Gallery beside the statue of David in Piazza della Signoria, catch the best panoramic views of the city from Piazzale Michelangelo, wander Basilica di Santa Croce, and stroll through Giardino Bardini.

After your free walking tour with Freetour.com, climb to the top of Duomo for an alternative perspective of the city centre or admire the frescoes and architecture of the church from the inside. Just around the corner lies the famous leather market where you can find perfect souvenirs and practice your bartering skills. Celebrate your new finds with gelato, slice of pizza, or indulge in a Florentine steak at the many restaurants accompanied by a large glass of red wine. If nightlife is your thing, grab an aperitivo for dinner and then discover the countless bars across the centre.

There are annual events throughout the year which is why travelling to Florence in any season is ideal. In April, the whole city is alive for an entire evening called “Notte Bianca”- or “White Night”- dedicated to the arts & culture. Gorgeous city that caters to anyone, should see it for yourself!

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Free Florence Walking Tours

Florence is full of history, and there are several notable sites that you can see and learn about on a walking tour of the city.

There are essentially 4 types of free walking tours in Florence (Firenze), a city overview tour, tours focused on the Renaissance, museums, and sunset tours.

This post is an overview of all of your options, including what you will see on each tour, as well as which companies offer them.

TOUR CALENDAR

The main option is an introductory tour that covers the most popular landmarks in Florence.

You can also take a tour that provides a look at how the city played an influential role in the world during the Renaissance.

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More Tour Options?  More tours are  available here or in the individual tour sections below.

We also offer our very own free, self-guided walk with optional audio below.

• Overview + Schedules
• Intro to Florence + The Renaissance
• Sunset Tours
• Museum Tours
• Street Art/Alternative Tours

Medieval Mysteries

Self guided tours.

For most people today, a “free tour” is a “pay-what-you-wish tour” or a “tips-based tour”.

You are under no obligation to pay for your experience, and it costs nothing to book a time slot.

At the end of the tour, if you enjoyed yourself, it’s customary to pay what you think the tour was really worth or what you could afford.

According to online reviews, most people leave between €5-15/per person, but of course, you are not obligated to leave anything.

Keep in mind, however, that these free walking tours are both convenient and popular, so often have large groups of participants.

If you’d rather take your tour with a smaller group – which can allow you more interaction with your guide – you might consider taking a paid small group tour .

For a truly free option, check out our suggestions for self-guided walks .

We also offer tours throughout Europe, including:

Intro to Florence & Renaissance Tours

These free walking tours provide an introduction to Florence, giving visitors a range of information about the history of this city and in some cases even some tips on great attractions or restaurants to visit.

This section will also include information about tours that focus on the most important locations tied to the Renaissance. 

Both tours cover much of the same ground, but Renaissance tours are more about the Medici family and their impact on Florence.

But they also focus on the way of life that people experienced in this city during the 14th and 15th centuries.

You can expect to visit the following sites on most of these walking tours listed below:

• Central Market
• Paradise Gate
• Republic Square
• Ponte Vecchio
• Piazza Duomo
• S. Lorenzo Cathedral
• Piazzale Michelangelo
• Old City Walls
• St. John’s Baptistry
• Medici-Riccardi Palace
• Medici Chapel
• Pitti Palace
• Boboli Gardens

Our self-guided walk provides more details on what you could see on a tour like those listed below.

Another Florence

This company offers tours that cover Florence that locals know and love.

They do not stop by Ponte Vecchio or Piazza Duomo but bring you to beautiful and interesting places in Florence you might not otherwise find. 

While each tour guide and therefore each tour is slightly different, the average length of a tour is 2 ½ - 3 hours long. 

They offer tours in English, Spanish, and Italian every day at 10:30 am and 15:30 (3:30 pm). These outings are wheelchair accessible.

Learn more or book this tour .

Original Florence

This company offers an outing that covers a variety of interesting subjects like the Medici family, Florentine culture, the best food in the city, museums you might want to visit, and fun things to do after dark.

Guests have given this tour very positive reviews which suggest that they provide a lot of information about the history, art, and culture of Florence in addition to a more general orientation of the city.

This tour is a little over 2 hours long and it’s offered twice a day at 10:15 and 17:15 (5:15 pm) in English, Spanish, and Italian.

Click here for more details or to book this tour .

Free Walking Tours in Florence

This company offers what they call the best tour in the city, and that’s a bold claim, but they do have very positive ratings. 

In addition to covering the Renaissance and stories of the Medici family, this tour also serves as an introduction to the city, including some lesser-known sites.

They are well-reviewed by guests who indicate that they learned a lot about the history of this city and even received some recommendations on places to visit.

This 2-hour free walking tour is offered twice a day at 9:30 am and 16:30 (4:30 pm) in both English and Spanish.

Learn more here.

Florence from Above Walking Tours

As with some of the other tours on our list, this one is also led by just one guide, and reviews for his free Florence tour are all very positive.

Over 2 hours, you’ll learn about a variety of interesting subjects and locations on a tour route that will lead to the highest and best viewing points in the city.

This tour is available every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 8:30 in the morning, making it an excellent option for anyone who wants an early bird experience.

Check our calendar above as the schedule for this tour can fluctuate.

Sunset Tours in Florence

If you’re interested in seeing the city as the sun goes down, there are a few different pay-what-you-wish walking tours in Florence that take place at sunset.

Much like the introductory tours, these outings cover the history of the city, and you can expect to visit a variety of notable locations such as the following:

• Piazza Santa Maria Novella
• Piazza di Santa Croce
• Piazza della Passera
• Piazza Santa Trinita
• Piazza Goldoni
• Palazzo Strozzi

These tours focus more on great locations to take in the views than anything else.

However, you can expect to visit some of the most notable sites and see them from afar while on a sunset tour.

Enjoy excellent views of Florence as you learn about the city during sundown on one of these tours.

Free Tour Florence Sunset Tour

In addition to their introductory tour, Another Florence also offers a free sunset tour that also provides historical details about the city.

While their other tour doesn’t include a stop at Ponte Vecchio, you will have an opportunity to see this landmark from the Ponte Santa Trinita during this sunset outing.

Clocking in at 2 hours in length, this tour is available in English, Spanish, and Italian, and it’s offered every day at 19:00 (7 pm).

Book this tour or learn more .

Sunset in Florence

This is another tour provided by just one professional guide, Vincenzo, and it has received some pretty good reviews thus far. 

Although other free walking tours don’t visit this site, it’s worth noting that this service begins at Ponte Vecchio.

From there, you’ll visit a variety of other locations including Piazzale Michelangelo, San Miniato Church, and more. 

This tour is about 2 hours long, it’s usually available in English most days of the week except Monday at 17:30 (5:30 pm).

It's available daily in Italian and twice a week in Spanish.

Free Florence Museum Tours

If you’re interested in visiting some of the most notable museums in Florence, there are several tours available that will help you find some of the best pieces at each location.

Currently, there are two free museum tours covering the Duomo and the Accademia Gallery.

There are also a few free audio tours you may want to consider.

Although you’ll need to pay for admission to each museum on your own, the tour itself will be tip-based.

This means you get to decide what it was worth when it’s over.

You can save money on tickets for many of these museums by using a Florence tourist pass .

Landmarks in Florence

This service is provided by an independent and professional guide, who offers two free tours at 2 must-visit museums in the city: The Duomo Museum and the Accademia Gallery.

