The 8 River Trips in Florence That Earn Their Price

1.Florence River Cruise on a Traditional Barchetto

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 376 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $71Our pick

Meet your English-speaking guide in central Florence and board a traditional barchetto for about 45 minutes on the Arno. Hear stories of the Medici, Vasari Corridor, Uffizi, and riverside palaces while enjoying wine or a soft drink. Guides may include Lorenzo, Gloria, Vanessa, Fabio, or Francesca.

“It was a good your. The guide is knowledgeable. I recommend to anyone who wants to know history of Florence.”

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2.Pontevecchio Bridge and City Sights Rafting Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 167 reviews · 2 hours · from $46Best value

Paddle the Arno with an Italian or English-speaking guide such as Marco, Hector, or Jarno. Expect a short, exciting drop at the San Niccolò dam, calm river views, and a close look beneath Ponte Vecchio, with light paddling and some splashing.

“Very fun activity off the beaten path. The guides were very good.”

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3.Guided Gondola Boat Tour with a Glass of Wine

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 152 reviews · from $67

Spend an hour on Florence’s Arno River aboard a traditional wooden barchetto, guided by an English-speaking local boatman and tour leader. Pass the Uffizi, Vasari Corridor, Ponte Vecchio, Ponte Santa Trinita, and Oltrarno, then enjoy chilled wine or a soft drink for children.

“We absolutely loved this gondola cruise. One of my favourite activities in Italy. Great to hear stories from a knowledgeable guide, see Florence from a different perspective, get fantastic photos, and have a glass of wine in the evening. My whole family (including teens) loved it.”

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4.Ponte Vecchio and City Sights Guided Kayak Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 83 reviews · 2 hours · from $58

Join Firenze Rafting for a two-hour Arno River kayak trip with an Italian or English-speaking guide. Paddle your own inflatable kayak past the Uffizi, Santa Trinita Bridge, and Vasari Corridor, then pass beneath Ponte Vecchio and try the San Niccolò slide.

“Went with my Teenie Kids! Was a great alternative to the museums. Would recommend it!”

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5.Pisa and Florence: Shore Excursion from La Spezia Cruise Port

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 36 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) Top rated

Travel privately from La Spezia to Pisa and Florence in a luxury minivan with Wi-Fi. Your English-speaking driver, such as Simone, Matteo, Andrea, Emilio, or Drago, handles the route and port timing while you explore independently. The day is customizable, but major attraction tickets are extra.

“We are so grateful for this tour. Our driver/guide, Emilio, was kind, knowledgeable, and extremely pleasant. We spent the day driving through the beautiful Tuscan region of Italy, learning about their culture. We stopped in Florence and then Pisa, where we had plenty of time to experience these magnificent cities. It was a long day, but we enjoyed every minute of it! We highly recommend Emilio and Special Tour NCC.”

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6.Florence sunset boat cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 7 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $90

Walk through central Florence with a certified guide, then board a traditional Florentine barchetto for a 75-minute private cruise. Expect Ponte Vecchio and Ponte Santa Trinita views, prosecco, and guide stories. Guides may include Irene, Mateo, or Caterina.

“Such a great tour, loved the boat and the guide was interesting, and learned a little history. Highly recommend it!”

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7.Panoramic Florence by Boat with Wine

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $66

Meet at Piazza Mentana at 7 p.m. for a roughly one-hour private ride on Florence’s Arno. An English-speaking guide such as Stefano or Larisa leads the outing, with wine served aboard a historic boat as you pass the Uffizi, Vasari Corridor, Ponte Santa Trinita, and Ponte Vecchio.

“Fantastic tour!! Larisa was fabulous! She knew so many things about the city. She was a real expert. She catered the tour to our specific needs as well as showed us the highlights. We went to the Leather School which was a beautiful experience. I highly recommend this tour!!”

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8.Livorno Private Departure Transfer: Central Florence to Cruise Port

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $169

Travel from central Florence to your cruise ship in Livorno with a private driver and hotel pickup. Expect a Mercedes for one or two people, or a minibus for larger groups. Drivers meet and assist you, with the ride taking about 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 50 minutes.

“Driver was right on time. Nice van and courteous driver. Well worth the money”

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