Florence was always at the top of my bucketlist, considering it was quite literally the birthplace of the Renaissance, and all of the breathtaking art and culture that was born from it.
Tucked right into the rolling hills of Tuscany, it’s not only visually stunning with an amazing histoyr, but is also a culinary gem.
This was something I hadn’t thought much of until I was there, and I can’t say this enough – you’re truly missing out if you don’t take one of these top Florence food tours. I’ve carefully curated the best 5, so let’s jump right in!
Best Food Tours in Florence
| Walking Food Tour of Florence with Tastings | Florence Sunset Walking Tour with Wine & Food Tasting | Florence Private Food Walking Tour With Locals: 6 or 10 Tastings | |
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| Location: | Monument to Dante Alighieri, Piazza di Santa Croce, 50122 | Piazza Santo Spirito, 50125 Firenze | Via Giosuè Carducci, 1, 50121 Firenze |
| Start: | 11:00 AM or 5:30 PM | Between 3:30 & 6:30 PM | Between 11:00 AM & 5:00 PM |
| Duration: | 3 to 3.5 hours | 3.5 hours | 3 hours |
| Includes: | Professional local guide, food tastings, wine tastings | 14 samples at 6 different locations, Negroni cocktail demo and drinking, taste 5 amazing wines | PRIVATE tour - 6 or 10 food & drinks tastings, private multilingual local foodie guide |
Quick Answer: The 5 Best Rated Florence Food Tours For 2026
- Walking Food Tour of Florence with Tastings
- Florence Private Food Walking Tour With Locals: 6 or 10 Tastings
- Florence Sunset Walking Tour with Wine & Food Tasting
- Small-Group Florence Food Walking Tour
- Florence: Early Evening Food & Wine Tour in Oltrarno Neighborhood
Florence Food Tour Reviews
1. Walking Food Tour of Florence with Tastings
- Duration: 3 to 3.5 hours
- Departure: Monument to Dante Alighieri, Piazza di Santa Croce, 50122
- Departure Time: 11:00 AM or 5:30 PM
- Includes: Professional local guide, food tastings, wine tastings
While it’s not a rule, I find that people who are talented in the arts also tend to be amazing at crafting a delicious plate of food. While I’ve been around Italy and know that it has some of the best cuisine in the world, Florence is truly exceptional.
The Walking Food Tour of Florence with Tastings does not disappoint, offering a few hours of learning about and tasting some of the most exquisite food and wine in the country.
The tour starts off by meeting with your guide at the Dante Alighieri Monument, which is conveniently located right in the Piazza di Santa Croce. Our guide was super sweet and friendly, welcoming us to his hometown with a clear passion for everything Venecian – especially the food!
What I really love about this tour, is that it takes you off the beaten path so we were able to see plenty of “hidden gems” we probably otherwise wouldn’t have known about.
While I’m sure that this could vary, we ended up taking on 6 restaurant stops with 4 glasses of wine included so we got a taste of everything.
Expand To See More It’s a great option if you’re going as a solo traveler or with a significant other, as the small group settings are great from meeting others from around the world. We saw everything from little markets and street vendors, to elegant wine bars and larger restaurants that are known around the country. As we journeyed around trying delicious food and drink, our guide did a great job of teaching us plenty of history behind Italian cuisine, as well as many other interesting facts. We even learned that a ton of the food we eat here in the US is literally illegal in Italy and tastes much worse (which was quite alarming!). If it’s your first time in Florence and you’re really trying to immerse yourself quickly into the local foodie culture, this is the one. More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
2. Florence Private Food Walking Tour With Locals: 6 or 10 Tastings
- Duration: 3 hours
- Departure: Via Giosuè Carducci, 1, 50121 Firenze
- Departure Time: Between 11:00 AM & 5:00 PM
- Includes: PRIVATE tour – only you and your local 6 or 10 food & drinks tastings of high quality local products – depends on option booked, vegetarian alternatives, sustainable carbon neutral experience (B-Corp) private multilingual local foodie guide
Next up is another one of my favorites: the Florence Private Food Walking Tour with Locals: 6 or 10 Tastings. As the title of the tour suggests, you can select from either the 6 or 10 tasting option, depending on your time and budget available.
No matter which one you select, though, you can count on it literally being your guide only taking you and your party around to Florence’s very best food offerings.
