How to Visit the Accademia Gallery in Florence

Header photo by Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

When in Florence you absolutely must visit the Accademia Gallery. We can sum up why in just one word: David! Yes, the Accademia is home to Michelangelo's iconic David sculpture, probably the world's most famous statue. More than 1.7 million people visit the Accademia each year to clap their eyes on the colossal Biblical hero who doubles as the guardian of Florence, and for good reason.

It is a special experience indeed coming face-to-face with an artwork that has had such a profound impact on the story of art, and you’ll want to see for yourself why Michelangelo’s David is often seen as the pinnacle of human creativity.

Although David is the Accademia’s major draw card, there’s plenty more to see in the museum: the Accademia houses more Michelangelo sculptures than any other museum in the world, whilst a number of beautiful medieval paintings, Renaissance altarpieces and interesting models are also well worth your time.

But what’s the best way to visit the Accademia Gallery? Find out all you need to know about planning your visit with our practical guide!

How do I get to the Accademia?

Florence has an extremely compact historic centre that is just perfect for navigating on foot, and the Accademia Gallery is easy to reach from the city’s main sights. It’s an easy 7 minute walk from Piazza del Duomo: facing the cathedral’s facade, take Via Ricasoli heading north (your left).

Keep going straight through the junction with Via de’ Pucci, and at the next junction you’ll reach a small square called Piazza delle Belle Arti. Keep heading north along Via Ricasoli, and after a few metres you will arrive at the entrance to the Galleria della Accademia on your right hand side.

If you wish to take public transport to the Accademia, the bus routes 6 and 14 pass nearby, and can be caught from Florence’s main train station, Santa Maria Novella. If you are coming from the Uffizi, you can hop on the 23 or C1 lines from the stop Benci. Get off at Piazza San Marco and walk back south alnog Via Ricasoli to the Accademia.

The official address of the museum is: Galleria dell'Accademia di Firenze, Via Ricasoli 58/60, 50122 Firenze.

What are the opening hours of the Accademia Gallery?

The Accademia is open from Tuesday – Sunday from 9:00 AM – 6:45 PM. Last entrance is 30 minutes before closing time.

Like most museums in Florence, the Accademia is closed every Monday, on January 1, May 1 and December 25.

Should I buy tickets to the Accademia in advance?

Photo by Robot8A, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Yes, it's essential that you plan your visit carefully and secure your tickets well in advance. The museum is quite small, and admits visitors only at timed intervals. What’s more, a maximum of 200 visitors are allowed inside at any one time.

Whilst this is good news for experiencing the collection as it never feels excessively crowded inside, it does mean that you want to make sure you have tickets purchased for your preferred entrance time before you show up.

To do so, you will need to book your tickets with reserved entrance time via the official Accademia website. Alternatively you can call the ticket office at +39 055 294883.

When you arrive at the Accademia, you will need to present the voucher you received when booking (a copy on your smart phone will do) at the ticket office so your tickets can be printed out. With tickets in hand, you can then await your timed entrance - look out for a sign with the time you booked for, and you're good to go!

Is it worth taking a tour of the Accademia Gallery?

Photo by Dimitris Kamaras, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Booking a tour of the Accademia Gallery is an excellent option as it means you don’t have to worry about organizing the practicalities of your visit. Not only will you benefit from expert insight and information from a qualified guide that will put what you are seeing in context, your tickets and timed entrance will be taken care of in advance - meaning you can focus on getting the most out of your visit stress free.

Through Eternity offers a range of small group and private itineraries that include the Accademia Gallery. To find out which one is best for you, see our guide to the best tours of the Accademia Gallery.

Can I buy tickets to the Accademia on site?

Yes, you can technically buy tickets at the ticket office on site, but if you do choose to take your chances, be prepared for a long wait - or even being turned away altogether if all tickets for the day are already sold out. In our opinion, it’s not worth the risk.

How much do tickets to the Accademia cost?

A full-price ticket to the Accademia Gallery costs €16.

Reduced price tickets are available for EU citizens aged between 18 and 25. You will need to show valid ID when picking up your ticket. This ticket costs €2.

Children under the age of 18 are entitled to free admission. Valid proof of age is required when collecting these tickets on site.

Regardless of the ticket type, you will need to pay an additional €4 booking fee per ticket when you buy your tickets in advance via the website or phone.

State museums, including the Accademia, are free to visit on the first Sunday of each month - but be prepared for it to be extremely busy, as you cannot book your entrance on these days.

How long should I spend at the Accademia?

Plan on spending between around one hour exploring the Accademia. The gallery is much smaller than the Uffizi and some of the other best museums in Florence, so it really isn't necessary to spend all day here.

You'll want to spend a good chunk of your time admiring Michelangelo's David from all angles, and also a few minutes taking in the unfinished Slaves that Michelangelo intended for the Roman tomb of Pope Julius II, but beyond these highlights you can zoom through the rest of the collection if you are short on time.

Of course, as art lovers we could easily spend a few hours in the Accademia and if you are a completist like us feel free to spend extra time examining some of the Accademia's lesser-known hidden gems. To find out what you need to see in the Accademia Gallery, check out our guide to the higlights of the museum here.

Can You Visit the Accademia and Uffizi on the Same Day?

If you only have a limited amount of time in Florence, it’s definitely possibile to visit both the Accademia and Uffizi in the same day. You’ll just need to plan carefully! We recommend that you book a morning time slot at the Accademia, then head over to the Uffizi after lunch. The two museums are not far apart: you can manage it on foot in about 15 minutes.

The Uffizi is by far the larger of the two museums, and it’s much more difficult to predict how long you will want to spend there. By visiting the Accademia in the morning and saving the Uffizi for after lunch, you’ll be able to make a decision on how much (or how little) time you wish to devote to the Uffizi's collection of art when you are actually on the ground.

If you’d like to see both museums in a single day, an option worth considering is a tour that includes the Uffizi and the Accademia - that way you won’t have to worry about planning or getting the timing of your reservations right!

Planning a visit to Florence? Through Eternity offers a range of group tours in Florence as well as private itineraries that take you to the best sites in the city, including the Uffizi Gallery and Accademia. And of course, if you'd like us to come up with a personalised itinerary featuring any of the museums on this list, our travel experts would be delighted to help!

MORE GREAT CONTENT FROM THE BLOG: