Every area of Florence resembles a gallery, with streets lined with stunning works of art that dazzle visitors at every turn. The top 10 museums in Florence Italy that you really must visit in 2023 are listed below, according to reviews and popularity.
However, once you step inside, you’ll discover even more treasures thanks to Florence’s more than 70 museums, which cover a variety of subjects and periods.
There are a few must-see pieces of art in this center of Italian culture, including Michalangelo’s David and the Uffizi, but most tourists are unaware of how many of Florence’s top galleries and museums can be found outside of the city’s most well-known attractions.
Our list of the top 10 must-see museums in Florence Italyincludes traditional sites where you can find the city’s greatest works of art and upcoming contemporary museums that pay tribute to its artisanal past.
With stunning Renaissance and Baroque architecture and antiques across the entire city, it could almost be considered its outdoor museum.
I’ve compiled a list of the top 10 museums in Florence Italy to help you plan your trip there. Get ready to experience Florence in a way you’ve never imagined.
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Table of Contents
FLORENCE | THE CITY OF MUSEUMS
A lot is going on in Florence, which is hectic. However, there are times when it resembles a large, crowded museum where you are stumbling along with the masses while admiring the exhibits all around you.
A piece of history is preserved in a building or a statue on every block, serving as a display. The Historic Centre of Florence, which has been conserved with all of its riches, is a reflection of the city’s past (fascinating and beautiful history).
In the heart of Florence, Italy, is the Duomo. A magnificent example of the traditional Gothic style, it took about 150 years to construct and was completed in 1436.
However, the Duomo and its museum will only be the beginning when you visit the city. There are more than 50 museums in Florence, and you can find some of the city’s most notable features there, as well as some of the best Renaissance art in the entire world.
SUGGESTIONS FOR VISITING THE MUSEUMS IN FLORENCE
Book Online in Advance:
The most important thing to remember is that the most famous museums typically have long queues to enter (particularly during the busiest travel seasons, although they will always remain).
The Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia Gallery are the busiest museums in Florence Italy where you should accomplish this. Before visiting, you can purchase tickets for the Uffizi and Academia Galleries online.
Numerous museums additionally provide guided tours, which are always worthwhile and grant you priority access.
Days when the museums are closed:
It’s also essential to note that many of the major museums are closed one day per week. For instance, the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia Gallery are closed on Mondays.
Don’t worry; I’ll provide each museum’s closing times below. Just make sure to organize your vacation so that you have time to explore Florence’s many other museums.
The Firenze Card:
Before we continue, I also want to point out that if you plan to visit many museums in Florence, you can save money by purchasing one of the cards or combo tickets available.
The Firenze Card is one of the popular ones. Fast-track access is available to more than 50 museums (including the major ones) for €85 over 72 hours. It’s a good value if you plan to do some serious sightseeing.
Free and reduced tickets:
Entry is free for visitors under 18. EU citizens can obtain a discounted ticket between the ages of 18 and 25. Whenever you travel with family or children, keep these things in mind.
Best Way to get to the churches in Florence Italy?
Walking or taking public transport is the two main ways to get to the museums in Florence Italy. Since Florence’s city center is so small, most museums are conveniently close by and accessible by foot. Additional accessibility is provided by public transit, such as buses and trams.
Walking:
Since so many museums are found in the city’s core, getting to them on foot is simple. This enables you to see your preferred museum while taking in the gorgeous alleys of Florence.
Public Transportation:
Buses and trams are part of Florence’s well-connected public transit network. These offer easy access to museums that are both in the heart of the city and the surrounding areas.
Cabs:
Cabs are easy to find throughout the city and can be an effective choice, particularly if you prefer direct access to the museums.
Bicycle:
A pleasant and effective method to go to the museums while taking in the scenic routes and the city’s ambiance in Florence is to ride a bicycle.
Pick the solution that best meets your needs and enables you to comfortably tour Florence’s museums. In this post, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 must-see museums in Florence Italy so that you can remove them from your travel to-do list.
The Uffizi Gallery
The Uffizi Gallery is at the top of the list of must-see museums in Florence Italy. One of the most renowned art galleries and museums in the world, it contains a priceless collection of sculptures and paintings that have been carefully selected since Florence’s heyday as the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance in the 14th century.
