Travel guide · Tuscany, Italy
Florence Travel Guide 2026: tickets, the Duomo climb, how many days & what it really costs
Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo at dusk: the Arno in front, Palazzo Vecchio’s tower and Brunelleschi’s dome on the skyline. Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
Florence packs more Renaissance art into a walkable centre than anywhere else, and almost everything worth seeing needs a ticket, a time slot or both. Prices went up across the city in 2026 and most guides still quote last year’s. This one gives you the current prices, a clear answer on which pass to buy, and live prices from 1,440 bookable tours.
Florence at a glance
The historic centre is small: from the station to Ponte Vecchio is about 20 minutes on foot, and the Duomo, the Accademia, the Uffizi and Palazzo Vecchio all lie within that walk. Across the Arno, the Oltrarno holds Palazzo Pitti, the Boboli Gardens and the artisan workshops; above it, Piazzale Michelangelo and San Miniato look back over the city.
| Population | About 360,000 (city); millions of visitors a year |
|---|---|
| Protected as | UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982 (Historic Centre of Florence); San Miniato al Monte added in 2021 |
| River | The Arno; Ponte Vecchio is the oldest bridge |
| Airports | Florence (FLR), 20–25 minutes by tram from the station · Pisa (PSA), about 1.5 hours by shuttle and train |
| Main station | Firenze Santa Maria Novella (SMN), on the edge of the centre |
| Museum day off | Monday for the Uffizi, the Accademia, the Bargello and the Medici Chapels |
| Bus and tram ticket | €2 for 90 minutes since 1 August 2026 (it was €1.70) |
| Plugs | Types C, F and L, 230 V |
Florence in pictures
Tap a photo to enlarge it. Photos: Diego Delso, Daniel Lu (User:dllu), Zairon — Wikimedia Commons.
Uffizi, Accademia and Duomo tickets in 2026
Verdict: book the Duomo dome first, as soon as your dates are fixed, then timed slots for the Accademia and the Uffizi on the official sites. Leave the Accademia for early morning or late afternoon, and use the Uffizi’s new after-16:00 ticket if you are on a budget.
| Ticket (adult) | On the day | In advance | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uffizi Gallery | €25 | €29 | Tue–Sun 08:15–18:30, closed Monday |
| Uffizi, entry after 16:00 | €16 | €20 | New in 2026; replaced the early-bird discount |
| Uffizi + Vasari Corridor | €43 | €47 | Named ticket, groups of 25, booking required |
| Galleria dell’Accademia (David) | €20 | €20 + booking fee | Up from €16 on 1 Feb 2026; Tue–Sun, closed Monday |
| Brunelleschi Pass (dome + all Duomo sites) | €30 · ages 7–14 €12 | Timed dome slot; no changes or refunds | |
| Giotto Pass (bell tower, no dome) | €20 · ages 7–14 €7 | Valid 72 hours, each site once | |
| Ghiberti Pass (no climbs) | €15 · ages 7–14 €5 | Baptistery, museum, crypt | |
| Palazzo Vecchio museum | €18 · tower €20 | Up from €12.50 in Feb 2026 | |
| Palazzo Pitti · Pitti + Boboli | €16 · €22 | €19 · €25 | Boboli alone €10 (€13 in advance) |
| Bargello · Medici Chapels | €12 · €11 | Same museum group as the Accademia | |
Under-18s of any nationality enter the state museums free (Uffizi, Pitti, Accademia, Bargello); EU citizens aged 18–25 pay €2. The cathedral itself is free, without a booking, but you queue for the security check, and shoulders and knees must be covered.
The Duomo: which pass do you need?
There is no separate dome ticket: the 463-step climb inside Brunelleschi’s dome comes only with the Brunelleschi Pass, which also covers the bell tower (414 steps), the Baptistery, the Opera del Duomo museum and the Santa Reparata crypt over 72 hours. If the dome is sold out — common from spring to autumn — buy the Giotto Pass and climb the bell tower instead: the view is nearly as high, and it has the dome in it. Neither climb has a lift; both are steep and narrow. The Firenzecard does not cover the Duomo, whatever old forum threads say.
Should you pay for “skip-the-line”?
With an official timed ticket you already skip the ticket queue; you still pass security. Resellers charge more for the same ticket. A guided tour is worth it for what the guide adds — context in the Uffizi, or a guaranteed dome slot when the official site is sold out — not for the queue itself.
