Located in the heart of the art capital of Europe, Uffizi Gallery is best known for its world-class art and an eclectic collection of priceless renaissance works. Apart from being the largest in the world, an approximate of two million tourists from all over the globe flock to Uffizi Gallery each year making it the most visited gallery as well. And although the Uffizi Gallery has a poignant history dating back to the 16th century, today it holds the title of one of the first modern museums in the world. While the infamous queues at Uffizi are as well known as the art housed within its walls, the impressive collection that goes back hundreds of centuries is definitely worth a visit for those touring Italy for the first time.
Essential Information
Know before you go
Best time to visit - November and February
Suggested duration - 4 Hours
Constructed in - 1581
Closest Bus Stop - Borgo San Iacopo and cross Ponte Vecchio bridge
Priority Entrance Uffizi Gallery Ticket Price - €27.5
Opening Hours
Tuesday to Sunday: 8:15 am - 6:30 pm
Must-see
The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli
Laocoön and his Sons by Baccio Bandinelli
Venus of Urbino by Titian
Annunciation by Leonardo Da Vinci
Coronation of the Virgin by Fra Angelico
Address
Piazzale degli Uffizi 6, 50122,
Florence, Italy
Get directions
Why visit Uffizi Gallery?
The Uffizi Gallery is one of the top 5 attractions in Florence with over 2 million visitors every year. Built in a U-shape, the museum is home to frescoes and Renaissance art from the likes of Botticelli, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Raffaello. Built by the famous Renaissance architect Giorgio Vasari in 1559, the museum was commissioned by Cosimo I de’Medici. The entire curation at the Uffizi is the private collection of just the Medici family.
Uffizi Gallery History
Originally built in 1560 the Uffizi Gallery was first made to accommodate the offices of the Florentine magistrate, which is why the word Uffizi derived from ‘offices’ is used as its official name. After the completion of the complex in 1581, the top floor of the building was made into a museum for the tenants and their guests who wished to view the Roman sculptures from up close. Between the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the Hall of Geographic Maps (dedicated to maps of the Medici domains in Florence), as well as the Mathematics Room (containing important scientific discoveries from that period), were built inside the gallery. Today, the museum is being expanded to accommodate the upsurge of tourists visiting it every year.
Uffizi Gallery Tickets
With over 2 million visitors each year the gates of Uffizi Gallery is the second most visited place in Florence. Given this, it can be quite difficult to be certain how long you will have to stand in waiting lines at the ticket centre. However, you can overcome this and save time by booking your Uffizi Gallery tickets online. Here is a list of the different kinds of tickets you can purchase from Headout, with great offers.
Skip The Line
These tickets are perfect of you want to explore the Gallery on your own while getting priority access at the ticket gates.
Guided Tours
Nothing beats knowing about the Uffizi from a local who know the place and its history the best. You can take a guided tour with a small group of like-minded people who are just as curious as you.
Combo Tours
You cannot visit Florence and not see the best of it. These combo tours provide you with value of seeing the top Florence attractions along with Uffizi Gallery while saving a few euros.
Long Queues at Uffizi Gallery & How to Skip Them
Best known for its infamous wait, anyone visiting Florence will hear tales about Uffizi’s exhausting queues. However, you don't have to stand in line for hours at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. If you follow these steps, you can easily avoid (or at least take a break from) the masses of tourists that flock to see this famous museum every year:
1. Purchasing Skip the Line tickets online
The Uffizi Gallery only allows 900 people in the museum at a time, so the lines get longer as the day goes on. People have waited for hours before if they didn't book their tickets online. But if you purchase Skip the Line tickets for Uffizi Gallery, not only will you save some time, but you also won't have to wait in line at all!
2. Going through the right gates
You must exchange your Skip the Line e-ticket for a physical ticket at Gate 3 of the museum, and then you can enter through Gate 1. A lot of tourists get confused about which gate to use, but as long as you know before arriving, there won't be any trouble.
3. Choosing the right time
Uffizi Gallery is closed on Mondays, so large crowds flock there on Tuesdays. If you want to avoid the Swarm, visit earlier in the day from 8:30 AM onwards or later in the afternoon after 5:00 PM. There are also quieter times on Sundays, but it's free for all those days so everybody knows about it and visits then too.
