Skip the line Uffizi Gallery Tour

Witness some of Florence's best Renaissance artwork with a passionate art historian

5 / 5 See All 14 Reviews · 2.0h 16 max · Florence, Italy

Lines at the Uffizi Gallery can last up to three hours, especially during peak season. Cruise past the lines on this guided tour and see Florence's most celebrated museum with an expert in Renaissance art.

Included

What you get with this tour

English Speaking Guide

Uffizi Gallery Tickets Included

Skip the Line

Itinerary

What you will see on this tour

The "Uffizi" of the Medici - Originally built to house magistrate offices of the Medici family, the Uffizi is now the most popular museum in Florence.

Laocoön and His Sons - A famous copy of Laocoön and His Sons, this reproduction was made by Baccio Bandinelli in the late 15th century.

Leonardo Da Vinci - Da Vinci left a surprisingly small number of paintings behind. In this painting, see his portrayal of angel Gabriel informing the Virgin Mary that she will bear a son whose reign will never end.

Botticelli - Admire Botticelli's most famous painting, the "Birth of Venus", considered by many as the Renaissance masterpiece that brought the world out of the Dark Ages.

Raphael - Raphael's "Madonna del Cardellino" was once struck by a tragedy. Learn about how it was restored.

Beautiful Views - Take a short break to admire an amazing dome by Brunelleschi from the rooftop of the Uffizi museum.

Titian - Titian's contemporaries referred to him as "The Sun Amidst Small Stars". During your Uffizi tour, see his famous "Venus of Urbino”.

Classical Statues - Throughout this guided tour of the Uffizi, gaze upon the statues that inspire d the Renaissance.

Michelangelo - Michelangelo didn't get much practice before he painted the Sistine Chapel's ceiling. The Uffizi has one of his rare paintings, the Doni Tondo.

Caravaggio - Don't look too long into Medusa's eyes or you may turn to stone! Learn about how Caravaggio's Medusa revolutionized the world of painting in the late 16th century.

Piazza Della Signoria
The "Uffizi" of the Medici
Laocoön and His Sons
Leonardo Da Vinci
Botticelli

Raphael
Beautiful Views
Titian
Classical Statues
Michelangelo
Caravaggio

Calling all art lovers! Located in the heart of Florence, the Uffizi Gallery is filled with artwork from renown Italian Renaissance artists including Michelangelo, Leonardo, Caravaggio and Botticelli. But with over a million visitors every year - during the high season, waiting time to get inside the museum can last as long as five hours! Our best Uffizi tour includes skip the line tickets so you don't have to waste time waiting in a queue. Limited to a small group, this 2-hour tour includes:

- Skip the line Uffizi tickets
- English-speaking guide with expertise in art history
- Maximum group size of 16
- Guided tour of the masterpieces inside the Uffizi

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History of the Uffizi

The Uffizi’s construction was ordered in 1560 by Cosimo I de’ Medici (known as Cosimo the Great and the first Grand Duke of Tuscany) to house the administrative and judiciary offices of Florence. At the time, the Medici family’s influence in Florence was extremely powerful. If it wasn't for this wealthy family of Florentine bankers, it's difficult to imagine that the Renaissance would’ve happened when it did! Beyond collectors, the Medici were great patrons of art, and without their patronage, many of these works might never have been created at all.

Botticelli's Birth of Venus

One of the most featured artists at the museum is Sandro Botticelli - whose masterpieces Primavera and The Birth of Venus are both featured at the Uffizi. You don’t have to be a seasoned sightseer to recognize The Birth of Venus, which depicts the goddess Venus being carried ashore in a giant seashell. For visitors with more in-depth art history knowledge, the opportunity to admire the painting’s vibrant composition in person is precious. Botticelli’s Primavera depicts the arrival of Spring with dancing gods and muses in an enchanted garden.

Caravaggio’s Medusa

Along with The Birth of Venus, Caravaggio’s Medusa is the work people most associate with the Uffizi Gallery. A gripping study of the dark mythological figure with snakes in her hair, the round painting is also an excellent example of Caravaggio’s revolutionary approach to the game between light and dark. As you gaze into Medusa's eyes, she appears to stare back at you. Don’t look for too long though - you might turn to stone!

Michelangelo’s Holy Family

Michelangelo’s Holy Family painting dates back to the same time period as his David statue. One of the few examples of Michelangelo’s painting, together with the breathtaking frescoes in the Sistine Chapel, the Doni Tondo also laid the foundations of Mannerism, also known as Late Renaissance. This style of European art featured bizarre, striking poses and iridescent colors. These characteristics are clearly present in the Doni Tondo by Michelangelo.

These highlights are just a few of the world-class works of art housed at the Uffizi. Let an expert guide lead you on a journey into art and history as they share the important stories behind each painting and their context within Florentine and Italian culture.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where to meet?

• Piazza della Signoria, in the center of the square, at the Equestrian Statue of Cosimo I. A representative will be there holding a sign with our company name on it.

What to bring?

As this is a walking tour, wear comfortable shoes. Avoid bringing large bags, as the Uffizi requires you to check them. And finally, the Uffizi does not allow visitors to bring liquids into the museum, so do not bring water bottles. Baby bottles or medicine liquids are acceptable.

Q: What if the museum closes something?

A: Sometimes the museum closes certain areas for restoration. If a painting listed above is not available, we will make sure to show something else that is equally as awesome!

Q: Does the tour always skip the line?

A: Yes, the long line is for people waiting to buy tickets. We still enter a shorter security line, but that's it.

Q: What should I bring?

A: A sense of curiosity and comfortable shoes. Avoid bringing large bags, both the Uffizi and Accademia require you to check them. And finally, the Uffizi does not allow visitors to bring liquids inside the museum, so do not bring water bottles. Baby bottles or medicine liquids are acceptable.

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See what people are saying

14 total reviews

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6/21/2019

Ethan L

Excellent art tour

Excellent tour. The skip the line tickets were really worth it and our guide made sure to give us all the little details about the art. She was so knowledgeable, it wouldn't have been the same on our own.

5/29/2019

Leo L

Amazing art

Wow! The perfect tour for my wife. She was an art history major and absolutely LOVED this. Such rich culture and history, and our guide was so knowledgeable! Can't wait to take another tour with the Tour guy!

5/3/2019

Alexandria

A Must See

Don't say you have visited Florence unless you have been to this place. Amazing place and plenty to see. Guaranteed worth for both your time and money. It is a must to buy the ticket in advance unless you want to queue for very long and wasting your precious time. Our guide knew so much and kept the tour interesting for us and the kids in our group.