Things to Do in Florence
• Admire Michelangelo’s *David*, the Hall of the Colossus, and other Renaissance masterpieces.
• Explore Europe’s oldest art-school-turned-museum at your own pace with full-day access.
• Enjoy the most budget-friendly way to experience Florence’s art scene hassle-free.
• Upgrade with an audio guide or guided tour for deeper insights and stories.
Discover Hidden Treasures and Stories of Florence!
Get ready to be fascinated and immersed in an incredible STORYTELLING of Florence's history.
We won't just provide you with dry facts; we'll bring the past to life with vivid and engaging narratives.
Our guides are GENUINE LOCALS and they will show you the city like no one else can, offering a truly unique perspective. You'll discover hidden spots that often go unnoticed by tourists, allowing you to immerse yourself in the authentic atmosphere of the city, away from the typical tourist routes.
Believe us: this is a special and unique way to explore the city.
As we walk through the city, we'll share fascinating stories spanning three centuries. We'll talk about the Medici family and the great artists of this city, and their incredible works that still amaze and captivate us centuries later. This tour is not a boring lecture! We've made it enjoyable and relaxed, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the history of Florence.
Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to join our tour!
Booking is completely free. Reserve your spot now!
• Enjoy the freedom of discovering the gallery without the structure of a fixed tour—pure, self-led immersion in Italy’s artistic heart.
• Marvel at Renaissance icons like Botticelli’s *The Birth of Venus*, da Vinci’s early sketches, Michelangelo’s works, and Caravaggio’s gripping *Medusa*.
• Want more? Upgrade for host-assisted fast entry, a guided tour for expert insights, or an audio guide to learn as you wander. Alternatively, choose the digital guidebook for easy reference at your fingertips.
Welcome to the free walking tour of the real Florence, a complete tour of the main landmarks of the cradle of renaissance. A tour made by only certified and expert florentine guides, delivering a friendly tour, will introduce the city to you.
You will learn about art, Medici family, history, food, anecdotes, secrets and culture of Florence; with tips about the city, restaurants, museums, night life, told from the perspective of a local.
The meeting point is in Piazza dell'Unità Italiana, very close to the main train station.
Then we will walk through the beautiful streets and squares of one of the most iconic cities of the world.
The route is:
- MEDICI CHAPEL
- SAN LORENZO MARKET
- MEDICI RICCARDI PALACE
- SAN LORENZO CHURCH
- DUOMO CATHEDRAL
- THE BAPTISTERY
- REPUBBLICA SQUARE ORSANMICHELE CHURCH
- PORCELLINO -SIGNORIA SQUARE
- UFFIZI(EXTERNAL) -PONTE VECCHIO
- SANTA CROCE SQUARE
• Cathedral access is included with your Tower ticket, so you can explore its Romanesque beauty without booking separately.
• Upgrade with an audio guide for richer insights. Add access to all six monuments in the Pisa Complex to get a complete experience of the Square.
This tour is the complementary sibling of our main tour ESSENTIAL Florence with the best STORYTELLERS, Renaissance and Medici Tales.
Book both free tours to get the full experience!
https://www.guruwalk.com/walks/28091-essential-florence-with-the-best-storytellers-renaissance-and-medici-tales?ref=p6v21e2ociuwommrx95y
THE DARK SIDE OF FLORENCE, MYSTERIES AND LEGENDS
In this tour, we’ll show you the hidden and ghoulish side of Florence, with stories of ghosts, murders, betrayals, and curiosities that go beyond the typical history of the city.
Have you ever heard about the Monster of Florence, one of the bloodiest serial killers? Are you curious about florentine superstitions, conspiracies, unexplained things, saints, miracles, or tortures? If so, this is the tour for you.
*We just warn that some topics may hurt some sensitivities and may not be suitable for the public under 18.
Come with us and discover the side of Florence that doesn’t appear in tourist guides, so disturbing, lurid, and unsettling that will make you have a sleepless night. ha ha ha
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* Are you up for more? Book also our MAIN TOUR, which is the perfect complement to this experience: ESSENTIAL Florence with the best STORYTELLERS, Renaissance and Medici Tales
https://www.guruwalk.com/walks/28091-essential-florence-with-the-best-storytellers-renaissance-and-medici-tales?ref=p6v21e2ociuwommrx95y
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Mandatory audio systems
Due to municipal regulations, the use of an audio system is mandatory. Starting February 18, you can rent whispers and headphones at the meeting point for €1.20 per person. We recommend bringing the exact amount, as the company does not provide change. You can also pay by card.