The 1-hour Duomo Museum tour covers the original pieces of the church and important works of art from artists like Michelangelo and Donatello.

This outing is normally offered daily at 16:30 (4:30 pm).

The 1-hour tour of the Accademia Gallery gives you an opportunity to see David, arguably Michelangelo's most famous work, with an expert tour guide.

This service is normally offered every Tuesday - Friday, and Sunday at 8:30 am.

Rick Steves Audio Tour

Rick Steves offers several audio tours you can download onto your smartphone. These are free and excellent and we recommend them.

In total, they currently provide audio tours of 4 different museums:

• Uffizi Gallery
• Bargello Museum
• Accademia Gallery
• San Marco Museum

Each tour includes a map that you can download to help find your way around the museum.

For more details or to pick a tour that fits your needs, check this list of Rick Steves Florence Museum Audio Tours .

Street Art Tour

If you’re more interested in learning about the modern art and lifestyle of Florence, there is at least one free walking tour that covers this subject.

You can expect to see a lot of interesting street art and learn about contemporary artists who have helped shape the future of art in this city.

Additionally,  you’ll also pass by several popular public squares, artisan stores, artist workshops, cafes, and more.

Alternative Free Walking Tours

This is another tour led by just one professional guide, and it is very highly rated.

Guests will learn about street artists and other artistic minds that have helped to shape the world of art in modern-day Florence.

Much of the tour takes place in Oltrarno, which is actually on the other side of the river from the more historic parts of the city.

There, you’ll learn about some of the most interesting workshops and street artists in the area, including hidden gems you might not see on other tours!

Although there are not a lot of reviews yet, this tour has received almost exclusively positive responses.

Guests say that this is a great way to learn about some of the best art in the city that you might have otherwise overlooked.

You can take this 1 ½ hour tour on Saturday - Thursday at 14:00 (2 pm) or on Friday at 9:30 am, and it’s only available in English.

In addition to the alternative street art tours, there are also some free guided outings that cover some of the more curious and mysterious aspects of the history of Florence.

These pay-what-you-wish walking tours are a great way to discover some of the best-hidden gems and learn more about the oft-forgotten cultural stories of the city.

This company offers a tour called "Medieval Tales - Curiosities of Florence," and it covers a lot of interesting cultural anecdotes and stories that will help you see the city in a new light.

After taking this tour, you'll be able to pick out symbols on various buildings or structures around the city and easily decipher their meaning as if you were a local!

You can take this tour daily in either English or Spanish at 10 am or 16:30 (4:30 pm). The tour should take approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes to complete.

Check our calendar above  as the schedule for this tour can fluctuate.

If you don't feel like taking a walk on someone else's schedule, why not go on your own time?

We offer our own self-guided tour to Florence but below are a few more options.

Visit Florence

Visit Florence offers three self-guided walking tour itineraries.

You can use these written guides and accompanying interactive maps to explore the historical center of Florence, the left bank of the Arno River, or the Piazzale Michelangelo and San Miniato areas.

Self-Guided Exploration Game

This is a great alternative to a traditional walking tour, as it allows you to discover the most historic landmarks in Florence while attempting to solve a mystery.

Although these services are not free, at €10-€15 per game, they cost about as much as most people would tip their guide during a pay-what-you-wish walking tour.

• Florence Medici Tour
• The Serial Killer of Florence
• Haunted Florence: Dante's Return

Small Group Tours

If you don't mind spending a bit of money, there are several small group tours available in Florence that you might want to consider.

This section will cover some of the best tours with small group sizes available throughout the city.

If you're looking for a walking tour with a more personal touch and additional activities/attractions, this company offers many different outings you may enjoy.

Best of Florence Walking Tour

• €59/Adults | €56/Children, Students
• Availability: Tue - Sun at 9:15 am & 1:15 pm
• Duration: 3 ½ hours
• Includes admission to the Accademia.
• Group size of 14 or smaller.

Best of Florence w/ Special Duomo Access

• €76/Adults, Students | €74/Children
• Availability: Tue - Sat at 9:15 am & 1:15 pm
• Includes admission to Accademia.
• Includes No-wait access to Duomo.

Florence in a Day

• €112/Adults | €106/Students | €102/Children
• Winter Availability: Tue, Thu, Sat at 9:15 am
• Summer Availability: Tue - Sun at 8:30 am
• Duration: 7 ½ hours.
• Includes admission to the Uffizi Gallery.
• Group size of 19 or smaller.

VIP David & Duomo Tour

• €115/Adults, Students | €105/Children
• Availability: Tue - Sat at 8 am
• Duration: 3 hours
• Includes early admission to Accademia.
• Includes access to Duomo Terraces.
• Includes skip-the-line Duomo climb.
• Group size of 15 or smaller.

VIP After Hours Accademia Tour

• €49/Adults | €46/Students | €44/Children
• Spring Availability: Sun, Tue, at 5 pm
• Summer Availability: Sun, Tue, Thu, Fri at 7:30 pm
• Duration: 1 ½ - 2 hours
• Includes after-hours admission to the Accademia.

Self-Guided Tour of Florence

This is an alternative to the free guided tours of Florence. This tour will cover multiple notable landmarks and locations in Florence.

Assuming you don't enter any buildings, this walk should take approximately 90 min. The walk is approximately 1.5 km (1 mi.).

Click on the map to expand or to download it to a smartphone.

We created this walk as a companion to Rick Steves's excellent audio tour of Florence. You can download his audio and his map here .

If you don’t have any headphones or prefer to read instead of listen, this self-guided tour provides a lot of useful information about the history of the city.

For an even more in-depth experience, consider downloading the audio tour.

1. Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore

The first thing you’ll notice about this church as you stand in the plaza is its distinctive 15th-century dome, named after the man who engineered the structure, Filippo Brunelleschi.

We’ll cover the dome in greater detail a bit later.

The cathedral itself was completed and consecrated in 1436. The architectural styles on display include Italian Gothic, Gothic Revival, and Renaissance.

If you were to look at the building from above, you could see how it was designed to form the shape of the Latin cross. At 8,300 sq metres in size, this is an incredibly large structure.

There are a lot of interesting pieces of art inside, including Donatello’s David and Saint John the Evangelist .

2. Giotto’s Campanile

This large free-standing campanile (or bell tower) is part of the complex of buildings in the area, and it stands right next to the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.

Designed by Giotto in 1334, this tower is an excellent example of Gothic architecture.

There are a total of 7 bells in the tower which were cast at various times from 1705 - 1957.

There are several beautiful pieces of artwork in the campanile, but they are all copies of the originals which were removed in the 1950s and 1960s.

The hexagonal panels on the lower level depict the history of mankind as described in Genesis, including the Creation of Adam and Eve.

You’ll also find four statues in the niches of all four sides of the tower, including figures such as David, Solomon, Moses, Abraham, and more.

3. Brunelleschi’s Dome

This distinctive feature of the cathedral is actually the third tallest dome in the entire world, and it also played an important role in the Renaissance.

The architectural choice to go with this design rather than a Gothic structure was one of the first major events in the Italian Renaissance, as it broke from the traditional style of the time.

Filippo Brunelleschi ran into trouble trying to make the dome a reality due to a variety of issues.

Eventually, he would work with Donatello to build a model that illustrated how the dome could be constructed.