164 Accademia and David tours on Excurgo · from $23, typical $126 per person · rated 4.6 across 45,179 reviews
Firenzecard, PassePartout or single tickets?
Verdict: single tickets for a two-day visit; the €40 PassePartout if you want the Uffizi, Pitti and Boboli; the Firenzecard only for a museum-heavy three days.
| Option | Price | Covers | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firenzecard | €85 / 72 h | 60+ museums, each once; not the Duomo. Uffizi and Accademia still need a reservation | 4–5+ big museums in three days |
| PassePartout | €40 / 5 days | Uffizi, Palazzo Pitti, Boboli; €58 with the Vasari Corridor | The Uffizi plus the Oltrarno |
| Accademia group, 48 h | €26 | Accademia + Bargello | David plus sculpture |
| Accademia group, 72 h | €38 | Accademia, Bargello, Medici Chapels, Orsanmichele, Palazzo Davanzati | A sculpture-and-Medici day |
The arithmetic: Uffizi €29 + Accademia €20 + Pitti €16 + Palazzo Vecchio €18 = €83, still under the Firenzecard’s €85. Add the Bargello and the Medici Chapels and it starts to pay off — if you have the stamina for six museums in three days. The card’s 72 hours start at your first museum, not at purchase; a €28 “Restart” adds 48 hours.
When is the best time to visit Florence?
Florence sits in a basin, so summers are hot and still and winters are cool and damp. The city is busy from Easter to October; the quietest museums are in November and from January to February.
April, May and late September to October are the best months
Warm enough for gardens and terraces, light until evening, and the Tuscan countryside at its best. Book the dome and hotels early.
July and August are the hardest months
Afternoons often pass 35 °C. Sightsee early, spend the hottest hours inside the Uffizi or the Bargello, and keep Piazzale Michelangelo for sunset. Museums stay open in August, but some family-run shops and restaurants close around Ferragosto (15 August).
November to February is the best time for empty galleries
Expect rain — November is the wettest month — but walk-up slots, lower hotel prices and an Uffizi you can actually see.
| Month | Max / min | Rain | Crowds | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 11° / 2° | 58 mm | Low | Cheapest hotels; short museum queues |
| February | 13° / 3° | 64 mm | Low | Quiet and often grey; good museum days |
| March | 16° / 5° | 61 mm | Rising | Easter can fall here — busy that week |
| April | 20° / 8° | 67 mm | High | Great weather; book the dome early |
| May | 24° / 12° | 63 mm | High | One of the best months; school groups |
| June | 29° / 16° | 45 mm | Very high | Long days; 24 June is the city’s saint’s day |
| July | 32° / 18° | 25 mm | Very high | Hot; queue in the shade, sightsee early |
| August | 32° / 19° | 37 mm | High | Hottest; some family shops shut around 15 August |
| September | 27° / 15° | 67 mm | High | Grape harvest in Chianti; still busy |
| October | 22° / 11° | 105 mm | Medium | Mild, but the start of the rainy months |
| November | 16° / 6° | 115 mm | Low | Wettest month; quietest museums |
| December | 11° / 3° | 81 mm | Medium | Christmas lights and markets; busy at New Year |
Getting there and getting around
| From | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Florence airport (FLR) | Tram T2 from outside arrivals to Alamanni–Stazione (SMN); the line now continues to Piazza San Marco. Ticket €2 | About 20–25 min |
| Pisa airport (PSA) | PisaMover shuttle to Pisa Centrale (€6.50), then a regional train to SMN; or a direct airport bus | About 1.5 h in total |
| Rome Termini | Frecciarossa or Italo high-speed train to SMN | About 1 h 20 – 1 h 35 |
| Milan Centrale | High-speed train | About 1 h 40 – 1 h 55 |
| Venice Santa Lucia | High-speed train | About 2 h 05 – 2 h 15 |
Inside the centre you walk. Buses and the tram cost €2 for 90 minutes since August 2026 (many sites still say €1.70). Taxis wait at the station and the main squares rather than cruising. Don’t drive: see the ZTL.
The best things to do in Florence
Must do don’t leave without it · Worth it worth it if it fits your trip. Tour prices below are typical (median) prices per person across all matching tours on Excurgo.
1. Climb Brunelleschi’s dome Must do· book ahead
Halfway up, the climb runs along the inside of the dome, right under Vasari and Zuccari’s Last Judgement; the top is an open terrace over the whole city. Book the earliest slot for cooler air and fewer people on the stairs.
