Want to see the most authentic side of Florence? Look no further, it is at the Oltrarno district! Explore the most charming area of the historic center of Florence, away from the touristy crowds, on a private tour. Artisans, local hotspots, wine and bohemian vibes along the way!
Destination
Firenze, Italy
Category
Wine Beer Tours
Duration
3 hours
Transport mode
Walking tour
Available languages
English, Italiano
Included
Private guide
For morning tours, coffee can be included instead of wine
6 reasons to book this tour
Discover the most charming district of Florence
Enjoy a glass of wine in a lively square
100% personalized experience to your wishes
Private tour: only you & your local host!
Check out the last residence of the Medici family
Visit fascinating artisan studios & antique shops
What you can expect
On the other side of the river, Florence hides some truly authentic local gems. This is the case of the Oltrarno district. This charming area of the historic center of Florence is bursting with authentic local vibes. And if you are looking to take a break from the crowds, this is the place for it!
Join me on a private tour in the Oltrarno district and go off the beaten path to see the most authentic side of Florence. Wander around the area and discover fascinating artisan shops, artists' studios, lively squares, churches and small streets where time seems to have stopped.
I was born and raised in this side of the city, and I canโt wait to convey all my love and enthusiasm for this charming and less known part of Florence.
Along the way, we'll do as the locals do. Visit local hotspots and enjoy some excellent Tuscan wines. The atmosphere of the places you'll visit is as local as it gets!
Want more local gems? This tour can be 100% personalized around your wishes. Let's have a chat and I'll create the perfect local experience in Florence, just for you!
This is the plan
Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with Sara.
Meeting point
Meet at Ponte Santa Trinita - Firenze to start your journey
Itinerary
This is what our experience could look like, but itโs not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.
Meeting Point
Ponte Santa Trinita
Oltrarno Gems
Walk along via di Santo Spirito and via Maggio and discover antique shops, artisanal jewelers and artist's studios
Royal Stories
Hear all about the rich Florentine families and their palaces, including the infamous Medici family!
Blessed Sights
Stop in Piazza Santo Spirito to admire one of the most interesting churches in Florence
Wine tasting
Enjoy a glass of wine in a lively square
Crafty Local
Visit a hidden square with a very special story
Artsy Vibes
Visit the museum-atelier of a Florentine goldsmith and sculptor, located inside a historic building dating back to 15th century
Wine & Chill
Enjoy a glass of wine in the shadow of the ancient walls of the city
Make it yours
Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.
Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.
Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.
I can personalize this tour for you
I can personalize this tour for you
Tell me your preferred date and group size
Tell me your preferences and wishes so I can customize the tour for you
Wait for my personal offer in your inbox!
Flexible cancellation policy
Feel confident booking
Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, youโll receive a refund, minus the service fee.
Change of plans?
Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.
Loved by travelers worldwide
Simple and flexible โ your plans, your way.
Reviews from guests
Ron๐ฌ๐ง United Kingdom
27 December 2021
We had a very nice walking tour in Florence and visited some nice shops and had 2 lovely wine tastings. Sara know a lot about Florence and Italy so great experience!Great experience!
Jeffrey๐บ๐ธ United States
16 October 2021
Sarah was a delight. Her knowledge of the Oltrarno district was delightful. We gained insight into an area we had not experienced. We enjoyed our time with Sarah so much and the area itself we spent most of our next three days there with food and local artisans. Just a wonderful experience!!!Just perfect in all ways.
Lisa๐บ๐ธ United States
15 February 2020
We really enjoyed our tour with Sara and she showed us sights we never would have found on our own. It was a great mix of history and wine. We would highly recommend Saraโs tour! Thank you Sara! Saraโs tour was fantastic!
Lauren๐บ๐ธ United States
6 January 2019
Sara is wonderful. She was punctual, kind, and knowledgeable. My friends and I asked many questions and felt like we could be ourselves. She left time for pictures and took some of us as a group. The wine was great and we got to see different parts of Florence that otherwise we would have missed. Excellent Wine and Architecture
Josh๐บ๐ธ United States
16 November 2018
Sara was such a pleasant guide. She was extremely knowledgeable about the cityโs history and culture, and made my girlfriend and I feel very welcome! We learned about a number of hidden gems while walking around a beautiful city with a very friendly and engaging guide! Strongly recommended - thanks Sara!Sara was great!
