A Guide to Florence’s Must-See Sights: Museums, Galleries, and Churches

Caitlinepstein415/ August 9, 2019/ Europe, Study Abroad/ 18 comments

A Guide to Florence’s Must-See Sights: Museums, Galleries, and Churches

Florence, arguably one of the world’s greatest epicenters of art and culture, is a hotspot for millions of tourists every year. Visitors unsurprisingly flock to the capital of Tuscany for delicious Italian cuisine, picturesque streets, and its abundance of famous art. UNESCO reports that 60% of the world’s most important artworks are located in Italy, and about half of these are in Florence – here’s my guide to seeing these works and other interesting sights around the city.

The Big Three:

1. The Uffizi Gallery

The Uffizi Gallery is one of the most visited art museums in the world, and it is not difficult to understand why. It houses masterpieces by Giotto, Verocchio, da Vinci, Boticelli, Donatello, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Caravaggio, just to name a few. It is a must visit for anyone remotely interested in art.

Practical information

Hours: Tuesday through Sunday from 8:15 am to 6:50 pm; Closed on Mondays

Tickets: 

From 1 March to 31 October – €20 regular, €2 reduced

From 1 November to 28 February – €12 regular, €2 reduced

*reduced admission is available for EU citizens under 26 with valid ID; children under 18 of all nationalities have free entrance

*tickets can be purchased online for a €4 fee

Uffizi tips and tricks

How to get in for free: There are several days each year that the Uffizi offers free admission – the first Sunday of each month from October to March, the entire first week of March, and several other days throughout the year. The free admission dates can be found here. However, it is crucial to get here very early on these days as reservations are not allowed and tickets are limited.

Best times to go: I’ve found that admissions times in the late afternoon/evening are less crowded. I think a lot of people tend to go early in the morning, making the galleries less crowded as the day wears on.

Skip the line: You may not be keen on paying the €4 fee for purchasing a ticket online, but it is best to bite the bullet and buy the ticket in advance to ensure that you can get in and avoid waiting in line for hours to get a ticket.

Consider an annual pass: If you fall in love with the Uffizi, consider getting an annual pass to visit as many times as you want for a full year from the date you buy the pass. An annual pass to the Uffizi gallery costs €50, so it can pay for itself in just a few visits. Or, you can consider the Uffizi galleries annual pass that gets you into the Uffizi, the Pitti Palace, the Boboli Gardens, and the National Archaeological museum for €70 for the year.

2. The Accademia Gallery

The home of Michelangelo’s David, possibly the world’s most famous sculpture. Truly, the David is magnificent, and visitors to Florence should feast their eyes on it at least once. There are also some other pretty amazing sculptures featured in the Accademia, so don’t be that person that only goes to see the David and then bolts.

Practical information

Hours: Tuesday through Sunday from 8:15 am to 5:50 pm; Open until 10:00 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 June to 26 September (for 2019); Closed on Mondays

Tickets: 

€12 regular, €2 reduced

*all youth 18-25 qualify for reduced admission at the Accademia; children under 18 can enter for free, but still need a ticket

*tickets can be purchased online for a €4 fee

Accademia tips and tricks

How to get in for free: Like the Uffizi, the Accademia has some free admission dates. There are not as many free dates as the Uffizi, but they can all be found here. I recommend getting here early on a free admission day to have a shot at getting in.

Skip the line: The Accademia books up weeks in advance, especially in the Summer months, so it’s best to book online or by calling to ensure that you can get in. You can get tickets day of, but they are limited and you’ll probably have to wait in a pretty long line.

The Duomo: The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore

The Duomo is probably the most iconic structure in Florence, making it a popular spot for photos and one of the most sought-after tickets for visitors. For me, there was nothing more wonderful than turning the corner from the train station after a weekend or weeks away from Florence to see the imposingly beautiful dome of this church. I’ve also had the opportunity to climb the dome twice, and the frescoes on the inside of it as well as the view from the top are simply magnificent.

