Best of Florence Walking Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore Florence's historic center
- Skip-the-line access to the Duomo
- Visit the Uffizi Gallery
- Discover Michelangelo's David
- Stroll through Piazza della Signoria
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Guided walking tour of Florence's historic center
- Skip-the-line access to the Duomo
- Visit to the Uffizi Gallery
- Meals and beverages
Itinerary
Your exciting walking tour in the heart of Florence will begin on Via Cavour 12 black, where your local, history and art-loving guide will be waiting for you!
Follow your guide to one of the most historic and beautiful squares of Florence - Piazza San Giovanni! The walk will take about ten minutes, and you will immediately be greeted by the breathtaking view of Brunelleschi's grandiose Duomo, the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, the San Giovanni Baptistry, and Giotto's Bell Tower. Spend a couple of minutes taking photos of the awe-inspiring buildings and their iconic white, pink, and green marble decorations. Not only is this complex a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but it is also an international symbol of Italy overall! Your guide will spend about fifteen minutes sharing information about the buildings’ fascinating histories as well as some fun, local stories. Discover how this square grew from a ancient building into the intricate architectural masterpiece it is today.
Right around the corner from Florence’s Duomo, you can find Piazza della Repubblica - one of the most historic squares in the city. This was once the civic heart of Florence, hundreds years ago, and throughout various ruling families. As your guide explains the vivid history of Piazza della Repubblica, you can take yourself back in time and imagine ancient men and women walking on the same grounds in which you are standing. Although the square is now filled with luxury shopping and elegant cafes, it was once a lively, local marketplace. Explore through time as your expert guide answers any questions you may have about the lovely Piazza della Repubblica.
Follow your guide through the picturesque streets until you reach Loggia del Mercato Nuovo. As you approach the marketplace, you can admire the lovely Renaissance arches of this ancient market. Although its name translates to, “New Market,” this market has been standing for centuries, originally opening in the 1500’s as a place for foreign silk and precious stone vendors. Now it is famous for a very unique sculpture… Your guide will lead you to the “Porcellino,” or piglet statue, where it is good luck to rub the nose of the baby pig. As you wait your turn to place your hand on the nose for good luck, your guide will share some other fascinating local legends with you.
Up next on your walking tour of Florence is one of the most important squares of the city - Piazza della Signoria. This beautifully intriguing, L-shaped square is an open air museum, where the history of Florence artfully unfolds. Your guide will vividly explain that, throughout time, this was always the civic heart of Florence - where people heard news of the government, where they defended their city from rivals, where they feasted for holidays, and where they met with friends. Because of its importance, this is also later where the powerful Medici family built Palazzo Vecchio, and ultimately, Loggia dei Lanzi, home to priceless, famous sculptures. Did you know that the “David” sculpture by Michelangelo was originally supposed to be placed in Piazza della Signoria? Learn all about this special corner of Florence from your passionate guide!
Your guide will next lead you to an undisputed symbol of Florentine beauty - Ponte Vecchio. Now home to luxury jewelry shops, this bridge did not always have such a lavish connotation. For years, Ponte Vecchio was home to smelly meat markets! Learn all about the bridge’s transformation throughout time, as well as why it was the only bridge spared during the bombings of World War 2. Make sure to have your camera ready - the view from Ponte Vecchio is one of the loveliest in the city!
Meeting point
Start Location
Unknown location
Important information
Know before you book
- Tour operates in English
- Photography may be restricted in certain areas
- Children under 6 years old are free
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes
- Bring a bottle of water
- Check the weather forecast and dress accordingly
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Stroller Accessible
- Easy Public Transport
Good to know
- The "Walking tour" option does not include the access to the Duomo Cathedral
Traveler reviews
Walking Tour Florence
I took part today in this walking tour of one and a half hours in the heart of Florence and I could not ask for anything better. Our guide, Lisa, was fantastic: punctual, professional and with a really amazing preparation. You see when someone loves what they explain! It managed to convey a lot of curiosity about the points of interest of the city, making the experience not only instructive but also very pleasant and dynamic. Note to the organization: despite being a small group, we were provided with headphones, which worked perfectly and allowed us to enjoy the story in total freedom of movement, without missing a word. If you are looking for an authentic and well-organized way to discover the beauties of Florence, this tour is absolutely recommended. Thanks again to Lisa for the beautiful morning!
Great introduction to Florence.
Just three of us plus guide on this tour. Guide Vincente was very informative. Given just 1.5 hours, many places not seen but a great place to start.
Not a good use of time or money
This tour was not as good as the others we went on during our trip. The guide was a bit scattered, often walked off without checking to make sure the group was with her, and the information was hard to follow and sometimes unclear. I’d recommend other travellers choose a guided tour of the Duomo itself, rather than walking around Florence.
Good Tour
This was a very good introductory tour of beautiful Florence . Guide was a little hard to understand but still a good tour.
Highly recommended tour
Highly recommended, sandra the guide was lovely and very professional, very watchful of the group and resolved all the doubts we had