Palazzo Vecchio & Florence Bus Tour: Self-Guided Palace Views

Renaissance palace interiors, a tower climb for city views, then a bus loop through Florence's landmarks

This combined tour pairs self-guided exploration of Palazzo Vecchio (Florence's medieval town hall with Renaissance frescoes, grand halls and an optional tower ascent) with a hop-on hop-off panoramic bus tour covering the Cathedral, Piazza della Signoria and other top sights. Audio commentary in English, Spanish, Italian, French and German guides you through both parts. Children from age 7 are welcome, and the pace is entirely yours to set.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Palazzo Vecchio and Bus Tour

• Visit Palazzo Vecchio historic halls
• Admire Renaissance artworks
• Climb Arnolfo Tower for views
• Start panoramic hop-on hop-off bus
• See Florence Cathedral and landmarks
• Enjoy audio commentary on bus

The experience

Start at Palazzo Vecchio on your own schedule. The palace sits at the heart of Florence's civic history, and you move through it without a guide: the Salone dei Cinquecento with its massive frescoes, courtyards lined with Renaissance details, rooms decorated by the Medici family. If you choose the tower option, the Arnolfo Tower climb brings you above the roofline, where the city spreads out in all directions and the Cathedral dome becomes the center of the view. How long you spend inside is up to you. The entry ticket and audio guide stay with you the whole time.

After Palazzo Vecchio, you board the panoramic bus: an open-top ride that moves through Florence at a pace that lets you actually see. The route passes Piazza del Duomo, Piazzale Michelangelo, Santa Croce Basilica and other landmarks. The audio commentary plays in your choice of language, and you can hop off at any stop to walk around, then catch the next bus. No long walks between attractions, no navigation required. The bus does the connecting. You decide where to linger.

The whole experience runs between one and three hours depending on how many stops you make and whether you climb the tower. Entry to Palazzo Vecchio and the bus tour are included. If you want the tower, you select that option at checkout. Headphones for the audio guide come with the bus portion. Bring water and comfortable shoes: the palace involves stairs and the tower is a climb, but the experience suits all fitness levels.

What’s included

• Entry ticket to Palazzo Vecchio Museum.
• access to the Arnolfo Tower if you select that option at checkout.
• panoramic hop-on hop-off bus tour with stops at major Florence landmarks.
• onboard audio commentary in English, Spanish, Italian, French or German.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except Thursday10 departure times: the first at 12:30, the last at 17:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (17 and older) · Child (6 to 16 years) · Infant (under 6): free

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish, French and German

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Voxoora

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want to see Palazzo Vecchio's interiors and Renaissance art without a scheduled group tour, then move through Florence's other highlights by bus instead of on foot. The self-guided palace visit and flexible bus stops let you build your own rhythm through the city.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 16 years); Infant (under 6): free.

Can I spend as long as I want inside Palazzo Vecchio, or is there a time limit?

Palazzo Vecchio is self-guided, so you set the pace entirely. There's no scheduled tour or group to keep up with. You explore the halls, frescoes and courtyards for as long as you want before heading to the bus.

What exactly is the Arnolfo Tower, and is it worth climbing?

The Arnolfo Tower is Palazzo Vecchio's medieval tower, and climbing it puts you above Florence's roofline with sweeping views of the Cathedral dome, the Arno, and the city spreading out in all directions. It's an optional add-on at checkout, and the climb involves stairs but rewards you with photos and perspective you can't get from ground level.

How does the panoramic bus tour work? Do I have to stay on the whole route?

The bus is hop-on hop-off, meaning you can get off at any stop to explore on foot, then board the next bus when you're ready to move on. Stops include Piazza del Duomo, Piazzale Michelangelo and Santa Croce Basilica, and audio commentary in your language plays throughout the ride.

What languages does the audio commentary come in?

The audio guide is available in English, Spanish, Italian, French and German, so you choose the language that works for you on both the palace and the bus portions.