Christina๐บ๐ธ United States
10 October 2018
Sara was a great host showing us around the less touristy part of Florence which really allowed us to learn how the locals live. We walked through lovely neighborhoods and popped into little shops including an authentic leather shop, gelato a real Italian would eat, and various small art galleries. We really enjoyed the wine stops and even returned to one of the squares for dinner. Sara was very friendly, knowledgeable, and just made our Florence experience perfect.Great time in Florence with Sara!
Jennifer๐ซ๐ท France
5 October 2018
Our guide Sara was delightful. Charming and knowledgeable. We enjoyed visiting this district on the other side of the river away from the group tours and crowds. We visited many interesting shops wirh historical information along the way. However if you are after a proper wine tasting tour this is not it and the tour is maybe misleadingly titled. Although on the 2 stops we had a large glass of good quality wine. Maybe a few more wine stops with smaller quantities and more variety would be good. But thank you Sara.Wine tasting
Jackie๐บ๐ธ United States
27 September 2018
Took the Oltrarno District Tour with Wine Tasting. Sara was very friendly and knowledgeable. Really enjoyed our tour of this most charming side of the river, and went back to some of the places we saw on the tour. A great private tour!Wonderful!!
Aรฏcha๐ซ๐ท France
5 September 2018
Sara's tour is great ! She's super nice, she knows a lot about the history of the city and her tour is well balanced between historical buildings, artisan shops, and walking around to see the Oltrarno district. She was also very flexible to be able to suit our needs and gave us many tips on good restaurants, shops and activities.
We got to see a side of Florence that is as beautiful but completely different from the busy historical center. Definitely a must if you have more than one day in the city and I strongly recommend you let Sara guide you through it ! Great tour !
Derek
7 July 2018
We discovered the best places to be in Florence out of the touristic sites and around friendly locals. Sara showed us some hidden gems around her area that is full of life and little treasures. My favorite stops were the studio of this eccentric artist and of course the breath taking garden she left us at the end. Thank you Sara!The Other Side of Florence: Oltrarno District & Wine Tasting
Giovanna
6 July 2018
I had a wonderful afternoon. Sara was great explaining what we encountered along the way: shops of artisans, antique dealers, squares, ancient buildings.I particularly liked the street artist's atelier where we stopped at the end, and where I could admire very original works. Thank you Sara!The Other Side of Florence: Oltrarno District & Wine Tasting
Elena
3 July 2018
The tour with Sara was great. I chose this experience because it seemed to me a bit different comparing on the other traditional ones that usually takes you to the museums and churches.So it was. I could see an other part of Florence, less crowded but suggestive and attractive at the same time where to enjoy a more genuine florentine atmospheare. I loved very much discovering some artisan workshops and ending the tour drinking a good glass of wine.
Sara was kind, helpful and she entertained me and my friend with interesting stories all the time.
Strongly recommended.The Other Side of Florence: Oltrarno District & Wine Tasting
Arif
3 July 2018
We had a great time with Sara! She was really friendly, fun and passionate with her neighbourhood. The wine spots we visited were amazing and the local artists really interesting and informative with their work. Would strongly recommend.The Other Side of Florence: Oltrarno District & Wine Tasting
Eidis๐ซ๐ท France
21 February 2022
We had a nice early evening with Sara in Florence strawling around different areas and tasting different foods and wines.
However, it would have been more interesting if the guide could give a bit more of history/information about the food we were tasting - a little bit of sort of origin of the "bites" and also to tell more about Florence as a city - at least when we asked.
I informed by my gluten intolerance and it turned out to be VERY difficult to adapt to, though I do believethat with a bit of planning it might have been a bit more easy /adapted.
