Behind its austere façade, the Palazzo Pitti on the south bank of the Arno conceals sumptuous halls featuring paintings by Raphael and Titian.

The Boboli Gardens begin behind the palace. If you’re interested in both, the best option is a combined ticket: if purchased on the day of your visit, it costs 22 eur and also grants you access to the Bardini Gardens.

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The palace houses the following museums:

• Galleria Pallatina – the palace gallery with over 1,000 paintings, mainly from the Baroque and Renaissance periods
• The Royal Apartments– a display of the Medici royal family’s rooms, featuring 17th-century furniture and frescoes
• Museo degli Argenti– a museum of silver, jewellery and fine furniture belonging to the Medici family
• Galleria d’Arte Moderna– a gallery of paintings and sculptures from the 18th century to the early 20th century

Admission

The price for adults depends on when you buy your ticket:

• Palazzo Pitti only: 16 eur onthe day of your visit, 19 eur if purchased in advance.
• Boboli Gardens only: 10 eur onthe day of your visit, 13 eur if purchased in advance.
• Palazzo Pitti + Boboli + Bardini Gardens: 22 eur on the day of your visit, 25 eur if purchased in advance. The combined ticket is valid for one day.

A combined ticket for €22 saves you €4 compared to buying separate tickets for the Pitti and Boboli Gardens, and includes the Bardini Gardens.

Buy tickets directly on the official website or at the ticket office in front of the palace.

EU citizens aged 18–24 pay 3 eur for individual admission to the palace or Boboli. Children under 18 enter free of charge. On the first Sunday of the month, the palace and Boboli Gardens are free for everyone; no bookings are taken for standard admission on this day.

If you also wish to visit the Uffizi

The five-day Passepartout ticket for 40 eur includes the Uffizi Gallery, Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens.

When purchasing the pass, you choose your entry time for the Uffizi: this must be your first visit. You can then visit the palace and gardens over five consecutive days, visiting each site once. Compared to buying three separate tickets on the day of your visit, you’ll save €7.

An even cheaper option: if a visit to the Uffizi from 4.00 pm is sufficient for you, the discounted afternoon entry costs €16 when purchased on the day. Together with a one-day ticket to the Pitti and Boboli for €22, you’ll pay €38 instead of €40. However, you’ll have less time at the Uffizi, and if you buy your ticket on the day of your visit, you’ll have to hope there are still places available.

Is it necessary to book a ticket in advance?

Not for a standard visit to the palace and Boboli Gardens. You can buy a ticket on the day of your visit, when it is cheaper. If you want to secure your ticket in advance, you’ll pay €3 more for standard tickets.

The Royal Apartments are an exception. You do not pay extra for the tour, but you must select a specific time slot: either online when purchasing your ticket or at the ticket office on the day of your visit, provided there are still places available. Holders of combined tickets and children must also book a time slot. On the first Sunday of the month, the Apartments can only be booked online.

Boboli Gardens: what not to miss

Behind the palace lie more than 30 hectares of gardens featuring sculptures, fountains and views of Florence.

Start at the amphitheatre, continue to the Fountain of Neptune and explore the Grotta Grande. If you want to explore the gardens more thoroughly, be sure to visit Il Giardino del Cavaliere and the Rococo Kaffeehaus.

The paths lead uphill; wear comfortable shoes and take some water with you in hot weather. If visiting as a group, check the gardens’ closing times, which vary depending on the season.

Opening hours

• Palazzo Pitti: Tuesday–Sunday 8.15 am–6.30 pm, last admission at 5.30 pm. Closed on Mondays, 1 January and 25 December.
• Royal Apartments: guided tours Tuesday–Sunday every 30 minutes from 10.00 to 17.00. Allow about 20 minutes to walk from the palace entrance to the meeting point.
• Boboli Gardens: open daily at 8.15 am, closing between 4.30 pm and 7.10 pm depending on the month. Closed on the first and last Monday of the month and on 25 December. Last admission is one hour before closing time. Exact times by month can be found on the official website.

Accommodation near Palazzo Pitti

The Oltrarno district is a good base if you want to walk to the palace, the gardens and across the Ponte Vecchio to the historic centre.

The Hotel La Scaletta al Ponte Vecchio is situated between the bridge and the palace and has a rooftop terrace. You can find other suitable neighbourhoods and price options in our guide to accommodation in Florence.

How the palace is linked to the Medici family

The palace was commissioned in the mid-15th century by the banker Luca Pitti. The Medici acquired it in the mid-16th century, and Cosimo I and Eleonora of Toledo made it their residence. Later, the Habsburg-Lorraine and the Italian kings of the House of Savoy also lived there.

Cosimo I used the covered Vasari Corridor, which ran from the Palazzo Vecchio through the Uffizi and across the Ponte Vecchio to the Pitti. If you travel on to Pisa, you’ll find another trace of Cosimo in Piazza dei Cavalieri: there stands a statue of him and a palace designed by Vasari.

I have verified the prices and booking rules against the official price list and the gallery management’s guidelines; these also confirm that admission to the Bardini is included in the combined ticket price and that the treasury is temporarily closed.

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