9 of the Best Museums in Florence and How To Visit

The massive Uffizi Galleries (Gallerie degli Uffizi) tops the list of must-see museums in Florence. This treasure trove is home to world-renowned masterpieces by heavy-hitters from Botticelli to Raphael, and welcomes around five million visitors each year. Admission to the Uffizi Galleries is among the most sought-after Florence museum tickets and dates between May and October regularly sell out. Book your entrance day and time before arriving in Florence to avoid disappointment, or join a Uffizi Galleries tour that includes admission and a guided visit that covers the highlights in as little as 90 minutes.

Don’t miss: Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, one of the most famous Renaissance paintings in the world.

The massive statue of David that Michelangelo completed in 1504 is a symbol of Florence, and its likeness graces everything from aprons to keychains. Admire the original at the Accademia Gallery (Galleria dell’Accademia), where a special hall was constructed to house the statue after it was removed from Piazza della Signoria in the late 19th century. One of the most popular museums in Florence, the Accademia should be on every visitor’s short list of cultural attractions. The museum itself is relatively compact, but the line to purchase last-minute tickets can take hours out of your day. Book your admission time slot in advance or visit as part of a guided tour to avoid the hassle of reserving tickets on your own.

Don’t miss: The iconic David by Michelangelo, the unrivaled star of this Florentine museum.

While most visitors to Florence are focused on the Uffizi Galleries, art lovers in the know head across the river to visit the dazzling Palatine Gallery inside Pitti Palace (Palazzo Pitti). These sumptuous halls house hundreds of paintings by Italian and European masters, a collection that once belonged to the Medici dukes who resided in the palace. Admission to Pitti Palace includes entry to all five museums inside the massive complex—the Palatine Gallery, Gallery of Modern Art, Museum of Costume and Fashion, Treasury of the Grand Dukes, and Museum of Russian Icons—so this is also a great bargain for art-loving travelers on a budget.

Don’t miss: Raphael’s two masterpieces, Woman with a Veil and Madonna and Child with Saint John.

While most Florence art museums highlight paintings, the Bargello Museum (Museo Nazionale del Bargello) focuses almost exclusively on sculpture. Housed in the atmospheric Palazzo del Podestà—a gem of medieval architecture—this museum contains works by artists like Donatello and Michelangelo in marble, bronze, and terracotta and offers a unique perspective on Florence Renaissance art beyond the paintings that take center stage at most of the city’s famous museums. Visit the collection with a guide for insights into this former Medici collection, or book your timed ticket in advance to explore on your own. True art enthusiasts can opt for the combined 72-hour pass that includes admission to the Bargello and four other top Florence cultural attractions—the Medici Chapels, Orsanmichele Church and Museum, Palazzo Davanzati, and Casa Martelli.

Don’t miss: Donatello’s bronze David, a much younger and less muscular version of the biblical hero than Michelangelo’s more famous masterpiece.

Sitting just around the back of the landmark Florence Duomo (Cattedrale di Santa Maria dei Fiori), the Opera del Duomo Museum (Museo dell’Opera del Duomo) gathers some of the most significant artworks used to decorate the exterior and interior of the city’s main church over the centuries. One of the best museums in Florence, this creatively curated collection features wow-worthy exhibitions from a replica facade displaying dozens of original statues to the towering bronze doors forged by Ghiberti (copies are outside on the Florence Baptistery (Battistero di San Giovanni), exposed to the elements). Architecture buffs will want to linger in the Belvedere della Cupola room, where a large model of Brunelleschi’s Dome reveals its inner structure. The museum is included in admission passes and most guided tours of the cathedral complex, together with the church, Giotto’s Bell Tower (Campanile di Giotto), the dome, and the Santa Reparata ancient ruins.

Don’t miss: Ghiberti’s spectacular gilded bronze doors known as the “Gates of Paradise,” which depict Old Testament scenes in relief.

The Ospedale degli Innocenti is one of the most unique and fascinating Florence history museums, with the extra perk of a pocket-size art gallery inside that’s among the city’s best-kept secrets. This former orphanage took in the city’s abandoned children from the 15th to the 20th centuries, and visitors today can explore its elegant Renaissance confines designed by Brunelleschi. Learn about the history of the institution via the interactive and multimedia exhibits on the main floor, then head upstairs to admire the compact but world-class collection of around 80 artworks, including treasures by Botticelli and il Ghirlandaio. This under-the-radar museum is never crowded, so easy to pair with a visit to the nearby Accademia.

Don’t miss: Andrea della Robbia’s 15th-century terracotta tondi decorating the facade and included in the museum collection, collectively known as the Putti in Swaddling Clothes and the symbol of the orphanage over the centuries.

Florence was the birthplace of the Renaissance, so it comes as no surprise that the city’s museums focus on art from the centuries leading up to and including the height of Florentine culture. But the city also has lovers of contemporary creativity covered at Palazzo Strozzi, a 15th-century palace that now hosts a rotating roster of art exhibitions that highlight some of the most famous contemporary artists in the world. Check Palazzo Strozzi’s website before visiting Florence to snap up tickets to these popular shows, or stop by the ticket office in the palace’s internal courtyard to check for same-day availability.

Don’t miss: The palace’s internal courtyard, which visitors can access without an admission ticket, often holds massive contemporary sculptures or temporary stages for concerts and cultural events.

Take a break from Florence’s endless artistic masterpieces and delve into the history of science at the Galileo Museum (Museo Galileo), just steps from the Uffizi Galleries. Marvel at antique instruments like barometers, globes, and microscopes, plus telescopes used by Galileo and other Renaissance scientists and astronomers. You can even pause in front of the mummified remains of Galileo’s finger, one of the oddest relics in the museum. Visit on your own or join a guided tour of the museum or Galileo-themed Florence tour for a deeper dive into the 16th-century polymath’s life and scientific contributions.

Don’t miss: Two original telescopes used by Galileo to study the skies, now displayed in Room VII.

Most of Florence’s museums have a strict no-touching policy and aren’t particularly family-friendly. The Leonardo da Vinci Museum, however, is a welcome exception. Visitors of all ages can admire the museum’s collection of life-size working models of Leonardo’s inventions, built based on his original sketches, plus go hands-on at interactive exhibits focused on his work. The WLeonardo! workshop space offers kids and their grown-ups the chance to learn the basics of physics, engineering, and mechanics with games and activities.

Don’t miss: Da Vinci’s armored vehicle, a precursor to today’s military tank that was crafted in wood by hand following the inventor’s original sketches.