Built for the independent walker who wants both sides of the Arno in a single loop. Every interior is optional, so you can run the whole thing as a free open-air walk through 800 years of Florentine history, or pay only for the museums that actually matter to you. Start at any stop and walk it in any direction; the order below is the one most travellers follow.
StartPonte Vecchio
FinishPiazzale Michelangelo
Route typeA loop starting and ending at Ponte Vecchio, crossing the Arno three times. The route dips into Oltrarno first, climbs back through Palazzo Pitti and Boboli, loops north through the train-station quarter and the Duomo, then swings south to Santa Croce before the final climb to Piazzale Michelangelo.
Realistic timeAbout 1 hour 15 minutes of pure walking for the full 5.5 km. Add 4 to 5 hours if you stop briefly at each landmark for photos. Plan on a full day if you enter both Boboli Gardens and a major gallery such as the Uffizi or the Accademia.
Difficulty5.5 km on paved flagstones and uneven cobblestones, mostly flat for the first 14 stops. The final 20-minute climb up Viale dei Colli to Piazzale Michelangelo is the only serious hill, with steep dirt paths and stone stairs. Thick-soled shoes are non-negotiable.
Cost to followThe outdoor route is completely free. Paid interiors along the way: Boboli Gardens €10–€18, Palazzo Pitti €16, Palazzo Vecchio €18, Palazzo Strozzi €15, Santa Maria Novella €7.50, Santa Croce €10, the Accademia €16–€20, the Uffizi €16–€25, and the Brunelleschi Pass covering the Duomo dome, bell tower, museum, baptistery and Santa Reparata for €30. Entering the cathedral nave itself is free.
Best for:First-time visitors who want every major Florentine landmark in one coherent day, independent walkers who refuse group tours, and anyone comfortable with 5.5 km of cobblestones and a steep finish.