Florence: Bar Crawl & Dark History with Drinks Included

Three hours, four stops, and the Medici family's worst kept secrets

You'll walk between four stops across Florence with a local guide, drinking wine, two cocktails, and a shot while learning about the Medici family's scandals and the city's medieval brothels and wine-window traditions. The drinks are included, and you leave with new people to grab dinner with, or at least their Instagram handles.

Step-by-step itinerary

Florence bar crawl and dark history tour

• Meet in park by the Arno river
• Drink wine and learn Medici history
• Cross river and pass busy brothel
• Enjoy Italian cocktail at local bar
• Walk through Santa Croce district
• Take limoncello or amaro shot
• Visit Santa Croce church for history
• Drink cocktail on Via de’ Benci street
• Socialise with fellow travellers

The experience

Glasses clink against the stone rim of a public park bench overlooking the Arno, and you're already learning why Florence's most powerful family had reasons to drink. The guide (a local who knows which stories the tourists miss) starts with wine and the golden hour light hitting the water, then walks you through the Medici's darker chapters: the poisonings, the power plays, the things that happened behind closed doors. It's the kind of history that makes sense when you're holding a glass, not reading it off a plaque.

You cross the river into what used to be one of Florence's busiest brothels, and the guide doesn't shy away from the details: the economics of it, the women who worked there, how the city actually functioned. Then you're at a local bar ordering a traditional Italian cocktail, and suddenly you're talking to your fellow travelers, people who also decided that a regular Florence walking tour sounded boring. The bar crawl through Florence works because you're moving, drinking, and meeting people all at the same time, which is harder to do alone.

Santa Croce is where things get atmospheric. You stop at one of those wine windows (the little medieval openings where people used to buy wine without going inside), and take a shot of limoncello or amaro, depending on what you choose. The church itself gets a quick history beat, the kind that sticks because you're standing right in front of it and slightly buzzed, which apparently is how your brain remembers things. Then Via de' Benci, the street where the nightlife actually happens, and a final bar where you order whatever cocktail you want and keep talking to the people you've been walking with since the park.

Wine, two cocktails, and a shot are already paid for. You're not doing math at each bar or wondering if you ordered enough. The guide handles the pacing and the stories. You handle showing up with a thirst and an openness to learning that Florence's golden-age history came with a lot of blood and scheming.

What’s included

• Your bar crawl includes a local guide who knows Florence's history and nightlife, wine in the public park overlooking the Arno, a traditional Italian cocktail at a local bar in the busy district, a shot at the historic wine window in Santa Croce, and a final cocktail of your choice at an atmospheric bar on Via de' Benci.
• Tips and recommendations from your guide are also part of the experience.
• You don't arrange the bars, the timing, or the drink orders.
• The guide does that, and you show up ready to walk and listen.

Options for this experience

2 options

Florence Bar Crawl, PrivateGuide in English · 20:00Reserve a private night with your own guide, custom drinks and spicy tales, a great fit for parties or celebrations, with the group setting the pace.

Florence Bar Crawl, SharedGuide in English · 20:00Join a group of travelers for an evening of cocktails, scandalous stories and laughs across Florence's nightlife hotspots, making new friends along the way.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 20:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (5 to 17 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 25

Live guideEnglish

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. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancy

Operated by Carpe Diem Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to meet other travelers, learn Florence's real history (not the sanitized version), and experience the city's nightlife without planning four separate stops yourself: the fixed route and included drinks mean you're not making decisions, just following and enjoying.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 17 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

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.

What drinks are included in the Florence bar crawl?

Wine, two cocktails (a traditional Italian one, then a final one of your choice), and one shot (limoncello or Italian amaro).

Is the tour suitable for all fitness levels?

Yes, it's suitable for all physical fitness levels. The pace is leisurely with stops at each bar.

Can I do this tour as a private group?

Yes, the tour is available as a private option for a fully personalized experience with your own group.

What will I learn about Florence on this tour?

You'll learn about Medici family history, Florence's medieval brothels, wine-window traditions, and the city's nightlife culture through stories shared by a local guide.

Is this tour recommended for pregnant travelers?

No, this tour is not recommended for pregnant travelers.