This model is still displayed at the Museo dell’ Opera del Duomo, which is directly behind the cathedral.

Keep in mind that this structure was created before we knew much about the laws of physics and mathematical calculation for such construction.

So, Brunelleschi relied almost entirely on intuition and details he learned from building models such as the one at the museum.

The copper crown at the top was commissioned to Andrea del Verrocchio, who had in their employ a young apprentice by the name of Leonardo da Vinci.

Admission to the dome is included with some Florence tourist passes .

4. Baptistery & Bronze Doors

Located directly across from the cathedral, this building is the Baptistery of St. John.

As you may have noticed, the church is shaped like an octagon, giving it a unique and interesting style.

Although it is believed there was a Baptistery in this location since the 4th or 5th century, it wasn’t until the 13th-century that they expanded upon the original architecture and started constructing the structure that exists today.

One of the most interesting aspects of this building is its three bronze doors. The oldest is the South Gate, and the North Gate was the next one built.

The East Gate was entitled the Gate of Paradise by none other than Michelangelo.

The North Gate depicts scenes from the New Testament while the South Gate shows moments from the life of John the Baptist.

This Baptistery used to house notable works of art like the Silver Altar and Maddalena di Donatello, but you can now see these pieces at the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, located behind the cathedral.

5. Via dei Calzaiuoli

This street runs from the cathedral to Piazza della Signoria, and there are a lot of notable sites to see along the way.

If you're also interested in going north from here, you'll find both the Basilica di San Lorenzo church and the San Lorenzo market, where you can grab a bite to eat before continuing on this self-guided tour.

Museums of note include the Loggia del Bigallo, Museo della Misericordia, and Chiesa e Museo di Orsanmichele.

We will be covering the last museum in greater detail at our next stop.

There is also a lot of great shopping in the area, and you’ll note that there are several internationally known stores such as Victoria’s Secret, Chanel, the Disney Store, and more.

In addition to all the great shopping, there are also several excellent restaurants along the way serving a variety of dishes such as pizza, gelato, Italian sandwiches, wine, chocolate, and much more.

6. Orsanmichele Church

There have been many structures on this site in the past.

Before it was a church there was a grain market built here in 1337.

Before that, it was the kitchen garden of the monastery of San Michele.

The area was converted into a church between 1380-1404.

But, you can still see elements of its previous use in the arches of the ground floor, as they were originally used for the grain market.

There are several sculptures to see here, but all of them are copies.

The originals have since been moved to the museum. That said, these copies are still beautiful and entirely free to enjoy.

You’ll find these sculptures located in niches around the building, including Donatello’s St. Mark and St. George , Andrea del Verrocchio’s Christ, St. Thomas , and Filippo Brunelleschi’s St. Peter .

Inside the church, you will find a Gothic tabernacle designed by Andrea Orcagna which has a copy of Bernardo Daddi’s painting of the Madonna and Child .

Admission to the Orsanmichele Church and Museum is included with some Florence tourist passes .

7. Donatello’s St. Mark

Whether you choose to simply enjoy the copy from outside or enter the museum to see the actual sculpture designed by Donatello, this is an excellent example of his work.

The statue of St. Mark is often regarded as the first Renaissance monument ever created.

One of the most notable features of this piece is its attention to detail and focus on realism.

If you look closely, you’ll notice that even the veins on St. Mark’s left hand are visible.

This style of realistic artwork was far different from the often unrealistic and dramatic Gothic art and architecture of the era, which is one of the reasons it is often considered one of the first examples of Renaissance art.

The niche where this statue can be found is also quite beautiful, but it was not designed by Donatello.

8. Piazza Signoria

Located at the Southern end of Via dei Calzaiuoli, this Piazza della Signoria square sits in front of Palazzo Vecchio, but that isn’t the only interesting structure to see in the area.

To the right of the palazzo, you’ll find the Loggia dei Lanzi, built in the 14th century for ceremonial purposes, which now serves as an open-air art gallery with Renaissance-era sculptures.

To the left of the palazzo, you’ll see an equestrian statue that depicts Cosimo I, former Grand Duke of Tuscany.

The base of the statue depicts scenes from Cosimo’s life, including his coronation.

Behind the statue of Cosimo I, you’ll find the Gucci Garden, a museum dedicated to the fashion company of the same name which houses classic clothing and handbag exhibits.

Gucci Garden is located in the former Palazzo della Mercanzia, which once served as a courthouse where cases between Florentine merchants were disputed.

The original building was constructed in 1359 and restored in 1905.

To the right of the statue of Cosimo I and right next to Palazzo Vecchio, you’ll find the beautiful Fontana del Nettuno , which was designed and created during the 16th century.

There is also a plaque in Piazza Signoria dedicated to Girolamo Savonarola, who led the Bonfire of the Vanities in this very location in 1497. We’ll cover this in greater detail later.

9. Palazzo Vecchio

Originally built in the 14th century, Palazzo Vecchio is the seat of the Municipality in Florence, and it is one of the most famous civic structures in the world.

Although it served as the seat of the Senate and other civic bodies in the past, most of this building is now used as a museum, but it still serves as the headquarters of the Municipality of Florence.

The statue of David by Michelangelo stood by the entrance from the year it was completed in 1504 until 1873 when it was moved to the Galleria dell Accademia.

Today, a copy of the statue remains in its place. Learn about how to see the Statue of David . 

Across from David is a statue of Hercules and Cacus which was crafted by Baccio Bandinelli.

Look under the arches of the gallery to see a series of nine coats of arms representing a variety of things including the Florentine people, the city, loyalty to the papacy, freedom, and independence, and other concepts.

Built in 1310, the tower of Palazzo Vecchio is around 94 metres high. Unlike other towers, such as Giotto’s Campanile, this one actually leans on the walls beneath it.

The museum inside features several beautiful frescoes, niches, tapestries, statues, and other fantastic artwork.

This is also the site of Michelangelo’s The Genius of Victory , which was originally intended for the tomb of Pope Julius II.

Admission to Palazzo Vecchio is included at no extra cost with at least one Florence tourist pass .

10. Savonarola Plaque

Located in Piazza Signoria, this plaque is dedicated to Girolamo Savonarola, a Dominican friar who worked in Florence in the 1490s.

Although his presence was initially requested, he quickly became an enemy of the Medici house and played a role in their undoing.

Savonarola was not a fan of the Renaissance, and he fought against what he saw as artistic excess and sin.

Starting in 1495, he began to host a bonfire of the vanities in Piazza Signoria during Carnival.

The bonfire of the vanities was an event where paintings, manuscripts, books, tapestries, musical instruments, and other works deemed inappropriate were burned in the public square.

During these bonfires, Savonarola was said to have destroyed the works of notable artists such as Dante, Ovid, Propertius, and more.

In the eyes of many church officials, Savonarola went too far with his approaches, and he was eventually excommunicated in 1497.

He was charged with heresy and sedition, for which he was hung on a cross and burned to death in 1498.

This plaque marks the exact location where his execution was carried out.

11. Uffizi Courtyard

As you walk toward the Uffizi Gallery , you’ll see a lot of notable sites alongside the Piazzale degli Uffizi.

The gallery itself is lined with statues of Donatello, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and many other noteworthy Renaissance artists.

Directly opposite the Uffizi Gallery is the Accademia dei Georgofili, an educational institution that has been dedicated to promoting the study of economics, geography, agriculture, and many other subjects since 1753.

