Florence! City of art and arguably the birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence attracts millions of visitors each year with its fantastic food, museums, and architecture.
With 72 museums in the city, no wonder visitors can find themselves overwhelmed by their options! You can spend a full month in Florence and still not see every museum.
Since I was only in Florence for a short visit, I really wanted to make sure I saw the best options- though I’m sure I missed out on more than a few exceptional museums.
I picked out some of my favorite galleries- and how long to spend in each museum- to help you plan your own tour through Florence’s many museums.
This page includes affiliate links. If you choose to buy through these links I may earn a small commission with no additional cost to you!
Uffizi Gallery
If you’re going to Florence and not making a stop at the Uffizi Gallery, genuinely, what are you doing? This cant-miss gallery has a stunning collection of masterpiece Renaissance works. Truly, I have never visited a museum with such volume of famous Western artworks.
The artwork had been collected over several centuries by the enormously influential Medici family and was eventually bequeathed to Florence, under the condition that it could never be removed.
There are exactly 101 rooms in the museum and I recommend making your way through every single one of them. Moving at a reasonably fast pace, it will take about 2 hours to make your way through the entirety of the museum.
It’s best to visit the museum earlier in the day. It’s one of the most popular museums in the world, let alone the city, so its worth a bit of an early wake up call to beat the worst of the crowds.
Some of the most popular pieces include: Sandro Botticelli’s Primavera and The Birth of Venus, Leonardo da Vinci’ The Annunciation, Adoration of the Magi, Caravaggio’s Bacchus, Sacrifice of Isaac and Medusa and more from the likes of Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Raphael and more.
You know that painting that recently went viral for its subject’s similarity to Keanu Reeves? That’s here too!
Careful readers may realize that this is where my Caravaggio obsession began- if there were to be a fifth Ninja Turtle, he’s got my vote.
Pricing:
Ticket prices can vary seasonably, but the Uffizi Gallery remains one of the most expensive museums in the city at 25€ per person. An additional 4€ is required to book an entrance reservation- the best way to avoid waiting in line.
Visiting in the off season, we waited on line for over 30 minutes, first to purchase our (off season-discounted!) tickets, and then to enter the museum itself. Those visiting during peak season (Spring, Summer, and any school vacation) may find that entrance reservation to be well worth the cost.
I did wish that I had a little more insight into some of the pieces- I knew they were famous, but didn’t quite know why. I picked out this small group tour for those with a similar need to be nosy about the art.
This guided tour also includes the Accademia Gallery if you’re looking for a double feature museum day! (Don’t worry- you get a break between the two museums).
Tickets also include admission to the nearby National Archaeological Museum and the Museum of the Opifico Delle Pietre Dure- though I didn’t have time to visit these myself.
Schedule:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 8:15am – 9:30pm
Wednesday – Thursday: 8:15 am – 6:30pm
Accademia Gallery
While you may have seen a replica of the Statue of David in the Piazza della Signoria on your way to the Uffizi Gallery, the original has been moved to the Galleria dell’Accademia. In addition to the colossal statue, the gallery also houses a collection of historic instruments, 13th century gothic works, and a massive hall filled with plaster casts of other statues.
I wasn’t personally too interested in anything other than the Statue of David, and the Hall of the Prisoners which displays some paintings alongside Michelangelo’s four unfinished “Prisoner” sculptures. Still, the Statue of David alone is worth the visit- he’s just a handsome man!
They call it a “colossal sculpture”, but the scope of it is difficult to realize until you’re standing right in front of it.
Unless you’re very interested in musical instruments or 13th century art, I wouldn’t anticipate spending more than an hour here, depending on the length of the line- you’re really just here to see David. Hook a left upon entering the building to see the statue first.
Pricing:
Regular tickets cost 16€ per person.
Once again, entrance reservations are available for 4€ in addition to the cost of admission.
Schedule:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday – Sunday: 8:15 am – 6:50 pm
Palazzo Vecchio
Okay, we were maybe a little bit bamboozled into going to this museum, but in fairness, not one but TWO different people pointed at it and told us that the Statue of David was in there.
Since we’d already purchased our tickets by the time we realized that we were in the wrong place, we made the best of it and ended up really enjoying our visit. If you’re looking for stunning ceilings, this is the place to be! Massive, and covered in works of art, the Hall of the Five Hundred was particularly impressive, and I also really enjoyed the gold and blue fleurs-de-lis in the Hall of the Lilies.
The Hall of Geographical Maps was also a favorite with its huge globe in the center of the room, surrounded by historical maps. Unfortunately, the globe was undergoing conservation when we visited, but looking at the inaccuracies of historical maps is one of my favorite things to do in museums.
Although beautiful, this museum doesn’t host any “masterpiece” artworks (despite the da Vinci rumored to be lost somewhere behind the walls), and we pretty much had the place to ourselves for the entire visit. It’s a good place to escape the crowds, but still appreciate stunning art.
We spent about an hour and a half exploring the Palazzo Vecchio.
Pricing:
Regular tickets cost 12.50€ per person. Pre booking an entrance time cost noting but the 1€ online booking fee, but based on my experience in November I imagine that it is easy enough to purchase from the ticket office upon arrival.
