Florence Transformative Tours & Trip Packages

Florence Transformative Tours & Trips

403 Florence trips. Tours from 108 tour companies. 1,653 reviews. 4.6/5 avg rating.

17 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
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Transformative
Local Living Italy—Tuscany San Gimignano
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4.6/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They’ve partnered with well-known names like National Geographic and the Jane Goodall Institute to offer unique experiences unavailable elsewhere.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Florence, Rome, San Gimignano, Siena

Highlights

  • Share an apartment in our local friend ugo's home
  • Eat delicious tuscan cuisine and sample regional wines
  • Stroll the lanes of medieval san gimignano
  • Walk along the beautiful tuscan countryside
  • Make new friends at your home away from home

Themes

Cultural, Education / Learning, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing, Transformative

What travelers are saying

"We spent two wonderful weeks touring several of the best destinations in Portugal & Spain with a group of 16 people. Our guide (Fredy) was from Spain and intimately familiar with the region, including its rich history, attractions, and food/beverages. The tour was well-paced using a combinations of private vehicles (small buses and cabs), trains, and an airplane ride as well as a fair amount of walking to get around these two beautiful countries. We extended our stay in Lisbon to see more attractions and took a side trip to Fatima, Obidos, and Nazare that was also excellent. Would have liked to have a bit more time in a couple of the cities, but we'll just have to plan another trip!"

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Ultimate Italy
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4.8/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They’ve partnered with well-known names like National Geographic and the Jane Goodall Institute to offer unique experiences unavailable elsewhere.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Cinque Terre, Colosseum, Florence, Lake Como, Lucca, Milan, Pisa, Rome, Siena, Tuscany, Venice

Highlights

  • Experience medieval and renaissance delights
  • Discover a passion for regional wines and italian cuisine
  • Savour the sea views and tuscan hills
  • Explore the elegant countryside of lake como by boat
  • Wander over the canals and bridges of venice

Themes

Cultural, Transformative

What travelers are saying

"We spent two wonderful weeks touring several of the best destinations in Portugal & Spain with a group of 16 people. Our guide (Fredy) was from Spain and intimately familiar with the region, including its rich history, attractions, and food/beverages. The tour was well-paced using a combinations of private vehicles (small buses and cabs), trains, and an airplane ride as well as a fair amount of walking to get around these two beautiful countries. We extended our stay in Lisbon to see more attractions and took a side trip to Fatima, Obidos, and Nazare that was also excellent. Would have liked to have a bit more time in a couple of the cities, but we'll just have to plan another trip!"

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Venice, Florence, Rome & Sorrento
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4.5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Assisi, Doge’s Palace, Florence, Naples, Pisa, Rome, Sorrento, Sydney, Venice

Highlights

  • Explore Pisa where you’ll view the famous Piazza del Miracoli with its Leaning Tower
  • Discover Pompeii, visit to the haunting site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • Visit Sorrento
  • Explore Rome, visit some of the stylish shops and galleries, visit a museum and sightsee

Themes

50 plus, Cultural, Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing, Transformative

What travelers are saying

"I waited 20 years for my dream trip to Scotland and Ireland and splurged $7000 on this tour. The second half of touring Ireland was great, the first portion in Scotland was horrendous. The tour guide for Scotland made sexual advances and inappropriate comments to me and I had to cautiously avoid him and stay with the group to not have any interaction with him. I also sustained an injury on the bus, caused by the driver, which I had to report to CIE myself. I filed a complaint with a CIE customer service manager when I returned and learned that another woman also filed a complaint regarding the tour guide (2 women from the same tour!) CIE has not responded from the initial report over a month ago and have DONE NOTHING!!! This sexual predator is still working as a tour guide for them which is a screaming indicator regarding the sexual harassment investigations and policy enforcement for this company. Beware if you are a single woman and are looking to book with CIE, there are better options and I strongly recommend you avoid this company!!"