The Uffizi Gallery itself was originally established in 1581, and it was one of the first modern museums ever established.

Over 4 million people visit this museum every year, making it one of the most visited museums in the world.

There are a lot of important works of art in the museum, including Sandro Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus , Andrea del Verrocchio’s The Baptism of Christ , Michelangelo’s The Holy Family , Leonardo da Vinci’s Adoration of the Magi , Raphael’s Madonna of the Goldfinch , Caravaggio’s Sacrifice of Isaac , Rembrandt’s Self-portrait as a Young Man and many more.

Admission is included with some Florence tourist passes , and there is a free audio tour of the Uffizi Gallery by Rick Steves available as well.

12. Arno River & Ponte Vecchio

This is the largest river in the region, and it crosses the whole of Florence. In historical times, the Arno river flooded this city many times after excessive rainfall.

The Arno river is anything but predictable, as it could be quite slow one day and almost torrent like on the next.

Many consider this the most important river in Italy aside from the Tiber in Rome.

One of the most important bridges to cross the Arno is clearly visible from the riverside view of the Uffizi Gallery, and it is the next stop on this tour: Ponte Vecchio.

There has been a bridge here since at least the year 996, but it didn’t exist in its current form until 1218, and even after that it had to be rebuilt in 1345 due to flooding.

Since then, the bridge has largely stood the test of time. Even during WW2, this was the only bridge in Florence that was not destroyed during the retreat of the German army.

And much, much more

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Florence Free Tour

About our tour.

Discover the enchanting city of Florence, a timeless masterpiece often hailed as the "Cradle of the Renaissance." Situated amid-st the picturesque Tuscan landscape and adorned with mesmerizing pink-and-green-marble structures, Florence beckons travelers with its unparalleled charm and historical significance.

Wandering through the cobbled streets, alongside the tranquil River Arno, one is instantly captivated by Florence's architectural wonders and terracotta-roofed skyline. At the heart of it all stands the majestic Dome, its elegant domed roof casting a spellbinding aura over the cityscape. Indeed, Florence is not merely a destination; it's an immersive journey through centuries of artistic brilliance and cultural heritage.

Embark on a voyage of discovery with Florence Free Tour, our esteemed partners offering an exceptional Free Walking Tour. Led by knowledgeable local guides, this excursion unveils the city's iconic landmarks, from the bustling Piazza Signoria to the magnificent Palazzo Medici and the legendary Ponte Vecchio. As you stroll through Florence's storied streets, delve into the fascinating tales of the influential Medici family, who shaped the city's destiny during the Renaissance era.

Immerse yourself in the allure of Florence, where every corner reveals a new facet of its rich tapestry of history and artistry. With Florence Free Tour, let the magic of this enchanting city unfold before your eyes, leaving an indelible mark on your journey through Italy.

Embark on a captivating journey through the heart of Florence, starting from the iconic Santa Maria Novella Square. As you step into this bustling piazza, you'll be greeted by the grandeur of the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, an architectural marvel adorned with stunning frescoes and intricate facades.

From Santa Maria Novella Square, our tour leads you to the elegant Strozzi Square, where the imposing Palazzo Strozzi stands as a testament to Renaissance architecture at its finest. Marvel at its noble facade before continuing your exploration to the vibrant Piazza della Repubblica, a lively square brimming with cafés, street performers, and historic landmarks.

Next, we journey to the heart of Florence's cultural heritage – the majestic Duomo Square. Here, the awe-inspiring Florence Cathedral, with its iconic dome designed by Brunelleschi, dominates the skyline, offering a glimpse into the city's rich artistic legacy.

Continuing our odyssey, we meander through the historic streets to Piazza Signoria, the political and artistic hub of Florence. Admire the imposing Palazzo Vecchio and the sculptures adorning the square, including the renowned replica of Michelangelo's David.

Our exploration then takes us to the world-renowned Uffizi Gallery, home to a priceless collection of Renaissance masterpieces. As you wander through its hallowed halls, you'll encounter works by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli, and more, each a testament to Florence's enduring legacy as the birthplace of the Renaissance.

Crossing the picturesque Ponte Vecchio, with its charming shops lining the Arno River, we arrive at the opulent Pitti Palace. Once the residence of the powerful Medici family, this magnificent palace now houses several museums and galleries, offering a fascinating glimpse into the grandeur of Renaissance life.

Join us on this unforgettable tour of Florence, where every step reveals a new chapter in the city's storied past and vibrant present. From historic squares to world-class art, immerse yourself in the splendor of Florence's cultural heritage, leaving you with memories to cherish for a lifetime.

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Free Walking Tours in Florence

Discover Florence with the best local guides.

The best 6 Free Walking Tours in Florence

Free Tour Florence Essential (Nº 1 Tour on Tripadvisor)

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Frequently Asked Questions

What will we see on the free tour Florence in English?

All the places to visit during the guided walking tour can be found in the file of each guided tour. Normally, the most outstanding places of the Renaissance city are visited. The Duomo or Cathedral of Firenze, Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio, and other places of interest are usually visited.

Normally, the interior of the buildings is not entered. I don't think it will surprise you too much, being a free tour. But you will know the most relevant history and anecdotes that have occurred in these places in most cases. In addition, the guide will give you advice in case you want to enter to visit certain historical buildings on your own later.

That's why it's usually best to take the free tour Florence as soon as you arrive in the Tuscan capital. That way, you will have a much better idea of what to do and what to avoid later. It will surely save you a lot of time and money.

Is the free tour of Florence free?

No, it is of free price. It is free to book (and if you do it on this website, it usually takes less than a minute), it is free to participate, but in the end, the tour guide expects you to reward him for the time he has dedicated to you and all the effort involved in the visit.

Really, payment is not mandatory and no one will force you to pay or give a certain amount. But if you liked it, it is normal that you do not take advantage of the guide and give him 10/15 € per person. Remember that this activity can be carried out thanks to the honesty of the participants, and that the guide has to pay commissions to the company that provides him with clients.

What if it rains?

Normally, the walk is done whether it rains or not. Since the guide has to earn his bread. But if there is an emergency or national alarm due to bad weather and the government's recommendation is not to leave the house, the visit is likely to be canceled. Although these are extreme cases that occur only once in a lifetime.

The key is to be well prepared. Buy yourself an umbrella or a very waterproof raincoat that takes up no space and you can carry in your pocket. You can also go to a souvenir shop, but they will be more expensive.

Why are there so few Free Tours in Florence?

We are the only platform that selects only the highest quality guided tours. So, you don't take any chances and you know you'll have a well-prepared guide, with experience and who is among the best rated in the Tuscan capital when it comes to guided walks.

Are there free tours Florence in the afternoon?

It depends on the guide and the day, but usually yes. If you look at the file of each guided tour, you can see the available schedules. In the calendar you can also easily see the availability.

Do they accept people in wheelchairs?

Depending on whether the route is adapted or not, the guides will accept this type of disabled people. Under normal conditions, yes, since Firenze is a very flat city and there are no big slopes. However, there are cobbled streets that can make you the one who carries the chair end up with back pain.

The best Free Tours Florence in English

There are few cities in the world like the capital of the Renaissance. Walking through its streets is like traveling back in time. It is easy to immerse yourself in history and imagine what life was like in Florence 500 years ago. That is why it is essential to take a historical tour, so that they can tell you everything and you can really immerse yourself in Florentine culture.

