Home > Florence > How to Visit the Uffizi Gallery Florence: Tickets, Hours, Tours, and More
How to Visit the Uffizi Gallery Florence: Tickets, Hours, Tours, and More
Sean Finelli
Other Italian cities might come to mind for amazing architecture and art before Florence, but don’t discount this small city. It’s the Cradle of the Renaissance, home to the Medici, and some of the greatest works of art are there. In this guide, we show you the best ways to visit the Uffizi Gallery so you can see them with your own eyes!
Pro Tip: Planning your visit to the Uffizi in Florence? Bookmark this post in your browser so you can easily find it when you need it. Check out our Uffizi Gallery Guide for more planning resources, our best Uffizi tours for a memorable trip, and how to see Florence in a day (with itinerary).
Visiting The Uffizi Gallery in Florence
Did you know that the Uffizi is one of the most visited museums in Italy? Packed with artwork from renowned Italian Renaissance artists, the Uffizi Gallery is a must-see attraction for any art lover.
For good reason, you could wait in line for up to five hours to buy Uffizi Gallery tickets during the high season. This is why it’s vital to plan ahead. Whether you decide to go it alone or join one of our guides on a Uffizi Gallery guided tour, here are some useful tips to ensure that your visit is a success.
If you consider that the Uffizi Gallery sees millions of visitors a year, it’s almost guaranteed that there will be a long queue at the entrance. Then again, if you visit during the low season, you might be lucky enough to just walk in. It’s unwise to expect this though. Here are three ways to see the Uffizi Gallery without standing in line.
1. Buy your tickets online
If you want to make the most of your time in Florence, book your Uffizi tickets in advance. This way, you can pick a time and date on the official Uffizi Gallery website. Please note: if you book your tickets online, there’s an additional €4 fee.
Although you might still have to stand in a short queue to collect your tickets, it’s still much quicker than waiting in the general line. There’s also an option to rent an audio guide from the Uffizi for an extra €6.
OnlineTicket Prices: March to October: €25 for adults, €2 for reduced tickets; November to February: €12 for adults, €2 for reduced tickets.
2. Join a small group Uffizi Gallery tour
While visiting the Uffizi Gallery by yourself is fantastic, it’s even better to join a guided tour. Led by an English-speaking guide, you’ll learn even more about the museum’s masterpieces, the stories behind them, and the context surrounding their creation.
On our Uffizi Gallery tour, you’ll also skip the lines and walk straight in! This tour is the perfect way to learn about Florence’s Renaissance art, history, and culture in a comfortable and stress-free way.
3. Have your own private tour
If you want a more intimate experience, a private Uffizi tour is the best way to visit the gallery. It’ll feel just like a knowledgeable friend is showing you around town. You can ask endless questions and by the end of the tour, you’ll feel like a Renaissance expert.
Giorgio Vasari began construction of the Uffizi building in 1560 to house the offices of Cosimo I de’ Medici (the guy on the horse pictured above), Florence’s first Grand Duke of Tuscany. You’ve almost certainly heard of the Medici family. This wealthy Florentine family started the Medici Bank of Florence, the most important financial institution in 15th-century Europe.
Following the completion of the building, the Medici family began to add their collection of artwork to the building, creating their own private gallery. But beyond art collectors, the Medicis were also important patrons of art. Without their financial support, many of the most renowned works of art housed in the Uffizi Gallery might never have been created.
With the end of the Medici Dynasty in the 18th century, the last heir of the family, Anna Maria Luisa de Medici, signed a family pact with the Lorraine family. This declared that all of the Medici collection should remain in Florence and that it should only be used for decorative purposes and for the utility of the public.
The Uffizi Gallery opened its doors to the public in 1769. Of course, during the 19th and 20th centuries, the Uffizi Gallery was enriched with new sculptures and paintings. To this day, the Florence museum continues to expand its collections to include more artwork.
Uffizi Gallery Tours
The Uffizi Gallery is one of a number of incredible places located in the Cradle of the Renaissance, and it’s popular for that very reason. We offer several outstanding Florence tours to help you make the most of your time in Italy.
Our Uffizi Gallery Tour in particular will get you past the long lines and exploring the artworks that helped define the Italian Renaissance faster.
Accompanied by an expert in art history, you’ll discover the stories behind the Uffizi’s great masterpieces—an enriching experience for any art lover and a great way to make the most of your visit to the gallery. here are a few of our top-rated Uffizi tours:
Visiting the Uffizi Gallery with a guide is a no-brainer. There are literally TV-drama-level stories behind so many famous artworks inside the gallery, which makes it super interesting. If that doesn’t sell it for you, the lines to get inside can take hours. Going with a passionate local guide will completely change the experience and skip the line.
The tour combines our Florence city walking tour, which includes seeing Michelangelo’s David, with our Skip the Line Uffizi Gallery tour in one discounted package. Both tours are small group tours and priced competitively. It’s a fantastic way to spend a day in Florence.
While small group tours are the best value for money, private tours are a luxury and provide the best possible experience. It’s just you and a private guide visiting the Uffizi Gallery for two hours. Ask all the questions you want!
Leave a Comment