florence plp header nst

School Trips to Florence

Few European cities can rival the sheer quality of art galleries and architecture that Florence has to offer. A school trip to this historic city presents the perfect opportunity for Italian language students to put their conversational skills to the test,  while developing a taste for the authentic Italian way of life.

As the epicentre of the Renaissance movement, Florence is also a choice destination for those studying art. It is home to a vast wealth of iconic paintings, sculptures and buildings – from Michelangelo’s David, to the masterpieces found in the Uffizi Gallery, to the ornate halls of Palazzo Vecchio. 

Student of design & technology have a fantastic opportunity to understand the manfacturing process and visit iconic Italian superbrands including Ducati, Lamborghini and Ferrari. 

The city teems with cultural landmarks at every turn; the only problem your group will face is seeing them all! That’s exactly where NST can help. Our team of dedicated travel experts draw on years of experience to help tailor a school trip to Florence that suits the precise needs of your class.

Get in touch today for more information, or take a look at some of our popular options below.

Browse our curriulum-linked school trips in Florence

Art & Design 

Art & Design 

On your Italian art and design tour to Florence, you’ll benefit from our first-hand knowledge of visits and attractions and accommodation that will best suit your group’s needs.

Learn more about our art & design trips to Florence here

Design & Technology 

Design & Technology 

The enticing city of Florence is a great choice of design and technology trip for your students, allowing your group to explore Design and Technology from design origins through to finished product. 

Learn more about our design & technology trips to Florence here

Italian Language 

Italian Language

Home to approximately a third of the world’s most important works of art and with beautiful surroundings and bustling street scenes of Florentine life, an Italian language tour to Florence offers ideal sketching and photography opportunities.

Learn more about our language trips to Florence here


Florence highlights - our groups love...

The Boboli Gardens

The Boboli Gardens

The Boboli gardens are one of the greatest open-air museums in Florence.  With centuries-old oak trees, sculptures and fountains, the Boboli gardens are a must visit.

 

Ponte Vecchio

Ponte Vecchio

Dating back to the 14th century, the Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) is a medieval bridge spanning the river Arno in Florence. It is one of the few remaining bridges with houses built upon. The Vasari corridor that runs over the houses connects the Uffizi with the Pitti Palace on the other side of the river. The unique Vecchio is one of the most photographed bridges in Europe.

 

Uffizi Gallery

Uffizi Gallery

One of the world’s finest art galleries which features all the great names of the Florentine Renaissance. Includes paintings by Piero della Francesca, Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, Giotto, Raphael, Titian and Caravaggio. There is a whole room dedicated to Michelangelo and the 16th century.

 

Leaning Tower of Pisa

Leaning Tower of Pisa

The freestanding bell tower of the cathedral in Pisa is world-famous for its unintended tilt. Construction of the tower started in 1173 and took over 200 years to complete - it began to lean almost from the outset! A must-see for any group and a great photo opportunity for your students.

Galleria dell’ Accademia

Galleria dell’ Accademia

Europe’s first artistic academy and home to Michelangelo’s famous masterpieces. The academy features the famous marble David sculpture, created between 1501 and 1504. The Muscular Four Slaves can also be seen, and range from virtually finished to the barely blocked out. Also on offer is a superb range of Gothic and Renaissance paintings.

Lamborghini Museum 

Lamborghini Museum

Discover the beginnings with Ferruccio and the key car models from then until now. Explore racing cars from Formula 1 and the main stages of technological development.

 

Piazzale Michelangelo

Piazzale Michelangelo

For spectacular panoramic views of Florence and the Arno Valley, a visit to Piazzale Michelangelo is a must. Designed in 1869 by Florentine architect Giuseppe Poggi, Piazzale Michelangelo is a popular spot with locals and a great venue for Language students to interact with native speakers. 

Piazza della Signoria

Piazza della Signoria

The original location of Michelangelo’s David. Sights include the Palazzo Vecchio, the Uffizi Gallery and an outdoor gallery sheltering several outstanding pieces of sculpture.

 

Maranello Ferrari Museum

Maranello Ferrari Museum

Immerse yourself in the Ferrari story past and present, and top off the experience with a bit of time travel to the future too. The Maranello Museum tells the Ferrari story by delving deep into the Prancing Horse’s extraordinary roots and taking visitors on a magnificent journey via its most famous and successful F1 cars, legendary sports prototypes and GTs, and, of course, the road cars that have set the benchmark for the entire car industry.

Ducati Museum & Factory

Ducati Museum & Factory

Ducati is proud to represent Italian industry - the essence of Italian style shows through the design of each bike. Sinuous, seductive and flexible lines with a permanent, timeless quality that sets an unsurpassable standard.

Ducati Bikes – in over 60 nations throughout the world these models dominate the dreams of the most ardent motorcycle enthusiasts.

Florence school trip experts

Hundreds of groups travel with NST to Florence every year, and members of our team regularly visit the region to really get to know the ins-and-outs of the area, from logistics and visits to our range of student-friendly accommodation.

Your dedicated Tour Co-ordinator will use their knowledge of Florence to create an itinerary that’s tailor-made, perfectly timed and meets your exact school travel needs. They’ll be able to share their first-hand experience, suggest options you might not have considered and give you insight into the feedback other teachers have given us too.

Planning your first school trip?

If you're planning your first school trip, our essential guide will take you through each step of the process.