Normally, guided tours in Florence usually last about 2 and a half hours. Although there are some that last 3 hours. In any case, it is more than enough time to get to know the most important places in the city. In addition, the guide will give you tips so that you can continue exploring on your own after the guided tour.

La Bussola Free Walking Tours in Florence

Why La Bussola Offers the Best Free Tours in Florence

Carefully planned tours.

Discover the city in a new light with La Bussola Free Tours. Our tours are designed to take you inside every landmark on the way, providing shelter from the sun in summer and rain during the rainy seasons. We change our tours regularly to keep our guides enthusiastic and ensure you get the most out of your experience. Our tours cover not only the history but also food, shopping, artisan crafts, art evolution, and life in Florence.

Visit Florence In One Day

We have two interdependent free walking tours that show you the whole city in one day . The morning free tour covers the south, and the afternoon free tour covers the north. You visit many landmarks on the inside, which means you don’t have to return to see them after our tours. 

Small-Group Walking Tours

The best tours are where you can interact with others and have a good time. That’s why we limit our tours to a maximum of 10 people . This way, you can chat with your fellow participants, ask your guide questions, visit charming shops and churches, indulge in gelato, take plenty of photos, and simply enjoy your time to the fullest.

Free Walking Tour Florence in English

Discover Florence with expert local guides.

The best free tours in Florence

The BEST tour in FLORENCE: Renaissance and Medici tales

Free tour best of Florence: Medici, art, gastronomy

Free Tour Florence Essential (Nº 1 Tour on Tripadvisor)

Free tour The dark side of Florence. Mysteries & Legends

Exploring Florence: A stroll through the Renaissance city

Frequently Asked Questions

What to expect from the Free Walking Tour Florence?

It depends on the type of free tour you book, but all of them are well-prepared tours by professional guides who are among the best rated in Florence according to traveler reviews.

If it is your first guided visit in the city, we recommend the essential guided tour. It is usually the most complete and deals with more general and essential topics. Useful tips are usually given on places to eat, what to visit after the tour on your own, etc.

On this walking route with a guide, you could also expect the theme of the Renaissance and the Medici family, one of the most influential in the history of Florence, to be addressed.

How much does a Free Tour Florence in English cost?

This type of guided tours are also known as free pay tours. It is free to book and join the tour. At the end of the tour, you decide how much to pay the guide based on how well he has done his job.

The average contribution is 10/12 € per person, but if you really liked it, there are people who give 15 € or 20 €. If you didn't like it, you can give what you think that tour guide has deserved for the tour. You have the last word.

Our recommendation is that if you liked it, be honest and pay what you think is fair.

Will they wait for me if I arrive late for the guided tour?

No, the guide will not wait for anyone who is not punctual to start the walk. It is very likely that he will not answer the phone either, since he has probably started the visit and it would be disrespectful to the rest of the attendees who have arrived on time.

The good news is that the guide usually stays about 10 or 15 minutes at the meeting point after the start time, introducing himself and waiting while the stragglers arrive. Therefore, it is quite likely that you will find the group.

Does the visit go ahead if it rains or snows?

Usually, yes, but I recommend taking a look at the frequently asked questions for each guided journey to make sure. Most of the time, the visit will take place unless there is a recommendation from the government to stay home.

Are there guided routes in the afternoon?

Of course, many of the guided tours are done in the afternoon in the Tuscan capital. It is best to check the availability in the calendar to see if there is a free tour Florence in the afternoon available for the day that you are intested, and if there are places available.

Will we enter museums or churches during the tour?

Usually not, but depending on the guide and the specific guided tour, you may be surprised.

If you enter to see the information of the guided tours in Spanish, you can see the spots that are visited on every walking route.

Photos of the tour

Things to do after the tour

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Essential Free Tours Florence in English

In most guided tours of Florence that you will find on this website, you will discover all the essential places of the capital of Tuscany that are most attractive to tourists. The Duomo of Florence, Piazza della Signoria, the famous Ponte Vecchio and much more. They will be some of the places that you probably will discover on these routes.

The Duomo is probably the most emblematic and interesting place for travelers who come to Tuscany. The tour guides will explain the history in an interesting and enjoyable way and tell you curiosities such as the construction of Brunelleschi's famous dome. This architect changed the concept of dome construction that existed until then.

Some more specific monuments or viewpoints are usually discovered in specialized visits, such as the visit of legends of Florence. Keep in mind that as the activity is usually a walk around the center area, it is usually not possible to go far from the city center because in most cases you would not have enough time to visit the most essential places in the city. If you want to visit the Uffizi Gallery, the Accademia Gallery or the Boboli Gardens, you should book a specific visit to these places, because, even though you will probably know the history of the place in the essential tour, you will not be able to enter inside. So, for people more interested in history and art, you can go inside both galleries and the gardens. Both are unique and essential places to visit in Florence.

Another unique place is the Porcellino statue, a famous bronze boar located in the Mercato Nuovo. You will learn about why it is so famous and why it is said that if you rub its nose, you will return to Florence. It is a very common practice to take a picture with the boar touching him the noise. It is also a place where you can buy souvenirs and leather goods. If you ask the guide, he will probably give you some tips on how to recognize good quality leather and where to buy it.

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FLORENCE FREE TOUR TALE TOURTALE ENGLISH

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1569  reviews

FLORENCE FREE WALKING TOUR

Renaissance & medici tales.

Departure: San Lorenzo Square. Follow the GREEN UMBRELLA !

When: Everyday

Time: High season 10 AM / 4:30 PM 

        Low season 10 AM / 3:30 PM

Duration: 2 hours 15' approx.

Cost: tip-based

Please book in advance to guarantee your tour :)

and check your email for confirmation

#1 FREE TOUR IN FLORENCE ON TRIPADVISOR

DON'T MISS OUR TRILOGY OF FREE TOURS!

Piazza San Lorenzo. Look for the GREEN UMBRELLA

High season: 10:00 AM / 4:30 PM

Low season: 10:00 AM / 3:30 PM

2 hours 15' approx.

FLORENCE FREE

WALKING TOUR:

RENAISSANCE &

MEDICI TALES

Piazza Santa Maria Novella, in front of the church. Look for the GREEN UMBRELLA

Temporarily unavailable

1 hour 45'

MEDIEVAL FLORENCE FREE TOUR: 

SYMBOLS & HIDDEN GEMS

Piazza Santissima Annunziata, look for the GREEN UMBRELLA

Low season: Wed - Sun

High season: everyday

FREE TOUR -

THE DARK SIDE OF FLORENCE.

 MISTERIES & LEGENDS

WANT A TAILOR-MADE TOUR?

FOODIE'S TOUR

 TASTING TUSCANY

We adapt to you :)

1 hour 30' / 2 hours

Please submit a request

Pic by Nevertime

San Lorenzo square

ESSENTIAL FLORENCE

PRIVATE TOUR

FLORENCE HALF-DAY PRIVATE TOUR

3 hours (plus a break)

David's copy statue, in Signoria square

Everyday, except Mondays

1 hour. 

UFFIZI GALLERY PRIVATE TOUR

In front of the Accademia Gallery's entrance

ACCADEMIA GALLERY PRIVATE TOUR

FLORENCE'S MAIN HIGHLIGHTS:

WALKING + UFFIZI + ACCADEMIA

5 hours (plus a lunch break)

Piazza Santa Croce, in front of the Dante statue.