Sara was really nice and easy to talk to. Debut soirรฉe agreable / Nice early evening in Florence
Marla and Jim ๐บ๐ธ United States
12 December 2021
We had a wonderful evening with Sara exploring Florence food culture. We loved all of the local offerings, but a visit to a local wine shop and cellar was really great. We highly recommend this tour. Wonderful Evening
Allison๐บ๐ธ United States
17 October 2021
Our group had an amazing food tour with Sara! We had a variety of walking abilities and the age range in our group was vast. She was extremely accommodating and patient. She helped to figure out how to make it work for all of us. We got to taste everything she had planned and was impressed with all of it. I would highly recommend her tour and would 100% book another experience with her. Patient, Accommodating, Informative
Mari๐บ๐ธ United States
22 September 2021
Sara is the best! Arrived on time and took us to amazing places we would not have known about otherwise. I have been to Florence many, many times but wanted to get a local preservative and discover new foods and places. Sara did not disappoint! She knows a lot about the history of the city and answered all of our questions in detail. She took us to hidden gems that offered us delicious tastings. We ate so much we even had to take some to go! Walking the city with Sara and tasting the flavors of Firenze was like spending the afternoon with a good friend. My husband and I agreed that it was the highlight of this trip. A unique experience not to be missed. Can't wait to book another tour next time!
Grazie per tutto Sara!!!The perfect guide!
Evangeline๐บ๐ธ United States
20 September 2021
Took a 3-hour food tour with Sara and it was great! We went to 5 places and got to try typical Florentine fare. It was great and Iโd do it again!Fun and delicious tour
Jean๐บ๐ธ United States
12 September 2021
We had a lovely afternoon on our food tour with Sara. The meeting place was easy go find. She was right on time. We were a group of 4 seniors and she took great care to go at a pace that was comfortable for us. She was very knowledgeable as she has lived in Florence her entire life. The food tastings were an excellent representation of the area and were delicious! There was so much food we were offered take away bags so we could finish it later. And we did! I would definitely recommend taking a tour with Sara.Lovely afternoon
Franz๐ฆ๐น Austria
17 June 2021
Sara zeigte uns einige versteckte Plรคtzchen in Santa Croce und Santo Spirito. Neben den kleinen Kรถstlichkeiten hat sie uns auch architektonisch รผber ein paar interessante Gebรคude informiert. Das Essen war reichlich, man braucht vorher und nachher nichts essen. Sarah war sehr sympathisch und unaufdringlich und, dIe Zeit mit ihr ist wie im Flug vergangen. Absolut empfehlenswert wenn man Florenz abseits der touristischen Trampelpfade nรคher kennenlernen mรถchte. ๐๐๐Florentiner Schmankerln mit Charme
Manon๐ซ๐ท France
5 June 2021
Un super food tour.
Jiyoung๐ฎ๐น Italy
4 June 2021
It was my second time visiting Florence as a tourist/visitor and I wanted to try something fun and new for me and my husband. We learned about Withlocals and the concept sounded very interesting because, while other tours focus towards museums and galleries, it focuses on the culture of today's Florence. We chose Sara as our tour guide and she was absolutely amazing. She showed us places and areas that we didn't even notice existing, shared stories of Florence and introduced snacks/food that we wouldn't have tried simply because we didn't know about them. I'm already looking forward to our next trip and using Withlocals to learn about other cities we will be visiting from a local person! It was FUN!
Nicolas๐จ๐ญ Switzerland
10 October 2020
Sara has been a very good host and guide, providing lots of explanations about the food and different neighbourhoods of Firenze.
One of the stops planned was closed due to a death in the family's owner, and Sara adapted immediately to find another equivalent place. She also spoke very clear and intelligible Italian on my request, and provided us tips for the next steps of our trip. She was nice and open and managed to give us a really enjoyable experience while juggling with the covid restrictions.
Thanks a lot Sara, keep it up!Very pleasant experience!
Pieter๐ณ๐ฑ Netherlands
30 September 2020
Sara is a super nice and patient host.
We did the cooking workshop online and she even came up with a personal customized recipe for our group.
Me and my colleaugues loved it!
Thanks Sara! I loved it
Elisa๐ณ๐ฑ Netherlands
24 September 2020
Sara was a very patient and caring host. She accommodated our needs and requests for the class with great flexibility. Thank you!
We really enjoyed it
Pradnya๐ณ๐ฑ Netherlands
24 September 2020
i learned new recipe Zucchini-almond pesto pasta from Sara with some important tips. Nice experience!Great fun cooking together!