Schedule:
Monday – Wednesday: 9 am – 7 pm
Thursday: 9 am – 2 pm
Friday – Sunday – 9 am – 7 pm
Bargello National Museum
A barracks, a jail, and now a national museum, Bargello displayed the largest Italian collection of gothic and Renaissance sculptures- and the building itself is a marvel to look at.
Visitors can expect to see works like Donatello’s David, and many works by Luca della Robbia and Michaelangelo- including his Bacchus sculpture.
In addition to sculptures, the museum also houses a fair collection of metal work such as silver, coins, and armor.
Expect to spend about an hour or two in this museum, depending on your interest in sculpture work.
Pricing:
Regular tickets cost 9€ per person
Schedule:
Sunday : 8:15am – 1:50pm
Monday: 8:15am – 6:50pm
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday – Friday: 8:15am – 1:50pm
Saturday: 8:15am – 6:50pm
Pitti Palace
Another former property of the Medici family, the Pitti Palace was the official residence of the Grand Dukes of Tuscany- the Medici family- until the death of last of the Medicis put the palace into the hands of the Austrian House of Habsburg-Lorraine, and was even used briefly by Napoleon during his occupation of Italy.
These days, the illustrious palace has been turned into a public museum with several subsections: Treasury of the Grand Dukes, Museum of Russian Icons (with the Palatine Chapel), the Palatine Gallery, Imperial and Royal Apartments, the Gallery of Modern Art and the Museum of Costume and Fashion.
For those interested in Renaissance paintings, the Palatine Gallery contains over 500 paintings spread over 28 rooms. These were once a part of the Medici family’s private collections. This section is great for observing works by Rubens, Titian, and Raphael amongst others.
The Imperial and Royal Apartments are also a huge draw- with the amount of money the Medici family had, it’s always interesting to see how they lived! Plus the architecture itself is stunning. Unfortunately, these apartments are currently closed for restoration, but keep an eye out for when they reopen.
Anticipate spending about two hours here, assuming the apartments are open!
Pricing:
Regular tickets cost 16€ per person. Entrance reservations are 3€
Schedule:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday – Sunday: 8:15am – 6:30pm
Boboli Gardens
Immediately behind Pitti Palace, visitors can take a stroll through some of the most famous gardens in the world- the Medici set the standard for Italian-style landscaping with these, and the style has since been mimicked at courts throughout the world!
There are grottos, statues, and water fountains scattered throughout the gardens, making it a wonderful park to explore on a nice day.
The time spent in these gardens can vary dramatically depending on your interest (and walking speed), but an hour should be fine to spend here if you’re a quick walker.
There is a designated picnic area, so on a particularly nice day, consider bringing a packed lunch and relax in luxury!
Pricing:
Regular tickets are 10€ per person – though if you’re already here, I’d suggest purchasing the combined Pitti Palace and Bobli Gardens ticket for 22€ per person. It’ll save you 4€!
Schedule:
Open Monday – Sunday at 8:15am
Closing Hours Vary by the Month:
4:30 pm in January, February, November, December.
5:30 pm in March and October (with Standard Time)
6:30 pm in March (with Daylight Savings Time), April, May, September, October (with Daylight Savings Time).
7:10 pm June, July, August
Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
As per a vote on my instagram story, we are counting the Duomo as one of Florence’s many museums (plus, I hadn’t visited quite enough Florentine churches to include it in a church hopping post like I did for Rome).
As it is a church, please make sure to dress respectfully with covered shoulders and knees, and remove any caps or sunglasses before entering the building.
Our tour guide had told us not to bother going inside the building and I’m here to confirm that she was absolutely correct. They really did seem to run out of money for decorations on the exterior of the building. Inside, the biggest draw is the admittedly stunning Last Judgement fresco by Vasari and Zuccari. There are also some pretty stained glass windows, a 15th-century clock by Paolo Uccello and the Crypt of Santa Reparata which was discovered only a few decades ago.
We absolutely spent more time waiting on line to get in than we did in the museum itself- I think we spent about 20 minutes here max- though we did have a lovely time playing eye-spy with the facade.
Still, the inside of the Cathedral is free to enter, so the only thing you’re spending for your visit is your time.
Climbing the Dome and Giotto’s Bell Tower, on the other hand, is well worth the cost- though I’ll save that for another post.
Pricing:
Free!
Of course, if you’re in a rush, the best way to make the most of your visit is always going to be with a tour guide! These guides will make sure you get to all of the major pieces in the museums while regaling you with history and anecdotes to bring the art to life.
While I think that “Skip the Line” tickets are a bit of a rip off these days since you’re able to pre-book an entrance time, I pulled together some of my favorite tours that I think are actually worth the money.
For those with time for a more leisurely visit to Florence, consider buying a Passepartout. This pass allows visitors to visit the Uffizi Gallery, Pitti Palace, Boboli Gardens, the National Archaeological Museum and, the Museum of the Opificio delle Pietre Dure within a 5 day period for a discounted price.
Currently, this pass costs 38€ during the the regular season, and 18€ for portions of January and February.
There is also the Firenzecard, which allows access to more than 60 museums over three days, but for 85€ per card, I feel like it would be difficult to get your money’s worth- unless you do nothing but museums for those three days.
Leave a Reply