Michelangelo’s original David can be found in the Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence.

The statue in front of the Palazzo Vecchio is a freely accessible replica. On your way to the original, you’ll pass four of Michelangelo’s unfinished sculptures, where you can see the figures emerging from the marble.

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Admission

David is included in the standard gallery ticket. You pay nothing extra to see it.

• 20 eur – an adult ticket at the ticket office (you may have to queue for up to 60 minutes).
• 24 eur – the same ticket with a booked time slot via the official website. A booking fee of €4 is included in the price.
• 2 eur – EU citizens aged 18–25; children under 18 go free. Please bring proof of identity.

Do I need to book a ticket in advance?

No. You can buy a ticket on the spot, even if the online time slots are sold out. However, without a booking, you may have to wait a long time. If you need to arrive at a specific time, buy your ticket in advance.

Admission is free on the first Sunday of the month; bookings are not possible.

Opening hours and how to get there

It is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 8.15 am–6.50 pm; last admission is at 6.10 pm. It is closed on Mondays, 1 January and 25 December.

The gallery is located at Via Ricasoli 58/60, near Florence Cathedral. Allow at least an hour for your visit. You are not permitted to bring large rucksacks or suitcases into the museum, and there is no left-luggage facility inside.

What will you see in the gallery?

David stands 5.17 metres tall. Michelangelo sculpted it between 1501 and 1504 from white Carrara marble. He depicted him just before his battle with Goliath. The original stood in front of the Palazzo Vecchio until 1873, when it was moved indoors for protection.

On your way to see David, you’ll see four of Michelangelo’s unfinished sculptures, *The Slaves*.

The other rooms feature paintings ranging from the Gothic to the Renaissance periods, including works by Botticelli, Uccello, Granacci and Domenico di Michelina. Stradivari’s musical instruments are also on display.

Are you mainly interested in paintings? Then be sure to plan a visit to the Uffizi Gallery as well. Another of Michelangelo’s works, the Pietà, can be found in St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Do not confuse the gallery in Florence with the gallery of the same name in Venice.

If you’d like to visit other museums as well

The Accademia + Bargello ticket at 26 eur is valid for 48 hours. Individual tickets cost €20 and €12 respectively; you’ll therefore save €6. Booking a time slot online costs a further €4.

The ticket for 38 eur is valid for 72 hours and also includes the Medici Chapels and other museums in the group. You can find both options on the official website.

Accommodation near the gallery

You can stay nearby at the Hotel Miceli – Civico 50 or at the Loggiato Dei Serviti, about 150 metres from the gallery.

We compare cheaper neighbourhoods in the article ‘Accommodation in Florence’.

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