Florence

Which monuments are worth the money and time?

The big five are Duomo complex, Uffizi Gallery, Accademia Gallery (David), Palazzo Vecchio, and Ponte Vecchio. That is your first day. The second day add Santa Croce, Palazzo Pitti, and the Bargello. Everything else is optional unless you love specific art.

Duomo complex (Cathedral, Baptistery, Dome climb, Bell tower, Museum, Crypt) costs EUR 30 for the full pass. Valid 72 hours. Dome climb is 463 steps, no elevator. Book the dome climb slot online at least 10 days ahead in summer 2026. The Baptistery doors are free to look at from outside. The interior is small. Not worth paying separate entry.

Uffizi Gallery EUR 25 (plus EUR 4 booking fee). 45 minute wait if you walk up. Pre-book online 2-3 weeks early. The ticket includes entrance to Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens if you buy the combined EUR 38 pass within 5 days. That is good value if you want both.

Accademia Gallery (David) EUR 16 plus booking fee. Tiny museum. 30 minutes max inside. The queue can hit 90 minutes. Book ahead or go at 8:15 AM opening. The real artwork is the David. The rest is filler.

Ponte Vecchio is free. Walk across any time. Busiest at 11 AM and sunset. The jewellery shops are expensive. Do not buy here unless you have EUR 500+ to spend. The secret Vasari Corridor above it is closed again in 2026 (no reopening date set). Skip that rumor.

Which landmarks can you see for free?

Piazza della Signoria costs zero. The outdoor statues are copies (the originals are in the Accademia or Bargello). Sit on the steps of the Loggia dei Lanzi. That is free. The Palazzo Vecchio tower climb costs EUR 15. Only worth it if Duomo dome is sold out. The view is different but lower.

Santa Croce Basilica EUR 8. Pay at the door. 20 minutes inside. Tombs of Galileo, Machiavelli, Michelangelo. Worth EUR 8. The queue moves fast. No booking needed.

Basilica of San Lorenzo EUR 9. Entrance through the market. It is Michelangelo’s church. The Medici Chapels next door cost EUR 11 and have the Tomb of the Dukes. Skip the main church if short on time. The chapels are better.

Bargello Museum EUR 12. Home to Donatello’s David (the bronze one). Usually no queue. Wednesday afternoons are quiet. Go there instead of the Accademia if you want sculpture without the crowd.

How do you skip the queues?

Pre-book online for Uffizi, Accademia, Duomo dome climb, and Palazzo Vecchio. That solves 90% of waiting. For Uffizi and Accademia, use the official ticket websites (tickets.uffizi.it and tickets.firenze.it). They charge a EUR 4 booking fee each. Third-party resellers charge EUR 8-12 and often oversell. Do not buy from street vendors wearing lanyards. They sell fakes.

Show up for the first slot at 8:15 AM for Accademia or 8:30 AM for Uffizi. No queue then. Or go in the last hour before closing (60 minutes before). The ticket office closes 30 minutes earlier. Some days the Uffizi stays open until 10 PM in July and August 2026. Check the monthly calendar.

For the Baptistery and Duomo cathedral interior, the queue is short (5-10 minutes) any time except Sunday morning Mass. Avoid Sunday before 1 PM.

Comparison table: main monuments

Practical warnings from experience

Tickets for the Duomo dome climb sell out 2-3 weeks ahead in April through October 2026. If you cannot get one, climb the Giotto Bell Tower instead (same pass covers it). The Bell Tower has 414 steps and a lower view of the dome. The stairwell is extremely narrow. Claustrophobic people should not attempt either.

The Uffizi has a bag check. No backpacks over 40 litres. Leave big bags at your hotel. Water bottles are fine. No photography in the Botticelli room (security watches closely).

Street vendors near the Duomo sell “skip the line” tickets for EUR 50-80. These are often fake or overpriced third-party passes. Buy only from official museum websites. If your hotel concierge offers to “arrange tickets,” expect a EUR 10-15 markup. You can do it yourself online in 5 minutes.

Piazza della Signoria at night (after 10 PM) is quiet and safe. The statues are lit. Good for photos. Avoid the area around Santa Maria Novella station after 11 PM.

One extra thing: the less famous but great

The Brancacci Chapel in Santa Maria del Carmine costs EUR 12. It has Masaccio’s frescoes. Very few tourists. 15 minute limit inside. Booking is required (do it online 1 day before). It is a 15 minute walk from the Duomo. Better than 80% of the crowded landmarks.

The Vasari Corridor is closed. Do not ask locals about it. We are tired of answering. It will not reopen before 2027.

Final tip: buy a EUR 1.50 bus ticket at any tabacchi to reach Piazzale Michelangelo at sunset. Free view of the entire city. The monument there is a bronze copy of David. No queue. No price. That is the real landmark.