The Uffizi Gallery in Florence: Tickets, Prices & Hours (2026)
The Uffizi Gallery in Florence is one of the most important and beautiful art museums in the world. Inside, it houses masterpieces by the most famous artists of the Renaissance (and beyond), and you will undoubtedly recognize paintings you’ve previously seen in albums or movies.
The Uffizi Galleries museum complex (Gallerie degli Uffizi) also includes the Vasari Corridor (Corridoio Vasariano), the Pitti Palace, and the Boboli Gardens.
Uffizi Gallery Tickets
Ticket Prices
In 2026, ticket prices for the Uffizi Gallery vary depending on the date of purchase, as well as the time of day you schedule your visit (afternoon tickets are cheaper).
Visitors under 18 and Firenze Card holders get in for free, while EU citizens aged 18 to 25 pay just €2. In both cases, you must present a valid ID. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
Tickets Purchased in Advance
The prices for tickets bought ahead of your visit date are:
- Standard Uffizi ticket: €29
- Uffizi afternoon ticket (after 4:00 PM): €20
- Uffizi + Vasari Corridor ticket: €47
Tickets Purchased on the Day of the Visit
The prices for tickets bought on the exact day of your visit are:
- Standard Uffizi ticket: €25
- Uffizi afternoon ticket (after 4:00 PM): €16
- Uffizi + Vasari Corridor ticket: €43
5-Day Passepartout Tickets
If you want to see it all, there is a combined ticket valid for 5 consecutive days. This gives you priority access (one single entry per site) to the entire complex: the Uffizi Galleries, Pitti Palace, and Boboli Gardens.
Important: You only need to book a specific time slot for the Uffizi Galleries, which must be the first site you visit. For the other locations, no reservation is needed - you can visit them whenever you like within the 5-day validity window.
The prices for the Passepartout tickets are:
- All-museums ticket: €40
- All-museums + Vasari corridor ticket: €58
Where to Buy Tickets?
Buying Tickets on-Site
You can purchase tickets directly from the ticket offices located at the Uffizi Galleries, Pitti Palace, and the entrance to the Boboli Gardens. However, keep in mind that you will likely have to wait in line, especially during peak tourist seasons when the city is crowded.
Buying Tickets Online
The safest and most convenient option is to buy your tickets online, especially if you are visiting Florence for a short weekend city break and don't want to waste precious time standing in lines. You can book directly on the official website. You will need to create an account first, then select your preferred date and time slot. Tickets are nominative, and you must book a ticket for everyone in your party, including those who qualify for free admission.
If tickets are completely sold out on the official website for your desired dates, don't panic! You can check third-party platforms like GetYourGuide, Tiqets, Viator or Musement, where prices might be slightly higher but availability differs. These platforms are also great for booking guided tours, which typically include a skip-the-line entry ticket and a 1.5 to 2-hour tour covering the Uffizi's most iconic masterpieces alongside expert commentary.
Free Admission Days
The days when you can enter the Uffizi Galleries for free are:
- The first Sunday of every month, as part of the Domenica al museo ("Sunday at the Museum") initiative
- April 25th (Liberation Day)
- June 2nd (Republic Day)
- November 4th (National Unity and Armed Forces Day)
On free admission days, advance reservations are not available. You cannot book a time slot beforehand, so you will need to join the regular queue at the entrance.
Uffizi Gallery Opening Hours
The Uffizi Gallery has the following opening hours:
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday-Sunday: 8:15 AM - 6:30 PM
Last entry into the museum is at 5:30 PM.
The galleries are closed on December 25th (Christmas Day) and January 1st (New Year's Day).
Visitor Rules & Regulations
To ensure a smooth visit, keep these entry requirements and security guidelines in mind:
- All visitors must pass through a security checkpoint. Sharp objects, metal items, and liquids are strictly prohibited. Medications, baby food, and fruit juices for small children (in juice boxes under 250 ml) are allowed.
- Bulky items and large backpacks are not allowed inside the exhibition areas. You can check them into the cloakroom free of charge.
- Pets are not permitted inside the museum, with the exception of certified guide dogs for the visually impaired.
- Touching any of the artwork is strictly forbidden.
- Smoking, eating, and drinking are completely prohibited inside the museum.
- You are welcome to take photos for personal use, but flash, selfie sticks, and tripods are strictly banned.
- Running inside the museum is forbidden.
- Making phone calls is not allowed. Mobile devices should be turned off or set to silent mode during your visit.
Visiting the Uffizi Gallery
The Uffizi Galleries span three floors and feature over 45 exhibition rooms. A typical visit generally lasts 1.5 to 2 hours, but it can easily extend to 3 to 4 hours depending on your pace and personal interest. To help you navigate the layout, you can download the official museum map.
A Brief History
In 1560, the renowned architect Giorgio Vasari designed the Uffizi Palace (Palazzo degli Uffizi) on the banks of the Arno River in Florence, a massive project that would take 20 years to complete. The palace was originally intended to consolidate the administrative and judiciary offices of the Grand Duke Cosimo I de' Medici into a single building. In fact, the Italian word uffizi translates directly to "offices", making Gallerie degli Uffizi literally "The Galleries of the Offices". The location wasn't chosen at random; at the time, the site was home to one of the city's most notorious, crime-ridden neighborhoods.
