In 2018 new fares were introduced for the Uffizi Galleries and the Duomo Museum; it was a big change for Florence because it’s a new philosophy to combat the so-called “hit-and-run tourism”. In this post I summed up all major changes for the tickets of Uffizi and Duomo di Firenze, together with 8 practical tips to plan your visit to the Uffizi Galleries.
The Uffizi Galleries: one ticket for 3 (+1) museums and more time
The museum director Eike Schmidt gave to the Uffizi a new online and offline image, with a new logo, a dedicated (and up-to-date) website and a new fares’ philosophy bringing in seasonal and combined tickets starting from March 1st, 2018.
The seasonal pricing introduces the combo ticket valid for the priority entrance to the Uffizi Gallery, the Pitti Palace, and the Boboli Gardens; it’s valid for 3 consecutive days and is cheaper in low season, from November 1st to February 28th. In high season, from March 1st to October 31st, the price per person for the Uffizi Gallery only is 20€, while the combined ticket is 38€ per person.
8 things to point out to plan your visit to Uffizi Galleries
- Early visitor get 50% discount to the Pitti Palace – purchase the ticket before 8.59 am and enter to Pitti Museums before 9.25 am to have the 50% discount and pay the entrance 8€ in high season and 5€ in low season;
- Combo ticket is the best option – one ticket for all museums that is valid for 3 days. It’s cheaper than buying one ticket for the Uffizi, one ticket for the Boboli Gardens and one ticket for Pitti Palace.
- Priority entrance to the Uffizi should be booked – when you purchase the combined ticket you take advantage of the priority entrance to the Uffizi Gallery, but you must communicate the day and entrance hour to the museum; the Uffizi museums should be also the first to be visited, i.e. the only museums where you can validate your combined ticket;
- Better visit the Uffizi offseason – in low season (from November 1st to February 28th) you have discounted tickets, almost the 40% off to regular admission tickets and the rooms are less crowded than during high season (from March 1st to October 31st);
Best time to visit Uffizi is merenda or lunchtime – mealtime is the best to visit the museum because other people go out for lunch or getting ready for dinner; especially if you don’t have the tickets the late afternoon is perfect to get in without waiting too long; - 1st Sunday of the month the Uffizi Museums are free – in Italy State Museums like the Uffizi, Pitti and Boboli are free every first Sunday of the month from October to March – priority admission is not guaranteed during the first Sunday. Check free admission days in 2019.
- The annual pass could be an option – if you’re visiting Florence at least 2 times in one year and you intend to visit the Uffizi Galleries during your stay then the annual pass is an option: the combined annual pass, valid for 365 days, costs 70€ and give you priority entrance to all museums;
- The Contini Bonacossi Art Collection is now part of the Uffizi and included – from March 1st this large art collection that includes more thn 140 pieces of art like a stunning Saint Lawrence by Bernini, paintings by major artists and splendid pieces of furnitures;
- New rooms to visit – there are several new rooms and artworks on display like the new arrangement of artworks by Caravaggio and artists from the XVII century, displayed in 8 light-red rooms opened in February 2018;
- The Archaeological Museum is included – the entrance to the Archaeological Museum in Florence is included in the ticket of the Uffizi gallery; you have 5 days to visit the large collection of Egyptian and Etruscan findings from the visit to the Uffizi.
The Duomo Museum: book the Cupola before you go
Starting March 1st, 2018 the Grande Museo del Duomo introduced new combined ticket that costs 18€ per person, it is valid for 72 hours from validation. The ticket includes:
- Opera del Duomo Museum
- Brunelleschi’s Dome
- Giotto’s Bell Tower
- Baptistery of San Giovanni
- Archeological site of Santa Reparata and Crypt
The climb to the Brunelleschi’s dome is included in the ticket but reservation is mandatory and should be done contextually to the tickets purchase. I strongly recommend to book your time to climb the cupola and be there at least 20 minutes before your entrance.
Last but not least there is a new combined ticket that includes the Opera del Duomo Museum and the re-opened Museum of the Misericordia, that displays more than 700 artworks from the collection of this important religious institution of Florence. The ticket costs 16€ per person and is valid for 72 hours; the dome, the Baptistery, the bell’s tower and the crypt are not included in this special fare.
Important: the admission to Florence Cathedral is free and cannot be booked in advance.
Free museums for Florentine residents
If you’re a resident of Florence Municipality you have free entrance to the Boboli Gardens and to Villa Bardini’s Garden; for the residents of the metropolitan area of Florence, the entrance is free to the Baptistery.
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