70 Duomo tours on Excurgo · from $7, typical $114 per person · rated 4.6 across 15,105 reviews
2. Meet Michelangelo’s David at the Accademia Must do
The 5-metre original stands at the end of a hall of Michelangelo’s unfinished “Prisoners”, still half inside the marble. The copy in Piazza della Signoria is free to see but does not compare. An hour is enough.
3. Spend a morning in the Uffizi Must do
Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Primavera, Leonardo’s Annunciation, Michelangelo’s Doni Tondo, Caravaggio. Allow two to three hours and go straight to the Botticelli rooms before the groups arrive. The Vasari Corridor, reopened in December 2024, continues over Ponte Vecchio to Palazzo Pitti on a separate, named ticket.
121 Uffizi tours on Excurgo · from $32, typical $159 per person · rated 4.6 across 24,838 reviews
4. Walk Ponte Vecchio and the Arno at sunset Must do
The jewellers’ bridge is crowded by day; come at dusk, then watch it from Ponte Santa Trinita, the classic angle.
5. Watch the sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo and San Miniato Must do
A 20-minute uphill walk from the river. The terrace is free and open around the clock; climb another ten minutes to San Miniato al Monte, free to enter, for a quieter view and, often, Gregorian chant at vespers.
6. Piazza della Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio Worth it
The square and the Loggia dei Lanzi’s statues are free. Inside the town hall (€18), the Hall of the Five Hundred is the highlight; the Arnolfo tower (€20) is a shorter climb than the dome, with the dome in view.
15 Palazzo Vecchio tours on Excurgo · from $38, typical $139 per person · rated 4.7 across 477 reviews
7. Cross to the Oltrarno: Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens Worth it· spring and autumn
The Medici’s later palace holds Raphaels and Titians in the Palatine Gallery; behind it, the Boboli Gardens climb the hill with fountains, grottoes and views. Then wander Santo Spirito and San Frediano for workshops and dinner.
22 Pitti and Boboli tours on Excurgo · from $39, typical $136 per person · rated 4.7 across 867 reviews
8. Eat your way through Florence Must do
Lampredotto from a street kiosk, schiacciata, bistecca alla fiorentina sold by weight, and Chianti by the glass. A food tour is the fastest way to learn what to order; the Mercato Centrale is the place to graze on your own.
242 food and wine tours on Excurgo · from $21, typical $143 per person · rated 4.8 across 79,432 reviews
9. Make pasta in a cooking class Worth it
Among the best-rated experiences in the city. Classes in town take about three hours; the farmhouse versions add a ride into the hills and lunch with a view.
137 cooking class tours on Excurgo · from $21, typical $126 per person · rated 4.9 across 47,379 reviews
10. Santa Croce and the Bargello Worth it
Santa Croce holds the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli and Giotto’s frescoes. Nearby, the Bargello (€12) is the best sculpture museum in the city — Donatello’s bronze David — and rarely crowded.
11. See the city on a walking tour or by bike Worth it
A two- to three-hour walk on your first morning ties the sights together. E-bike and Vespa tours are for the hills outside the centre; golf-cart and rickshaw tours have been banned in the historic centre since October 2025.
129 walking tours on Excurgo · from $3, typical $130 per person · rated 4.6 across 13,095 reviews
Worth skipping
- The free first Sunday, if your time is short. You can’t book, and the queues eat half a day.
- Resold “skip-the-line” tickets at a big mark-up — the official timed ticket already skips the ticket line.
- Restaurants with picture menus touting outside around the Duomo and Signoria; walk two streets further.
- Driving into the centre — see the ZTL below.
Day trips from Florence
Tuscany’s classics are within two hours. Siena and Pisa are easy alone by bus or train; San Gimignano and the Chianti wineries are much easier on a tour, because public transport is slow and someone else drives after the wine.
| Where | On your own | Time | Tours on Excurgo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pisa | Train from SMN | About 50–80 min | 19, from $45 |
| Siena | Bus 131R from beside SMN, or train via Empoli | About 1 h 15 by bus | 117, typical $392 |
| San Gimignano | Bus or train to Poggibonsi, then bus 130/133 | About 1.5–2 h | |
| Chianti | Car or tour | About 1 h | 390, typical $213 |
| Cinque Terre | Train to La Spezia, then the Cinque Terre Express | About 2–2.5 h to La Spezia | 33, typical $273 |
117 Siena and San Gimignano tours on Excurgo · from $50, typical $392 per person · rated 4.8 across 56,296 reviews
390 Chianti and wine tours on Excurgo · from $22, typical $213 per person · rated 4.8 across 132,530 reviews
Cinque Terre in a day from Florence is long — two hours each way before you reach the first village. Go if it is your only chance; otherwise give it a night on the coast.
