Florence Renaissance and Medieval: Day Trip from Milano by High-Speed Train
Description
Enjoy an unforgettable full-day trip from Milan to Florence and travel comfortably by high-speed train. Begin your day with a guided walking tour led by a professional local guide. Explore the historic Medici district, visiting highlights like the Medici Chapels. Admire the stunning Florence Cathedral (Duomo), with Brunelleschi’s Dome, Giotto’s Bell Tower, and the Baptistery of San Giovanni. Stroll the medieval streets and visit the Straw Market, where you can rub the nose of the famous “Porcellino” for good luck. Continue to the iconic Piazza della Signoria, a spectacular open-air museum. See the impressive Palazzo Vecchio and end the tour at Ponte Vecchio, Florence’s oldest and most famous bridge. If option selected, visit the interior of the Cathedral with your guide. Marvel at its vast nave, Bandinelli’s marble choir, stained-glass masterpieces, and Vasari’s frescoes inside the Dome. Enjoy free time to explore, shop, or relax before heading back to Milan by train in the evening.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Admire the imposing exterior of Palazzo Medici Riccardi, the first great Renaissance palace of the Medici family. From the outside, your guide will introduce the power, taste and influence of the dynasty that helped shape Florence into the cradle of the Renaissance.
Discover Piazza di San Lorenzo, one of the most historic corners of Florence and closely connected to the Medici family. From the square, take in the atmosphere of the neighborhood and learn about the basilica’s long history and its role in Florentine religious and political life.
Marvel at the magnificent exterior of Florence Cathedral, with its richly decorated marble façade, Brunelleschi’s extraordinary dome, Giotto’s Bell Tower and the ancient Baptistery. From the outside, discover how this monumental complex became one of the greatest symbols of Renaissance Florence.
Admire Orsanmichele from the outside, a unique building that began as a grain market before becoming one of Florence’s most fascinating churches. Your guide will point out its elegant architecture and the famous exterior niches once decorated by the city’s powerful guilds.
Visit the lively Mercato del Porcellino, famous for its traditional leather stalls and the beloved bronze boar fountain. Discover the local legend behind the “Porcellino” and enjoy the charm of one of Florence’s most popular market areas.
Enter Piazza della Signoria, Florence’s grand open-air museum and political heart. Surrounded by statues, historic palaces and the majestic Palazzo Vecchio, this square tells stories of power, art, rivalry and civic pride at the center of Florentine history.
End your walk at the iconic Ponte Vecchio, Florence’s oldest and most famous bridge. Lined with historic shops and suspended over the Arno River, it offers one of the city’s most unforgettable views and a perfect glimpse into Florence’s timeless charm.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- You will receive your Train ticket with departure and return time, by email or whatsapp, the day before your trip
- Train departure from Milano Centrale Station, mandatory to arrive at the station at least 20 minutes before your departure time
- It is mandatory to arrive at the meeting point at the mentioned check in time. In case of delay it will not be possible to get the time-entry ticket and Museum access, nor to have a refund or reschedule the entry
Reviews(18)
Great train ride from milan to Florence and back. Our tour guide from CAF was very good in explaining Florentian history. Highly recommend this tour.
Good morning from CAF Tour & Travel! Dear Rafael, Thank you very much for your wonderful review! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your journey from Milan to Florence and that our CAF guide helped bring Florentine history to life. Your recommendation means a lot to us! Warm regards from Florence, CAF Tour & Travel Staff
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ We LOVED this trip, our guide was very knowledgeable, we saw parts of Florence we probably wouldn't have found. Our transport was wonderful, 1st class train tickets - a total treat. Thank you so much. We would highly recommend. 💕💕💕
Good Morning from Caf Tour & Travel, Dear Helen, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We are thrilled to hear that you loved your Florence day trip and that our guide helped you discover hidden gems of the city. It’s fantastic that you enjoyed traveling in comfort with first class train tickets, it’s all part of making the journey as special as the destination. Florence is a city full of art, history, and unforgettable moments, and it was a joy to share it with you. We would be delighted to welcome you again for more Tuscan adventures in the future! Warm regards from Florence, Caf Tour & Travel Team
Good general tour of the city. Not very thorough but there is not enough time. If you are in Milan and want to make a quick stop to see Florence if you haven't before, this is a good option. But to fully explore the city will take another trip. The high speed train was nice.
Good Morning from Caf Tour & Travel, Dear Joseph, Thank you for sharing your thoughtful feedback. We’re glad you enjoyed this first introduction to Florence, especially as a convenient day trip from Milan with the comfort of high-speed train travel. Florence is indeed a city that invites you to return and explore it more deeply, and we’d love to welcome you back for a longer, more immersive experience. Best regards from Florence, and arrivederci!
I enjoyed my trip to Florence for the day from Milan. The only parts that made me a little anxious and that’s just on my end was going to the Central Milan station and looking for the train. I was supposed to take just as an FYI when you go to Central Milan station look for the time you’re train departs not the train number because some trains will have the same number, but not the same departure time so paying attention to that. Arrive at the train station at least 30 minutes before because your train doesn’t have a track number until they post it and you don’t want to be running late or right on time because some of the trains are delayed or don’t leave on Time. With that being said the company was great. The tour guide was great. She knew her stuff we walked around she told us interesting tidbits and the weather was phenomenal. I had enough time to walk around go to the Gucci museum and the Ferragamo museum and to see the original David at the Academy Galleria all in all it was a great time and I would highly recommend this company to do a day trip to Florence.
