10 Essential Tips For Visiting The Museums of Florence
Florence, Italy is one of the most historic cities in the world, so it is no small wonder that there are over 70 museums to visit! If you are planning a visit to Florence, chances are that a few of these many museums will make it on your itinerary.
While all of the museums and history in Florence may seem overwhelming, I’ve put together this list of my best tips for museum-going in the Florence. These tips will help you select which museums you want to go to, avoid museum overload, and get the most out of your time in my beloved Firenze! As someone who studied art history and spent 1 year living in Florence, I am so excited to share my best tips with you!
1. Do your research
Are you obsessed with museums (I know I am) or are you simply looking to catch some of Florence’s most famous pieces of art? There are so many museums in Florence that it is important to do some research to decide which ones you plan on visiting! A little research will go a long way in helping you plan your Florence itinerary, and will ensure that you don’t miss that Botticelli you are dying to see!
2. Don’t forget Florence’s smaller museums
The Accademia and the Uffizi are arguably two of Florence’s most famous museums and for good reason. The Accademia houses Michelangelo’s iconic David statue, while the Uffizi is home to a world-renown collection by artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Titian, Caravaggio, Raphael, and Botticelli, just to name a few. While these two museums should absolutely make it on your Florence bucket list, you won’t want to forget the many smaller museums that Florence has to offer! My personal favorites are the Museo di San Marco and the Bargello Museum.
The Museo di San Marco is a 15th-century convent with works by the famed Fra Angelico, while the Bargello is a historic former prison now filled with art!
3. Purchase tickets in advance
There is seriously nothing worse than planning a trip to Florence, only to discover that there are massive lines outside of every attraction you plan to visit! During prime tourist season, the lines to visit the Duomo, Uffizi, and Accademia, in particular, can be especially brutal. If you are planning to visit these major tourist sites, then you will want to consider purchasing tickets in advance to help you avoid waiting in lines. Tickets Florence offers a variety of skip the line passes and tours which are worth checking out if you are on a time crunch (or just really hate lines)!
4. Stop by Florence’s free open-air museum
Did you know that Florence has a free open-air museum located right in one of its most popular piazzas? On your way to the Uffizi (which is conveniently next door), be sure to stop by the Piazza della Signoria and take a peek at the beautiful statues and sculptures you will find there. In addition to this collection of artworks, you’ll find the stunning fountain of Neptune and a copy of the statue of David, just outside of the Palazzo Vecchio. Just know that the real David is located in the Accademia-many tourists think this is the real one!
5. Speaking of free, take advantage of Free First Sundays
If you find yourself in Florence on the first Sunday of each month, then you are in luck! In Italy, all museums that are run by the state offer free admission every month on the first Sunday! So if you are in Florence, or elsewhere in Italy, be sure to check which museums this free day applies to and take advantage of it.
I will warn you though: free first Sundays can be VERY popular, which means you could face lines that are even longer than usual. If you don’t have much time in Florence, you may want to avoid the first Sunday of the month in favor of booking advanced tickets.
6. Beware of Mondays and Tuesdays
Many of Florence’s museums close on Monday or Tuesday each week. If you are visiting the city early in the week, be sure to check your schedule with the closing dates of the museums you plan on going to! You’ll also want to check each museum’s specific hours of operation so you don’t miss out. I highly recommend arriving early in the day or later in the day, as lines are typically shorter in off-peak hours.
7. Consider booking a guided tour
Whether you know absolutely nothing about art or studied art history in school (I did!), you may want to consider booking a guided museum tour or a city tour. While visiting a museum is always a great way to spend a day, I really enjoy actually learning about what I am looking at! A guided tour will definitely help you learn more about life in Florence during the Italian Renaissance, as well as some of the artists that helped put Florence on the map, and make it the city it is today! You can check out the variety of city and museum tours offered by Tickets Florence here. They even have a Dan Brown tour inspired by the novel Inferno!
8. Don’t overschedule yourself
There are over 70 museums to visit in Florence-and you certainly can’t see them all in a day, weekend or even a few months! Heck, I lived in Florence for a year and still haven’t seen them all. Don’t try to cram too many museums in while you are visiting-you’ll only end up exhausted and sick of looking at art! I recommend visiting no more than 2 museums per day. Instead of rushing through 6 or 7 museums during a stay in Florence, allow yourself enough time to really enjoy a few of the city’s museums.
9. Check out the street art of Florence
While walking around the historic center of Florence may feel as if you have stepped back in time to the Italian Renaissance, the city is filled with modern art and inspiration. The easiest way to see some of the more modern works in Florence is to simply keep your eyes out for street art! There are several famous street artists in Florence, the most recognizable being the works of Clet and Blub. Clet is known for his clever reinterpretations of street signs which you are bound to see all over the city, and Blub takes Florence’s most iconic figures and features them in underwater scenes. Spend a few hours just walking around Florence, and you will quickly see how alive the street art scene is!
10. Remeber-all of Florence is a museum
Did you know that the entire historic center of Florence is a UNESCO World Heritage site? According to UNESCO, “The setting of Florence, surrounded by the Tuscan hills and bisected by the Arno River, has remained unchanged throughout the centuries.” I’d have to agree. Visitors to the city have access to over 700 years of the historic city’s contributions to art and culture. Walking around Florence is honestly like walking around a giant museum. The many churches, palaces, and Renaissance-style facades, buildings, and piazzas are a feast for the eye and the senses. It is easy to see why over 13 million tourists visit Firenze each year-to be inspired by the living history that is palpable on every corner.
There you have it! Everything you need to know before museum-going in beautiful Florence, Italy! What museums are you hoping to visit in Florence, or have you fallen in love with? Let me know in the comments!
Disclaimer: This posed was sponsored by Tickets Florence. As always, my opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting Miss Adventures Abroad, and happy travels!
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Great advice and beautiful photography – you have a great eye! I’m taking much of what you say to heart in planning for my first trip to Italy.
Many thanks!
Hi Rachael! Thank you so much! Florence is such a beautiful city which makes it easy to capture. I hope you have an amazing trip-Italy really is an amazing destination. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!
Just a note: starting last month, everyone, including ticket holders and tours, have to stand in line for entrance at the Duomo (and don’t forget to cover shoulders and knees, it’s a church, after all). We had booked a tour but had to stand in line, but it is mostly in shade and moved quickly in June.
Hi Alex! Yes, once you purchase a ticket there are still lines to enter the Duomo, Bell Tower, and Cupola which can be quite long! (Even with a tour company, unfotunately!) Thanks so much for the update and sharing your experience, I hope you had a great visit!