Practical information

Hours: The following times are based on information for July 2019

Cathedral – 10:00 am to 4:30 pm

Dome – 8:30 am to 7:00 pm

Baptistery – 8:15 am to 10:15 am; 11:15 am to 7:30 pm

Bell Tower – 8:15 am to 7:20 pm

Crypt – 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

Museum – 9:00 am to 7:00 pm; closed on the first Tuesday of each month

Tickets: 

Access to the cathedral is free and cannot be booked in advance.

Tickets for access to the rest of the Duomo complex are €18 and include entrance to the dome, the baptistery, the bell tower, and the museum. The time for the dome must be booked ahead of time and you have to be on time for that booking, but the other parts of the duomo can be accessed within 72 hours of the ticket holder’s first entrance to a Duomo complex site.

*tickets can be booked online for a €2 fee

Duomo tips and tricks

BOOK YOUR TICKETS IN ADVANCE

I cannot stress enough how important it is to book these tickets in advance. While with the Uffizi or Accademia you may be able to wait in line long enough to get a ticket, there are very strict times that book up very quickly and very far in advance for access to the dome, and this is the best part of visiting the Duomo. So, be sure to book your time for the dome when you confirm your plans to visit Florence.

If you don’t book in advance, you can probably still get a ticket to climb the bell tower and see the museum and baptistery, which is still worth it, but hopefully you’ll have booked in advance and won’t have to worry about this option!

Book a dome reservation time close to sunset

This is a bit tricky to do during the Summer months, as sunset is later than the available dome climb times, but during the cooler months it is 100% worth it to be at the top of the Dome for a stunningly picturesque sunset.

Wear the appropriate attire

This goes for every church in Florence, but make sure your knees and shoulders are covered when visiting the Duomo, or you may be refused entrance.

Don’t skip out on the museum and the baptistery!

The museum houses the original baptistery doors done by Ghiberti. The competition to determine which artist got the commission to create the ‘Paradise Gate’ is said to have kicked off the Renaissance, so they are certainly worth a look. The baptistery is also worth a quick walk through for the ornate golden ceiling decorations.

Galleries

Great art in Florence can be found at much more than just the three top spots in Florence, so consider broadening your horizons and visiting a few of these less trafficked galleries around the city.

The Bargello National Museum

A former fortress and prison, the Palazzo Bargello is now home to a large collection of Renaissance sculptures and art. It houses works done by noted artists such as Michelangelo, Donatello, Cellini, Ammannati, and Sansovino. This museum tends to be a bit quieter than the ones above, so it makes for a nice and relaxed visit.

Hours: Monday to Sunday from 8:00 am to 1:50 pm; Closed on the 2nd and 4th Sunday and 1st, 3rd, and 5th Monday of each month

Tickets:

€4 regular, €2 reduced

€4 for adults, €2 for EU citizens aged 18 to 26, and free for anyone under 18

*reduced admission is available for EU citizens under 26 with valid ID; children under 18 of all nationalities have free entrance

*tickets can be purchased online for varying fees – I’d say it isn’t worth it because tickets can be easily bought for low prices at the entrance

The Bargello, like the Uffizi, offers free admission on several dates throughout the year, including first Sundays from October to March.

The Pitti Palace

The Pitti Palace is one of my favorite places to visit in Florence because it takes you over to the marvelous other side of the Arno river and because the palace is a work of art in and of itself. The ceilings of each and every room are decadently decorated, and the art actually on display is also great.

Practical Information

Hours: Tuesday through Sunday from 8:15 am to 6:50 pm; Closed on Mondays

Tickets: 

From 1 March to 31 October – €16 regular, €2 reduced

From 1 November to 28 February – €10 regular, €2 regular

*reduced admission is available for students of academies of fine arts or at EU institutions with an enrollment certificate for the current academic year; children under 18 of all nationalities have free entrance

*tickets can be purchased online for a €3 fee

Pitti Palace Tips and Tricks

How to get in for free: Visit on one of the free days! Those free dates can be found here. However, it is important to show up early on the free days so you don’t find yourself waiting over two hours to get in.