If you’re looking to understand the local culture and history, it’s nearly impossible to separate it from its culinary heritage. After all, so many important events have taken place around a table filled with cheeses, cured meats, and artisan breads.
Our guide did a fantastic job of shring insights into the history of Florentine cuisine and its influences, making each dish a bit more meaningful in that way. This tour has many different start times and meeting places, making it very easy to fit into even the busiest of itineraries.
I’ll admit that I’ve fallen into a tourist trap or two when looking for authentic Italian food, but our guide helped out quite a bit in that regard.
Expand To See More He not only showed us how to steer clear of those traps, but what to look out for when searching for the real thing. We were able to try plenty of regional delicacies like coccolo ripieno, cantucci, and so many more dishes that covered both sweet and savory flavor profiles. Walking to each stop by foot allowed us plenty of opportunity for some history lessons and exclusive peeks at popular landmarks as we cruised along. If you’re really looking for a raw and authentic glimpse into Florence’s culture, this is a great tour that seamlessly wraps it all up into one pristine package. More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
3. Florence Sunset Walking Tour with Wine & Food Tasting
- Duration: 3.5 hours
- Departure: Piazza Santo Spirito, 50125 Firenze
- Departure Time: Between 3:30 & 6:30 PM
- Includes: 14 samples at 6 different tasting locations, Negroni cocktail demo and drinking, taste 5 amazing wines, local english speaking guide, Florence – A food lover’s guide
If there’s anything more beautiful than Florence as the sun goes down, enveloping the spires and meticulous sculptures in a golden glow, let me know. Up until this tour I haven’t found anything yet, so I’m highly recommending you take the Florence Sunset Walking Tour with Wine & Food Tasting!
As someone who absolutely loves making cocktails and learning the history behind the classic ones, this was one of the best tours of its kind for me!
We started out by meeting with our guide in the centrally-located Piazza Santo Spirito, where we immediately started off with a briefing as to what to expect on the tour. While still at the plaza, we enjoyed a crisp Prosecco and “cheered” to a fantastic night with new friends!
We then walked over to Oltrarno, where we were able to try a couple of differen types of Pecorino, 1 Parmigiano at the King of Cheese, and try plenty of the local dairy produce (much better than any other dairy I’ve ever tasted).
Expand To See More We then visited our first wine window, which was such a cool experience (and wish we had these in the US!). I then sampled a refreshing bruschetta and a glass of white local wine while learning about the history behind the wine windows traditions at the second official wine window! It was here, where we tried charcuterie boards expertly paired with wine while relaxing in a cellar that dated back to the 12th-century! After that, we were able to taste Negronis and learn how to make them, along with plenty of stews, and other types of wines. We wrapped things up with a hearty Tuscan pasta along with a real artisan Gelato, which were all so delicious! More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
4. Small-Group Florence Food Walking Tour
- Duration: 3 hours
- Departure: Via dei Cimatori, 9R, 50122 Firenze
- Departure Time: 9:30 AM or 4:30 PM
- Includes: Local guide, food and wine tasting
One common misconception about Italy is that you have to spend a lot in order to have a world-class experience like this one.
That’s not only not true, but this tour is actually one of the most affordable of its kind, letting you jump right into the heart of local food and wine culture! The Small-Group Florence Food Walking Tour is an intimate experience that balanced history, art, and food perfectly.
I was actually quite surprised at just how budget-friendly this tour was, considering we got to try so many amazing things with a tour guide who’s clearly passionate about what they do.
We started out by meeting them at the Via dei Cimatori where we got acquainted and were able to ask any questions we may have. They were very friendly and welcoming, and with no more than 8 participants in our group, we didn’t worry about missing any information or tastings.
Our first stop was luckily a local coffee bar, which was better and richer than any other I’d previously tried in Florence (assuming I went to a tourist trap).
