Hot air balloon flight over Florence: a unique experience to discover the city from above

Discover Florence as you've never seen it before: a hot air balloon flight over the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, and the Chianti hills

Among the most thrilling experiences you can have in Florence, one of the most surprising – and still little known – is without doubt flying in a hot air balloon over the city. Imagine slowly rising from the historic center, floating beside Brunelleschi’s Dome and Giotto’s Bell Tower, almost brushing against these timeless monuments that symbolize Renaissance art.

A hot air balloon ride is one of the most exciting experiences you can have in FlorenceIl Duomo di Firenze sormontato dalla maestosa cupola del Brunellschi

As the balloon ascends, Florence reveals itself in all its harmony: the Basilica of Santa Croce, with its façade of white and green marble, the Medici Chapels, the Duomo’s majestic cupola, and the Arno River, which from above looks like a shimmering ribbon dividing the heart of the city.

Flying over the Ponte Vecchio is a magical moment – it’s only then that you truly grasp how Florence is a jewel suspended between art and nature.

Il quartiere Oltrarno circondato dalle colline fiorentinePiazzale Michelangelo

The pilot steers the flight southward, and the scenery changes: the green of cypress and olive trees wraps around the hills, the geometric shape of Forte Belvedere becomes clear, as does the panoramic terrace of Piazzale Michelangelo, and a little higher still, the Basilica of San Miniato al Monte.

It’s an unforgettable emotion – aboard the hot air balloon, you feel a total sense of freedom, your gaze embracing Florence and the Tuscan countryside in a breathtaking 360° view.

The balloon seen from the inside, during flight

Our experience with Vastano Mongolfiere began at dawn, from the meadow beneath the Torre di San Niccolò, along the Lungarni. Alternatively, some flights take off from the enchanting Giardino della Gherardesca, within the Four Seasons Hotel Firenze, one of the city’s most iconic locations.

La preparazione della mongolfiera all'alba

Depending on the wind, the flight can extend towards the Chianti hills, offering spectacular views over vineyards, olive groves, and ancient patrician villas.

On the clearest days, you can even spot the towers of San Gimignano or the cathedral dome of Siena in the distance.It’s the authentic Tuscany unfolding before your eyes: a landscape both refined and harmonious, shaped by human hands yet perfectly balanced with nature.