Go for 50% early in the morning: You can buy a ticket for half price before 8:59 am as long as you enter with that ticket before 9:25 am

Consider an annual pass: If you fall in love with the Pitti Palace, consider getting an annual pass to visit as many times as you want for a full year from the date you buy the pass. An annual pass to the Pitti Palace costs €35, so it can pay for itself in just a few visits. Or, you can consider the Uffizi galleries annual pass that gets you into the Uffizi, the Pitti Palace, the Boboli Gardens, and the National Archaeological museum for €70 for the year.

Churches

Basilica Santa Croce

This basilica with its stunning facade is just steps from the Florence School of Fine Arts, where I studied for the semester and worked at for the month of June. This church is exceptionally cool because it is the burial place for Michelangelo, Rossini, Machiavelli, and Galileo.

Hours: Monday to Saturday from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm; Sundays from 2:00 pm to 5:30 pm

Tickets:

€8 regular, €6 reduced

*reduced admission is available for children 11 to 17 years old and for groups of over 15; children under 11 have free entrance

Santo Spirito Basilica

This humble basilica across the river was designed by the same architect that was the genius behind the Duomo, Brunelleschi. It is not a mind blowing cathedral, but it is free to enter, it is nice and cool even in the blistering summer months, and visitors can admire a sculpture of Jesus on the cross that is believed to have been done by a very young Michelangelo.

Hours: 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm; closed on Wednesdays

The Medici Chapels and the Church of San Lorenzo

The Church of San Lorenzo was the official church of the former ruling family of Florence, the Medici. It was in the 14th century that they decided to build their mausoleum in the church, and now visitors can marvel at the absolutely huge and ostentatious tombs of the Medici family in the Medici Chapels. And, if you’re trying to see as many of Michelangelo’s works as possible while in Florence, this is another important stop as he created some of the tombs in the New Sacristy.

Hours: Monday through Sunday from 8:15 am to 1:50 pm; closed on the 2nd and 4th Sundays and 1st, 3rd, and 5th Monday of each month

Tickets:

€6 regular, €3 reduced

*reduced admission is available for EU citizens under 26 with valid ID; children under 18 of all nationalities have free entrance

*tickets can be purchased online for varying fees – I’d say it isn’t worth it because tickets can be easily bought for low prices at the entrance

Gardens

The Boboli Gardens

Located right behind the Pitti Palace, the Boboli Gardens are the largest and arguably most impressive in the city of Florence. Visitors can spend hours exploring the expansive garden and enjoying beautiful weather. It is one of the best places to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city center and relax. While in the Boboli Gardens visitors can check out the porcelain museum and views of the city and surrounding countryside.

Hours: Open every day from 8:15 am, closing time varies by time of year – check here for closing times by month; closed on the 1st and last Monday of each month

Tickets:

From 1 March to 31 October – €10 regular, €2 reduced

From 1 November to 28 February – €6 regular, €2 reduced

*reduced admission is available for students of academies of fine arts or at EU institutions with an enrollment certificate for the current academic year; children under 18 of all nationalities have free entrance

*tickets can be purchased online for a €3 fee

Boboli Gardens Tips and Tricks

How to get in for free: Yet another place to take advantage of on free Sundays and holidays throughout the year! Find the free admission dates here.

Utilize other entrances: The main entrance to the gardens is at the entrance to the Pitti Palace, but sometimes the ticket and entrance lines can both be long. So, walk just a few minutes to either the entrance near the Forte Belvedere or the entrance at the Porta Romana, which are both sure to have shorter lines, especially on free admission days.

Consider an annual pass: The Boboli Garden annual pass is only €25 for the entire year from the date you buy it, so it pays for itself in just a few visits. This is a great option if you want a beautiful place to hang out, study, and enjoy the sunshine.

Bardini Gardens

The Bardini is a charming garden on the other side of the Arno, and what makes it great is admission to the Bardini is included in the ticket for the Boboli Gardens (and it is also free to enter on free admission days for the Boboli Gardens!). It is also much less crowded than the Boboli Gardens and provides beautiful panoramic views of the city. The annual pass to the Boboli Gardens also gets you access to the Bardini Gardens for only €25 for the year, so this is a great deal to consider.

