Florence City Tours – Green Travel Guide – cycle your way around the renaissance capital of the world
Florence city tours are perfect for the green traveller as it is a beautiful city and a wonderful destination for anyone interested in renaissance art and architecture. Recognised as being the birthplace of the renaissance, it’s an ideal destination for any ecotourist who has an interest in art and culture, as well as being a city well-suited to those looking to explore on foot or by bicycle.
With the city centre being notoriously difficult to navigation and park in, along with many of the city’s major attractions being in close proximity, the best solution is to do everything by cycle or on foot and for those who are not comfortable cycling in traffic do not worry, almost the entire city centre has been pedestrianized.
Florence city tours by cycling
Cycling your way around Florence is both affordable and convenient and there are many cycle hire outlets available. Florence by Bike is a very good option as you can organise everything you need including the right bike for you before arrival. By contacting them in advance, with your measurements and your preferred style, you can ensure that everything is just right for you when you arrive.
What’s more, if your perhaps not as fit as you would like to be, or are concerned about keeping up with those whom you are touring with, there are hybrid bikes available, although they are quite a bit more expensive. Cycle hire can cost from as little as EUR3.5 per hour for a city bike, to EUR56 for a week. If you opt for the hybrid bike the cost will set you back EUR21 – EUR145 for the same period.
Florence Bike Tour
Before hiring your bike and going off and doing your own thing, it may be a good idea to take the Florence Bike Tour. With an excellent reputation, this tour will take in many of the important sites and monuments of Florence with views of Santissima Annunziata, as well as Uffizi Square, home of the Galleria degli Uffizi, the most famous art gallery in Florence. The tour is easy going and allows three hours to cover 9km so not too exerting for most people. The tour also caters for young children and babies and if you book as a family there is a discount.
Walking your way around your Florence city tour
With the city centre now completely pedestrianized, walking your way around Florence can be a relaxing and thoroughly enjoyable experience. With many of the main attractions being in the Centro Storico area, you may want to head this way when venturing out in the mornings.
Florence Walking tour for the Green traveller
However, if you are looking for a more structured walking tour then why not try the Florence in one day (or two) tour. This tour is essentially three separate tours for one fee that you can take in one go, or over the course of your holiday if a 6 hour tour is too much. The tours themselves are three of the best tours in Florence and include a three hour guide of Florence, a trip to the must-see Uffizi gallery and a visit to the Accademia museum where you will see and learn about the most famous statue in the world, David, by Michelangelo.
The fee is EUR94 for adults, EUR89 for students and EUR45 for children, aged between 6 and 12 years, with admission for children under six being free. The package also includes the “skip the line” offer, as do many pre booked tours, so you won’t have to worry about long waits. One thing to be careful of is to avoid taking large bags or rucksacks as many of the museums and art galleries will refuse entry.
An eco-base for the green traveller
Located less than a mile from the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia Museum, the Casa Rovai Bed and Breakfast is an ideal place to rest your head. The guest house has an excellent green policy that can be clearly viewed on the website and many positive reviews. All food is produced locally and for those with allergies, gluten-free options are available on request. There is even a bike hire for those who don’t want the hassle of picking up and dropping off a bike at a different location.
Markets for the eco-tourist
There are quite a few markets scattered around Florence; however, over time some of the more traditional ones have turned into tourist traps selling over-priced trinkets. If you are looking for something a little more tradition then check out the farmers market, Santa Croce, at Piazza Ghiberti. This local farmers market is open from 07.00 to 14.00 from Monday to Saturday.
Relaxing in Florence Gardens for the green traveller
There are two or three impressive gardens in Florence but the Boboli Gardens are probably the best. At 450 years old these stunning gardens are beautiful to behold and cover a large area. Tickets cost around 18 Euros and include a visit to the Silver museum, which is also worth a visit. There are concessions for younger people and students and the fee also includes line skipping so you don’t have to concern yourself with getting there early during busy periods.
All in all Florence is a beautiful city and definitely worth a visit; the city is also environmentally aware and with plenty of gardens, local markets and a city centre that is very unwelcoming to traffic it’s an ideal destination for any eco-tourist.