Uffizi Gallery with a booked ticket
3 hAdults and teenagers; €2 reduced for those entitledAll year
Museum · 3 h · From €16 in the afternoon · Booking recommended
From €16
See the activity
Stay2–4 nights
AccessFlight to Florence or Pisa
Getting aroundOn foot
BookUffizi, corridor, dome
What to do
What to do in Florence
Each plan says how long it takes, who it's for and whether you can book.
Vasari Corridor, from the Uffizi to the Pitti Palace over the Ponte Vecchio
45 min · 750 mAdults and teenagers; wheelchair accessibleAll year
Group visit · 45 min · 750 m · From €43 with the Uffizi
From €43
See the activity
Climbing Brunelleschi's Dome
1 h 30No vertigo or claustrophobiaAll year
A climb of 463 steps between the dome's two shells up to the lantern, only with the Brunelleschi Pass and a booked time.
Itineraries
Itineraries that pass through
Days and weekends already planned out, with how to get between each stop and who to book with.
Plan the trip
Florence, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Florence
April, May, September and October, with good weather and slightly fewer people. In summer it's very hot and the queues are long. In winter the gardens close earlier, but the museums can be seen at leisure.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Best timeGood timeLow season
How you travel
Florence your way
Choose how you're travelling and we'll tell you where to stay, how to get around, where to eat and which services you'll need. We only show the ways of travelling that make sense here.
Without a car: train, tram and on foot
Florence is for going without a car: you arrive by train at Santa Maria Novella or by tram from the airport, and the centre is walked on foot. The car only brings problems, because of the limited traffic zones and garages at €35 to €40 a day.
70–220 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to stayOstello Bello Firenze, five minutes…
- Getting aroundOn foot: from the Duomo…
- Where to eatTrattoria Mario, next to the…
- ServicesSanta Maria Novella station, with…
Where to stay
- Ostello Bello Firenze, five minutes from the station, with private and shared rooms
- Hotel Davanzati, between the Uffizi and the Duomo
- Hotel Palazzo Guadagni, in the Oltrarno, next to Boboli
Getting around
- On foot: from the Duomo to the Uffizi, the Ponte Vecchio and the Pitti in minutes
- Buses C3 and C4 from the station to Santo Spirito
- T2 tram from the airport to Santa Maria Novella
Where to eat
- Trattoria Mario, next to the Mercato Centrale, at lunchtime Monday to Saturday
- Osteria Santo Spirito, in the Oltrarno, open on Sunday
- Il Latini, for the bistecca
Services
- Santa Maria Novella station, with trains to Pisa and Rome
Fly to Florence or Pisa
Florence has its own airport, small and at the gates of the city, with direct flights from Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, San Sebastián and Asturias. Pisa, with a direct train to Florence, receives direct flights from Madrid, Málaga, Seville, Valencia, Girona and the Canary Islands. If you fly to Rome, the high-speed train drops you at Santa Maria Novella in about an hour and a half. For the city you do not need a car.
- Getting thereFlorence (FLR): T2 tram to…
- Getting aroundOn foot throughout the centre
- Where to stayOstello Bello Firenze, five minutes…
- ServicesSanta Maria Novella station, arrival…
Getting there
- Florence (FLR): T2 tram to Santa Maria Novella, or a taxi, about 25 minutes to the Oltrarno
- Pisa (PSA): train to Florence Santa Maria Novella
- Rome Fiumicino (FCO): train to Roma Termini and high-speed to Florence
Getting around
- On foot throughout the centre
- Buses C3 and C4 to the Oltrarno from the station
- Hire car only for leaving for Tuscany: the centre is a limited traffic zone
Where to stay
- Ostello Bello Firenze, five minutes from the station and the tram
- Hotel Davanzati, in the centre, with airport transfers
Services
- Santa Maria Novella station, arrival point of the airport tram and the trains from Pisa and Rome
How much does it cost?
People2
Nights3
Who you're with
Florence for whoever you're with
A trip with a toddler is not the same as one with a teenager. Pick yours to see what works and what to bear in mind.
Short museum visits and lots of garden
Florence with children works by alternating an indoor visit with some time outdoors. The big museums tire them quickly; the gardens of the Oltrarno and the viewpoints give them some air.