 

  • Choosing your destination
  • Gaining approval from your Local Authority and/or your Head
  • Promoting your tour in school
  • Confirming your booking
  • Tailor-make your tour
  • Completing your risk assessments (including a sample risk assessment)
  • Quick reference timeline
  • Pre-tour checklist

Additional support, resources & information:

Tour planning service

Tour planning service

With NST, you’ll get your own dedicated, knowledgeable Tour Co-ordinator who’ll work with you from start to finish. You’ll benefit from their unrivalled destination knowledge, and their experience gained from working with many other groups too. They’ll tailor-make your itinerary from scratch and take care of everything for you:

  • Pulling together an itinerary that runs smoothly
  • Planning the right balance of visits every day with realistic timings
  • Pre-arranging and pre-booking your visits, entrance tickets, passes and meals


You’ll receive your final itinerary a full 4-weeks before you travel too.

FREE school trip promotion pack

FREE school trip promotion pack

We’ll support you and provide everything you need to advertise your school trip around school and to parents. Our free school trip promotion pack consists of:

  • Parents’ letter & permission slip template for you to complete
  • A3 posters to promote your trip around school
  • PowerPoint presentation templates which you can tailor to your own needs
  • Parents’ leaflets covering how NST manage safety, financial protection and details of our travel insurance
  • Online parents’ video which showcases the benefits of taking a school trip


For selected destinations, we’ll provide a trip launch web page using video footage and imagery. This web page is provided by a weblink and can be shared with pupils and parents in many ways.

Risk assessment support including preview visits

Risk assessment support including preview visits

Risk assessment plays a vitally important part in the planning and organisation on any school tour.

Our risk assessment guide aims to help you understand more about your obligations and how you can more effectively manage group safety on your next educational visit and provide you with risk assessments for your trip.

Planning first school trip

Planning first school trip

Organising your first school trip can appear to be a daunting process.  If you're planning your first school trip, our guide will help to take you through each step of the planning process, answering frequently asked questions and providing tips and support along the way.  Our helpful guide covers the following: 

  • Choosing your destination 
  • Gaining approval from your Local Authority and/or your Head 
  • Promoting your tour in school 
  • Confirming your booking
  • Tailor-make your tour
  • Completing your risk assessments (including a sample risk assessment) 
  • Quick reference timeline 
  • Pre-tour checklist 


View our essential guide to a successful school trip here

Get live updates on your group's tour location

Get live updates on your group's tour location

Locate My Trip uses GPS technology and is the easy, convenient way for your school to follow your location whilst on tour. Specifically designed to provide reassurance to both parents and teachers, NST will know where your group are 24/7. If your schedule needs to change, we’ll put plans in place to keep your tour on track. 

With Locate My Trip your group can also share photos and videos with the school and parents, via a secure link, to keep them updated on your experience whilst you’re away.

Watch our short Locate My Trip video here.

Your online school trip organiser - My Tour Manager

Your online school trip organiser - My Tour Manager

Save time and stay on track with your school trip admin with our online orgnaniser - designed to help busy teachers like you. 

With My Tour Manager, you'll be able to download FREE resources and access trip paperwork online and in one place. Your personalised checklist details what you need to do and by when, plus you'll receive fortnightly reminders too. 

What's more, you can take all your trip documents on the go whilst on your tour with our app, My Tour Manager-On-the-Go. 

Find out more and watch out short My Tour Manager video here

Free classroom resources

Free classroom resources

We've created a range of free resources and educational posters to brighten up your classroom! 

Take a look at our downloadable posters here

Brexit & your school trip

Brexit & your school trip

How will Brexit affect my school trip?

Following the end of the transition period there are several changes that will affect groups travelling with us to the EU.

For more information on these changes, visit our dedicated Brexit page here.

If you're travelling with NST and have any specific questions. please contact your Educational Travel Advisor.

Why choose NST...

Here's why thousands of teachers choose NST each year...

  • Unrivalled knowledge

Your dedicated Tour Co-ordinator will use their unrivalled local knowledge and expertise of Florence to create a tailor-made, curriculum-linked itinerary to meet your group’s exact needs.

  • Making it easier for you

With our online school trip organiser, travel app, free classroom posters and trip launch resources to support your in-school promotion.

  • Free group leader inspection visits

We offer a free inspection visit to your chosen destination to support your risk assessment planning. 

  • Value for money

We’re committed to bringing you the best possible value trips to help make every penny count.

  • More than 50 years’ experience

With over 50 years’ experience, with NST you can rest assured that your group is in safe hands.

  • Risk assessment guidance

Our risk assessment guidance will help you to manage group safety on your next educational trip.

  • Peace of mind

Your group’s location can be followed with our trip tracking device - Locate My Trip - plus you’ll have 24/7 support from us whilst you’re away.

  • Offsetting carbon emissions

For every trip taken, we'll plant a Maya nut tree in Peru to support reforestation, local communities & biodiversity. Plus, we'll offset an additional tonne of CO2 to guarantee carbon emission reductions. 

Looking for protection on your next school trip? 

Booking with a school travel company is the best way for you to protect parents’ money and give yourself peace of mind.  

 

Don’t forget – if your school arranges transport, accommodation and other services directly, you’ll be liable under the Package Travel Regulations – meaning you’ll have all the responsibilities of a travel company, both legal and financial. 

 

Financial protection from the moment you book

NST are fully bonded:

  • ABTA
  • ATOL
  • IATA

Managing safety on school trips

For your protection, NST's independently audited Safety Management System covers:

  • 24-hour emergency cover
  • Audited accommodation & transport
  • Excursions & school visit assessment
  • Group leader preview visits to assist with risk assessment planning

We're LOtC Council’s Quality Badge assured

The Department for Education advises schools to always look for the LOtC Quality Badge when choosing a school travel provider.