You can stroll through renowned works by the most well-known artists, normally arranged chronologically, as you move through the hallways of the 16th-century palace (which was never intended to be a museum).
Important pieces of art include The Birth of Venus and Primavera by Botticelli, the Annunciation by Da Vinci, and Venus of Urbino by Titian. Despite this, every chamber is filled with riches, including an incredible collection of ancient statues and busts gathered by the Medici.
Ticket Prices and Open Hours:
Tuesday to Sunday: 8:15 AM – 6:30 PM
Closed On Mondays, 1st January, 25th December
16-20 Euros. Free of charge on the first Sunday of the month.
Location:
Piazzale degli Uffizi, 6, 50122, Firenze
Accademia Gallery
The Grand Duke of Tuscany founded the museum, which houses some of Florence’s finest examples of historic art, in 1784. The majority of the sculptures and paintings in the Galleria dell’Accademia are from the trecento, or early to late Renaissance, which spans the years 1300 to 1600.
The Accademia Gallery (Galleria dell’Accademia) is located on the opposite side of the city and lacks a similarly opulent entrance. Despite being much more specialized and smaller than the Uffizi Gallery, it is almost as well-known for its main feature, Michelangelo’s David.
The artwork, which stands 5.1 meters tall, is magnificent, and seeing it in person is even better than you might expect. Once you arrive, there is plenty more to see, including further Michelangelo sculptures as well as works by Botticelli and Giambologna. Even though many of the works on display are by lesser-known artists, they are nonetheless some of the finest examples of Renaissance art.
Ticket Prices and Open Hours:
Tuesday to Sunday: 8:15 AM – 6:50 PM
Closed On Mondays: 1st January, 25th December
Ticket Price: 12 Euros
Location:
60, Via Ricasoli, 58, 50122 Firenze
Leonardo Da Vinci Museum
Leonardo da Vinci ranked third in our top 10 must-see museums in Florence Italy. Leonardo da Vinci, a genius who excelled in painting, architecture, science, and even theatre, is likely the most significant figure from Italy’s Renaissance. He also published numerous books and kept plenty of notes, which provide us with a wealth of information on the man.
The Leonardo da Vinci Interactive Museum mostly uses his inventions to tell his tale, while there are also some of his original writings and copies of his artwork present. You can test out about 50 of his inventions that were developed based on his drawings.
Although the museum is more than just a children’s museum, it is unquestionably appropriate for kids. Everyone will value knowing more about da Vinci’s brilliance.
Ticket Prices and Open Hours:
Every day: 9:30 AM – 7:30 PM
Ticket Price: 8 Euros for Adults and Children aged 5 to 17 years 6.90 Euros.
Location:
Via de Servi, 66/r – Florence.
Gucci Garden
The Gucci museum, which opened in 2011 to honor the fashion house’s 90th birthday, traces its development from its humble beginnings in Florence to the massive global brand it is today. The new Gucci Garden, an idea by Gucci’s creative director Alessandro Michele, is also located there.
It includes a restaurant headed by Massimo Bottura, one of the top chefs in the world, as well as a store and exhibition space. The museum complex, which is essentially a Gucci fantasy, is located in the 1359-built and 1905-restored Palazzo della Mercanzia.
The renowned fashion company was established in Florence in 1921, and the museum walks you through how the products and fashion that are now well-known worldwide were created.
The museum is quite fashionable and conveys the vibe you would associate with the company. In addition to being an intriguing tale, it is a work of contemporary art that belongs in this city with the other works.
Ticket Prices and Open Hours:
Every day: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Ticket Price: 8 Euros for Adults and Children aged up to 11 years are free.
Location:
P.za della Signoria, 10, 50122 Firenze Florence, Italy
Salvatore Ferragamo Museum
This could be one of the most beautiful museums in Florence Italy. to visit if you love shoes. Museo Salvatore Ferragamo is a fashionista’s dream with over 10,000 models of distinctive designer shoes on exhibit. Salvatore Ferragamo, the renowned Italian shoe design firm that has dazzled the fashion world with distinctive designs for decades, is the sole subject of the museum.