For greater comfort, you can use your own earphones.
• Discover how this former art school became one of Florence’s most iconic museums.
• Explore seven halls of Renaissance art and see Michelangelo’s legendary *David*.
• Hear captivating stories and insights about the artists and their masterpieces.
• Enjoy an affordable, top-rated guided tour in your preferred language (English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese and German).
*This tour is the complementary sibling of the tour the Dark Side of Florence, Mysteries and Legends. https://www.guruwalk.com/walks/41450-the-dark-side-of-florence-mysteries-legends-free-walking-tour?ref=p6v21e2ociuwommrx95y
Book both free tours to get the full experience!
ESSENTIAL FLORENCE
Are you fascinated by the city of Florence? Would you like to discover its astounding history and culture? If you're looking for a fun and engaging way to explore Florence, then look no further than this tour!
Here we'll share with you all the secrets of this breathtaking city. We take you on a journey of Florence's most mind-blowing stories, hidden gems and unheard anecdotes from the city's extraordinary past, all told by the most charismatic storytellers. The experience is guaranteed to leave you with an unforgettable insight into the heart of the city and will leave you longing to return for more!
What should you visit in Florence? How did the Renaissance change the world? Why did this Italian region give birth to many geniuses like Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci or Galileo? How did the Medici family become such a powerful dynasty? Which were their secrets and intricacies?
These are just some of the questions we will try to answer on this exciting tour through the most famous streets of Florence. Our expert and friendly guide will provide you with lots of knowledge and special tips, such as food and leather recommendations, rooftops with stunning views…) to help you enjoy Florence to the fullest.
The tour covers the main historical sights of the city, such as San Lorenzo Square and Church, Palazzo Medici, Duomo square and Cathedral complex (Baptistery, Dome, Bell Tower), Dante Neighborhood, Signoria Square, Loggia de’ Lanzi, Palazzo Vecchio, The outside of the Uffizi Gallery and The Ponte Vecchio. Besides, you'll also get to explore some hidden corners along the way, curiosities and treasures that you won't see in any other tour.
What are you waiting for? Book now and immerse yourself in this thrilling adventure and let yourself be transported back in time through storytelling at its best!
Rated 4.9/5
Recommended by 99% of travelers
Winner of the Traveler’s Choice Award in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024
#1 in Italy and #11 in the world
* Are you up for more? Book also the complementary and alternative free tour: The Dark Side of Florence, Mysteries and Legends:
https://www.guruwalk.com/walks/41450-the-dark-side-of-florence-mysteries-legends-free-walking-tour?ref=p6v21e2ociuwommrx95y
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Mandatory audio systems
Due to municipal regulations, the use of an audio system is mandatory. Starting February 18, you can rent whispers and headphones at the meeting point for €1.20 per person. We recommend bringing the exact amount, as the company does not provide change. You can also pay by card.
For greater comfort, you can use your own earphones.
• Gain vivid, in‑depth insights from a certified guide who links each masterpiece to the cultural shifts of Renaissance Florence, all in your language, so no nuance is missed.
• Stand before Botticelli’s ethereal *The Birth of Venus* and *Primavera* and feel the drama in Caravaggio’s *Medusa,* alongside lesser‑known gems that shaped the course of Western art.
• Choose a small‑group upgrade for a more intimate experience with 9 or fewer guests. Enjoy personalized attention and the freedom to ask questions as you uncover hidden gems of art history.
Hello everyone, welcome to Florence! With this tour, we offer you the chance to experience Florence through the eyes of local guides. We'll explore the most classic and beautiful parts of the city center, guided by the locals.
The tour begins in Piazza San Lorenzo, in front of the statue of Giovanni delle Bande Nere, in the neighborhood of the powerful Medici family. This tour will combine the traditional with the hidden, exploring the most emblematic and the lesser-known streets. From the San Lorenzo neighborhood, we will explore the historic center, the jewels of the Renaissance, the history of the Medici family, the impressive Cathedral, and Piazza della Signoria, which can be considered a true open-air museum of statues. The tour route may change each time, as we try to customize it as much as possible, depending on the interests and passions of the participants.
