Florence Pitti Palace Tickets and Tours

Among the best things to do in Florence during a short holiday is a visit to the Pitti Palace. Although the building was originally constructed in the 15th century by the Florentine banker Luca Pitti, the palace was later acquired by the important Medici family.

The Medici were a highly influential family of bankers during the Renaissance, responsible for sponsoring the work of various Italian masters and artists whose work can now be enjoyed inside the palace. Read on to find out the best ways to visit.

The direct option

Florence Palazzo Pitti Tickets

Discover the most spectacular building in the Italian city of Florence

Discover one of the most important jewels of Tuscan art and architecture. With these skip-the-line tickets, you will discover the beauty of the Pitti Palace, its impressive Palatine Gallery and the incredible Boboli Gardens.

From €26 at Hellotickets

This tour of Florence's only royal palace will give you an in-depth insight into the history of the city through the rooms where the Grand Dukes of Tuscany once lived. You can buy your tickets to the Pitti Palace in advance and go straight inside to explore areas such as the royal apartments and the Costume Gallery, where each room offers a journey through the life and art of bygone eras.

In addition, this ticket also gives you access to the Grand Dukes' Treasury, where jewels, crystals and decorative objects of incalculable value are on display, and to the Modern Art Gallery, which brings together some of the most representative works of Italian art from the 19th and 20th centuries. A perfect plan for those who want to discover art and history at their own pace, without rushing or queuing.

Recommended if: you want to see several collections in one place and discover the legacy of the Medici in a majestic setting.

The savings option

Offer: Florence Uffizi Gallery, Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens Tickets (5-day pass)

Discover the best of Florence with a single pass

With this combined ticket, you will visit the Uffizi Gallery, the Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens, as well as two lesser-known museums, all without queuing.

From €53 at Hellotickets

An excellent way to discover the city's main cultural treasures is with this combined pass, which includes skip-the-line access to five of Florence's most outstanding attractions. You can book the combined ticket for the Uffizi, Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens and visit each place within five days, at your own pace and according to your travel plans.

Among the visits included are the Uffizi Gallery, one of the most important art galleries in the world; the Pitti Palace, former residence of the Medici and other Italian monarchs; and the spectacular Boboli Gardens. You will also have access to the National Archaeological Museum and the Opificio delle Pietre Dure Museum, which are less touristy but just as interesting.

Recommended if: you are spending several days in Florence and want to visit the must-see sights without rushing or queuing.

The guided option

Florence Palazzo Pitti Guided Tour

Guided tour of the Pitti Palace with priority access

With this guided tour, you can explore the Palatine Gallery and the palace halls, admiring works by Raphael, Titian, and Rubens up close.

From €76 at Hellotickets

If you prefer a more enriching experience, this guided tour of the Pitti Palace will help you better understand the historical and artistic context of one of Florence's most impressive buildings. By booking this guided tour of the Pitti Palace, you will avoid the queues and can start the tour straight away.

For an hour and a half, you will tour the Palatine Gallery, the royal halls and part of the Boboli Gardens, accompanied by an expert guide who will tell you all about the details and curiosities. This is the perfect option if you are interested in delving deeper into the history of the Renaissance and discovering the secrets of the Medici family.

Recommended if: you want a comprehensive tour explained by a specialised guide.

When organising a visit to the Pitti Palace in Florence, you should bear in mind that tickets to the monument are divided into categories. Here are the approximate prices depending on the type of visit you want to make:

Buying your tickets to the Pitti Palace online is the most practical and secure way to ensure your visit, especially during high season when Florence is crowded with tourists. Booking in advance allows you to avoid long queues at the ticket office and better manage your time in the city, which is very useful if you have a tight schedule.

A convenient option for booking is through Hellotickets, where you can buy skip-the-line tickets to the Pitti Palace. With these tickets, you will have priority access to the interior of the palace and the Palatine Gallery, one of the most impressive collections of Renaissance paintings in Italy. You will also be able to explore other areas of the complex, such as the Modern Art Gallery and the Treasury of the Grand Dukes.

The Pitti Palace has a ticket office. Entering from Piazza de' Pitti, the ticket office is on the right. Prices are the same as for online tickets, but the purchase process is considerably slower.

Ranked as one of the best museums in Florence, the best way to purchase your tickets for the Pitti Palace is online, a few days before your arrival. By booking your tickets online, you can avoid the long queues that are very common during busy tourist periods, such as August in Florence.

Yes, admission to the Pitti Palace and the beautiful Boboli Gardens is included in a very popular tourist pass known as the Firenze Card.

With a price of over £75 per person and only valid for three days, the card is only recommended if you are staying in Florence for five days or more. This way, you can see all the museums, but also enjoy other charms of the city.

If your itinerary takes you to Florence for several days, you can make the most of this tourist pass. It covers admission to 70 attractions and museums in Florence, including the Pitti Palace, the Uffizi Gallery, tickets to the Duomo Dome and many more.

Please note that for both the Florence Cathedral Duomo and the Pitti Palace museums, you must book your visit in advance to ensure availability.

Yes, the Pitti Palace has special tickets for children and minors in general. Children under 18 of any nationality can enter the museum free of charge at any time of the year. The only requirement is to present a passport or ID card proving their age.

Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult to access the facilities.

In my opinion, visiting the Pitti Palace is one of the best things to do with children in Florence, as it is an excellent opportunity to spark their interest in art and history or simply in the fascinating Italian Renaissance period.

Yes, and they are highly recommended if you want to gain an in-depth understanding of the history and art housed in this majestic building. Guided tours of the Pitti Palace allow you to discover not only its art collections, but also its luxurious rooms and, in some cases, the Boboli Gardens. All tours include a professional guide and, in many cases, priority access to avoid the queues.

Florence has excellent public transport, which, combined with the palace's location, makes it quite easy to get to. Here are the most popular options.

Getting to the Pitti Palace by bus

The bus is the best public transport option for reaching this popular attraction. The nearest stops, Bardi and Pitti, are just a 6-minute walk away.

Several bus lines stop near the palace, including line 11, line 370-A, line C3 and line C4.

Getting to the Pitti Palace by tram

The closest tram stop to the Pitti Palace is Firenze Santa Maria Novella, located 20 minutes on foot. You can reach this area of the city by taking the R line of the Florence tram.

Getting to the Pitti Palace by car

The Pitti Palace is located on Piazza de Pitti, south of Ponte Vecchio. Keep in mind that Florence's old town is quite small, so to get to know the city better, I recommend walking between its different attractions.

If you are going to the attraction by car, keep in mind that there is no visitor parking at the palace. However, you can use some of the nearby car parks, such as Garage Fosi or Garage Lungarno.

The Pitti Palace currently houses four main museums spread over its different floors. Although it once had more than 140 rooms, today you can visit a wide variety of spaces that combine art, history, decoration and design. These are the highlights you can explore on your visit:

• Palatine Gallery and Royal Apartments: home to a unique collection of works by Raphael, Titian and Rubens. The Palatine Gallery maintains the aesthetic of a private Renaissance collection. You can also visit the Royal Apartments decorated with luxurious frescoes, original furniture and rooms such as the Queen's Room and the Oval Room.
• Treasury of the Grand Dukes: located in the former summer apartments of the Medici family, this space includes historical frescoes and precious objects such as amber, ivory and silverware from the Salzburg Treasury.
• Modern Art Gallery: displays works from the 17th to the 20th century and continues to grow thanks to donations. Among the most notable are: A Pasture by Serafino De Tivoli, La mattina del 27 aprile 1859 by Fanfani and L'entrata di Carlo VIII a Firenze by Bezzuoli.
• Costume and Fashion Museum: ideal for design lovers. It includes pieces such as formal men's suits, period dresses and historical funeral garments, which allow you to appreciate the evolution of style between the 14th and 19th centuries.
• Boboli Gardens: a veritable open-air museum full of sculptures, fountains and landscape architecture. Don't miss the Fountain of Neptune or the Isolotto, an island with statues surrounded by vegetation and water.

If you are visiting the Pitti Palace on your own, I recommend setting aside around 2 hours and 30 minutes to find and appreciate the best works. The Boboli Gardens are really extensive, so you will needat least another 2 hours to visit them.

If you go on an organised tour, you won't have to worry, as the tour guide will organise a detailed itinerary that will allow you to see everything in the shortest possible time without missing any important works or details.

I recommend planning your visit to the Pitti Palace in advance, especially if you are only spending a few days in Florence or Tuscany. On the day of your visit, try to arrive at the opening time and devote most of your time and energy to exploring the premises.

The official opening hours of the Pitti Palace are Tuesday to Sunday from 8:15 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The attraction is closed on Mondays, so please avoid planning your visit for this day of the week.

The last official admission is at 5:30 p.m., so that visitors have time to explore the premises before closing time. The attraction is open all year round except on 1 January and 25 December.Keep this in mind if you are visiting Florence for Christmas.

Keep these practical tips in mind if you are planning your visit to the Pitti Palace. They will help you enjoy the tour more and avoid common setbacks:

• Autumn is the best time to visit: the weather is pleasant and there are fewer tourists. If you have the option of travelling to Florence in September or October, you will get the most out of your visit without the crowds.
• Buy the full pass: although you can buy just the ticket to the palace, the Boboli Gardens are an essential part of the experience. It's worth investing a little more time and taking your time to explore them.
• Book in advance in spring or summer: between May and October, tourist numbers are very high. To avoid queues and ensure access, it is best to buy your tickets online before your trip.

The Pitti Palace is located in Florence's Old Town, also known as District 1, on the south side of the Arno River.

Since it is one of the most beautiful areas of the city, I recommend spending some time exploring its streets and enjoying its many traditional restaurants. Here are a few quality recommendations located near the Palace.

• Osteria Santo Spirito: Located a 4-minute walk from the Palace, this restaurant offers traditional Italian food in a rustic setting with excellent views of a historic square.
• Gustapizza: Located a 2-minute walk from the Palace, the house speciality is wood-fired pizza. Famous for its soft dough.
• Tameró: Tameró is just a 3-minute walk from the Palace. You'll find a beautiful rooftop dining area and a menu specialising in handmade Italian pasta made from scratch.