Florentine Gondola Boat Tour
Sip wine on the Arno River and cruise by Ponte Vecchio, Uffizi, and more on a classic Barchetto boat
Want to discover Florence’s answer to the gondola? The hop aboard one of four remaining original barchetti for a gentle cruise along the Arno River, gliding under Ponte Vecchio bridge as you sip local wine and hear stories of the city from your friendly local guide.These beautiful boats have been traversing Florence’s waterways for centuries and provide a memorable way to see the Renaissance City. Join a small group and expert barcaiolo skipper for a boat ride through the heart of Florence!
- Expert local Barcaiolo skipper
- Florentine barchetto boat experience
- Cruise along Florence's Arno Rover
- Beautiful views of Florence
- Ponte Vecchio
- A relaxing way to see the city sights
- Local wine and soft drinks included
Though Florence is not a city of canals like Venice, travel by boat along the Arno River has been a way of life for many generations. You'll meet you engaging local guide by the riverbank, and along with a small group you'll enjoy a boat ride that takes in city views of the Uffizi Gallery, the Duomo, and more. You'll also pass under the famous Ponte Vecchio, along with some of Florence's other historic bridges.
With a traditional Barcaiolo skipper and knowledgeable local guide, you'll learn the history of these boats along with fascinating stories of the city.
Florence Barchetto Boat Tour
Your 1-hour Arno River boat cruise includes:
Arno River Cruise on an historic wooden Barchetto boat
Views of Ponte Vecchio, the Duomo, and more
Complimentary glass of chilled wine or soft drink
Traditional Barcaiolo skipper
Engaging English-speaking local guide
Maximum group size of 20
Board Your Barchetto by the Riverbank
After meeting your guide at a convenient spot nearby and enjoying a short stroll to the river, you'll climb aboard one of only four remaining original barchetti boats. Though the barchetto is similar to the gondolas of Venice, it has its own unique history gliding down the rivers of Tuscany. Your expert barcaiolo skipper will use the traditional wooden pole to navigate the vessel for your cruise along the river, and you can just sit back and enjoy the ride!
1-Hour Cruise Along Florence's Arno River
As you gently ride the Arno, you'll take in some to the famous sites of Florence on this historic boat. Enjoy views of the Uffizi Gallery, Duomo and more, with stunning photo opportunities along the way. This Arno river cruise is a great way to see a different side to this beautiful city.
Glide Under Florentine Bridges Including Ponte Vecchio
The Ponte Vecchio, along with the Duomo, is one of the two great symbols of Florence. Merchant shops have lined this famed bridge since the 13th century. Originally, the shops included fishmongers, butchers, and tanners, however these particular goods caused such a stench in the area that Ferdinand I proclaimed in 1593 that only jewelers were allowed to sell on the bridge.
You'll cruise underneath Ponte Vecchio and also see other architectural marvels, the Ponte delle Grazie and Ponte della Santa Trinita. These great bridges are often overshadowed by the Ponte Vecchio but have their own great stories and tradition.
Enjoy a Glass of Local Wine Along the Way
As you're sitting back and enjoying the city sights pass you by, your guide will bring out some chilled local wine to celebrate the journey in style. Salute!
Not a wine drinker? Not a problem. Soft drinks are available too.
What you get with this tour
See what people are saying
2 total reviews
Leave a reviewLovely and informative
Unverified Review
I wish I could remember her name but we had an amazing tour guide. A young woman with a lot of knowledge met us at the gate and took us down to the river to enter a large boat operated by an older gentleman. The older gentleman smiled as we enter the boat And continue to smiling throughout the journey. The young woman filled us with knowledge about the Arno river in regards to World War II. She filled our glasses with wine and for those who did not drink, orange juice or water. We did the later afternoon tour as the sun was setting and it was a beautiful way to go into our dinner. Because we didn’t book our train tickets to Venice in a timely fashion they were way too expensive to go from Florence. However, this was an equally beautiful experience without having to go to Venice. I recommend it highly. I only wish I could remember the young woman’s name to give her credit.
So cool! Absolutely Beautiful!
Unverified Review
We had an amazing time on this boat ride. The gondolier was so friendly. It was so relaxing and romantic to go under the Ponte Vechio in a gondola
Frequently Asked Questions
What to bring?
Please make sure you wear sunscreen during summer months at there is no shade on the boat.
Is this tour run by The Tour Guy?
No, it's run by one of our trusted and vetted partners in Florence. They're a specialist company who we know uphold our high standards.
Can I bring my kids on this tour?
Yes, kids are more than welcome on this tour, and soft drinks are available instead of wine.
What to bring?
Please make sure you wear sunscreen during summer months at there is no shade on the boat.
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