Museums in Florence

Florence, the capital city of Tuscany, became world-renowned for ushering in the age of the Renaissance. Its unprecedented contributions in the fields of science, architecture, and art made the city a crown jewel of Italy. If you want an in-depth look into the most glorious achievements of that era, then Florence is the place to be. The city’s museums boast the most comprehensive collection of Renaissance artworks in the world, and fittingly so. Therefore, make sure to purchase the coveted museum tickets that will enlighten you about the revolutionary period that put Florence on the world map.

Visiting art museums in Florence is one of the great ways to discover this city’s rich past. You will be spoilt for choice as there are many amazing museums to choose from. Some of the most prominent are mentioned below -

Young children can have a field day at the various science museums in Florence which celebrate the brilliant minds of the past generations like Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo Galilei, etc. 

You can easily find online tickets that provide skip-the-line access to most of the museums in Florence. Priority access is highly sought-after by visitors as these popular museums are reputed for having huge crowds and long ticketing lines. The Uffizi Gallery and Accademia Gallery are notorious for their long waiting lines that can stretch for several hours. The precious time saved waiting in lines can be happily spent inside the museum surrounded by magnificent art collections and exhibitions. Additionally, booking guided tours also guarantee visitors skip-the-line entry in addition to the top-rated services of a tour guide.

Yes, guided tours are one of the most frequently booked tickets to the museums in Florence. You can best explore the museum’s extensive collection with a tour guide, who can enhance your viewing experience in more than one language. Count on your guide to describe the artworks in impressive detail, share intriguing stories behind the marvelous works of art, and even give you a brief background of the artists. If that’s not enough, another perk of opting for guided tours in Florence is that it lets you skip the long ticketing queues and get priority entry to your favorite museums without any delay. 

 

There are a few museums that offer night tours. The guided tours of Duomo and Palazzo Vecchio in the late evenings are popular night tours that are opted for. In addition, you may also explore several walking tours at night that take you around popular sites in the city of Florence.

A few select museums offer discounted tickets for children, students, and senior citizens. Make sure to carry valid ID proof in such cases. You can also avail of amazing discounts of up to 16% as well as cashback of up to 10% when you book your museum tickets from Headout.

It is worth noting that different ticket types come with different cancellation policies. In most cases, museum tickets offer a flexible cancellation policy that enables you to cancel your scheduled visit up to 24 or 48 or 72 hours in advance for a full refund. In some cases, the tickets cannot be cancelled or rescheduled at all. Therefore, be careful before booking your museum tickets.

The state-run museums like Accademia Gallery, Uffizi Gallery, Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens, Bargello Museum, Museum of San Marco, etc. have the provision of free entry on the first Sunday of every month. Note that this option is only available from October to March as these months fall during the off-season.

If you find yourself in Florence between the months of October to March, then your best option is to plan your visit on the first Sunday of the month. Additionally, many Florence museums offer free entry to patrons on select dates throughout the year. You can visit the Ministry of Culture website for detailed information about which museums from the Uffizi Gallery, Accademia Gallery, Galileo Museum, Palazzo Pitti, The Natural History Museum, Leonardo da Vinci Museum, etc. offer free entry on which particular days.

The Uffizi Gallery is the oldest museum in Florence and it dates back to 1865. The history of the building predates this time since it was built as a public administrative office for the affluent Medici family in 1585. Nearly 300 years later, it officially opened its doors as a public museum. The family’s private art collection, starting from the Middle Ages, became the museum’s primary art collection.

The biggest museum in Florence is undoubtedly the renowned Uffizi Museum. The museum’s space was extended to an astounding 13,000 square metres following a massive renovation project that was completed in 2017. With more than 100 rooms spanning three floors, the museum showcases masterpieces by Caravaggio, Leonardo da Vinci, Titian, Raphael, Botticelli, Michelangelo, etc. in its esteemed collection.

You can rest assured that photography is allowed in most museums situated in Florence. As a general rule, visitors can take pictures for personal use with a hand-held camera. But, the use of professional cameras, flash photography, tripods, and selfie sticks are usually not allowed.

Weekdays are the best time to visit museums in Florence as you will be greeted by a small crowd, especially during the early mornings and late evenings. Also, the museums witness a drop in visitor footfall between the months of October to April. December is the only exception as, during this time, all the museums turn into a tourist magnet for the holiday crowds.

The city’s most frequently-visited museums are closed on the occasion of Christmas and New Year’s Day. You can visit the Museum of Santa Maria Novella as it is open on both holidays. Moreover, the Marina Abramovic exhibit at Palazzo Strozzi stays open on December 25th. The Palazzo Vecchio Museum, Museo del Novecento, and Palazzo Strozzi keep their doors open on New Year’s Day.