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Italy: Tuscany, the Alps & the Riviera
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5/5 Excellent
35 reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Bolzano, Doge’s Palace, Dolomites, Florence, Innsbruck, Lake Garda, Rome, Tuscany, Venice

Highlights

  • Discover Rome
  • Explore Tuscany
  • Visit the hilltop town of Orvieto
  • Embark on a walking tour of Florence with an expert local guide
  • Stroll through Piazza Signoria, the busy square that was the ancient center of city life during the days of the Medici
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Themes

50 plus, Cultural, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Overland Journeys, Transformative

What travelers are saying

"I've traveled with this company 4 times and find the value and service outstanding. If you are on a slim budget try the " last minute" opportunities. We got an incredible deal on a river cruise two months out."

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A Taste of Tuscany Culinary Tour
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1/5 Terrible
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Florence

Highlights

  • Testing mouthwatering recipes in friendly cucinas
  • Strolling through vineyards and sampling their wares
  • Seeing premium olives pressed into oil

Themes

Culinary & Wine, Cultural, Local Immersion & Homestays, Relaxing Retreats, Transformative

What travelers are saying

"Life changing! Alex our guide incredibly knowledgeable, caring and has a great sense of humor. If I needed a day to relax (and perhaps shop) it was totally encouraged and acceptable - Porto Fino amazing! The itinerary and hotels spot on! I’m ready to go back, maybe the Amalfi Coast!!! Don’t hesitate, book the guided trip now!!"

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Ultimate Italy
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1/5 Terrible
98 reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Cinque Terre, Colosseum, Florence, Lake Como, Milan, Mount Etna, Naples, Rome, Sicily, Sistine Chapel, Tuscany, Umbria, Vatican City, Venice

Highlights

  • Float through the Venetian canals aboard a traditional gondola
  • Step into the Renaissance in Florence
  • Indulge in Italian food and wine while taking in the Tuscan countryside
  • See the best of ancient Rome, the Vatican and Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel
  • Take in the turquoise waters and coastal views of luxurious Capri
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Themes

Cultural, Education / Learning, Transformative

What travelers are saying

"I have been trying to make the best of this trip, but honestly, I’m having a terrible time. This has been the most stressed I’ve ever been on a vacation. I’m currently stuck in Iceland, no one from the EF team will not respond to me, I’m out a LOT of money, I’m FREEZING, and I’m severely uncomfortable. I would HIGHLY NOT RECOMMEND EF Ultimate Break for any of your travel needs. They do NOT take care of your problems— they just make the most money they can off of you and do not actually care about your comfort or concerns. This trip has sent me on an incredibly LOW low, and I just want to go home, but that would be a substantial amount of money I can’t afford. I have been bouncing around contacting EF, JetBlue, Icelandair, and British Airways. I still don’t have my luggage, and it is the LAST DAY of planned activities already. I also found out from JetBlue that there was a refund issued for $834 for the original flight we didn’t make (that’s just one of them)— yet, *I had to pay $1100 to EF Ultimate Break to rebook on my new itinerary that made me miss my first day of touring, and I DID NOT see that $834. I am beyond mad and tired and ready to be home safe. This is disgusting service."

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Best of Italy
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1/5 Terrible
49 reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Florence, Rome, Sorrento

Highlights

  • Explore Rome, You'll begin your trip in the historic city of Rome for 3 nights and explore the many alluring historical landmarks while enjoying delizioso Italian cuisine. Explore the city after dark and take part in some of Italy’s best nightlife.
  • Discover Florence after Rome, you'll head north to Florence (Firenze). Home of Il David, Michelangelo's tomb, the Ponte Vecchio bridge and many other sights. We recommend comfy shoes as you'll have lots to see in your 3 nights here.
  • Visit Sorrento lastly, you’ll finish your trip in Sorrento for 3 nights where you'll explore the breath-taking Amalfi Coast. Life is a little slower on this serene coast, but the beauty is unparalleled, and it is one of our favourite destinations yet!

