Florence is brimming with brilliant art, delicious food, and oh so much history. But if you truly want to enjoy this Tuscan gem, advanced planning is required. The city’s major attractions are condensed within a walkable area, which can make its core feel overrun with tourists. Avoid disappointment, and don’t spend your holiday standing in line by booking Florence’s best tours in advance.
Plan a magical vacation in Florence by booking its best tours before arriving.
This page contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if you purchase through my links (at no extra cost to you). I ONLY recommend companies and products that I have personally used, love, and trust.
In Florence, planning is a Requirement
Pre-planning for any trip is essential and part of the fun. If I desperately want to see something, I’ll book a ticket or a tour in advance. But I am definitely more of a go-with-the-flow type of traveller. Unfortunately, spontaneity doesn’t work well in a world-famous city like Florence. So here are five tours that will help make your vacation memorable.
Uffizi Gallery Tour
Over 4 million people visit the Uffizi Gallery’s more than 10,000 pieces of art each year. Booking a guided tour is the best way to minimize the crowds and ensure you don’t miss any of Botticelli’s, Michelangelo’s, or Raphael’s masterpieces.
If time is short, buy a combined Skip-the-Line-Guided Tour of the Uffizi and Accademia Galleries ticket. While it’s a lot of art in a condensed time frame, your guide will get you inside quickly and take you straight to Botticelli’s Birth of Venus.
But the best tour in Florence is booking an Early Access Guided Small Group Tour of the Uffizi, ideally in the morning’s first time slot. You’ll benefit from reduced visitors and your guide’s expert knowledge. Afterward, you’ll have time to explore the gallery and discover other hidden gems.
You can also visit the Uffizi’s splendidly situated cafe that offers one of the city’s best viewpoints. Or linger in the Uffizi’s well-curated gift shop.
Accademia Gallery
If you’re wondering if you should go to the Accademia to see Michelangelo’s David, the answer is YES! I am not an art expert, so I can’t properly express why this colossal statue has become one of the world’s most famous and influential works of art. But I can confess that I found it mesmerizing, and I’m certainly not alone.
The ideal way to see David is to book a Skip-the-Line Accademia ticket in the last time slot so you visit the hour before closing. The guide will help you navigate the confusing, long entry lineup process. They’ll also provide some interesting insights before leaving you to admire the masterpiece that Michelangelo created when he was only twenty-six.
I believe an hour is sufficient to explore this smaller gallery, which will be less crowded at the end of the day. Another fascinating highlight is Michelaglo’s Prisoners. These are unfinished pieces of art, partial statues that look like they are trying to escape from their marble block.
Duomo Complex with Dome Climb
The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, often called the Duomo, is Florence’s most iconic landmark. While the cathedral is undeniably impressive, its interior is rather plain, and with so much else to see in Florence, I don’t believe that it merits the massive line to get inside.
Regardless, consider the Duomo Area Tour and Brunelleschi’s Dome Climb one of Florence’s best tours. The Duomo Complex includes not just the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and its magnificent dome but flexible access to the Baptistery, Museo dell’Opera del Duomo and Giotto’s Belltower.
The tour starts with a guide who gives an interesting overview of all the sites within the Duoma Area before helping you access the Dome climb. FYI, the view from the top is worth the 463 steps.
If your legs can handle it, you can also climb the bell tower’s 414 steps to get a one-of-a-kind close-up view of the cathedral’s spectacular dome. This ticket is flexible, so you don’t have to do both climbs on the same day.
The most fascinating but less visited was Museo dell’Opera. This is where Michelangelo actually carved his masterpiece, David. It is also home to much of the original art that was created for the exterior of Santa Maria del Fiore. Today, the statues that you see on the front of the church are replicas.
The real hidden gem is heading to the top-floor terrace. It’s rarely visited, and the view of the Duomo was terrific!
Palazzo Vecchio & Arnolfo Tower
For me, climbing the Arnolfo Tower at Palazzo Vecchio offered the best view in Florence. Not only did you get interesting views from the top, but you could pause, catch your breath, and take in unique viewpoints all the way up. Also, this climb is the least intimidating if you are afraid of heights.
The Florence: Arnolfo Tower Climb & Palazzo Vecchio Entry Ticket will let you explore the entire 13th-century fortress and give you timed access to the Arnolfo Tower. While this former residence of the powerful Medici family is interesting, the real gem is the Arnoflo Tower.
Today, Palazzo Vecchio is Florence’s City Hall. The lobby and entranceway are interesting and free to visit. Arrive early to take it all in, and you might even see a few Florentine couples heading inside to get married.
Sunset Walking Tour with Wine & Food Tasting
The Sunset Wine and Food Tour was my absolute favourite. If you’re heading to Florence, book this tour now! You won’t regret it. And don’t hesitate if you’re travelling solo. You’ll meet local food purveyors as you stroll through the Oltrarno (the other side of the Arno River). And it was easy to make new friends over food and wine.
Arrive hungry, and you won’t be disappointed. Consider this a unique and delicious dinner filled with local treats. The portions at each stop were generous. We started the night with a glass of bubbles and ended with the best gelato I’ve ever had. If you’re a vegetarian, let them know in advance.
The highlight was visiting one of Florence’s famous wine windows. Dating back to the 15th century, these windows allowed prominent families to sell wine directly from their palazzos to the public.
There are approximately 150 Buchette del Vino (Wine Windows) in Florence, but many are boarded up. The ones that are still open might have a long line, but this walking tour gives you skip-the-line access. So ring the bell and grab your glass.
Bonus Tip:
Florence is a very walkable city. You don’t need a car. The central core is a 20-minute walk from the train station. I loved staying at Bob W Ponte Vecchio and could walk everywhere within minutes.
If you found this best Florence tour guide helpful, you might also like the Five Best Views in Florence.