Hours: The opening hours for the Bardini Gardens vary by time of year, so check here for hours by month

Rose Garden

This is, in my opinion, one of the best gardens in Florence, primarily because it’s free (yay!), but also because the flowers are nice if you catch them in view, and there’s a nice view of the city from the garden. Like the others, this garden is across the river, and it is located right near the city’s famed Piazzale Michelangelo. May and June are the best times to visit to catch the roses in bloom, but it is a nice place to sit and enjoy the weather at other times of the year.

Hours: The opening hours for the Rose Garden vary by time of year, so check here for hours by month

Other Important Spots

The Ponte Vecchio

This bridge spanning the Arno is the oldest and most iconic bridge in Florence. It was the only bridge across the river until the year 1218 and the only bridge that survived World War II. It is lined with high-priced jewelry stores and the Vasari corridor, the former secret passageway of the Medici family, runs along the top of it.

Piazza della Repubblica

This square was the center of the city dating back to Roman times, and it still retains its status as one of the most important squares in the city. It’s easily recognizable as the square with the carousel, but it is also a lively spot both day and night as visitors can find here street performers, artists, and more.

Piazza della Signoria

While Piazza della Repubblica was the main square of Florence during Roman times, Piazza della Signoria reigns as the main square of the city today. It is home to the Palazzo Vecchio, the impressive and newly restored Neptune fountain by Ammannati, an open air sculpture gallery that features Cellini’s sculpture of Perseus holding Medusa’s head, and the replica of Michelangelo’s statue in the spot where the original once stood.

This square along with the area surrounding the Duomo tend to be the most crowded spots in the city, and for good reason. This square especially just overflows with beautiful, Renaissance art, and it is a definite must-see while in Florence.

Palazzo Vecchio

Built in the 14th century, the Palazzo Vecchio has served as the seat of Florentine government since the Middle Ages. It still operates as a town hall, but visitors can enter to view the spaces that the Medici family once resided, decorations by Giorgio Vasari, and an archaeological site. Additionally, visitors looking for something more in depth and unique to do in Florence can take a secret passages tour to explore the hidden parts of the palace.

Museum and Archaeological Site Hours: From October to March – 9:00 am to 7:00 pm daily, closes at 2:00 pm on Thursdays; from April to September – 9:00 am to 11:00 pm daily, closes at 2:00 am on Thursdays

Tower Hours: From October to March – 10:00 am to 5:00 pm daily, closes at 2:00 pm on Thursdays; from April to September – 9:00 am to 9:00 pm daily, closes at 2:00 am on Thursdays

*children under the age of 6 are not permitted up in the tower, and visitors under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult

Tickets:

Prices vary based on what combination of the museum, archaeological site, and tower visitors with to visit – check here for prices.

Piazzale Michelangelo

And last but not least, Piazzale Michelangelo. This is the huge square high up on the other side of the city where tourists, locals, and study abroad sorority girls with full bottles of wine all flock to for a view of the city, especially during sunset. I wouldn’t be quick to recommend making a trip to Piazzale Michelangelo during the height of tourist season as it is ridiculously crowded, but during the cooler months this spot really is great for catching the perfect sunset over the city.

Be warned though, the trek up to the Piazzale is long – you can make your way up a steep and windy road, climb up a heck of a lot of stairs, or wind your way through the Rose Garden. But, once you make it, you’ll be rewarded with local musicians strumming a soundtrack for a view of one of the loveliest cities in the world.

And there you have it! There’s the basic must-see places in Florence. But these are just a starting point for this incredible city. Visitors, whether they’re there for a weekend or a year, should take the time to wander the streets on both sides of the river, try amazing food, interact with the locals in as much Italian as possible, and truly try to get to know more than just this list. Make the most of it, because Florence is amazing, and I can guarantee that however long you spend there will never feel like enough.