Expand To See More After trying 2 different types of roasts and learning about each one’s production process, we hen went to a traditional delicatesssen and fueled up on a truffle pate sandwich. Truffles are a must-try when in Florence, and I think that for those of us who aren’t used to the flavor, it’s very palatable in sandwich form. After that, we made our way to an enoteca to learn how to taste wines, trying 2 different local blends expertly paired with regional cheeses and cured meats. Then, we had a little dessert at one of the city’s best gelaterias before cruising around the famous San Lorenzo Market. I was so impressed by the quality of produce found here, that I ended up going back the next day to load up on groceries! More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
5. Florence: Early Evening Food & Wine Tour in Oltrarno Neighborhood
- Duration: 3.5 hours
- Departure: Piazza Santo Spirito, 50125 Firenze
- Departure Time: 4:45 PM
- Includes: All tastings, including food, wine, and gelato, expert English speaking tour guide, small group of 12 people or fewer
I can’t say this enough, but if you’re looking for the perfect alternative to a romantic date at a restaurant in Florence, look at this tour now. In fact, go ahead and book it, because I guarantee the Florence: Early Evening Food & Wine Tour in Oltrarno Neighborhood tour will sell out!
You could definitely do this one as a fun outing with friends as well, as it has a more lively vibe to it, focusing a bit more on wine and dinner options.
Starting out at the Piazza Santo Spirito, it’s easy to meet up with the guide here as it’s centrally-located and very easy to find. As our group allowed for a maximum of just 12 participants, it was very easy to follow along and answer questions as we saw fit.
Our first stop of the evening was at the charming Caffe Notte right on the corner, where we dove headfirst into everything “Tuscan food” and tried local cheeses, bruschetta, focaccia, and of course, the Chianti Classico that’s won countless awards.
From there, we took a quick trip to one of the city’s renowned wine windows to try our choice of either a local red or white glass.
Expand To See More I’ Vinaino di San Frediano was next, which is known for being one of the most popular wine bars among locals, trying some Tuscan cold cuts and wine. After this, I did start to get a bit full, but saved plenty of room for bistecca alla fiorentina at the BBQ Trattoria Barbecue with world-class cuts of meat and flavorful seasoning. It would be crazy to spend time in the birthplace of gelato and not revel in the cold dessert, so we took a little stroll over to one of the most reputable places for a cup. After that, our guide even took us to some of their favorite art galleries and museums, so we had plenty of stops to make throughout the rest of our trip! Florence is a city where eating well takes a little planning. You can absolutely wander into a restaurant near the Duomo and spend 35 euros on mediocre pasta, or you can spend an afternoon with a local guide who shows you the places Florentines actually eat. I’ve spent enough time on Florence food tours to know that the right one depends on which neighborhood you pick, what format fits your energy level, and how much you already know about Tuscan food. Florence food tours are organized by neighborhood, and each neighborhood has its own personality. Pick the wrong one for your style and you’ll have a fine time. Pick the right one and you’ll remember the afternoon for years. If you’ve seen a photo of Florence with artisan workshops tucked behind weathered wooden doors, you’ve seen Oltrarno. It sits across the Arno from the historic center and feels like the Florence of locals. Cobblestone streets, leather workshops, small trattorias where regulars get nodded at by name. This is my top pick for first time food tour visitors. You’ll hit Tuscan classics at several stops, probably a wine window pour, schiacciata stuffed with cured meat, and gelato from a place that makes it fresh daily. My take: Oltrarno is at its best for sunset tours, when the light hits the buildings and the locals come out for aperitivo. Sant’Ambrogio is where Florentine cuisine actually lives. The market here is smaller and dramatically more local than the touristy alternatives, full of vendors who know their stuff and don’t speak much English, that’s how you know it’s authentic! If they speak fluent English, move on. Tours here often include lampredotto (the famous tripe sandwich) from a stand that’s been running for generations, plus serious cheese and salumi tastings. If that’s not your thing, just tell the guide at booking. Sant’Ambrogio operators tend to be more flexible than the big tour companies running 20 person groups through the center. I’ll give you my candid opinion: San Lorenzo gets enormous food