- What works bestThe Boboli Gardens, with grottoes…
- Where to sleepThe Oltrarno, quieter and close…
- Where to eatPizza al taglio and ice…
- Keep in mindThe cobblestones and the dome's…
What works best
- The Boboli Gardens, with grottoes, fountains and statues
- The Bardini Garden, with a combined ticket with Boboli
- The walk to Piazzale Michelangelo and San Miniato at sunset
- The Uffizi in the afternoon, choosing a few rooms
Where to sleep
- The Oltrarno, quieter and close to Boboli
- Near Santa Maria Novella if you arrive by train
Where to eat
- Pizza al taglio and ice cream on any street in the centre
- An afternoon snack in the Oltrarno on leaving Boboli
Keep in mind
- The cobblestones and the dome's stairs are not for pushchairs
- Boboli is closed on the first and last Monday of each month
- In winter the gardens close in mid-afternoon
What to do as a family
Where to stay
Where to stay without a carif you're flying
We show you what suits the way you travel.Change how you travel
Hotel Davanzati
Why we like it: Family-run three-star on Via Porta Rossa, three minutes from the Uffizi and five from the Duomo, with buffet breakfast, a daily aperitif and rooms for four.
Ostello Bello Firenze
Why we like it: Hostel on Via Faenza, five minutes from Santa Maria Novella, with private and shared rooms, all with bathroom, plus a terrace, kitchen and bar open.
Hotel Palazzo Guadagni
Why we like it: Hotel in a palace of 1505 on Piazza Santo Spirito, in the Oltrarno, with frescoed ceilings, a family room and a bar on the third-floor loggia.
Where to eat
Where to eat in Florence
From set lunch menus to Michelin stars. We mark the price level and what to order at each place.
Trattoria Mario
What to order: the dish of the day from the blackboard, ribollita in season and, if there are several of you, the bistecca, which they serve only rare
Il Latini
What to order: Tuscan crostini and ribollita to start, and bistecca alla fiorentina to share, charged by the kilo
Osteria Santo Spirito
What to order: the gratinated gnocchi with cheeses and a hint of truffle, the speciality, and a half portion of pasta or a main course to try more
Nearby
Near Florence
The closest places, whichever country they are in.
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Uffizi in the afternoon
From 16:00 the ticket costs €16 instead of €25.
- 2PassePartout if you're going to Pitti
€40 for the Uffizi, Pitti and Boboli over five days; €58 with the Vasari Corridor.
- 3Sunset at San Miniato
Go up to Piazzale Michelangelo for the afternoon light and continue to San Miniato for the 18:30 vespers.
Driving into the centre
The limited traffic zones fine anyone entering without a permit. Leave the car in a car park outside or come by train.
How do you get there from Spain?
Fly to Florence airport, small and close to the city, or to Pisa, with more flights and a train to Florence. According to AENA, there are direct flights to Florence from Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, San Sebastián and Asturias, and to Pisa from Madrid, Málaga, Seville, Valencia, Girona and the Canary Islands. If you're coming from another Italian city, the high-speed train drops you at Santa Maria Novella, a stroll from the Duomo.
How do you get around the city?
On foot. The historic centre is small: from the Duomo to the Uffizi, the Ponte Vecchio and the Pitti Palace takes minutes on foot. The car is no use inside, because of the limited traffic zones. To climb to San Miniato or Piazzale Michelangelo, cross the Arno and walk up the steps and ramps of the Oltrarno.
What do you need to book in advance?
The Vasari Corridor, always, with named tickets and groups of 25. The Uffizi doesn't require it, but booking avoids the queue and costs only €4 more. The climb to the dome is bought on the Duomo's website with a time slot. The Boboli and Bardini gardens needn't be booked, though the combined ticket is only sold at the ticket office.
Where to sleep and where to eat?
For arriving and leaving by train, sleep near Santa Maria Novella: the Ostello Bello Firenze, on Via Faenza, has private and shared rooms, all with a bathroom. Between the Uffizi and the Duomo, the Hotel Davanzati is a family-run three-star with rooms for four. In the Oltrarno, next to Boboli, the Hotel Palazzo Guadagni occupies a palace from 1505 on Piazza Santo Spirito.
For eating, the Trattoria Mario, behind the Mercato Centrale, opens only at lunchtime from Monday to Saturday, with no reservations and shared tables. Il Latini, next to Palazzo Rucellai, is the 1911 trattoria for bistecca, and opens at lunchtime at the weekend. The Osteria Santo Spirito, with a terrace on the square, also opens on Sunday and closes on Tuesdays. And if you want to cook yourself, the cooking class at the Mercato Centrale starts at €85.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How many days do I need?
Three nights: one day for the Duomo and the Uffizi, another for the Vasari Corridor, Pitti and Boboli, and an afternoon for the Oltrarno and San Miniato.
How much do the Uffizi cost?
€25 on the day, €29 reserved and €16 from 16:00.
Is it a good city with children?
Yes, if you alternate museum and outdoors: Boboli has grottoes, fountains and statues, and the walk to San Miniato ends with the city at your feet.
What can't be seen without a reservation?
The Vasari Corridor: only with a reserved ticket in each visitor's name.
Do the gardens close on any day?
Boboli closes on the first and last Monday of each month and on 25 December.