Everyday, except Tuesdays and Holiday closures

SANTA CROCE PRIVATE TOUR

PALAZZO VECCHIO PRIVATE TOUR

Piazza Signoria, in front of the David statue's copy

Everyday, except Thursday afernoons

2 hours. 

BARGELLO PRIVATE TOUR

Entrance of the Bargello Museum

Every morning and Saturday the entire day

Piazza Vittorio Emmanuele II (nearby the statue

Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

tip-based. Visit inside the Leaning Tower not included.

PISA FREE WALKING TOUR

Travelling around Tuscany?

Participation in tours promoted by FLORENCE FREE TOUR-TALE is strictly on a voluntary basis. Neither FLORENCE FREE TOUR-TALE, nor the self-employed freelance guides who are the providers of the tours promoted by FLORENCE FREE TOUR-TALE, will be held responsible in any way for injuries to body or property incurred during tours. The tour guides reserve the right to deny participation in any tour, to any person, for any reason. Thank you for your understanding.

Free Walking Tour Florence

Hey there, fellow traveller ready to dive into the heart of florence this city isn’t just a feast for the eyes with its stunning architecture and art; it’s a paradise for foodies, too. and let’s be honest, after indulging in florence’s culinary delights, a walking tour sounds like a perfect idea., now, let’s discuss what makes a free walking tour in florence special. imagine exploring the city without any upfront cost. yep, that’s right at free florence tours, we operate on a unique model where our guides give their all, knowing their reward depends entirely on your satisfaction at the end of the tour. it’s a win-win – perfect for budget travellers and guarantees you an unforgettable experience., book your free walking tour now, our tours aren’t just any tours. we take you through the heartbeat of florence – the historic centre. picture yourself strolling through landmarks like the bustling central market, the iconic ponte vecchio, and the magnificent piazza duomo. each step is a journey through history and beauty., but wait, there’s more florence’s renaissance history is as rich as its cuisine, and we’ve got tours that delve deep into this golden era. and for those who love a good sunset, our special evening tours are a must-do. imagine the city bathed in the golden hues of dusk – it’s pure magic..

Why choose Free Florence Tours?

Simple. our guides are local enthusiasts, passionate about their city and eager to share its stories. they’re dedicated to making your experience stellar. plus, our tours are designed to show you the best of florence in just 2 to 3 hours – perfect for those on a tight schedule., and we’re not just about free walking tours. we also offer intimate group tours in famous florence museums like the uffizi gallery , the accademia gallery , and the awe-inspiring florence cathedral.in a city with many tour options, free florence tours stands out. our small, local team ensures a personalised and authentic experience., free tour – what does it mean, the tours operate qualified guides for free on a ‘ pay-what-you-feel ‘ basis, allowing you the freedom to contribute an amount that reflects your valuation of the experience. whether you choose to give a generous amount or a modest sum, your contribution is solely at your discretion, based on your assessment of the tour’s value and enjoyment., your free florence tours highlights.

Best Free Florence Tours

Florence, the jewel of Italy, is a favourite amongst both local and international visitors. This vibrant and scenic city stands out in Italy for its authenticity, free from the typical tourist traps—Experience Florence’s more profound charm with one of the many complimentary tours available. Immerse yourself in the city’s rich mediaeval art and Renaissance roots. The Essential Florence Free City Walking Tour is the perfect choice to cover all must-see sights efficiently. For those intrigued by the city’s hidden stories, the Free Myths and Legends tour is a must. Wander the ancient, cobblestone streets and uncover the secret symbols in historic buildings, startling historical revelations, and the hidden messages in works by Leonardo Da Vinci. Alternatively, experience the city’s enchanting beauty under the evening sky with a Free Sunset Walking Tour of Florence.

Highlights of Free Florence Tours

Embark on a journey through Florence’s heart with our Free Walking Tours. Led by local guides, start at Piazza Santa Maria Novella and meander through the historic centre’s quaint streets to reach Piazza Santa Croce. Marvel at Florence’s architectural marvels along the way. Highlights include the Piazza Duomo , where you can find the superb Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, a symbol of Florence’s unrivalled power during the 13th and 14th centuries. Don’t miss Giotto’s Bell Tower and the unique Baptistery of San Giovanni. A short stroll away lies the enchanting Ponte Vecchio, offering picturesque views of the Palazzo Vecchio. Nearby stands the opulent Pitti Palace, once the Medici family’s grand abode. This FREE Florence walking tour is a treasure trove of stories, from the influential Medici to Renaissance masters like Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Dante Alighieri, Filippo Brunelleschi and many more, all while you soak in Florence’s most significant monuments.

Things to Do in Florence

Florence, a global hub for art lovers, offers a visual feast like no other. Stand in awe at the colossal Uffizi Gallery, marvel at the original ‘David’ in the Accademia Gallery, and dedicate a couple of days to exploring the plethora of world-class museums and art shops lining the streets. While you are in Florence, take the chance to visit Piazzale Michelangelo. This vantage point offers a panoramic view of the entire city, showcasing why Florence’s skyline is uniquely breathtaking, with stunning vistas at any hour. After your explorations, rejuvenate with classic Tuscan pasta and gelato. For a taste of local nightlife, venture into the Santo Spirito or San Frediano districts. Embrace the Italian lifestyle with a Negroni or Aperol Spritz at one of the city’s rooftop bars. Don’t wait – book your Free Florence Walking Tour today!

Free Florence Tours – Latest Reviews

Free walking tour of florence, frequently asked questions about free florence tours, how can i join the free walking tour do i need to make a reservation.

Want to ensure your spot on our free tour? We’d love for you to book online! It helps us organize everything smoothly. Thanks a bunch for understanding, and we can’t wait to see you!

Are there free walking tours in Florence Italy?

YES! Florence Free Tours offers a brilliant Free Walking Tour  that covers the main highlights of the city, such as the Piazza Signoria, the Palazzo Medici, and the Ponte Vecchio, led by our experienced local guides who will bring the Renaissance to life while delving into the secrets. To join this unforgettable journey, simply book your spot through our website. At the conclusion of the tour, if you’re delighted with your experience, you’re welcome to show your appreciation to the guide with a tip (suggested range: €10 – €50).

How much do you tip for Free Florence Tours?

Here’s a handy tip: A great starting point is to consider €10 per person for a half-day tour, making it €20 for a full day. But remember, if your guide made your day extra special, feel free to tip a bit more. They’ll truly appreciate your kindness and generosity!

How does Free Florence Tours work?

Free Walking Tour is the mean to city free guided tour,  an introductive walk through the city with an expert licensed tour guide . This tour offers an introductory stroll through Florence city led by a knowledgeable guide. ‘ FREE ‘ in our tour name symbolizes your Freedom of choice: you are welcome to join us; feel free to step away if it’s not to your liking, and if you’re happy with the experience, tipping the guide is a wonderful way to show your appreciation.

Top Things To Do In Florence – Attractions

Uffizi Gallery Duomo Florence Accademia Gallery Bargello Museum Boboli Gardens

Medici Chapels Orsanmichele Church Palazzo Pitti Palazzo Vecchio

Accademia Gallery Tickets Semi-Private Guided Tours Private Guided Tours Free Travel Guides Frequently Asked Questions

• Tours in English
• Tours in italiano

Our Tours in English

Renaissance Tour

Every day at 10.30am 1,5 – 2 Hours English speaking local licensed guide No reservation needed FREE–> Tips only

Licensed and native guides

See the city with a born and raised local

All our tours are completely FREE but g ratuities will be happily appreciated

No reservation needed

No need to book, just come and show up !