Related Read: How To Skip The Lines at Uffizi Gallery | 5 Quick Hacks
Uffizi Gallery Floor Plan
The Uffizi Gallery is spread out over three floors, with the top floor being your first by Italian standards. One can climb their way through a grand staircase that takes you to the entrance of the top floor. The ticket windows and the main entrance are all located on the ground floor and the first floor will brief you on several interesting exhibits that you simply shouldn’t miss. Confused? Here is a detailed discussion of each entry that will brief you about what you simply shouldn’t miss:
Uffizi Gallery Entrances
It is easy to find yourself getting confused inside the museum because of its vastness, however, it is much simpler if you keep a track of all the numbered entrances of the museum. Use Door Number 1 if you’ve made prior reservations, or are a part of a group, tour or school trip. This is a dedicated entrance for groups. Door Number 2 is the main entrance and also where the line begins if you want to buy an offline ticket. This can be quite a wait if you plan to visit without a reservation. Door Number 3, located right across Piazza degli Uffizi on the west side, is where you can pick up your tickets if you have reserved them online beforehand.
Ground Floor
The ground floor of the Uffizi Museum will lead you through the main entrances into a U-shaped palace. Here is where you will find plenty of souvenir shops, art history books, children’s books and several other recreational pitstops to your right. This is also the part of the museum where you can find your ticket windows as well as a well-stocked bookstore towards the exit. So make sure you stop beforehand to buy a guide for your tour if you wish to.
First Floor
Moving on to the first floor, you will find yourself amidst several interesting exhibits and halls, even as you make your way upstairs — this includes the ‘Cabinet of Prints and Drawings’ within the Uffizi collection. You can take a look at them, along with rotational works that are often placed inside a vestibule. Three of Caravaggio's most famous paintings: “The Sacrifice of Isaac,” “Bacchus,” and “Medusa” amongst many other remarkable artworks can be found on the first floor as well.
Second Floor
The second floor of the museum has a collection adorned within its 45 halls, including artworks from the 13th to 18th century. Some of these comprise timeless paintings, invaluable sculptures and an eclectic collection of antiquity from the Medici family displayed in over three corridors lined up within the interior of the U-shaped palace. Some of the most notable artworks of the gallery are displayed on the second-floor exhibits, so make sure you time your visit wisely.
Must See Uffizi Gallery Paintings
"Laocoön and his Sons" by Baccio Bandinelli
Also known as the Laocoon Group, the sculpture by Baccio Bandinelli is deemed as one of the most famous ancient sculptures to have been excavated in Rome. Although the original sculpture stands in Vatican City today, Bandinelli especially created a miniature for Uffizi Gallery, which is considered a must-see within the museum today.
"Annunciation" by Leonardo Da Vinci
The Annunciation is the first work by Leonardo Da Vinci, made between the year 1472 to 1475. The painting features the angel Gabriel, sent by God to announce to a virgin, Mary, that she would miraculously be giving birth to a son — named Jesus. It represents the youthful days of Leonardo and is treasured as one of the first attributions of his art to the world.
"Venus of Urbino" by Titian
Placed in Room number 28, Venus of Urbino is considered to be one of the most sensual paintings by Titian, and it was later recreated in several copies around the world. Although the painting represents an allegory of marriage, many claims that it had several hidden meanings and undertones due to its wise use of colour as well as contrast.
"Birth of Venus" by Botticelli
The Birth of Venus is a depiction of Goddess Venus arriving onshore after her birth. It features her standing in the middle of the sea, grown-up and surrounded by Greek Gods and other mythological figures. The painting is considered to be Botticelli’s greatest work and was originally a gift to the Medici family.
"Coronation of the Virgin" by Fra Angelico
The popular Christian painting, Cornonation of the Virgin, features Christ placing an ornate, 12-star crown on the virgin, surrounded by saints, angels and other blessed figures enhancing the picture. It gained popularity between the 13th to the 18th century, which continues up till today. The piece arrived at Uffizi Gallery in 1825 and to date remains one of the most well-known works of art housed within the museum.
Uffizi Gallery Practical Information
Opening Hours Uffizi Gallery
Tuesday to Sunday (8:15 AM - 6:30 PM)
The ticket office closes at 6:05 PM and they start shutting down the museum at 6:35 PM On 31st December and 24th December, the gallery closes at 5:30 PM
Uffizi Gallery remains closed on Mondays, New Years Day, Christmas and May 1st
Best time to visit Uffizi Gallery
Although it is great to visit the city during famous Italian summers, be prepared for the tourist swamp. If you want to explore the Galleria in peace and at your own pace, the best time to visit is from November to February. These months are chilly and sometimes rainy but offer you tickets at half the price of peak seasons. The accommodations and food are also reasonably cheaper.
Getting to Uffizi Gallery
Address
Piazzale degli Uffizi 6, 50122, Florence, Italy
By Train
The closest station to Uffizi Gallery is the Santa Maria Novella (SMN) train station. From here, the Gallery is a 10 minute walk.
By Car
The closest car park is near the Santa Maria Novella (SMN) train station. You can park your car here and take a quick walk to the Gallery.
By Bus
You can take any bus that has a stop at the anta Maria Novella (SMN) train station. From here, you can walk over to the Gallery.
Uffizi Gallery - Rules and Regulations
- It is forbidden to touch the works of art or to place objects close to them which can cause damage or risk of fall.
- It is forbidden to lean against the wall or the base of the sculptures.
- Canned, corrosive and alcoholic drinks are strictly not allowed within the gallery.
- Using flash photography, taking videos, using selfie sticks, light stands, tripods or any kind of professional equipment is forbidden inside the museum.
- Keep the museum clean by disposing of the waste paper, chewing gum, plastic bottles and cups in the waste paper bin provided within the premises.
- It is forbidden to smoke (which also includes e-smoking) within the premises of the museum.
Insider Tips on Visiting the Uffizi Gallery
- Entry to the Uffizi Gallery is free every first Sunday of the month. This is also the day when the museum is at its most crowded.
- Audio guides are available in 6 languages - Italian, English, French, Spanish, German and Japanese. One piece costs 6 euros and 2 pieces cost 10 euros
- Photography inside the Uffizi Gallery is strictly forbidden. You will not be allowed to carry cameras inside and phones are required to be kept on silent.
- Tickets are free for EU citizens under the age of 18, children under the age of 6 and senior citizens aged 65 and above. EU citizens between the age of 18 and 25 get reduced tickets for 3.25 euros.
- It is advisable to start your visit from the second floor and then work your way down.
- Reserve your tickets in advance to avoid lengthy queues at the entrances.
- Start early in the morning or visit late afternoon to avoid the crowd.
- For a comprehensive tour of the Uffizi, set aside a minimum of 3-4 hours.
- Lifts are available for physically challenged visitors and are accessible only to them. Others are required to use the stairs.
- Big bags will need to be checked into the cloakroom.
Other places to visit nearby
Although Uffizi is the main attraction and the most famous gallery in Florence, here are some other exceptional landmarks you should pay a visit to in the city.
The eye-candy of the city is undoubtedly the Florence Duomo. You cannot picture the Florence skyline without the Duomo towering in the background. The interiors of the cathedral are enormous and stunning. From beautiful frescoes, paintings, statues and stained glass designs to ornate doors and complex mosaics, the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore is truly an inspirational work of art.
The other art gallery you should visit while in Florence is the Accademia Gallery. The highlight of the visit is seeing the spectacular ‘David’ by Michelangelo. The museum has 7 zones representing different kinds of statues and paintings by great Renaissance artists from all over Europe. It is a great place for people to admire period artworks that cannot be impersonated even in modern times.
Just 600 meters from the Uffizi gallery is the Palatine Gallery. It takes its name from the Palace it is located in and was opened to the public in 1828. Unlike most galleries, the collection here does not consist of statues and paintings, but of the rich and lavish taste of its residents. A visit to the Palazzo Pitti & Palatine Gallery is a window into the souls of the royals of Florence.
The other dome that wraps around Florence’s sky is the Medici Chapels. They consist of two majestic, red structures of the Basilica of San Lorenzo. It was built by the Medici family, the banking and political dynasty of 15th-century Italy. The chapels house many of the world’s most interesting sculptures including Michelangelo’s “Dawn and Dusk”, on the tomb of Lorenzo II de' Medici.
Frequently Asked Questions
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