In 1581, Francesco I, Cosimo's son, decided to move the priceless art collections amassed by the Medici family over generations into the palace. By 1591, he opened the collection to the public upon request, making the Uffizi Gallery one of the oldest museums in Europe.
In 1737, the final heir of the illustrious family that ruled Florence, Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici, bequeathed the entire collection to the city. She did so under one strict condition that preserved history forever: that the works of art must never leave Florence.
Famous Paintings at the Uffizi Gallery
Creating a definitive ranking of the most important artworks at the Uffizi is nearly impossible. There are simply so many, spanning different periods and movements, that any strict classification would be unfair. However, there are a few iconic paintings that you absolutely cannot miss.
Duccio, Cimabue, and Giotto
One of the very first rooms in the Uffizi Gallery is dedicated to the 13th-century Italian masters. Visiting this room is essential to understanding how painting evolved during this era.
Tuscan artists Duccio di Buoninsegna, Cimabue, and especially Giotto broke away from the rigid canons of Byzantine art, paving the way for the artistic revolutions of the centuries that followed. The central theme of this room is the Maestà (The Virgin Mary Enthroned) - one of the most popular and enduring subjects in medieval art.
Piero della Francesca
Painted around 1460 by Piero della Francesca, the diptych portraits of the Duke and Duchess of Urbino are among the most famous portraits of the Italian Renaissance. Duke Federico da Montefeltro and his wife, Battista Sforza, are depicted in profile, a major trend at the time inspired by the portraits stamped onto ancient Roman coins.
Look closely at the Duke. Having suffered a severe injury during a tournament that disfigured the right side of his face (and cost him his right eye), he was strictly painted from his left profile.
In contrast to his warm, sun-baked complexion, his wife's skin is strikingly pale. While this adhered to the Renaissance beauty standards of the era, art historians also believe it may be a poignant nod to her untimely death at the young age of 26.
Botticelli
Sandro Botticelli's two most iconic masterpieces - Primavera ("Spring") and "The Birth of Venus" - are massive crowd-pleasers that hide mysterious, layered meanings to this day. Botticelli was a close associate of the Medici family and the Neoplatonic Academy, and he frequently infused their complex philosophical ideas into his artwork.
Depending on who you ask, Primavera is either a beautiful allegory of spring and the passing seasons, or another profound homage to Venus, the goddess of love and beauty. Set against a lush backdrop of laurel and orange trees, a flower-carpeted meadow plays host to several mythological figures. From left to right, you can spot: Mercury, the messenger god, the three Graces dancing together, Venus, standing center stage, with Cupid hovering above about to launch an arrow, Flora (the goddess of nature's rebirth), and the nymph Chloris, being pursued by Zephyr (the West Wind).
Equally steeped in mythology, "The Birth of Venus" depicts the goddess emerging from the sea foam on the shores of Cyprus. The two figures on the left represent the winds (with the male figure being Zephyr), while the female figure on the right, welcoming the goddess with a flower-patterned cloak, is believed to be either one of the Graces or Spring personified.
The "Birth of Venus" holds a monumental place in art history as the first monumental, non-religious secular nude since classical antiquity.
Though no historical documents exist to definitively prove it, local lore and tradition strongly suggest that Botticelli's ultimate muse was Simonetta Vespucci. Known as one of the greatest beauties of her age, this noblewoman was a beloved figure within the Medici inner circle who tragically passed away at the young age of 23.
The Tribuna Room and the Medici Venus
The room known as "The Tribuna" (Tribuna degli Uffizi) is the oldest part of the Uffizi Gallery originally designed as an exhibition space. This breathtaking octagonal room was custom-built by order of Grand Duke Francesco I de' Medici to house the most prized masterpieces of his personal collection.
The room's opulent decoration was designed to symbolize the four elements of nature: Earth is represented by the marble floor, intricately laid out in the shape of a six-petaled flower; Fire is symbolized by the rich, vibrant red velvet lining the walls; Water is evoked by the stunning ceiling, which is encrusted with 5,780 mother-of-pearl shells; Air is represented by the lantern and the eight high windows that flood the room with natural light.
At the heart of this room stands the famous "Medici Venus" (Venus de' Medici), a life-sized marble statue dating back to the Hellenistic period (1st century BC). While its exact arrival date in Rome remains a mystery, historians believe it originally adorned Hadrian's Villa in Tivoli before being purchased by a member of the Medici family and brought to Florence.
The Medici Venus was among the many prized Italian treasures that Napoleon Bonaparte claimed for Paris after conquering Italy. In a desperate bid to save the statue, the Italians tried to smuggle it to Palermo by ship, but the plan failed, and Venus was carted off to France. It wasn't until 1815, after Napoleon's fall, that Florence finally recovered its beloved statue.
Leonardo da Vinci
The Uffizi Gallery is also home to several works by Leonardo da Vinci.
