The city of Florence attracts visitors from all over the world due to its extraordinary cultural and artistic riches. Today I’ll take you on a tour of the famous Uffizi Museum, one of the most fascinating art destinations in the world.
I’ll tell you everything you need to know about visiting the museum, including its exhibition rooms, opening hours and ticket prices. Read the entire article to also discover essential local experiences and other museums in Florence that you should definitely include in your itinerary.
Hi, I’m Flu, a family travel designer in Florence, and I’m here to give you a customised itinerary for Tuscany.
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The Uffizi Museum: general overview
The Museum is located in the magnificent Palazzo degli Uffizi, a historic building (once a Medici residence) situated in the heart of Florence along the Arno River.
Its location is also ideal for visiting the famous Ponte Vecchio bridge, which is just a stone’s throw away.
The Uffizi collection boasts masterpieces by artists such as Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Giotto and many others, and the works are exhibited in chronological order.
You can therefore trace the evolution of art from the medieval period up to the Renaissance and, if you so wish, you can get an accompanying audio guide at the entrance for 6 euros.
Uffizi Florence – Opening Hours
- The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 8:15 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Last admission is at 5:30 p.m.
- It is closed on Mondays (except 10 and 24 April, 1 May and 14 August 2023)
- It can get very crowded, especially in the summer, so my advice is to visit early in the morning or just before closing time to avoid long queues.
I recommend checking the opening hours on the official Uffizi website before your visit, as they may vary depending on the season.
Uffizi Florence – Tickets
As for ticket prices, it all depends on the season and the type of ticket you choose. In fact, you can include visits to places like the town hall, called the Palazzo Vecchio, or the Boboli Gardens all in the cost of your ticket.
- Full-price ticket: 26 euros
- The 39 euro ticket also includes admission for 5 consecutive days to the Boboli Gardens, the Pitti Palace, the National Archaeological Museum and the Opificio delle Pietre Dure Museum. It also gives you priority access.
- Admission to the museum is free for those under 18 (proof of identity required) and other categories that you can consult here.
Uffizi: when is it free?
You can enter the museum for free on the following dates:
- 25 April
- 2 June
- 4 November
And thanks to the “Sundays at the Museum” initiative, you can enter the Uffizi for free on the first Sunday of the month. Check this page on the official website for all the free Sundays in 2023.
Where to buy a ticket for the Uffizi in Florence:
- Uffizi Courtyard Ticket Office (on the ground floor)
- Orsanmichele Church
- Pitti Palace
- Online on the official website uffizi.it
How to visit the Uffizi with children
It’s not always easy to keep children entertained on visits to cultural cities and major museums like the Uffizi in Florence.
This is why a family-friendly project has been running for some time now that allows you to “borrow” the Uffizi Activity Bag, which can be picked up free of charge upon reservation once you’ve purchased your ticket.
It’s a transparent bag filled with fun, antistress material for doing some simple activities while in the museum. The bag contains a museum map, activity cards, headphones and some postcards that you can take home as a souvenir from your visit to the Uffizi in Florence.
- Important: the Uffizi Activity Bag must be booked a week prior to your visit.
- To request one, simply send an email to uffiziaccessibili@cultura.gov.it
What to do near the museum: local tips
As I mentioned before, the Uffizi Museum in Florence is located in the historic centre, within walking distance of the Ponte Vecchio and other famous attractions. So, I recommend taking a walk over Italy’s most famous bridge for some seriously Instagram-worthy photos.
If it’s a romantic experience you’re after, I suggest a sunset boat ride on the river, which will allow you to see Florence from another perspective. The small boats take off from the riverfront right below the Uffizi.
If you get hungry, near the Uffizi Gallery is the famous Via dei Neri, a street full of trattorias, restaurants, sandwich shops and also the historical home of one of the world’s most famous and beloved “schiacciaterias”: All’Antico Vinaio.
If you’re gluten-free like me, Sgrano is the best gluten-free place in Florence, with restaurants in Via dei Neri 49 (for the famous “schiacciatine” flatbread sandwiches) and in Via dei Benci (for the “osteria”, a wine bar serving exceptional first and second courses that are always gluten-free).
Another fascinating aspect of Florence that many tourists don’t know about are the Tower Houses. In the Middle Ages, there were as many as 160 and up to 65 metres tall.
They had been built by the city’s wealthiest and most important families and were connected internally with the main house. These tower houses consisted of one room per floor, with the kitchen on top and a storeroom/pantry space in the basement.
Today you can see some of these beautiful towers in a small neighbourhood near the Uffizi, in Via dei Cerchi and Borgo San Jacopo.
Other museums worth visiting in Florence
If art is your passion, you’ll find the world’s most famous works in Florence. So don’t limit yourself to only visiting the Uffizi. Spend some time at other museums, many of which are also suitable for children thanks to their family-friendly workshops and guided tours.
Here are some of the museums that I recommend visiting while you’re in Florence:
- Accademia Gallery which houses Michelangelo’s famous David
- Palazzo Vecchio
- San Marco Museum with its frescoes by Fra Angelico
- Leonardo da Vinci Interactive Museum to sample replicas of the most famous machines invented by the Florentine genius.
I hope you find this article useful on your next visit to Florence.
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