Florence

Which are worth it?

Florence has over 70 museums. Most visitors go to two: the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia Gallery. The Uffizi holds the world's best collection of Renaissance paintings. The Accademia has Michelangelo's David. Both are worth your time but only if you book ahead.

A 2026 combo ticket for the Uffizi costs EUR 25. The Accademia costs EUR 16. Both include the temporary exhibitions. Add EUR 4 for the online booking fee. Without a reservation you wait 90 minutes to 3 hours in summer. The weather in July 2026 has been hot and humid. Do not stand in that line.

Skip the Leonardo da Vinci Museum on Via dei Servi. It is a small private collection of wooden models. Overpriced at EUR 35 for what you get. Go to the Science Museum (Museo Galileo) instead. It costs EUR 10 and holds Galileo's actual telescopes and fingers.

The Bargello (EUR 11, closed 2nd and 4th Monday of the month) is the must-see sculpture museum. Inside are Donatello's David, Della Robbia ceramics, and Michelangelo's Bacchus. It is quieter than the Uffizi. You can visit it in 90 minutes without booking.

Is it free?

State museums in Florence offer free entry on the first Sunday of every month. This includes the Uffizi, Accademia, Bargello, Palazzo Pitti, and Boboli Gardens.

The free day attracts massive crowds in 2026. Expect 2 hour queues at the Uffizi even with a reservation. Locals skip the free Sundays. I advise you do the same unless you have no other option. The Gallery of the Academy of Fine Arts in Via Ricasoli is also free but has little to see beyond student works.

Private museums like Palazzo Strozzi (EUR 18) and the Leonardo Interactive Museum (EUR 15) never offer free days. They are not worth the price unless you have children.

How long does each take?

Realistic minimum times per museum:

I spent 4 hours inside the Uffizi once and regretted nothing. Most tourists do it in 2.5 hours. The rooms are arranged chronologically from the 1200s to the 1700s. Stop at Room 7 for Botticelli's Birth of Venus. Room 10, 14 have Leonardo and Raphael.

The Accademia is smaller. You walk a long hallway of unfinished Michelangelo statues. Then the David sits under a dome at the end. It takes 20 minutes to see the main works. The rest is musical instruments and paintings. I leave after 45 minutes.

Where to book

Official reservations only on the website of the Ministry of Culture (b-ticket.com) or at the museum ticket offices. Avoid third party sites that add EUR 10, 15 per ticket. In 2026 the Uffizi also sells a limited number of same day tickets online at 6 PM the evening before. These are rare.

For the Brancacci Chapel you must call or email the booking office at Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore. No walk ins. They accept reservations 30 days in advance.

Practical warnings

Pickpockets work the museum queues. Keep your bag closed and in front. The Uffizi security guards check every bag and water bottles must be empty before entering. There is a free bag check.

No photography with flash in any museum. The guards enforce this strictly. In the Accademia the David room has a no photo rule completely. Do not test it.

Wear comfortable shoes. The museum floors are stone or marble. Your feet will hurt after hour two.

Museums close Monday for many sites. The Uffizi and Accademia are closed Monday. The Bargello is closed Sunday and Monday. Check the official hours before you go.

FAQ

q: Do I need to book tickets for museums in Florence?