Themes

Culinary & Wine, Cultural, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Transformative

What travelers are saying

"I'm an influencer who has actually hosted a trip with Trova and I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND THIS COMPANY. they do NOT care about you, they only care about money. They set us up in a moldy hotel, lied about the itinerary, and refused to give us all a refund. They also have a 100% no slander policy which is probably why you don't see alot of influencers talking about their experience. DO NOT DO IT"

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France, Switzerland and Italy Adventure Tour
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1/5 Terrible
16 reviews
Private Guided
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Doge’s Palace, Florence, Lucerne, Paris, Rome, St. Peter's Basilica, Venice

Highlights

  • Check out Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower
  • Visit to the Doge's Palace & St. Mark's Basilica in Venice
  • Explore Florence on a walking tour and visit Uffizi Gallery
  • Discover Rome, see Piazza Venezia, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon & Piazza Navona
  • Visit St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City

Themes

Cultural, Family Friendly, Train & Rail Journeys, Transformative

What travelers are saying

"I recently took the Best of Australia and New Zealand tour...added on Fiji and a day in Auckland...with Discovery Nomads. During the booking process they were attentive and helpful. However, the nightmare began after paying for the tour! They told us we would receive our itinerary 10 to 20 days before our trip. It was sent 4 days before departure. We booked a tour for the trans alpine train from Christchurch to Queensland which we were told after the fact, that it did not exist. Furthermore, they failed to make a transfer reservation from the airport to our hotel in Christchurch. It took a week of constant sending of emails to get credit. They never answered them! Credit was finally issued almost 25 days later. The nightmare continues...we had to call each shuttle ride to confirm as their confirmation numbers were wrong and the local company could never find our reservations. So now add the cost of all the phone calls! Furthermore, when we reached out to Discover Nomads to help us while traveling, they NEVER answered their phone or a request for refund by email. We were completely ignored and left on our own. The only saving grace was we were traveling in English speaking countries. Can you imagine this happening to you in a country that doesn't speak English? Nightmare!!!!! And no assist from this horrible company. The only communication from them was for flight delays which we found out first by checking into the airport and one response asking for how much I paid for my transfer and proof of payment. I explained that it was all electronic and requested a refund of my original payment...heard nothing again from them until seven days later they sent an email stating that a meeting point had changed. So they had my email, just refused to deal with refunds or help. In addition, they had us waiting 15 hours for a hotel room in two flights. We were not allowed to stay in hotel lobby for so long and we arrived at 1:00am. We ended up paying for an early check in. Also, all internal flights were booked with 7.5 kg cabin luggage only. We had to pay baggage fees of $45 per bag. The costs of this trip were way higher then we anticipated. We had quotes for private tours just $2,000 higher...we should have booked that as we probably spent close to that amount in other fees!! TAKE MY WARNING...DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY!!!!!"

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17 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
My selections:
Transformative

Florence Reviews & Ratings

4.6/5  Excellent
1,653  Reviews
See all Florence tour reviews
Excellent
1,514
Great
557
Average
96
Disappointing
22
Terrible
13
D

Dave L

Oct 2022

Written on

We had an enoybale expereince, it was a nice family vacation to Europe.

We had an enjoyable expereince, it was a nice family vacation to Europe. The hotels were clean and tour leader was always accomodating. The excursions allowed us to ...

R

Robert M

Jul 2022

Written on

The tour leader made all the difference, loved Paris, Bern, and Amsterdam

The tour leader made all the difference, loved Paris, Bern, and Amsterdam

J

Jenny F

May 2022

Written on

Amsterdam and Paris were the highlights of our trip, Versailles and the tulip fields were amazing

Amsterdam and Paris were the highlights of our trip, Versailles and the tulip fields were amazing

t

trekleaderdave

Sep 2016

Written on

Italy - All the Highlights!

I had been on a couple Intrepid trips and I had been to Italy a couple of times... however this was the best time that I've had on either. Really a great group with...

S

Sylvia

Oct 2015

Written on

The trip was very well planned and

The trip was very well planned and organized. I could not have seen or done as nearly as much on my own. Our leader Kent Benson was excellent. He kept us on trac...