I nostri tour in italiano

Tour Rinascimento

Lunes, Jueves, Sábado a las 11.00 de la mañana 1,5 – 2 Horas Guia profesional y local en español No hace falta reservar GRATUITO–> Solo propina

Guías locales acreditados y licenciados

Visita la ciudad con verdaderos florentinos !

Solo propina

Todos nuestros tours son completamente GRATUITOS, pero propinas serán agradecidas.

No necesitas reserva

No hace falta reservar, solo ven y apúntate !

Why visit Florence with us?

We are the only Free Tour in Florence that use LICENSED and LOCAL GUIDES.

• Tours are carefully designed by us.
• No pre-paid tips, you choose how much to give us at the end of each tour
• Trusted by more than 10,000 visitors
• We are an award winning tour

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The beauties of florence - free walking tour.

Florence is one of the most beautiful and visited cities in the world and participating in our tours will give you the opportunity to enjoy more the beauty of its monuments and treasures, through the discovery of the families who made it great during the Renaissance, such as the Medici . Our guides (all licensed) will show you the gems of the city and tell you the anecdotes that only those who live here know. They will also give you tips on authentic restaurants and shops and, of course, how to avoid the tourist traps! Don't miss the opportunity to visit Florence through the eyes of a local! We have two different tours. At 10.30am, every day, all year round - The beauties of Florence – Free Walking tour (in English and Spanish. In Italian on request with a minimum of 10 people) We will show you the beauties of Florence on a route that starting from Piazza Santa Maria Novella, where the tour through the historic center begins, will take us to Piazza Santa Croce where the tour ends. During the tour we will be able to admire all the main monuments of Florence such as Piazza Duomo with the beautiful Duomo, Giotto's Bell Tower, the sumptuous Baptistery and the beautiful Brunelleschi's Dome, Piazza della Signoria, the Uffizi Museum and the Ponte Vecchio. At 6pm every day, all year round - Free tour of Florence at sunset (in English, Spanish and Italian) We will visit the Oltrarno (the other part of the city on the other side of the Arno river), one of the most famous and fascinating areas of Florence.

• Free booking and cancellation Free payment tour, no set price, booking and cancellation are free

Tour description

Our Florentine and authorized guides will show you the beauties of Florence along a route that starts from Piazza Santa Maria Novella where the tour begins in the alleys of the historic center and takes us to Piazza Santa Croce where the tour ends. During the tour we can admire all the main places of interest in Florence from the outside. Piazza Duomo with the beautiful Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Giotto's Bell Tower, the magnificent Baptistery and the beautiful Brunelleschi's Dome. Piazza della Signoria with the beautiful Palazzo Vecchio and the Loggia dei Lanzi . The Uffizi Gallery and the Ponte Vecchio . The tour ends in the beautiful Piazza Santa Croce in front of the magnificent basilica which you must visit at the end of the tour! Our Florentine and authorized guides will tell you the story and the characters who shaped them in the past, from the Medici to Dante , from Michelangelo to Brunelleschi and the Renaissance artists, and they will tell you stories, anecdotes and mysteries , which you will not find in any book ! We will also accompany you in the present with precious gastronomic advice , on where to drink and eat even a pizza or a good ice cream and on shopping and buying local handicrafts in places that only Florentines know.

What will we visit on this tour?

In the center of the square between the two pillars. In this hot period, the guide will not wait for you in the center of the square but in the center of the square on the shaded side. You will recognize it by the small flag of Florence with the red lily.

• 1 Outside visit Piazza Santa Maria Novella
• 2 Outside visit Piazza degli Antinori
• 3 Outside visit Via dè Tornabuoni Show 11 more stops
• 4 Outside visit Palazzo Strozzi
• 5 Outside visit Piazza della Repubblica
• 6 Outside visit Santa Maria del Fiore
• 7 Outside visit Cupola del Brunelleschi
• 8 Outside visit Battistero di San Giovanni
• 9 Outside visit Orsanmichele
• 10 Outside visit Piazza della Signoria
• 11 Outside visit Loggia dei Lanzi
• 12 Outside visit Uffizi Gallery
• 13 Outside visit Ponte Vecchio
• 14 Outside visit Piazza Santa Croce

How much does this tour cost?

Free tours do not have a set price , instead, each person gives the guru at the end of the tour the amount that he or she considers appropriate (these usually range from €10 to $50 depending on satisfaction with the tour).

Tour opinions

Tour opinions (793)

Great walking tour, recommend to get an overview of the best places to visit in Florence.

Me gusto el recorrido, el guía me encantó!! Muy interesante la historia de Florencia!!

Pleasant way to get your bearings and ask any questions you may have.

Who is this tour for?

What should you know, others tours from this guru, others cities to visit after florence, where are you traveling to.

Europe ‎ > ‎ Italy ‎ > Florence  >  Free Florence Walking Tour

• Free 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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Free Walking Tour Florence

Best spots of our florence free walking tour.

Florence, the unmissable Italian city for all art & history lovers. The capital of Tuscany does not face any low tourist season during the year, indeed, it is continuosly invaded by tourists bumping up and down between the Duomo and the Ponte Vecchio. Thousands and thousands of selfies and clicks of all kinds fill the fizzy Florentine air. So what about Florence? Why is it such a must-go destination? Why our free walking tour of Florence is a must? Florence does not really need a voice-over to have its beauty explained. Its streets are overwhelmed with stunning palaces, fine statues, rich churches and picturesque streets. The four main historical attractions of Florence are: the beautiful marble Duomo and its battistero, the city hall Palazzo Vecchio and the immortal Ponte Vecchio. It’s up to you to discover them all booking our Florence free walking tour ! And if you’re are a big foodie, you must know that Florence have a quite interesting and challenging street food cuisine. We recommend you join a food tour with our partners Streaty Tours: their Florence street food tour is nothing but a real, genuine, crazy experience!

Why joining our Florence free guided walking tour?

However, just like all Italian cities, there is something that a tourist cannot really catch until he walks around with a local. Locals have the key to open all the secret doors of Florentine life ! What do Florentines eat in the streets? What’s the rival city and how do Florentines cope with this rivalry? What are all these coat of arms stuck here and there around the street walls? And what about those tiny cute windows, what’s hidden behind? This is why we tour guides do what we do. We want to help travellers see reality through our own eyes. We don’t want travellers to come and go without having learned anything. A travel is an experience, and an experience is made to teach and enrich. This is the reason why we exist 🙂 You have many ways to discover the city of Florence, you can do it on your own, simply getting lost following the enchanting beauty. Or you can join a Florence free guided walking tour ! There are many free walking tours in Florence, not only exploring the city center but also some off the beaten path spot.

Freely tour in Florence is coming soon, so stay tuned!

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11:00 am / 6:00 pm

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Free walking tour Florence is the best way to know the beautiful city of Florence, located in the Tuscany region of Italy, is renowned for its stunning Renaissance art and architecture. The city is home to many famous works of art, including Michelangelo’s “David” and Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus.” Visitors can explore the Uffizi Gallery to see some of the world’s finest collections of Italian Renaissance art or visit the stunning Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, known as the Duomo, for a panoramic view of the city. The historic center of Florence is also a hub for shopping, dining, and nightlife.