Good Morning from Caf Tour & Travel, Dear Haylie, Thank you very much for your detailed review! We’re delighted that you had a smooth and enriching day trip to Florence, visiting the museums and seeing the original David. Your tips about the train station are very helpful for future travelers. We hope to welcome you again soon for more discoveries in Forence! Warm greetings from Florence
Francesca is an excellent tour guide. Very knowable of Firenza. Very helpful if recommending where to eat n visit. We’d like to come back again.
Dear Customer, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your wonderful review of the Florence Renaissance and Medieval: Day Trip from Milan by High-Speed Train. We are thrilled to hear that you had a great experience and enjoyed your time with Francesca. Her deep knowledge of Florence and her personalized recommendations truly make a difference, and we’re so glad she could make your visit special. We would be delighted to welcome you back anytime to explore even more of the beauty and history Florence has to offer. Looking forward to your next visit! Warm regards,
My train was late and being from the states it was hard to navigate to spot, I put in meeting place however it took me to Cafe Freinza Gelato's. I reached out to the guide and he sent me a link and my maps didn’t recognize it. They left me and I was on my own vs him providing me with one of their stops so I could join in. All he had for me was sorry! I’m older and was traveling solo.
Dear Phyllis, We regret to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations. We understand that the train delay caused significant inconvenience. Unfortunately, delays can occur due to technical issues or track traffic, and we apologize for any frustration this may have caused. We have double-checked the link provided in the voucher, and it correctly directs to the meeting point in front of Caffe Firenze on Via de Martelli. We are sorry for any confusion and will investigate further to ensure all directions are as clear as possible. Once a tour has started, it is challenging to communicate with the guide as they are actively engaged in providing information to the group, and interrupting them would not be respectful to the guide or the other participants. Hoping that the above clarification meet your understanding, Best regards
Our guided tour with Marta was the most important educational hour in my entire trip. She was so wonderful, and obviously passionate about her city. She made such thoughtful connections to convey stories.
Dear Jessy, Thank you so much for your kind words! We are thrilled to hear that your guided tour with Marta was the highlight of your trip. Marta's passion and dedication to sharing the rich history of Florence truly shine through in her tours. We are delighted that you enjoyed the thoughtful connections she made and that your experience was both educational and memorable. We hope to welcome you back on another adventure soon! Warm regards
Florence was stunning, so much more beautiful than I imagined. The streets were very busy though so if you don’t like crowds this isn’t the place for you. I also like that everything is in walking distance of everything else. Both of my guides for the day were extremely informative and helpful giving us all lots of information on Florence’s history and any tips on places to eat and things to see for our selves if we had some spare time. The facade of the Duomo is absolutely stunning and if there is one thing you should do if you like art it is to see this - it is so detailed and out of this world.
Good morning from Caf Tour & Travel, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with us. We are thrilled to hear that Florence exceeded your expectations with its stunning beauty and rich history. We understand that the bustling streets can be a bit overwhelming, and we appreciate your patience in navigating them. It's great to know that you found everything within walking distance, making it convenient to explore the city. Our guides are dedicated to providing an informative and enjoyable experience, and we're delighted that they could enhance your visit with their knowledge and helpful tips. The facade of the Duomo is indeed a breathtaking masterpiece, and we're glad you enjoyed it as much as we do. Thank you once again for your kind words. We hope to welcome you on another adventure soon! Best regards,
Poor Tour Guide. Group too large to enjoy the sites within crowded streets. Tour Company did not allow for ticket entry to The Duomo. A quick drop at the end of 1.5 hour walk. The price of $180 was way too high for what was gotten.
Good afternoon from Caf Tour & Travel, Dear Kenneth, Thank you for sharing your review. We deeply regret to hear that you didn't enjoy our tour. Please allow us to clarify that the activity you booked does not include entrance to the Florence Duomo. Furthermore, the guide who accompanied you during your visit is one of our best guides, known for her professionalism and extensive experience with Florence’s heritage. We are sorry to hear that you didn't appreciate the value of our experience, which usually receives high and positive feedbacks from our customers. We hope to welcome you again on one of our many activities across Florence and Tuscany. Best regards
Instructions were easy to follow,meeting not too far from train station,abt half a mile walk.My husband and I took the 2 hr train ride from Milan (we received our tickets and instructions the day before the tour).Tour went well,an hour and half walking.It was a nice day( i had to switch days with other tour due to rain,been monitoring the weather for a week before our tour).We had the rest of the day on our own,walked back to where we came from and spent sometime shopping,lunch at the central market.Overall the day was good,our tour guide was knowledgeable with the places we went.
Dear Ruth, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your wonderful review with us at Caf Tour & Travel! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed our tour and found the instructions easy to follow. It's great to know you and your husband had a smooth journey from Milan and that the tour went well despite having to switch days due to rain. We always strive to ensure our customers have a seamless and enjoyable experience, so it's wonderful to hear you had a nice day exploring. We're glad that you found our tour guide knowledgeable and that you were able to spend some time shopping and enjoy lunch at the central market on your own. It sounds like you had a fulfilling day overall! Thank you for choosing to explore Florence with us, and we hope to welcome you back for more incredible adventures in the future. Kind regards
