7 Days / 6 Nights
Make your self at home in marvelous Florence and dig in to the famous and beloved culture of Tuscany for a week!
Under the guidance of a city expert, walk through Florence’s historic center. Travel to the fascinating medieval towns of Siena and San Gimignano and end your day with a dinner at a boutique winery to savor a perfect Tuscan meal paired with local wines. Spend a half day in Pisa and visit its iconic Leaning Tower and the impressive Cathedral. Top your stay in Florence with a cooking class and a market visit. Once you've learned to make pasta from scratch, a simple but delicious Italian sauce and a dessert you will be ready to go home and cook for your family and friends!
Itinerary
Arrive in Florence at Vespucci Airport. Your private driver will bring you to your Florence hotel. Settle in, rest up and enjoy your evening at leisure.
Tomorrow begins your exploration of Tuscany!
A great introduction to Florence - the cradle of the Renaissance. Walk through the amazing center of Florence and discover its unique secular heritage and breathtaking beauty with an expert and fun tour guide.
This tour takes you through the heart of Florence, focusing on the legacy of the powerful Medici family and the genius of Michelangelo. Learn how the Medici transformed the city during the Renaissance, fostering groundbreaking art, science, and banking practices that reshaped Europe. Visit must-see sites like Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio, the Medici Riccardi Palace (home of Lorenzo the Magnificent), the Loggia del Porcellino, Santa Trinita Church, and Orsanmichele Church.
As you stroll through Florence's stunning streets, you'll uncover centuries of history, from its Roman origins to its rise as a center of Renaissance art. Explore the places where Michelangelo once stood, and admire masterpieces that have shaped the course of history. This is the perfect way to experience Florence through the eyes of its most influential family and artists.
The afternoon and evening are at leisure. Want to see more of Florence? Check out our other Day Tours in Florence and feel free to add them to your itinerary. We suggest seeing the incredible Uffizi Gallery (not included in package price).
This morning visit the home of the famous leaning tower - Pisa! In the heart of the city is Piazza dei Miracoli where you will simultaneously see the Leaning Tower, Baptistery, Cathedral, and the Monumental Cemetery.
Then, you will get 30 minutes to climb the nearly 300 steps of the leaning tower and take spectacular pictures from the top!
The afternoon and evening are at leisure. Explore Florence on your own, or feel free to add one of our Day Tours in Florence to this itinerary. We suggest taking a bike, Segway or a boat tour on the Arno river (not included in the package price).
An authentic culinary experience with a famous Florentine Chef! Meet one of our famous and charismatic chefs and learn how to cook a nice Tuscan meal in the heart of Florence!
The day begins with a trip to the Central Market to go shopping with the chef, picking up the freshest ingredients for your lunch. Meet the butchers, the bakers, and the farmers selling vegetables from their gardens and learn how to distinguish the highest quality ingredients and taste local and typical products!
Next, head to the fascinating home-like professional location, just a few steps from the central market, where you’ll prepare two of Italy’s most iconic dishes like a true local. With step-by-step guidance from your Chef, you’ll craft your own Nonna’s Lasagna, making fresh pasta from scratch, layering it with slow-cooked Bolognese ragù and creamy béchamel, and assembling it all in your personal cocotte. Next, you’ll move on to dessert and create a classic Tiramisu, learning the techniques and tips to perfect its rich, layered flavor.
Finally, savor the meal you prepared yourself, served with a curated selection of Tuscan wines plus a typical dessert wine to finish on a sweet note. During lunch, your Chef will also introduce you to the fundamentals of Tuscan wine, explaining what makes it so distinctive and widely appreciated.
Please note that when the Central Market is closed (on Sundays and bank holidays) a special introduction and extra tastings at the cooking class location will be offered instead.
This morning is at leisure.
This afternoon enjoy a tour to Siena and San Gimignano, two of Tuscany's most popular towns. Plus, savor a typical Tuscan dinner paired with wines in a fascinating location in the Chianti countryside.
Enjoy the day at your leisure. Explore Florence on your own, or feel free to add one of our Day Tours in Florence to this itinerary (not included in package price).
Your Italy Vacation has come to an end as you transfer from your hotel to the Florence Airport and head back home.
Inclusions
- 6 nights in a 4 star hotel in Florence
- Round trip airport transfers
- Florence Walk and Talk
- Cooking class with Market visit
- Siena & San Gimignano excursion
- Pisa and the Leaning Tower excursion
- All transportation during excursions
- Breakfast daily at hotel
Activity Level
Italy’s charm lies in its cobblestones, hills, uneven paths, and stairs. Most guests—even older ones—find it easy to keep pace. You’ll likely average 8,000-12,000 steps on active days, so bring a pair of comfortable, well-broken-in shoes!
Hotel Info
Hotel Rivoli ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
If you are searching for luxury accommodation in Florence city center, then the exclusive Rivoli Boutique Hotel will most certainly fulfill all expectations. Situated in the heart of Florence, this 15th century former Franciscan convent has been tastefully refurbished to provide comfortable, elegant accommodation whilst retaining the hotel's delightful periodic character and charm - from the lobby, with its unique opulent archways and pillars, classic ceilings and cross vaults to our lavishly frescoed lounges.
Florence
Grand Hotel Minerva ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
The Grand Hotel Minerva is a deluxe hotel located right in the historic center of Florence, in the completely renovated and pedestrianized Piazza Santa Maria Novella, brimming with vibrant restaurants and cafés, and featuring a lovely new rose garden. Its perfect location is a short walk from all of Florence's main tourist attractions including Piazza del Duomo and its glorious cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Piazza della Repubblica, the iconic David of Michelangelo, the Uffizi museum, Ponte Vecchio and Florence’s most eminent luxury shopping street, Via Tornabuoni.
