Uffizi Galleries (Gallerie degli Uffizi) Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Uffizi Galleries. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• The Best Tour in Florence: Renaissance & Medici Tales - Guided by a Storyteller

• The Best Tour in Florence: Renaissance and Medici Tales

• Uffizi Gallery Small Group Tour With Guide

• Uffizi & Accademia Timed Entry: Small Group Duomo Walking Tour

• David & Accademia Guided Tour With Time Entry Ticket

Unusually, tickets for the Uffizi Galleries are cheaper when you buy them on the day than when you purchase them in advance. They cost €29 in advance, or €25 on the day. People under 18 go free, as do travelers with a certified disability and their companion; EU citizens ages 18–25 pay €2.

Yes, the Uffizi Galleries are absolutely worth visiting. One of the world's great art galleries, set in a landmark 16th-century palace, they're home to works by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli, Raphael, Caravaggio, Giotto, and more, as well as a priceless collection of ancient sculptures. Unless you have unlimited time in Florence, exploring with a guide is an excellent way to ensure you sift the great from the good and hit the essential highlights.

Per one customer who booked the Uffizi Gallery Small Group Tour with Guide, "Our guide was so knowledgeable, engaging and informative. She provided us with great insight into the history we were viewing. She brought the artists, their depictions and the powerful, wealthy individuals who commissioned the art to life. The gallery was super busy but she navigated us through the crowds, so we could see the amazing works of art, and with the headsets we could hear her clearly. She also suggested areas of the gallery to visit after our tour ends. With our new found knowledge, we spent time immersed in the Uffizi vast collection. We couldn't recommend this tour more."

Yes, buying Uffizi Galleries tickets in advance is a must for this popular attraction. More than 2 million visitors churn through this treasure trove of Renaissance art each year, so reserving your timed admission ahead of your visit is the only way to avoid getting stuck in the long line at the ticket office.

The crowds peak at midday in the museum, so the best times to visit are just as the doors open at 8:15am or late afternoon before the ticket office closes at 5:30pm. Remember that the galleries close at 6:30pm, so begin your visit at least two hours before closing.

Though you can touch on the museum’s highlights with a fast-paced visit of about two hours, you’ll need at least three to four hours to explore the collection at a leisurely pace. Book your tickets in advance to spend more time inside the museum and less waiting in line to enter.

Tickets to the Uffizi Galleries go on sale six months in advance, so you have plenty of time to reserve your timed entry if you plan ahead. However, Online time slots sell out during the high season months between May and October, so don’t wait too long before booking.

Gone are the days of terse museum guards hissing, “No foto!” at visitors. Since 2014, photographing the artworks inside the galleries has been permitted, though tripods and selfie sticks are prohibited. The museum encourages photographers to be respectful and avoid disturbing other visitors admiring the art.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting the Uffizi Galleries. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Florence:

• Accademia Gallery

• Florence Duomo

• Ponte Vecchio

• Piazza della Signoria

• Brunelleschi's Dome

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Florence.