5 tips for visiting the Uffizi Gallery in Florence

The Uffizi Gallery in Florence is the Italian museum that receives the largest number of visitors each year. It is one of the most important museums in the world, a place where real masterpieces of inestimable value are preserved, works by Raphael, Botticelli, Giotto, Titian, Leonardo da Vinci, and many others. The Museum is located in the heart of the historic center of Florence, in the square behind Palazzo Vecchio. It is a must-see for those who decide to visit the cradle of the Renaissance. Let's find out more about how to arrange a visit to the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.

1. Book Uffizi tickets in advance

No one wants to wait hours to enter a museum. The queue to enter the Uffizi can be very long, and it cannot be ruled out that tickets may run out. To avoid this unpleasant eventuality, the best advice we can give you is to book tickets in advance. Tickets can be booked at the museum's ticket offices or online. The latter option is the most recommended for those who want to optimize time.

2. Visit the museum in the off-season, on a weekday

As mentioned above, the Uffizi Gallery is one of the most visited museums in the world. To avoid queues, plan your visit as best you can. If possible, opt for the off-season. During the period from November to February, the Tuscan museum is less crowded. Consider that tourists flock mainly on weekends, or around holidays. Generally, the peak rush time is between 12:00 noon and 3:00 pm. If you want to enjoy a leisurely visit to the gallery, book your ticket on a weekday, possibly in the early morning. If possible, try to arrive about 30 minutes before the opening, that way you will be among the first to enter.

Consider that the Uffizi Gallery is open Tuesday through Sunday, from 8:15 a.m. to 6:50 p.m. Last entry is at 5:30 pm. To enter on Saturdays and Sundays, reservations must be made at least one day in advance. The museum is closed on Mondays, Christmas and New Year's Day.

3. Plan your visit carefully

Remember that “The Uffizi Galleries” is a museum complex that includes in addition to the Uffizi museum also includes the Pitti Palace, the Boboli Gardens, and the Vasari Corridor. The Uffizi Gallery museum alone houses several collections of works of art distributed in 101 different rooms spread over two floors. The collections are divided into four different themes: painting, sculpture, architecture, and the cabinet of drawings and prints. A visit to the Gallery takes about 3-4 hours. If you want to visit all the rooms carefully, consider devoting half a day to the museum. Remember that you can choose to visit the museum in the company of a guide that we can book, who will show you the major works housed in the halls of the Uffizi. Before visiting the museum, we recommend that you get an idea of the major works on display and make a list of those that intrigue you most. Identify where they are located and head to the rooms of your interest, without being afraid of missing the most important works. This will make it much easier to stay on schedule.

4. Find out how to get free admission to the Uffizi.

The entrance fee for the Uffizi Gallery varies depending on the season and many other factors. In high season (December 21/January 9 - February 21/November 9), the full ticket costs €25. In low season (January 10/February 20-November 10/December 20), on the other hand, the full ticket costs 12€. The reduced ticket always costs 2€. The ticket is free for the disabled and those under 18 years of age. There are also discounts reserved for young people aged 18 to 25 and special categories. You can also buy tickets with discounts for families, for groups, or buy a ticket valid for 5 days, the Passepartout 5 Days, which will also allow priority access to the Pitti Palace, the Boboli Gardens, and the Museo dell'Opificio delle Pietre Dure.

There is also another option for free admission to the Uffizi Gallery. On the first Sunday of every month, admission is free for everyone. The opportunity is great for budget-conscious travelers. However, one must take into account that the museum is particularly crowded for the occasion and very long waiting lines may be created. Insomma, è importante valutare la situazione scegliendo in base alle proprie le proprie esigenze di viaggio.

5. Dress comfortably and wear appropriate shoes

In 2006, the Uffizi Gallery was enlarged by as much as 6,000 square meters. Today the museum expands over an impressive 13,000 square meters of exhibition space. Moving among the great works of Italian and world art will therefore require a lot of walking. Consider that you will have to stand for a long time. Favor comfortable clothing, especially the shoes you will wear.

How to reach the Uffizi Gallery

The Uffizi Gallery can be reached on foot with a walk of about 15-20 minutes from our facility. As mentioned earlier, the museum is located in the center of Florence, near Piazza della Signoria and not far from Ponte Vecchio. It is not possible to get to the museum by car, except by crossing the ZTL.