Meet your guide at the Leopoldsbrunnen.

Tip only basis. You must tip your guide at the end of the tour. It is recommended to tip from 10 to 20 euros per person.

Free walking tour Florence begins at the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, a stunning example of Gothic architecture that has stood as a symbol of Florence for centuries. Admire the intricate façade and take a moment to marvel at the beautiful dome, which was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi in the early 15th century.  

Next, head to the nearby Piazza della Signoria, a vibrant public square that has been the political and social hub of Florence for centuries. Surrounded by stunning buildings and monuments, this is a great place to take in the energy of the city and appreciate its beauty.

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From the Piazza, make your way to the Uffizi Gallery, one of the most famous art museums in the world. Here, you can see an incredible collection of masterpieces from some of the greatest artists in history, including Botticelli, da Vinci, Michelangelo, and many others.  

As you continue your tour, be sure to stop by the Palazzo Vecchio, a magnificent medieval palace that has been the seat of Florentine government for centuries. Admire the impressive architecture and take in the view from the terrace, which offers a panoramic vista of the city and its surrounding hills.  

Next, take a leisurely stroll through the beautiful Boboli Gardens, which are located behind the Palazzo. These spacious gardens are filled with fountains, sculptures, and a diverse collection of plants and trees, making them a peaceful and rejuvenating escape from the busy city.  

Finally, end your tour at the Ponte Vecchio, the oldest and most famous bridge in Florence. Cross over the river Arno and take in the views of the city from this iconic landmark.

Frequently asked questions

What is the maximum of participants.

The maximum of participants is 15 people.

Can I book a private walking tour?

Yes, you can book a private walking tour by contacting us straight via email.

Can I bring my children?

Yes, in Free Tour Florence everyone is welcome.

What should I bring?

Check out the weather on the day of the tour to make sure you bring and umbrella in case is raining. Bring comfortable shoes, cash and a big smile 🙂

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WALKING TOURS & ACTIVITIES IN FLORENCE

Free Tour of Florence

Discover Florence's historic centre on this 2-hour free walking tour with a local guide

Florence Dark Side Free Tour: Mysteries & Legends

Uncover the darker side of Florence on this 1.5-hour free tour

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DISCOVER THIS UNIQUE CITY WITH THE BEST LOCAL GUIDES

Tours in Florence are offered by our partners, Florence Free Tour-Tale.

The beautiful city of Florence, rightfully known as the “Cradle of the Renaissance” is on every traveller’s must-see list, and understandably so! Nestled in the Tuscan hills, straddling the River Arno, with its magnificent pink-and-green-marble buildings and terracotta-roofed skyline, Florence is one of the most iconic cities in Italy, or perhaps Europe… or even the world!

With the elegant domed roof of the Duomo, Florence’s stunning cathedral, forming the centrepiece of the city, and countless piazzas to wander across and palazzos to discover, there is no better way to explore Florence than on foot. Our trusted partners in Florence, Florence Free Tour-Tale, offer a brilliant Free Walking Tour that covers the main highlights of the city, such as the Piazza Signoria, the Palazzo Medici and the Ponte Vecchio, led by their experienced local guides who will bring the Renaissance to life while delving into the secrets and stories of Florence’s most influential family, the Medicis.

Florence’s list of famous residents reads like a “Who’s Who” of the Renaissance, with names such as Galileo, Dante, Botticelli, Leonardo Da Vinci, Michaelangelo, Rafael and Donatello being instantly recognisable even to those of us without Art History degrees, and Florence is unsurprisingly home to some of the world’s most famous museums and works of art. No visit to Florence is complete without exploring the world-renowned Uffizi Gallery or the Galleria dell’Accademia, which houses Michaelangelo’s David, so check out the various Museum Tours that Florence Tour-Tale have on offer!

If you can’t get enough of Florence (like us!), Tour-Tales’ “Off the Beaten Track” tour takes you further afield and heads to the fascinating areas around Santa Croce and Santa Maria Novella – not to be missed!

Discover the top sites in Florence with these tours offered by our partners, Florence Free Tour-Tale. While you may not see the famous SANDEMANs red umbrellas (look instead for the green Florence Free Tour-Tale umbrellas), we only work with partners we know, trust, and who have been vetted by us to ensure they meet the same standards you are used to enjoying in SANDEMANs’ own cities. We are proud to partner with Florence Free Tour-Tale and are sure you’ll love their tours as much as we do!

What is the SANDEMANs Partner Network?

Tours in Florence are offered by a partner, not SANDEMANs NEW Europe.

We only work with partners we know, trust, and who have been vetted by us to ensure they meet the same standards you are used to enjoying in SANDEMANs’ own cities.

We are proud to partner with Florence Free Tour-Tale and are sure you’ll love their tours as much as we do.

Book a tour with one of our partners

• SANDEMANs only works with partners that meet the same quality standards as we do
• Tours are chosen by our specialists from an array of offers based on their quality and value
• We connect the best local guides with travelers from all around the world

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Free Florence Walking Tour

If you have ever wanted to explore the Tuscan capital of Florence and didn’t know where to begin then Original Free Florence Walking Tour is for you. There’s no need to struggle to find your way around the city or worry about missing out on something because this tour has everything organized for you! Rather than trying to find the best sights, you can turn up at the meeting point and kick off a great historical and cultural sightseeing tour! Our tour guides have a great love for Florence and will be glad to impart their knowledge to you. Your guide will introduce you to the city’s impressive origins as a Roman settlement to its important role in the Renaissance. There is good reason that Florence was known as “the Athens of the Middle Ages” and you will know all about it by the end of the Original Free Florence Walking Tour. Not only can your guide tell you about the history and culture of the city but they can also point out the best bars, restaurants and hostels to you. Over the course of the tour, which takes about 2.5 hours, there will be plenty to see and do. Sights of Original Free Florence Walking Tour Palazzo Vecchio

Loggia dei Lanzi

Mercato del Porcellino

Fontana del Porcellino

Florence Cathedral

Palazzo Medici Riccardi

Laurentian Medici Library

Fountain of Neptune

Fontane dei Mostri Marini

and many more!

ORIGINAL FREE FLORENCE WALKING TOUR 2.5 HOUR WALKING TOUR FLORENCE’S MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS PERSONAL TOUR GUIDE HISTORICAL SIGHTS AND MUCH MUCH MORE… Free

We consider the Original Free Florence Walking Tour to be the best in the city and we pride ourselves on providing our guests with a great experience, something to which the testimonials of past visitors attests. We can guarantee a fun and educational experience within the city and it is great value for absolutely nothing! There isn’t a single charge attached to going on this tour yet you get to see everything that Florence has to offer. What could be better than that?

• Free Walking Tours
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• Free cancellation
• Join In Group
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• Meet with Guide
• Mobile ticketing
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• Smoking Allowed

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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 >>

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.

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 .

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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As the year comes to a close, it’s a perfect time to stop and reflect. For the past few years, we’ve really enjoyed the practice of doing an Annual Review because it helps us celebrate our victories, recognize areas for improvement, and start taking steps toward fulfilling our dreams. During our recent stay with Jedd’s brother in Honolulu,…

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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