Florence: Medici Palace & Renaissance Walking Tour

Three centuries of Medici power unfold as you walk Florence's heart

You walk Florence's Renaissance core with a licensed guide, moving from the Medici family's burial church through their palaces, the cathedral complex, and Piazza della Signoria to the Uffizi Gallery. The guide covers three centuries of Medici influence and architectural history at a natural pace, and you pay what you think the tour deserves at the end.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Basilica of San Lorenzo10m
2. Medici Riccardi Palace10m
3. Florence Baptistery10m
4. Giotto's Bell Tower10m
5. Brunelleschi’s Dome10m
6. Dante House Museum5m
7. Piazza della Signoria10m
8. Palazzo Vecchio10m
9. Uffizi Galleries10m

Explore Florence's Renaissance landmarks

• Visit Basilica di San Lorenzo
• See Palazzo Medici Riccardi
• Explore Florence Baptistery
• View Florence Cathedral
• Admire Giotto's Campanile
• Observe Brunelleschi’s Dome
• Visit Dante House Museum
• Walk through Piazza della Signoria
• See Palazzo Vecchio
• Explore Uffizi Gallery

The experience

The moment you step into the street, the city's layers start to show themselves. Your guide meets you near the Basilica of San Lorenzo (the burial place of the Medici family), and from there the walk moves through the neighborhoods where power actually lived. You'll see the Palazzo Medici Riccardi, built between 1444 and 1484 for Cosimo de' Medici himself, then move toward the cathedral complex: Brunelleschi's dome (still the largest brick dome ever built), Giotto's Bell Tower with its polychrome marble, and the Florence Baptistery dating back to 1059. The guide doesn't lecture. It's more like walking with someone who knows why these buildings matter and what the Medici did to shape them.

From there you drift toward Piazza della Signoria, where the Palazzo Vecchio sits like a fortress watching over the square. The copy of Michelangelo's David stands outside, and the Loggia dei Lanzi holds a gallery of statues. It's the kind of place where you stop without meaning to. The guide will point out details you'd walk past alone: the stories embedded in the stone, the way the families competed, the Renaissance becoming visible in the architecture itself. Then comes the Dante House Museum, a smaller stop but one that grounds the literary side of the city: Dante wrote the Divine Comedy here, and it's the most important poem of the Middle Ages. The walk ends near the Uffizi Gallery, one of the world's largest art museums, positioned at the edge of Piazza della Signoria like a final punctuation mark.

The whole thing moves at a conversational pace. You're not rushing between checkpoints. You're moving through the center of Florence the way locals do, just with someone who knows the three-hundred-year story behind every corner. The guide is licensed, the tour works for wheelchairs and strollers, and at the end you decide what to pay. It's a donation model, which means the guide's compensation depends on what you think the expertise was worth. That setup tends to keep things genuine. There's no script to rush through, just a walk and a story.

What’s included

• Your tour includes a licensed guide who walks you through Florence's Renaissance center, starting at the Basilica of San Lorenzo and ending near the Uffizi Gallery.
• The guide covers the Medici palaces, the cathedral complex with Brunelleschi's dome and Giotto's Bell Tower, Piazza della Signoria, the Palazzo Vecchio, and the Dante House Museum.
• At the end, you choose the donation amount that reflects the guide's expertise.

Options for this experience

2 options

Tour in English10:00, 14:00 and 16:30

Tour in Italian14:00

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00, 14:00 and 16:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (14 to 17 years): free · Child (2 to 13 years): free · Infant (under 2): free

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on site€ 1.50

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by All Around Florence

Is this one for you?Right for first-time visitors and returners who want the main Renaissance landmarks plus the stories behind them, without arranging a guide separately. The walk moves at a natural pace through the city center, so expect to be on your feet for the duration. That's what lets you see how the neighborhoods connect and why the Medici buildings matter.

Traveler reviews

4.95★★★★★★★★★★

12,118 verified traveler reviews

5 ★11,606

4 ★444

3 ★36

2 ★11

1 ★21

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

In English, at 10:00, 14:00 and 16:30. In Italian, at 14:00.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (14 to 17 years): free; Child (2 to 13 years): free; Infant (under 2): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes. All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible, and the tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels.

What is included in the tour?

A licensed guide who leads you through the main attractions and hidden details of Florence's Renaissance center, covering the Medici family history and architecture.

How much does the tour cost?

The tour operates on a pay-what-you-wish donation model. You decide the amount at the end based on the guide's expertise and professionalism.

Which landmarks does the tour cover?

The Basilica of San Lorenzo, Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Florence Baptistery, Brunelleschi's Dome, Giotto's Bell Tower, Dante House Museum, Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio, and the Uffizi Gallery.

Is public transportation nearby?

Yes. Public transportation options are available near the tour route, and transportation options are wheelchair accessible.