From the time Ferragamo founded his business in the 1920s until his passing in 1960, you can read about his life and career. You’ll also witness footwear made for and worn by Audrey Hepburn and Judy Garland, two legendary figures in Hollywood. Visitors with a passion for fashion will also find several changing exhibits and temporary exhibitions at the museum interesting.
Ticket Prices and Open Hours:
Monday to Sunday: 10:00 AM – 7:30 PM
Ticket Price: 8 Euros for Adults
Location:
Via Dei Tornabuoni 2, 50123
Opera Del Duomo Museum
The Duomo (Cathedral) is undoubtedly the most significant structure in the church if the Palazzo Vecchio is the most significant structure in the state. You should visit the cathedral’s Opera del Duomo Museum in addition to visiting the cathedral itself.
The Opera del Duomo Museum was initially intended to hold artworks that had to be removed from the Duomo and the Baptistery of San Giovanni. This collection has acquired numerous unique items over the years, including the main altar from the baptistery’s 18th century.
The Duomo of Florence’s holy complex, the Baptistery, and Giotto’s Bell Tower are all included in the Great Museum of the Duomo of Florence, together with all of the significant Gothic and Renaissance statues that are housed inside each of these buildings.
The museum underwent renovation in 2015 and now displays more than 750 works across three floors, including a bright atrium with a replica of the former Duomo front.
Ticket Prices and Open Hours:
Monday to Sunday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Ticket Price: 18 Euros for Adults
Location:
Piazza del Duomo, 9, 50122 Firenze Florence, Italy
National Archaeological Museums
The National Archaeological Museum must be included in our list of must-see museums in Florence Italy! Discover Roman sculptures, Egyptian mummies, Etruscan sarcophagi, and much more. When you are museum-hopping in Florence, this is one of the largest and oldest museums in the country and should be on your must-visit list.
The collection had to finally relocate to the Palazzo Pitti after outgrowing its initial home swiftly. One of Italy’s largest collections of Etruscan artifacts is housed in the National Archaeological Museum, which was once the original Etruscan Museum before it switched locations.
The Egyptian Museum, the second-largest Egyptian collection in Italy (the greatest collection is in Turin), is a must-see while you’re in town. Some ancient Roman and Greek artifacts have been taken from the Lorena and Medici family collections.
Ticket Prices and Open Hours:
Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays: 8.15 AM to 1.50 PM
Tuesdays and Thursdays: 8.15 AM to 6.45 PM
Closed on Sundays, 1st of January, 1st of May, and 25th of December.
Ticket Price: 8 Euros for Adults and Children aged up to 18 years are free.
Location:
Palazzo Pitti 1, Florence, Italy
Palazzo Pitti
Formerly, the Grand Dukes of Tuscany lived in the beautiful Palazzo Pitti. The Medici family bought the palace in 1550, and it stood as a representation of their dominance over Tuscany at the time. Some of the top museums in Florence Italy are now located in the Palazzo Pitti, a cultural complex.
Some of the most beautifully designed and expertly curated museums in Italy are among the four that make up the Palazzo Pitti. The Grand Dukes’ Treasury, which is located on the ground floor, houses a collection of rare silver and items made of semi-precious stone.
To view the Palatine Gallery, which consists of 28 rooms filled with portraits and artwork attributed to some of the most renowned artists in history, take the stairs to the first floor. Finally, the Modern Art Gallery and the Museum of Costume and Fashion are located on the second floor to complete the spectacular complex.
The Pitti Palace is where you can learn about Florence’s past and see some of the best artwork and artifacts there. Visit this site to discover all about the Medici family’s dominance over Florence and to obtain an understanding of the affluent lifestyles of the palace’s inhabitants.
Ticket Prices and Open Hours:
Tuesday to Sunday: 8:15 AM – 6:30 PM
Closed On Mondays, 1st January, 25th December
Ticket Price: 17 Euros for Adults
Location:
Piazza de’ Pitti, 1, 50125 Firenze
Palazzo Vecchio
The Palazzo Vecchio, one of Florence’s most significant structures and the town hall of the city, dates back to 1299. It has a fortress-like appearance since one of its purposes was to safeguard Florence’s rulers.
The majority of the Palazzo Vecchio is a museum that you can visit, even though it still serves as the mayor’s office and the location of the City Council. The remnants of the Roman theatre that it was built upon may be found in the basement, and the luxurious chambers are on the upper levels.
