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Bucket list experience:

Last updated: 19 November, 2022
Expert travel writer: Nicky Swallow

A ride down the river Arno in a traditional wooden boat or ‘barchetto’ is one of the more unusual ways to see the city.

The 50-odd minute tour takes in landmarks such as the Ponte Vecchio and Santa Trinita bridges, vast Palazzo Corsini and the Uffizi gallery; it’s particularly romantic at sunset when an aperitivo is included, but early morning is another evocative time to go.

Recommended itineraries by our writers that include this experience

Price from: £45
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 4+
When: All year around
Duration: 1 hour

Getting there & doing it

Tours normally start from a meeting point near the river given by the tour operator who then accompanies groups to the landing stage (a 5- to 10-minute walk). Boats can seat up to 20, or you can book a private tour. See our tour recommendations below.

An aperitivo is included in the sunset cruises, but it’s always a good idea to take a bottle of water. Also take sunscreen and a hat if you are doing the tour in the summer during the day; there is no shade out on the river.

When to do it

Tours run all year round, seven days a week but they may be cancelled in the event of rain. Ideal tour times are early in the morning and early evening; the light is beautiful and (in the summer) it’s not too hot.

Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

Florence River Cruise on a Traditional Barchetto

Florence River Cruise on a Traditional Barchetto

Florence

Cruise along the Arno River and under the incredible Ponte Vecchio, Florence’s famous bridge, on a barchetto, a small traditional boat! Flor...

€65 | Rating 4.21 / 5 [233 ratings]

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Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first

Hotel Lungarno Florence

Florence, Tuscany, Italy[0.1 miles]

Set on the south bank of the Arno River, the Ferragamo-owned Lungarno is a central, stylish and luxurious place to be based for a stay in Florence.

Official star rating:

Hotel Continentale Florence

Florence, Tuscany, Italy[0.2 miles]

Cool, edgy Ferragamo-owned design hotel by the Ponte Vecchio in the heart of the city – the perfect base for sightseeing.

Official star rating:

Helvetia & Bristol

Florence, Tuscany, Italy[0.4 miles]

A historic hotel well-deserving of its five-star status, the Helvetia & Bristol enjoys a fabulously central location and offers sumptuous rooms, bags of atmosphere and top-notch service.

Official star rating:

Hotel Palazzo Guadagni

Florence, Tuscany, Italy[0.4 miles]

Set on lively Piazza Santo Spirito, this charming three-star hotel has bags of character in addition to modern facilities and services. The top-floor loggia is a magical spot for an aperitivo.

Official star rating:

Destination guides including or relevant to this experience

Tuscany

Tuscany, Italy

The astonishingly beautiful region of Tuscany has it all: art cities and ancient hill towns, high mountains and long sandy beaches, alongside luxurious hotels and some of Italy’s best food and wine.

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Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first

Ponte Vecchio
Experience

Ponte Vecchio

Florence, Tuscany, Italy[0.2 miles]

Florence’s oldest bridge spans the Arno at its narrowest point and was spared from bombing by the retreating Germans after World War II. Thronged with tourists, it is famous for its glittering gold shops which replaced the original foul-smelling butcher’s shops in the 1590s.

Best for ages: 18+ | Free

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Uffizi Gallery

Florence, Tuscany, Italy[0.3 miles]

The world’s largest and most important collection of Renaissance and Mannerist art, home to 5,400 works spans art history from ancient Greece through to 18th-century Venetian painting.

Best for ages: 18+ | £10

Galileo Museum

Florence, Tuscany, Italy[0.4 miles]

Named after one of the most famous scientists in history, this fascinating museum holds a collection of more than 1,000 scientific instruments and related objects inherited from the Medici family and Lorraine dynasty – including two fingers belonging to Galileo.

Best for ages: 8+ | £9

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Palazzo Strozzi
Experience

Palazzo Strozzi

Florence, Tuscany, Italy[0.3 miles]

This 16th-century palazzo is home to one of Italy’s most innovative public art galleries. Rotating exhibitions showcase artists as diverse as Jeff Koons, Ai Wei-Wei and Bill Viola and Bronzino, Donatello and Pontormo. The ‘Strozzino’ gallery in the basement focuses on contemporary art and peripheral cultural events.

Best for ages: 18+ | £13

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night view of Old Palace (Palazzo Vecchio) in Florence, Italy
Experience

Palazzo Vecchio

Florence, Tuscany, Italy[0.4 miles]

This imposing palace on Piazza della Signoria has been at the centre of power in Florence since its construction in 1299 and still functions as the town hall. Now partly a museum, its sumptuously decorated rooms reveal magnificent frescoes, coffered ceilings and hidden chambers. Book skip-the-line tickets online here.

Best for ages: 18+ | £8

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HZERO Model Railway Collection
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HZERO Model Railway Collection

Florence, Tuscany, Italy[0.5 miles]

An ex-cinema houses the fabulous private model railway collection belonging to the late Marchese di San Giuliano. The centrepiece is a 280-square metre model, one of the largest in Europe; the landscaping (from mountains to seascapes) is exquisite.

Best for ages: 4+ | £12

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