Fayme๐ฎ๐น Italy
30 June 2020
We really enjoyed cooking with Sara, she explained everything really well and she was really patient! We were supposed to be in Florence on vacation but due to Covid we are not allowed to travel so this was a great experience to make up for it! Awesome evening with Sara
Wayne๐ฆ๐ช United Arab Emirates
16 June 2020
We had such fun and learnt so much and are so envious of Sara living in Firenze. The pasta was amazing - we loved it so much we make it again the next day! Highly recommended Amazing
Michele
14 June 2020
My art lesson with Sara was a Mothers Day gift from my daughter. It was such a wonderful experience. I was able to share this with my daughter. Sara is a lovely woman who gave us a very pleasant experience. She was so knowledgeable about art and we had a lovely lesson. In between when we had to wait for the paint to dry, we had a wonderful conversation about Florence and what is going on in Italy because of the Covid 19 virus. It was like we were there in Florence with her. This withlocals.com is a wonderful program. Thank you for inventing it.Mother's Day Gift
Gina๐ธ๐ฌ Singapore
14 June 2020
We had a great 1 1/2hr cooking experience with Sara. Will make this pasta again!
So interesting to chat with someone half way around the world. Love Withlocals :-)Sara was fun and enthusiastic
Emily๐บ๐ธ United States
27 May 2020
Our Girl Scout troop made pici pasta with Sara 3 times; we had so much fun. My Scouts were so quiet and nervous on screen, but gave me rave reviews afterwards, as well as asking me many questions about Italy and pasta and Sara that I wish they would have asked in person :) We all really enjoyed the engagement and the personal connection, it means a lot as we all struggle with our world in lockdown. Thank you again!! Loved making pasta with Sara!
Lama
18 May 2020
My daughter surprised me with a gift of virtual painting class with Sara from Italy! This was one of the nicest gifts for Motherโs Day especially while quarantined at home!! Sara was very pleasant and we had a fun time! Make sure to be completely prepared ahead of time and communicate ahead of time if you have questions! Painting During Corona times
Emily๐บ๐ธ United States
18 May 2020
Our Girl Scout troop made homemade pasta and sauce with Sara, and they loved it! For us, it was about the whole experience: working with someone new (they're between 8 and 14 years old), having to listen carefully, trying something new... We're so glad to have the opportunity. My family loved the pasta and the sauce we made, and it is simple enough that we can whip it together anytime. Grazie, Sara and WithLocals!!! You made our day!Wonderful Experience!
Elisa
11 May 2020
It was really great to do a bit of painting with Sara ! Very relaxing =) One advice though : make sure you have the right tools and paint ! Very nice to play with colours !
Alyssa๐บ๐ธ United States
10 May 2020
My husband gave me this class for Motherโs Day. I had my mom, sister and sister-in-law attend with me, and we had a great time. Sara was very informative and very fun to cook with. Would definitely recommend for anyone! Perfect gift!
Diane๐บ๐ธ United States
20 April 2020
Sara was a wonderful and patient teacher. Really enjoyed the experience and meeting someone on the other side of the world. I always learn something new each time I take a painting class and this was not exception. Liked the relaxation of brush exercise and now feel more confident.Ponte Vecchio
Linda๐บ๐ธ United States
10 April 2020
Sara provided an excellent workshop, starting just right where the student's skills are. She is patient, friendly, kind, and encouraging. She's very versatile and worked easily even with a beginner. And loved the follow-up after, when she sent another practice picture to paint and turn in - kind of like homework, but in a super fun way! =) Highly recommend this experience with Sara. She's a wonderful host. Excellent painting workshop!
