Palazzo Vecchio, Pitti Palace & Boboli Gardens private tour

Walk through the rooms where the Medici ruled Florence

A private 4-hour tour of Palazzo Vecchio, Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens in Florence with a professional guide who picks you up from your hotel. The guide speaks English or Italian and leads you through the palaces where the Medici family lived, then into the gardens beyond. Museum tickets are separate; you arrange those before the tour starts.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Medici palaces and gardens

• Meet guide at hotel lobby
• Visit Palazzo Vecchio
• Tour Palatine Gallery at Palazzo Pitti
• Explore Boboli Gardens

The Experience

Four hours is enough to move through three connected sites without rushing. Your guide meets you at your hotel lobby—pickup is included for centrally located hotels—and walks you first to Palazzo Vecchio, the old palace where the Medici made their seat of power. From there you cross to Palazzo Pitti, where the family later moved, and the guide shows you the rooms and the Palatine Gallery inside. The route then opens into Boboli Gardens, the formal landscape behind the palace where you can see how the family arranged their private world.

The guide speaks either English or Italian, so you'll hear the Medici story in whichever language you book. You move at the pace the group sets—there's no racing through rooms or waiting around. Since tickets to the palaces and gardens aren't included, you'll buy those on arrival or arrange them ahead; the guide will tell you where and how. The tour works for anyone with moderate fitness; the palaces involve stairs and the gardens are open ground, but there's no scrambling or long stretches without a place to stand.

Dress is smart casual. If you're traveling with infants or small children, strollers work on the palace floors and garden paths. Public transport stops are nearby if you need to get back to another part of Florence after the tour ends.

What’s included

• Professional guide in English or Italian.
• hotel pickup for centrally located accommodations.
• access to Palazzo Vecchio, Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens (tickets purchased separately).

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Guida Turistica di Firenze, Giulia Bozzi.

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want a guide who speaks your language (English or Italian) to connect Palazzo Vecchio, Palazzo Pitti, and Boboli Gardens in one flowing morning or afternoon—your guide paces the route so you move between all three without backtracking.

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Top questions

What's the difference between Palazzo Vecchio and Palazzo Pitti?

Palazzo Vecchio is the older palace, built in the 14th century and used as the Medici residence before they moved. Palazzo Pitti came later and is where the family settled afterward; it houses the Palatine Gallery and opens directly onto Boboli Gardens.

Do I need to buy tickets before the tour, or can I get them on the day?

Tickets to Palazzo Vecchio, Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens are not included in the tour price, so you'll buy them separately. You can arrange them in advance or purchase them when you arrive at each site; your guide will direct you to the ticket windows.

Will the guide pick me up from any hotel in Florence?

Hotel pickup is included for centrally located hotels. If your hotel is outside the central area, you'll meet the guide at an agreed location instead; confirm your pickup point when you book.

Can I do this tour if I don't speak Italian or English fluently?

The guide speaks English or Italian depending on which language you select when booking. If neither works for you, this tour won't be a good fit—you'd need to arrange a different guide or a self-guided visit.

How much walking is involved in the gardens?

Boboli Gardens is open ground with paths throughout, so you'll be on your feet for that section. The palaces involve some stairs and room-to-room walking. The tour requires at least a moderate level of fitness, but there's no climbing or long stretches without places to rest.