Florence eats well on both sides of the Arno, and the two best-reviewed food tours on Viator split along the river. The Oltrarno tasting walk stays in San Frediano and Santo Spirito for three hours, rated 5.0 across 557 reviews, from about $109. The full Tuscan meal on foot starts near Santa Maria Novella and crosses the center in three and a half hours, rated 4.8 across 502 reviews, from about $80. Below, we compare two ways to book a Florence food tour, side by side.
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The verdict
The Oltrarno walk is the one to book if you want the Florence most visitors miss: it stays on the south bank, in San Frediano and around Piazza Santo Spirito, with cantucci and coffee, Tuscan dishes and street food, wine from a traditional buchetta del vino (wine window) and gelato. It has the strongest rating of any Florence food tour we compared: 542 of 557 reviews are five stars.
The full Tuscan meal is the better value if you want to eat a proper meal and see the center at the same time. It covers meats and cheeses, fresh pasta and wine across five stops, from the Medici palace on Via Guelfa to Via dei Neri and Ponte Santa Trinita, for about $29 less.
Our pick depends on how much of the city you have already seen. First day in Florence: take the full meal, which doubles as an orientation walk. Already done the Duomo and the Uffizi: cross the river for the Oltrarno.
The meal tour lists alcoholic drinks as included, but one traveler in August 2026 reported only one glass of wine at the beginning, with an extra wine card on sale during the tour. If wine matters to you, the Oltrarno walk includes Tuscan wine tastings and a wine window stop.
Which one is for you?
Take the Oltrarno walk if
- You have already seen the Duomo and want a local neighborhood.
- You want wine, gelato and coffee as part of the tastings.
- You are traveling with young children: under-4s join free (without food).
- Reviews matter most to you: it is rated 5.0 from 557 travelers.
Take the full Tuscan meal if
- It is your first day and you want an orientation walk through the center.
- You want a full meal for about $80.
- You prefer starting near Santa Maria Novella station.
- You are fine with a guide who may switch between English and Italian.
What each price covers
The Oltrarno walk, from about $109
Included: cantucci (Tuscan biscotti) with an espresso or cappuccino, Tuscan dishes and street food, wine from a traditional wine window, Tuscan wine tastings, gelato and an English-speaking local guide.
Not included: gratuities, hotel pickup and extra drinks, which you can buy as a package. The tour needs at least two guests to run, and it is not suitable for anyone with severe or life-threatening food allergies; other dietary needs can be requested by email.
The full Tuscan meal, from about $80
Included: food that adds up to a meal (local meats and cheeses, fresh pasta and more), water, alcoholic drinks and an English-speaking local guide.
Not included: gratuities. The minimum drinking age is 18, travelers need a moderate level of fitness, and guests with severe or life-threatening food allergies cannot take part.
Where each one starts
- Oltrarno walk: Piazza Nazario Sauro, next to Gelateria La Carraia, at the Oltrarno end of Ponte alla Carraia. Look for the guide’s purple Eating Europe bag.
- Full Tuscan meal: under the obelisk in Piazza dell’Unità Italiana, a two-minute walk from Santa Maria Novella station.
Side by side
| Oltrarno tastings | Full Tuscan meal | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5.0 from 557 | 4.8 from 502 |
| Five-star reviews | 542 (97%) | 458 (91%) |
| Price | from about $109 | from about $80 |
| Length | 3 hours | 3.5 hours |
| Group cap | 12 | 12 |
| Area | Oltrarno (south bank) | Historic center |
| Wine | Tastings and a wine window | Listed as included; one glass reported |
| Gelato and coffee | Yes | Not listed |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before | Free up to 24 hours before |
What travelers say
On the Oltrarno walk
We were away from the hustle and bustle of the tourist side of Florence.
Andrew_R, October 2024, via Viator
She explained everything and picked great food.
Gregory_P, August 2023, via Viator
On the full Tuscan meal
He showed us great local restaurants and gave excellent recommendations for the remainder of our visit to Florence.
Steven_R, July 2026, via Viator
Be sure to go hungry because you will definitely get enough food to eat.
Maria_H, August 2026, via Viator
The Oltrarno walk has almost nothing but five-star reviews. The full meal tour scores slightly lower, and its few critical reviews are about the guide’s attention to the group and the amount of wine, not the food, which reviewers consistently call plentiful.
How a food tour fits a Florence trip
Book the food tour early in your stay: both guides share recommendations for the rest of your trip. Pair it with one guided visit in the city, the Uffizi tour or the David and Duomo walking tour, and one day in the countryside, such as the Chianti wine tour.
For the full plan, see our best tours in Florence for first-timers, the best food tours in Italy, city by city and our Florence travel guide.
Also near Florence: for a food day in the countryside, compare the truffle hunts near San Miniato, both with lunch.
Questions travelers ask
Which Florence food tour should I book?
If you have already seen the center, book the Oltrarno tasting walk, rated 5.0 from 557 reviews on Viator. If it is your first day, the full Tuscan meal tour doubles as an orientation walk and costs less, from about $80 (checked September 2026).
How much does a food tour in Florence cost?
The two tours compared here start from about $80 and about $109 per person on Viator, checked September 2026. The live price is on each booking page.
Is wine included on Florence food tours?
Both list wine. The Oltrarno walk includes Tuscan wine tastings and a wine window stop; on the full meal tour, one traveler reported one glass at the start, with extra wine on sale.
Is a Florence food tour enough for lunch or dinner?
Yes. The full Tuscan meal is built as a meal, and reviewers of both tours say to arrive hungry.
Can I cancel a Florence food tour?
Both offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start. The Oltrarno walk needs at least two guests to run.
Book the Oltrarno walk if you want the south bank, wine and the best reviews; book the full Tuscan meal if you want more food for less and an introduction to the center.
Editorial assessment by Italy2Love, September 2026. Inclusions and exclusions, stops, group caps, dietary conditions, meeting points, prices, ratings, review counts and cancellation terms read on both Viator product pages (product codes 88117P2 and 51159P3), September 2026. Reviews quoted with attribution to their authors and to Viator. Next review March 2027, or sooner on any change to either tour.