This is the itinerary, which may have some slight differences depending on the tour and the guide's taste:
San Lorenzo Church
Palazzo Medici Riccardi
Florence Cathedral (Duomo)
Medieval Quarter or Piazza della Repubblica
Piazza della Signoria (the open-air museum)
Uffizi
Ponte Vecchio
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What's the price? A guruwalk is a pay-as-you-go tour, meaning it's completely free to book, but the 'guru' expects to be rewarded at the end with whatever amount you choose. Some people give €10, others give €50; you choose the price.
• Let the audio guide lead the way. From Vasari’s dazzling frescoes to Brunelleschi’s revolutionary dome, hear the stories behind the marvels as you explore at your own pace.
• Whether you want the big highlights or hidden gems, the audio guide helps you make the most of your visit without rushing or missing a thing.
• Want more? Upgrade your ticket. Add a Brunelleschi Dome climb for unbeatable views over Florence, or choose the express guided tour in English to get insider insights from a local expert.
Anyone who comes to Florence thinks of walking in a city immersed in the splendor of the Middle Ages, with its ancient vestiges of towers or in that of the Renaissance city dotted with majestic buildings of the time: but this is not the case. With the Unification of Italy the city completely changed face and underwent a total metamorphosis: the Center of Florence today is only the pale memory of its glorious past. At the end of the nineteenth century the "heart" of Florence and centered on the Old Market , full of history and magic was subjected to many urban misdeeds prompted by new needs and was sacrificed to the wild building speculation of the time: with it the old Jewish Ghetto also disappeared forever. With the help of your imagination and with the support of many photographs and paintings we will retrace together some of these stages. The new Capital was ready to receive the new rulers.
1 - We will start from Piazza SMN for a short introduction and then continue to the Market
2 - S.Lorenzo Market majestic work of the time
3 - We will make a short stop in front of the facade of the Cathedral to understand the tastes dictated by the new ruling class.
4 - We will proceed towards the "new" Via Calzaiuoli to finally reach Piazza della Repubblica, the beating heart of the city before the great demolitions with its post-unification cafés.
5 - We will continue towards Piazza della Signoria where the original layout of the square fortunately remained almost intact.
6 - Finally, with a special guest invented by Collodi's creative imagination, Pinocchio, we will talk about the Facade and the interior of the Basilica. Before saying goodbye, we will pay homage to the statue of the Divine Poet that overlooks the square to remind us that the Poet would never have approved of such a metamorphosis. The story will be fueled by anecdotes, curiosities and little stories that will remain engraved in your memory for a long time.
We look forward to seeing you on this new and exciting adventure.
Important information for travellers:
- Minimum number 6
- Walkers who wish to cancel the tour confirmed by us are requested to cancel the tour at the latest 24 hours before the start of the tour.
• Leisurely explore the epicenter of Florentine republic at the Hall of the Five Hundred and the Medici apartments on the upper floors.
• Upgrade your experience to add a multilingual audio guide and get historically-rich commentaries on the museum’s exhibits in your preferred language.
• You can also opt for an English guided tour and get an expert’s deeper insights into the palace’s frescoed chambers and gilded courtyards.
Discover the magic of Florence with us
Join us on a fascinating tour through the heart of Florence with our certified local guides, true experts in Florentine history and culture. We'll begin in the enchanting Piazza Santa Maria Novella and, strolling through the picturesque alleys of the historic center, we'll reach the majestic Piazza Santa Croce, where the tour will conclude.
During the walk, you will admire the city's main treasures from the outside:
- The imposing Piazza del Duomo, with the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Giotto's Bell Tower, the Baptistery, and Brunelleschi's iconic Dome.
- The monumental Piazza della Signoria, with the imposing Palazzo Vecchio, the elegant Loggia dei Lanzi, and the famous Uffizi Gallery.
- The unforgettable Ponte Vecchio, a romantic symbol of the city.
The tour ends in front of the Basilica of Santa Croce, in one of Florence's most evocative squares. Our guides will not only reveal the secrets of the great figures who shaped Florentine history, such as the Medici, Dante, Michelangelo, and Brunelleschi, but will also share anecdotes, legends, and curiosities you won't find in any guidebook.
And to complete the experience, you'll receive culinary tips, ideas for enjoying authentic pizza or gelato, and shopping advice in local artisan shops... just like a true Florentine!