"The Adoration of the Magi" was left unfinished by the artist. It was originally commissioned by Augustinian monks to adorn the altar of a church just outside Florence. Leonardo began working on it, but when his career took him to Milan, the project was abandoned. The monks eventually decided to commission a completely new piece from Filippino Lippi, leaving da Vinci's mesmerizing, sketchy masterpiece permanently incomplete.
"The Annunciation" is a masterpiece from Leonardo's youth, painted while he was still an apprentice working in the workshop of his master, Andrea del Verrocchio.
In the very same room, you can see "The Baptism of Christ", the earliest known painting featuring Leonardo da Vinci's brushwork. The main piece was executed by his master, Andrea del Verrocchio, but a young Leonardo was tasked with painting the head of the angel on the far left, as well as the background landscape. If you look closely, art historians believe he also contributed to the execution of Christ's body.
Michelangelo
Contrary to popular belief, Michelangelo's world-famous David statue is not located at the Uffizi; you will find it at the Accademia Gallery. However, the Uffizi does house a spectacular masterpiece by the master - in fact, it is the only panel painting by Michelangelo left in Florence. This is the famous Tondo Doni (also known as "The Holy Family"). In Italian art, tondo translates to "round" (referring to the painting's circular shape), while Doni comes from Agnolo Doni, the wealthy Florentine merchant who commissioned the piece to celebrate his marriage.
True to his style, Michelangelo proved to be a bold innovator with this piece. The painting, which sparked intense debate at the time, is striking for its unique composition, fluid forms, and vibrant colors. The enigmatic nude figures in the background are a direct nod to ancient classical statues that Michelangelo had meticulously studied in the Vatican Museums.
The beautifully carved wooden frame surrounding the painting is completely original and is widely believed to have been designed by Michelangelo himself.
Raphael
Right next to Michelangelo's masterpiece, you will find several paintings by Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio). Among them are the companion portraits of Agnolo Doni and his wife, Maddalena - the very same couple whose wedding inspired Michelangelo's Tondo Doni mentioned above!
Another absolute highlight here is "The Virgin and Child with Saint John", globally renowned as the "Madonna of the Goldfinch" (Madonna del cardellino). This is one of Raphael's most celebrated depictions of the Madonna.
Notice the tiny bird that a young Saint John is gently handing to the infant Jesus. In Christian art, the goldfinch symbolizes the Passion and Christ's future sacrifice, as the bird feeds on thorny plants.
Titian
The Uffizi Galleries house the most famous masterpiece by the Venetian master Titian (Tiziano Vecellio): the "Venus of Urbino". Interestingly, the American author Mark Twain famously dubbed it "the foulest, the vilest, the obscenest picture the world possesses".
Rather than a distant mythological figure, the goddess is depicted here as a real, contemporary young Venetian woman, waiting for her maids to help her dress for a traditional pre-wedding ceremony. Look closely at the details: the sleeping dog at the foot of the bed and the myrtle plant on the windowsill are traditional Renaissance symbols of marital fidelity.
The painting was commissioned by the Duke of Urbino, Guidobaldo II della Rovere, most likely as a gift for his young wife.
For a very long time, this masterpiece was exhibited in the Tribuna Room right alongside the ancient Medici Venus, beautifully pitting two completely different ideals of beauty from two different eras right against each other.
Caravaggio
Finally, do not miss the world-renowned masterpieces by Caravaggio, the absolute master of realism and chiaroscuro (intense light and shadow contrast). As a bonus, you will also find several stunning portraits by Rembrandt exhibited nearby.
In "The Sacrifice of Isaac", Caravaggio captures the absolute peak of theatrical drama - the exact split second where an angel forcefully grabs Abraham's hand just as he is about to sacrifice his own son.
With its terrifying, blood-chilling expression, the "Head of Medusa" is actually a painting mounted onto a wooden tournament shield made of poplar. It was commissioned by Cardinal del Monte, who gifted it to Grand Duke Ferdinando I de' Medici to add to his prestigious armory collection.
Caravaggio actually painted two versions of Medusa, both capturing the precise moment she was decapitated by Perseus. The first, painted in 1596, is tucked away in a private collection. The second, slightly larger version painted around 1597, is the legendary piece you see here at the Uffizi.
The piece becomes even more haunting when you realize that Medusa's agonizing face is actually a self-portrait of Caravaggio himself!
Surprisingly, "Bacchus" - now one of Caravaggio's most recognizable masterpieces - was lost to history for centuries and was only rediscovered in the Uffizi's storage rooms in 1913.
Instead of an idealized, flawless ancient god, Caravaggio portrays Bacchus as a somewhat arrogant, androgynous youth. Look closely at the raw, realistic details: his face and hands are flushed red from the alcohol, his fingernails are noticeably dirty, and the fruit in the basket in front of him is overripe and rotting.
The painting is dripping with cryptic symbols that art historians still debate today. The mood is distinctly sensual, and if you look at the wine carafe, the light reflections are said to hide a tiny portrait. In fact, X-ray analysis recently confirmed that a miniature self-portrait of Caravaggio working at his easel is hidden right there in the glass!