How many days do you need in Florence?
Two full days for the highlights, three to four to slow down or add a day trip. Ticket totals use 2026 official prices booked in advance; tours are typical prices on Excurgo.
1 day
Dome climb at opening, the Accademia, lunch at the Mercato Centrale, the Uffizi after 16:00, sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo. Tiring but doable.
Tickets ≈ €70
2 days
Split the above in two and add Palazzo Vecchio, Pitti and the Boboli Gardens, an Oltrarno dinner and a food tour.
Tickets ≈ €119 · food tour ≈ $143
3–4 days
Add the Bargello and Santa Croce, a cooking class, and a day in Siena and San Gimignano or Chianti.
Tickets ≈ €131 · day trip ≈ $392
Florence pairs naturally with Rome (1.5 hours by train) and Venice (just over 2 hours), or with a few nights in the Tuscan countryside.
How much do tours and tickets cost in Florence?
Price ranges per person from the 1,440 Florence tours we list, as of 11 October 2026. Many museum tours include the entry ticket — compare the total, not the headline price.
| Activity | Tours | From | Typical | Top end |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accademia and David | 164 | $23 | $126 | $315 |
| Uffizi Gallery | 121 | $32 | $159 | $343 |
| Uffizi + Accademia combined | 39 | $51 | $182 | $478 |
| Duomo and dome | 70 | $7 | $114 | $256 |
| Pitti and Boboli | 22 | $39 | $136 | $263 |
| Walking tours | 129 | $3 | $130 | $343 |
| Food and market tours | 242 | $21 | $143 | $445 |
| Cooking classes | 137 | $21 | $126 | $283 |
| Chianti and wine | 390 | $22 | $213 | $702 |
| Siena and San Gimignano | 117 | $50 | $392 | $928 |
| Pisa trips | 19 | $45 | $457 | $1,095 |
| Cinque Terre trips | 33 | $44 | $273 | $960 |
| Bike, e-bike and Vespa | 78 | $17 | $124 | $400 |
“Typical” is the median price; “top end” is the 90th percentile (private and premium versions). 89% of the tours offer free cancellation.
Where to stay in Florence
Around the Duomo and Signoria puts everything on your doorstep, at the highest prices and noise. Santa Maria Novella, by the station, is practical for day trips and arrivals by train. The Oltrarno (Santo Spirito, San Frediano) is quieter, more local and full of good restaurants, ten minutes from Ponte Vecchio. Santa Croce and San Lorenzo sit in between.
Every hotel adds the city tourist tax: from €3.50 per person per night at one-star hotels to €8 at five-star, and €6 for holiday rentals, for up to seven nights; children under 12 are exempt. Florence has banned new short-term rentals in the historic centre since 2025, so existing apartments are in short supply in high season.
Rules, safety and money
- ZTL: cameras enforce the limited-traffic zone Monday–Friday 07:30–20:00 and Saturday 07:30–16:00. A fine can reach you months later, with the rental company’s fee added. A red sign at the gate means the zone is active.
- Churches: cover shoulders and knees in the cathedral, the Baptistery and other churches; it is checked, especially in summer.
- Pickpockets: work the T2 tram, the station, the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio. Ignore “friendship bracelets” and petitions.
- Fake ticket sites: buy from uffizi.it, the Duomo’s ticket office and firenzecard.it, or a known tour platform.
- New rules since 2025: golf-cart and rickshaw tours and key boxes on façades are banned in the UNESCO centre.
- Water: tap water is safe; public fountains (fontanelli) give free still and sparkling water.
- Money: cards are accepted almost everywhere. A per-person “coperto” on the bill is normal and is not a tip; rounding up or 5–10% for good service is appreciated, never required.
- Entry: the EU Entry/Exit System records fingerprints and a photo for non-EU visitors; ETIAS has not started. Check GOV.UK or travel.state.gov for your passport.
Mistakes travellers regret in Florence
- Not booking the dome and finding it sold out — there is no dome-only ticket to fall back on.
- Trusting old prices: the Accademia is €20, not €16; Palazzo Vecchio €18, not €12.50; the bus €2, not €1.70.