You may explore the elegant former quarters of the reigning Medici, who resided in the Palazzo Vecchio before relocating to the Pitti Palace. Up to this day, the city’s principal administrative center and place of business have both been located in the Palazzo Vecchio.
To connect this structure with the Uffizi and thereafter the Palazzo Pitti, the renowned Vasari Corridor was constructed. On a trip that includes both the town hall and the Uffizi, you can discover everything about this hidden passageway and even access one portion as you make your way to the gallery.
Ticket Prices and Open Hours:
Monday to Sunday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM except Thursday when the museum closed at 2:00 PM
Ticket Price: 12.50 Euros for Adults
Location:
Piazza della Signoria
Museo Galileo
The Museo Galileo is last but not least on our list of the 10 must-see museums in Florence Italy. One of the most valuable collections of scientific instruments in the world, assembled initially by the De Medici family and afterward by the Grand Dukes of Habsburg Lorraine, is held in the Galileo Museum, which is located in the Castle of Altafronte, now known as Palazzo Castellani.
The exhibitions use priceless original instruments to show the history of physics, chemistry, astronomy, geography, and other fields as they were practiced and studied at the time.
Galileo benefited from the support of the wealthy Medici family while he created scientific instruments and learned more about the universe. The interesting Galileo Museum features many of these innovations as well as the tales of his work.
Other tools and objects gathered by the Medicis, who had a keen interest in many scientific fields, are also on display. It’s a fascinating voyage through contemporary and modern science.
Ticket Prices and Open Hours:
Monday to Sunday: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM except Thursday when the museum closed at 1:00 PM
Ticket Price: 10 Euros for Adults and 6 Euros for children under the age of 6 – 18 years
Location:
Piazza dei Giudici, 1, 50122 Firenze ForenceI, Italy
Some More Museums in Florence Italy worth visiting
The Still Life Museum
About 20 kilometers from Florence, at the Villa Medicea of Poggio a Caiano in the province of Prato, the Still Life Museum first opened its doors in 2007.
The modest museum, which is the only one of its sort in all of Italy, houses 200 still-life paintings that tell the tale of a significant collection that the Grand Dukes of Tuscany assembled between the 17th and 18th centuries, bringing together works by Italian, Flemish, and Dutch artists.
La Specola
There are many natural history museums around the world, but none compare to the one in Florence. This museum is the oldest public museum in Europe and is tucked away past Palazzo Pitti. It still houses the greatest anatomical wax collection in the world.
Although a little unsettling, the location enables you to go back over studies of the human form and comprehend how far we’ve come in terms of medical history and body comprehension.
Museum of Costume and Fashion
The Museum of Costume and Fashion, in my opinion, is one of the most fascinating of them all. The artifacts in the demonstration give you a clear picture of how fashion has developed in Florence (and throughout Italy) over several centuries.
They gathered costumes from theatre, opera, and movies in addition to the lavish costumes worn by the nobility themselves.
Summary
Immerse yourself in the colorful museums of Florence, where history comes to life and art comes to alive. Explore our list of the best 10 museums in Florence Italy and experience the timeless beauty that identifies Florence’s rich cultural legacy. These museums include the world-famous Uffizi Gallery and the enduring Accademia Gallery. Prepare yourself for an extraordinary adventure where inspiration and real life meet.
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading my guide to the top 10 must-see museums in Florence Italy. Don’t forget to read our other posts about the most visited churches in Florence Italy.
FAQs
What are the best free museums in Florence?
There are many free activities in Florence, but it might be difficult to identify free museums, especially if you are not familiar with how the national and state museums operate. There are many days throughout the year when entry to national museums is free.
Which Florence Downtown museums are the best?
The city center of Florence is home to a variety of fantastic museums, and you can go to them all on foot. Spend a day in downtown Florence seeing all the museums as there are so many in such a tiny space. The Pitti Palace, Uffizi Gallery, Medici Chapel, and Museo Galileo are suggested attractions.
Does Florence have any affordable museums?
If you’re looking for affordable museums in Florence Italy you should check out some of the less popular ones, as they should have cheaper entrance prices. Museo San Marco, Casa Buonarroti, and Museo Stibbert should be on the list.