tour traffic because of Mercato Centrale, not because it’s the most authentic option. The upstairs food hall is genuinely impressive but feels closer to a polished food court than a working market. The downstairs floor still has real vendors and is worth visiting. If you’re staying near the Duomo and want a tour that doesn’t require crossing the river, San Lorenzo works fine. My advice: pick a small group tour with a well reviewed guide. The food is only as good as the stops. Santa Croce is a solid middle ground. It’s central enough to be convenient, less crowded than the historic center, and home to several historic bakeries, wine bars, and gelaterias. Many top rated tours start here at the Dante statue. If you’ve already done Oltrarno on a previous trip, Santa Croce is where I’d send you next. Tours that center on Piazza della Signoria and the Duomo area are the most convenient and the most likely to feel touristy. They can still be excellent if the guide takes you to family run spots tucked off the main streets, but read recent reviews carefully. The stops vary wildly. The default and probably what you’ll book on your first trip. Two to four hours, four to seven stops, group sizes from 6 to 20. What I love: a broad sample of the neighborhood without having to pick restaurants for your whole trip. What to watch out for: tours over 12 people get rushed and impersonal. Pay extra for a small group option whenever possible. One of my favorite ways to spend an afternoon in Florence. You roll out fresh pasta with a local chef, usually tagliatelle or stuffed ravioli, then sit down and eat what you made with Tuscan wine. Three to four hours, 4 to 12 people. Book this if you’re traveling as a couple, celebrating something, or want a souvenir that isn’t a leather keychain. The casual cousin of pasta class. Families with kids love these, and gelato making in particular is genuinely fun. If you’re traveling with children between 6 and 14, I’d book a making class over a walking tour every time. Morning tours centered on one of Florence’s food markets. Sant’Ambrogio is my top pick. Mercato Centrale is more polished but more touristed. Many market tours pair with an afternoon cooking class using what you bought, which I’d recommend if you have the time. Two versions. The in city version takes you to wine bars and the famous “wine windows” (buchette del vino) for Chianti and Super Tuscans. The day trip version takes you out to Chianti for a proper winery experience. If you’re a wine person, take a proper wine tour and spend the day tasting wine and visiting wineries. Florence’s signature format. Roughly 5 to 9 PM, combining food with wine during golden hour. These typically replace your dinner. The Oltrarno sunset tours are consistently the highest rated experiences in the city. Bundle a food experience with a guided visit to a landmark. The Accademia (David) plus Florence food tour is the most popular combination. Honest take: if your trip is short, these are efficient. If you have a week, do them separately. If walking tours sound too tame, Vespa tours through Chianti are unforgettable. You ride into the Tuscan countryside, stop at vineyards and villages, and eat a proper lunch with the wines. They cost more but the experience is in a different league. A dedicated guide and customizable itinerary for 300 to 600 euros for a small group. Worth it if you have dietary restrictions, are traveling multi generationally, or are celebrating something. A food tour on your first day teaches you what to order for the rest of your trip. Lampredotto is Florence’s signature street food: a sandwich made from the fourth stomach of a cow, slow simmered and served on a crusty roll dipped in broth. Sounds challenging, tastes incredible. A tour that skips it isn’t really a Florence food tour. It’s part of the broader cucina povera (poor kitchen) tradition that defines Tuscan cooking. Stale bread becomes ribollita (bread and bean soup), pappa al pomodoro (bread and tomato soup), or panzanella (bread salad). Florentines waste nothing, and that thrift produced some of Italy’s best dishes. The legendary T-bone from Chianina cattle, grilled rare over wood embers and served with salt and olive oil. Premium evening tours include it; most daytime tours don’t. If a restaurant offers it well done, walk out. Every guide will tell you this story. Some blame a medieval salt tax, others a feud with Pisa, others a deliberate pairing with salty cured meats. Whether the guide tells it with personality or recites it like a script tells you a lot about the tour quality. Schiacciata is Florence’s flatbread, similar to focaccia but thinner and crispier. The sandwich version made All’Antico Vinaio internationally famous. Most tours skip the famous spot (the lines are insane) and take you to better local alternatives. Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, and the modern Super Tuscans. Vin Santo is the dessert wine paired with cantucci almond cookies. Knowing these names helps you evaluate whether a tour’s wine selection is serious or surface level. Wine windows (buchette del vino) are small openings in palazzo walls dating to the 1600s, originally used by noble families to sell wine directly. Many have been restored and are now functional bars again. Real Tuscan extra virgin olive oil tastes peppery and grassy. Tuscan pecorino comes in fresh, semi aged, and aged versions. Truffles appear in fall and winter. A tour with proper tastings of any of these is worth more than one without. Real gelato uses less cream, less air, and natural ingredients. A Florence tour should take you to an actual artisan gelateria, not a place displaying mountains of bright blue dessert. If you see Smurf colored gelato piled high, it’s not the real thing. Lunch tours (11 AM to 2 PM) are my top recommendation for first time visitors. Fresher markets, emptier restaurants, afternoon free for sightseeing. Sunset tours (5 PM to 9 PM) have the most atmosphere and the best photos. They replace dinner. Market tours need to be morning. Florence markets close by early afternoon. The advertised duration is almost always optimistic. A three hour tour often runs closer to three and a half. Budget an extra 30 minutes and you’ll never feel rushed. Tell operators at booking, not at the start. Last minute changes are sometimes impossible. The single biggest factor in whether a tour feels great or just fine. Small groups (capped at 8 or 10) give your guide time to actually answer questions and let restaurants serve without chaos. I’ll pay an extra 20 or 30 euros every time for the small group version. Florence’s cobblestones are no joke. Flat, closed toe walking shoes matter more than anything else in your bag. If you have mobility limitations, ask about accessibility before booking. Some Oltrarno tours involve hills. For food tour guides, 10 to 20 euros per person at the end of a great tour is standard. Bring cash. In restaurants, the coperto (cover charge of 2 to 4 euros) replaces the American tip culture. A small round up for great service is appreciated but never expected. Common meeting spots include the Dante statue at Piazza Santa Croce, Piazza della Signoria near the Cosimo monument, and Piazza Santo Spirito in Oltrarno. Google Maps will get you close, but Florence’s narrow streets can be confusing. Show up 10 minutes early. The Walking Food Tour of Florence with Tastings is our Editors Choice for the best Florence food tasting tourMore Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
The Complete Guide to Florence Food Tours
What to book, what to eat, and what I wish I’d known before my first one
How Florence Food Tours Are Organized
Oltrarno
Sant’Ambrogio
San Lorenzo and Mercato Centrale
Santa Croce
The Historic Center
Tour Types: What You’re Actually Choosing Between
Walking Food Tours
Pasta Making Classes
Pizza and Gelato Making Classes
Market Tours
Wine Tasting Tours
Sunset and Evening Tours
Food and History Combo Tours
Vespa and Chianti Day Tours
Private Tours
Which Tour for Which Traveler
Tour Type
Duration
Price Range
Group Size
Best For
Walking Food Tour
2 to 4 hrs
70 to 130 euros
6 to 20
First time visitors
Pasta Making Class
3 to 4 hrs
75 to 150 euros
4 to 12
Couples, gift seekers
Gelato Class
2 to 3 hrs
60 to 100 euros
4 to 12
Families with kids
Market Tour
2 to 3 hrs
55 to 95 euros
6 to 12
Morning people
Wine Tasting (in city)
2 to 3 hrs
80 to 140 euros
4 to 12
Wine curious travelers
Sunset Food Tour
3 to 4 hrs
90 to 140 euros
6 to 15
Romantic evenings
Chianti Day Trip
6 to 10 hrs
130 to 280 euros
6 to 20
Longer Florence stays
Private Tour
3 to 5 hrs
300 to 600 euros
1 to 8
Special occasions
What You’ll Actually Be Eating
Lampredotto and the Cucina Povera Tradition
Bistecca alla Fiorentina
Why Tuscan Bread Has No Salt
Schiacciata and All’Antico Vinaio
Tuscan Wines
Olive Oil, Truffles, and Pecorino
Gelato vs. Ice Cream
What to Know Before You Book
Best Time of Day
Seasonal Considerations
Season
What’s at Its Best
What I’d Book
March to May
Spring greens, artichokes, olive oil. Pleasant weather.
Oltrarno walking tour.
June to August
Tomatoes, stone fruit. Brutal midday heat.
Sunset tours only. Avoid noon.
September to October
Grapes, harvest, new olive oil, early truffles.
Chianti day trip. Best month overall.
November to December
White truffles, fresh oil, hearty winter food.
Truffle focused tour.
January to February
Quiet season, cucina povera at its best.
Best prices. Smallest groups.
How Long Tours Actually Run
Price Ranges: What You Get at Each Level
Dietary Restrictions
Group Size Matters Most
Cobblestones and Comfort
Tipping
Booking Windows
Meeting Points
What to Bring
Foods Tasted
Tour Guides
Value