The hotel has great accommodation options for families and small groups, and a stunning rooftop terrace and pool!
Florence
Grand Hotel Baglioni ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
The Grand Hotel Baglioni, located in the heart of Florence, has been synonymous with hospitality and quality for over 100 years. It is housed in a magnificent 19th-century building, in which past and present coexist in perfect harmony, bearer of the values inherent to Florentine tradition.
Florence
Optional Tour Add-Ons
Duration: 2.5 hours, 3:00pm -5:30pm
City: Florence
Enjoy a unique opportunity to explore the Uffizi Gallery, Italy’s most renowned museum, with an expert English-speaking guide. This Uffizi Masterclass reveals the evolution of Italian art from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance through masterpieces by Giotto, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, and more.
Go beyond simply viewing the artworks—understand their meaning, context, and innovation as your guide brings them to life. More than a museum visit, this immersive experience offers a deeper connection to the art that made Florence the heart of a cultural revolution and is an essential highlight of any stay in the city.
Meeting point will be at a central location. Details will be provided in final documents.
Duration: 12 hours, 8:00am - 8:00pm
City: Florence
Experience the charm of Cinque Terre’s colorful seaside villages and the timeless beauty of Pisa’s Piazza dei Miracoli, home to the world-famous Leaning Tower.
Travel in comfort with a small group as you explore the dramatic coastline of Cinque Terre. Enjoy a scenic walk through vineyard-covered hills, take in panoramic views, and, weather permitting, cruise along the coast by boat. You’ll also have free time to swim, shop, or sample Ligurian specialties.
In the afternoon, continue to Pisa, where you’ll have time to discover its remarkable architecture and capture the perfect photo of the Leaning Tower.
Meeting point will be at a central location. Details will be provided in final documents.
Duration: 3 hours, 11:00am - 2:00pm, 3:00pm - 6:00pm OR 6:30pm - 9:30pm
City: Florence
Learn how to make authentic, Italian Pizza and Gelato – a fun cooking class for kids too!
Under the guidance of a professional pizza chef, called a Pizzaiolo, you will make your own pizza - stretch it, sauce it, bake it, slice it. The chef will teach you the key techniques in making a soft and flexible dough and the trick for a flavorful yet light tomato sauce so you can make this pizza at home!
After pizza it’s time for Gelato. The chef will explain why the gelato is the Italy's favorite dessert and will give insight to the 'gelato culture' that continues to grow. Learn the basic raw ingredients, how to select the best products available according to specific principles, development and application of natural colors, the heating and freezing techniques and how they have different effects on the ingredients.
Then enjoy a presentation and tasting of some of the flavors used in gelato making!
This activity is strongly recommended for families that wish to have children to learn about the Italian culture, an easy and fun experience that will last forever in their memory.
Meeting point will be at a central location. Details will be provided in final documents.
Duration: 2 hours, 6:45am - 8:45am in 2025
2 hours, 7:00am - 9:00am in 2026
City: Florence
Experience Florence's Duomo in a whole new light with this VIP Awakening Tour. Be among the first to step into the Cathedral and Baptistery as they come to life at daybreak and witness the awe-inspiring moment when lights illuminate the fresco painted by Giorgio Vasari and Federico Zuccari, including the vivid 'Last Judgement.'
Meet the 'chiavigero,' the key bearer, who unlocks the treasures inside the Duomo. Discover the fascinating workings of the Florence Duomo clock and explore the Cathedral's historical and spiritual aura with the help of your knowledgeable guide.
After this exclusive tour, treat yourself to a delightful breakfast at a nearby historical café. Join the locals for an authentic Italian-style breakfast and savor a real Italian coffee. But the adventure doesn't end there. Gain exclusive access to the Duomo rooftop through a special side entrance. Follow your guide up Brunelleschi's dome, learning about this genius's artistry and the construction of the cupola.
Meeting point will be at a central location. Details will be provided in final documents.
Duration: 2.5 hours, 12:00pm - 2:30pm
City: Florence
Enjoy the most comprehensive visit of Florence Cathedral complex and admire the city from an exclusive and breathtaking point of view - the Duomo terraces (that are not usually open to the public) and Brunelleschi's magnificent Dome.
With skip-the-line tickets and under the guidance of a passionate historian, tour the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (the Duomo of Florence), a distinctive symbol of the city. Designed by Arnolfo di Cambio, the cathedral is the third largest church in the world (after St. Peter's in Rome and St. Paul's in London) and home of masterpieces such as Paolo Uccello’s clock, Vasari’s frescoes and Bandinelli’s marble choir.
Then, begin your ascent to Florence Heaven: the staircase climb, through narrow and open-air corridors, will be rewarded by an incomparable view of the city from the Duomo Terraces, on the cathedral rooftop. Take the most incredible pictures from this 105-foot high panoramic point right in the middle of the old town and learn how the massive cathedral dome was built and how it can still firmly dominate Florence skyline after 600 years, withstanding earthquakes and the passage of time.
Then, if you want to keep climbing, you can reach the 300-foot high top of Brunelleschi's Cupola (the Dome), the highest panoramic point in town.
Included in the price of this tour, you will have a pass valid for 72 hours to visit on your own the Baptistery of San Giovanni, Giotto's Bell Tower, the Opera del Duomo Museum and the ancient basilica of Santa Reparata.
Meeting point will be at a central location. Details will be provided in final documents.