Derek
2 March 2020
Sara was knowledgable and charming in equal measures. Sheโs took us to sample amazing flavours across the city in places a tourist wouldnโt normally find or step into. We enjoyed spending time with her, learning not just about local food, but also a little about her life and culture. A few hours with Sara will enrich your life. Make sure you book her soon.Enriched and informed
Graham๐ฌ๐ง United Kingdom
4 November 2019
WE spent a very enjoyable 3 hours with Sara who was very helpful and informative. We saw parts of Florence a first time visitor would not normally see and tried a variety of local food and wine, all of which were delicious and came with an informative explanation from Sara. No need for another meal during the day. Many thanks again Sara
Graham and JaneFood Tour with Sara
Diane
30 October 2019
This was a highlight of our trip to Florence. Sara was fantastic - took us to some lovely shops, cafes, wine cellar and the indoor market to taste local food and drinks that we otherwise would have missed. Sara was brilliant - easy to talk to, told us so much about the local customs, the food and the drink. Highly recommended. Florence - walking tour with Sara
Margaret
19 October 2019
Sara was prompt and organized. She's very pleasant, well informed about the subject of the tour and about the city in general, and gave us an excellent tour -- just what we needed at the beginning of our stay in Florence. I plan to retrace some of our steps and go some additional places based on her suggestions. (As the tour progressed, she began to come down with a cold, but did a great job under tiring (for her) circumstances.)
I would recommend her as a knowledgeable and personable guide ... with excellent English, but the way.Tastes of Florence with Sara
Alisa๐ฑ๐น Lithuania
16 October 2019
We were 6 girls on short trip to Italy and we had a perfect experience with Sara. Her english is fluent and we had an instant connection. The food tastings and the part of Florence that she showed us was really nice, not the crowdy one. Thanks Sara!Very nice guide!
Laura๐บ๐ธ United States
12 October 2019
This was a very nice tour with good food and great company. Sara was kind and knowledgeable. It was very easy to just chat and spend the day with her. Iโd definitely do it again. Worth it.
Tom๐บ๐ธ United States
9 October 2019
Sara was a great guide! She took us all over Florence to show us the best the city has to offer. It would have been extremely difficult to discover some of these places or foods without the help of Sara. We really appreciated her helping us order wine at a beautiful wine shop in Florence. You can go into all these places but without having a local, sometimes you might overlook one of the best foods or wines they offer. Definitely recommend taking this tour on one of your first days in Florence so you know where to go during your trip. Grazie mille, Sara!Highly recommend this tour!
Kathryn๐ฌ๐ง United Kingdom
3 October 2019
We had a wonderful time with Sara exploring the traditional food of Florence. Sara is an absolute delight and went out of her way to make our experience special. As well as tasting local delicacies, she shared her experience of living in Florence and gave us lots of fascinating facts about the city that you won't read in any guide book. Thank you Sara, your food tour was one of the highlights of our trip.A 'must do' if you're in Florence
Paul๐บ๐ธ United States
30 September 2019
Our family and friends absolutely enjoyed our food tour with Sara. She was friendly and fun. In particular we enjoyed the out of the way spots she found for sampling the local cuisine. Much of the tour was on the opposite side of the Arno, where we had spent little time in the past. We got a great feel for the locals, rather than mixing with all of the tourists. Fantastic Food Tour
John๐น๐ญ Thailand
17 September 2019
We spent 3 very interesting hours with Sara tasting amazing local food, wine and (the best) ice cream- and learned about the local history. We highly recommend Sara for a tour :)Enjoy the local flavors with Sara
Natalie๐ณ๐ฑ Netherlands
13 September 2019
Een zeer vriendelijk en bescheiden persoon. Ze heeft ons hele leuke plekken laten zien, waar je anders niet komt en we hebben heerlijke dingen geproefd! Een aanrader!Bijzondere plekken en heerlijke proeverijen
Mairead๐ฎ๐ช Ireland
23 August 2019
Our host Sara was very nice and knowledgeable about Florence. We were in Florence as a birthday treat for my husband and this trip was one of the highlights. Fabulous Florence
Tiffany๐บ๐ธ United States
18 July 2019
Awesome!
Withlocals experiences
are always
Private & personalizedNo strangers, just you. Fully customize your trip to your needs.
With a local expertFrom historical facts to the most up-to-date health regulations.
Without the crowdsExperiences designed to take you away from the crowds towards authentic local spots.
More about me
I am an architect with the passion of travelling. I lived abroad for a few years and I love get in touch with people and try different way of living. I think meeting the locals is the best way to discover different aspects of local culture and hidden places to visit. I am in love with my city and I would like to accompany you discover it, especially the most unexplored places.
I love good food and wine, and all forms of art and communication that allow human beings to express themselves. I canโt wait to let you discover the delights that my city offers.