- Buying a Firenzecard for the Duomo — it isn’t included — or buying it for two museums.
- Planning museums on a Monday, when the Uffizi, the Accademia and the Bargello are closed.
- Queuing half a day on the free Sunday instead of paying for a timed slot.
- Driving into the ZTL with a rental car.
- Wearing shorts and a tank top to the cathedral in July.
Florence FAQ
How many days do you need in Florence?
Two full days cover the big three — the Duomo, the Accademia and the Uffizi — plus Ponte Vecchio and sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo. Three days add the Oltrarno, Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens; four or five let you take day trips to Siena, Pisa or Chianti.
How much is a Uffizi ticket in 2026?
€25 at the ticket office on the day, or €29 if you buy in advance online. Since January 2026 a ticket for entry after 16:00 costs €16 (€20 in advance). The old €19 early-morning discount no longer exists. Under-18s enter free.
How much does it cost to see the David in 2026?
The Galleria dell’Accademia costs €20 since 1 February 2026 (it was €16), plus a booking fee if you reserve online. A €26 ticket covers the Accademia and the Bargello for 48 hours, and €38 covers all five museums of the group for 72 hours.
Can I just buy a ticket to climb the Duomo?
No. The dome is only sold as part of the Brunelleschi Pass (€30), which also includes Giotto’s bell tower, the Baptistery, the cathedral museum and the Santa Reparata crypt, with a timed slot for the dome. The slot cannot be changed or refunded, and in high season it often sells out a week or more ahead.
Is the Firenzecard worth it?
Only if you will see at least four or five major museums in 72 hours. It costs €85, does not include the Duomo complex, and you still have to reserve the Uffizi and the Accademia. For a typical two-day visit, single tickets or the €40 PassePartout (Uffizi, Pitti and Boboli) are cheaper.
Uffizi or Accademia: which one if I only have time for one?
The Uffizi, if you care about painting: Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo and Caravaggio in two to three hours. The Accademia is a short, focused visit — the David itself takes most of the time — so it fits easily into a busy day. Most first-time visitors do both.
Are Florence museums free on the first Sunday of the month?
Yes, the state museums are: the Uffizi, Palazzo Pitti, the Boboli Gardens, the Accademia, the Bargello, the Medici Chapels and San Marco. You cannot book, so queues are long. City-run museums such as Palazzo Vecchio are free that day only for local residents.
What is the best way from Pisa airport to Florence?
Take the PisaMover shuttle to Pisa Centrale (about 5 minutes, €6.50) and a train to Firenze Santa Maria Novella (roughly an hour). Allow about 1.5 hours door to door. Direct buses from the airport take about 70 minutes.
Should I rent a car in Florence?
Not for the city. Cameras enforce the ZTL limited-traffic zone on weekdays from 07:30 to 20:00 and on Saturdays to 16:00, and fines arrive months later with a rental-company fee on top. Pick a car up on your way out of town if you want to drive in Chianti.
Do I need ETIAS to visit Italy in 2026?
No. ETIAS has not started and no launch date is set; it is not expected before 2027. The EU Entry/Exit System (EES), which records fingerprints and a photo at the border for non-EU travellers, is already running. It is free.
Sources and how this guide is made
Written by the Excurgo editorial team. We are a tour comparison site, not a tour operator, and we have not personally tested every tour. Facts come from official sources, each checked on the date shown; prices, ratings and tour counts come from our live catalogue of 1,440 Florence tours. Ratings and review counts are collected by Viator and Tripadvisor. Tours are picked by rating weighted by number of reviews (at least 20); we earn a commission from Viator when you book, and it does not affect the order.
- Uffizi, Pitti, Boboli and PassePartout prices and hours: Gallerie degli Uffizi (Oct 2026)
- Accademia, Bargello and Medici Chapels prices and combined tickets: Musei del Bargello and Ministry of Culture announcements (Feb–Mar 2026)
- Duomo passes: Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore, terms (Oct 2026)
- Firenzecard: firenzecard.it (Oct 2026)
- Bus and tram fare: La Nazione, 29 Jul 2026; climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Florence Peretola
- Entry rules: GOV.UK; heritage status: UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Photos come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences (CC BY, CC BY-SA, CC0 or public domain); the author and licence are shown under each one. They show the places described, not the exact tours listed.
Changelog. 12 October 2026: guide published with 2026 museum prices (Accademia €20, Uffizi after-16:00 ticket, Palazzo Vecchio €18) and the €2 bus fare.