Florence: 3-Hour Walking Tour & Duomo with Licensed Guide

Walking Florence's Medieval Streets: From Dante's Tower to Brunelleschi's Dome

You walk through Florence's historic center with a licensed guide for three hours, moving from Santa Maria Novella through the Medici quarter to the Duomo, Piazza della Signoria, and Ponte Vecchio. Entry to the Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy is included. The route is wheelchair accessible and suitable for all fitness levels, so you don't need to arrange your own transport or figure out which monuments matter most.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each10 stops

1. Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy20m
2. Medici Chapelspassing by
3. San Lorenzopassing by
4. Medici Riccardi Palacepassing by
5. Florence Baptisterypassing by
6. Florence Duomopassing by
7. Dante House Museumpassing by
8. Palazzo Vecchiopassing by
9. Piazza della Signoria10m
10. Ponte Vecchio15m

Florence walking tour highlights

• Start at Santa Maria Novella church
• Visit Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy
• See Palazzo Antinori exterior
• Pass by Medici Chapels
• Admire San Lorenzo church
• View Medici Palace exterior and courtyard
• Learn about Baptistery of San Giovanni
• Admire Florence Duomo and dome
• Walk Dante's district and see his tower-house
• View Palazzo Vecchio exterior
• Visit Piazza della Signoria open-air museum
• Finish at Ponte Vecchio bridge

The experience

You step out of Santa Maria Novella station and your guide is already pointing across the piazza toward the church of the same name: the first stop, and the one that's greeted every traveler arriving by train for centuries. From there, the walk unfolds through narrow streets that Dante himself walked, past the tower-house where he lived, into the 1000-year-old church where he first saw Beatrice. Your guide explains the connection without making it feel like a lecture. It's the kind of detail that makes you understand why this city mattered so much to him, and why it still does.

The route takes you through the Medici quarter: past the Palazzo Medici Riccardi, where Michelangelo lived under Lorenzo the Magnificent's roof, and San Lorenzo, the first cathedral of Florence and the church the Medici family sponsored entirely. You'll see the exterior of the Medici Chapels, their final resting place, and if the gates are open, step into the courtyard and garden. Then comes the Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy, one of the oldest in the world, created by monks from the nearby church. Your guide walks you through the wooden cabinets and glass bottles, explaining how perfume was born here, and you get entry included: no separate ticket line. The fragrances are still made by hand using the original recipes.

After that, the walk moves toward the heart of Florence. You pass Palazzo Antinori (the historical residence of the Tuscan wine makers), and hear stories about the region's wine history. Then you arrive at the Baptistery of San Giovanni, standing in one of the most beautiful squares in the city, where your guide tells you about the Gates of Paradise and why this is the oldest building in Florence. Right next to it rises the Duomo, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, with its massive flower-shaped plan and the dome that Filippo Brunelleschi built: the biggest masonry dome in the world. Even Michelangelo said it would be difficult to equal and impossible to surpass. You stand there looking up at it, and your guide explains how he actually built it, which is the part most people don't know.

The final stretch takes you through Piazza della Signoria, the political center of Florence, where Palazzo Vecchio rises like a medieval fortress. It used to hold the prison for the most dangerous criminals and later became the Medici residence. The square itself is a museum under the open sky, filled with Renaissance sculptures. From there, you walk to Ponte Vecchio, the oldest bridge in town, lined with jewelers' shops hanging over the Arno river. That's where the tour ends, three hours after it started, and you're standing on the symbol of the city with your guide pointing out the details most visitors miss.

What’s included

Your three-hour walk includes a licensed guide who leads you through the historic center of Florence, entry to the Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy, and stops at the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio, the Baptistery, San Lorenzo, the Medici Chapels (exterior), Dante's district, and the Medici Palace (exterior and courtyard if gates are open). The route is wheelchair accessible throughout.

Information

Lasts 3h, runs every day, 5 start times, from € 189.40 per person, with a live guide in English, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesMonday: 09:30 and 13:30Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00, 14:00 and 18:00Another time? ›

GroupPrivate5 group tours ›

Live guideEnglishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.1 with pickup ›

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (6 to 17 years) · Infant (under 6): free

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 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Irina in Florence

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want to understand Florence's layout and history without arranging your own transport or deciding which monuments matter most: the licensed guide and fixed three-hour structure handle both, leaving you free to absorb the stories as you walk.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 17 years); Infant (under 6): 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.

How long is the walking tour?

Three hours. The route covers the historic center of Florence at a steady pace, with stops to explain the history and architecture.

What's included in the tour?

A licensed guide for the full three hours and free entry to the Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy. Other attractions are viewed from the outside or you walk through public squares.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

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

Where does the tour start?

At Santa Maria Novella church, near the train station. Public transportation options are available nearby.

Will I see Michelangelo's David?

No. The tour focuses on the historic center and major landmarks like the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio. Michelangelo's David is in the Accademia Gallery, which is not part of this walking tour.

Do I need to book in advance?

It's recommended, especially during peak season, to ensure your preferred time slot is available.

What's the best time of day to take this tour?

Early morning or late afternoon tend to be less crowded. The guide can recommend the best time based on the season.