Organized Tours in Florence

If you want to get under the surface of the city, Context Travel ★★ (www.contexttravel.com; (tel) 800/691-6036 in the U.S. or 06-96727371 in Italy) offers insightful culture tours led by academics and other experts in their field in a variety of specialties, from the gastronomic to the archaeological and artistic. Tours are limited to six people and cost around 95€ per person. Context also conducts a guided walk through the Vasari Corridor. The quality of Context’s walks are unmatched, and well worth the outlay.

Offerings from CAF Tours (www.caftours.com; tel. 055/283-200) include several themed walks and cooking classes costing from 19€ to over 100€. I Just Drive (www.ijustdrive.us; tel. 055/093-5928) offers fully equipped cars (Wi-Fi, complimentary bottle of Prosecco) plus an English-speaking driver for various themed visits; for example, you can book a ride in a luxury Bentley or Mercedes up to San Miniato al Monte at dusk (1.5 hr.; 129€). They also operate full-day and half-day private and group food and wine tours into the Chianti hills. For more options, surf to Viator.com, a marketplace site that lists a wide range locally organized tours and activities, reviewed by travelers.

Tour marketplaces (and apps) such as Viator.com and GetYourGuide.com also have a vast range of locally organized tours and activities, reviewed and rated by users. Note: Don't be tempted to book airport or rail station transfers via the tour companies—it is much cheaper to call a cab and pay the very reasonable fixed local rates.