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Florence Tour Selection Trips

  • Prepare for long lines at most of Florence’s attractions, especially during the summer. Bring plenty of water and sunscreen, and something to occupy your time. With this being said, waking up earlier and booking a guided tour can help reduce line times. 
  • Florence is small enough to cover on foot. Though remember to take it easy; wear decent footwear, don’t overdo it, and allow yourself plenty of breaks.
  • You can book entrance to popular sites such as the Uffizi and Accademia in advance (for an additional fee). The booking will have a specific time of entry, allowing you to avoid the lines.
  • The Firenze card is valid for 72 hours, and covers access to most museums as well as local buses. If your multi-day tour of Italy focuses for more than 24 hours on Florence, your tour guide may suggest that you purchase this card, or may even already have one for you!
  • Like any city that is popular with tourists, Florence has its fair share of pickpockets and rip-offs. So keep your belongings safe and keep an eye out for anyone trying to overcharge you (such as taxis that take a roundabout route).
  • Placing a “lovelock” (a padlock engraved with the initials of yourself and your lover) on the Ponte Vecchio was once a romantic tradition for anyone visiting Florence. Today, however, most locks have been removed to preserve the integrity of the architecture, and those caught placing a padlock on the bridge face a hefty fine!
  • Most streets in the center of Florence are off-limits to drivers. Thankfully, the city is small enough that visitors won’t need a car, anyway.
  • Nearly all museums in Florence (and throughout Italy) are closed on Mondays.
  • Florence is often described as one big, open air museum. There are enough galleries, exhibits and sights here to keep visitors occupied for weeks. Plan which attractions you want to visit, and don’t try to take in everything- you’ll only exhaust yourself and end up not enjoying what you do see! Better yet, book Italy tours through Stride and have the planning taken care of for you!

Additional details

Things to Do in Florence

  1. See the Duomo. The symbol of Florence, this stunning renaissance church is not only known as one of the most impressive architectural feats ever built, but is also associated with Italy worldwide.
  2. Tour the Galleria dell’Accademia. Going a guided walk of this famous museum will put you face to face with art history’s biggest hunk, the David, among other famous works.
  3. Stroll through Piazza della Signoria. This square is essentially an open air museum filled with dozens of beautiful renaissance statues. Not only this, but it remains one of the few free attractions in Florence!
  4. Piazzale Michelangelo. This piazzale is a short hike up a string of stairs, making it one of the less accessible attractions in Florence, but the impressive views of the city, along with its beautiful flower gardens, make this square worth the trek.
  5. The Uffizi Museum. Another museum chock full of gorgeous art, this time focusing on painting and its hanging art. Inside, you will have a chance to see the iconic “Birth of Venus.”
  6. Mercato Centrale. If you want a taste of genuine Italian life, take a stroll through this open air market, and pick up a delicious, fresh lunch to go at one of the many stalls.
  7. Boboli Gardens. These beautiful, terraced gardens filled with extravagant fountains and statues. This garden used to belong to the ancient Medici family, and by walking through the quiet corners of the garden, it’s easy to imagine what their lives must have been like.

Florence Wine Tours

While not many wines are actually made within Florence, the city does lie in the center of some of the most prolific wine country in all of Italy.

Wine remains one of Italy’s main exports, and it is deeply interwoven in Italian culture and history. If you are interested in wine at all, or are interested in learning, then you should strongly consider going on a wine tour in Italy. A wine tour might take a couple of different forms.

It may just be a half-day activity to round out your Italian experience, or, depending on the length of your tour, maybe you will spend a couple of days in wine country with the chance to see how different wineries operate. On these tours, you will likely taste many different varietals from different producers, learn how to taste wine, and get an overview on the particular winery’s process and specialties.

If you are a true wine fanatic, then consider going on a wine tasting tour of Italy. On this kind of trip, you will gain a much more comprehensive understanding the winemaking process, and the intricacies of tasting wine, and probably a history lesson or two on each region’s contributions to winemaking. You will also, of course, get the opportunity to taste a lot of wine!

Private Guided Florence Tours

Florence, along with some of the other very popular Italian cities, is one of the few places that we strongly suggest getting a private tour. When you travel to Florence, you will immediately notice the number of tourists and the crowds. While these crowds are less in the spring and fall months, they can be overwhelming in the winter, and especially in the summertime.

The crowds are so intense that they can really make or break a trip to Florence, and it may be the last thing you need to get lost in a large group tour. For this reason, we highly recommend private guided Italy tours and small group escorted tours when traveling to Florence and Italy’s other main cities.

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