Tour Details
Duration
3 hours
Product Type
Tour
Venues
- Uffizi Gallery
- The Birth of Venus
- Primavera
- Annunciation
- Venus of Urbino
Photos & Highlights
- Stand before the iconic artworks of Botticelli, Leonardo, and other Renaissance masters feeling guided, not overwhelmed.
- Your guide takes care of the research and preparation, so you can simply show up and enjoy the learning.
Select a date
Tour Description
You may come for Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and the Primavera, but with the guidance of an art history expert, you’ll leave with far more than the highlights. This tour is designed not just to show you the masterpieces, but to illuminate the stories, artists, and details that most visitors walk right past.
During these three thoughtfully paced hours, your guide will help you navigate the Uffizi’s vast collection with confidence and curiosity. You’ll gain insight into both the celebrated icons and the hidden gems. These works rarely make it onto postcards in the gift shop, but often leave the deepest impression.
By the end of your visit, you’ll have experienced the key masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance and discovered a new way to connect with art that might just change how you enjoy museums going forward.
Choose this tour if...
- You’re seeking an experience that makes art approachable for all, from beginners to seasoned art lovers, so everyone can enjoy.
- You want an intentional exploration of the Uffizi, letting your expert navigate the crowds and handle the logistics so you can truly enjoy the art.
- You want to impress your friends and family with the fascinating stories behind popular pieces and lesser-known works that not many visitors will learn.
- You prefer a calm, private setting with a guide who stays by your side, rather than leading from a distance, and is ready to tailor the experience to your pace and curiosity.
Experts
Traveler Testimonials
We would have been lost without her
"She pitched her knowledge at the right level for us and introduced us to some amazing artworks and artists. We would have been lost in the vast Uffizi if we had visited on our own."
-Susie R.
-Susie R.
Made sense of the Uffizi
"Super knowledgeable, passionate and engaging guide, and I learned so much during the tour! One of the things I worried about beforehand was just how crowded the Uffizi would be, but our guide had a strategy so that we avoided the crowds."
-Melissa W.
-Melissa W.
Opened our eyes to the Uffizi’s hidden depths
"Our guide had deep knowledge of every painting in Uffizi and made us see things we would never have discovered."
-Marie U.
-Marie U.
The name “Uffizi” comes from the Italian word for “Office”, as the building was commissioned in 1560 by Cosimo I de’ Medici to serve as the offices for the Florentine magistrates. Today, these rooms host some of the most important pieces of art in the world.
Instead of a hurried walkthrough, your expert will take their time weaving a narrative through iconic and lesser-known works that showcase the evolution of Florentine art.
Marvel at the trailblazing techniques of Cimabue and Giotto, immerse yourself in the harmony showcased by Lippi and Botticelli while exploring the era's budding philosophical notions, particularly those favored by the Medici court. Dissect Mannerist masterpieces by artists like Parmigianino and Bronzino with your art historian.
Interested in seeing something specific? Let your guide know so they can weave it into your trip through the venue's halls.
By getting to know the history behind the paintings, you’ll get to know the artists of the time—their aspirations, techniques, and allegiances. You’ll also better understand the intricate intertwining of beauty, artistry, and politics that shaped the Renaissance era.
- Uffizi Gallery - One of the world’s most renowned museums, home to Florence’s greatest artistic treasures.
Tickets
Your booking includes tickets to the venue. Please note that our tickets will allow us to enter a special lane where our group will have to stand in line due to security and crowd control measures. Your guide will use this time to dive into the history of the gallery, the Medici family, and the various types of art you will see inside.
Headsets
We are required by the venue to order headsets. You will see a “Headset Fee” added to your order.
Additional Trip-Planning Resources
A few things that pair well with this tour:
- Comfortable walking shoes. The Uffizi has 13,000 square meters of exhibition space to explore!
- A fully charged phone or camera. Photos are allowed, but flash photography is not.
- A few euros to purchase a coffee at the cafeteria on the second floor. (It has a panoramic view.)
- An audio guide on the power and politics of Florence. If your interests are a merging of art and history, this experience is perfect for you.
Do you pre-purchase tickets for the Uffizi tour?
We secure timed tickets for the Uffizi in advance. Upon arrival, your guide will already have these tickets. However, please note that even with these pre-purchased tickets, the group will still need to undergo a security check. This might take up to 20 minutes given the Uffizi's popularity, but our guide will make the most of this waiting period by giving you an introduction to the collection's history.
Will we see the entire Uffizi collection during the tour?
Due to the tour's 3-hour limit, we can't cover the whole collection. There might also be instances where specific rooms or artworks are not accessible due to unforeseen reasons.
I have a group of 10, but I can't book for more than 9. Can you accommodate us?
Our booking system has a maximum limit of 9 participants per group due to venue restrictions. For larger groups, we recommend splitting into two or more smaller groups.
We understand that some of our valued guests may have mobility concerns, and we want to ensure you have a comfortable and enjoyable experience throughout your tour. If there are any accessibility concerns that your tour guide will need to be aware of, please let our team know at the time of booking.
Is this tour wheelchair-friendly?
Given its significance and the vast number of visitors it attracts, the venue has made efforts to improve accessibility for all its visitors, including those with disabilities. However, it's worth noting that the collections are housed in a historic building which can present certain challenges for accessibility. Additional details are available here. Please communicate any mobility needs or concerns with our team at the time of booking.
Accessibility Notice: Starting December 2024: The elevators to the second floor are currently out of service due to renovations. Unfortunately, we do not have an estimated timeline for their return to service. Please note that our gallery begins on the second floor. Visitors will need to use the stairs unless prior arrangements are made. For guests with disabilities who cannot use the stairs, an alternative route is available. However, this path adds approximately 1 kilometer to the tour, requiring the use of an elevator at the museum's exit and additional walking time back to the entrance. This may extend the overall tour time. We are happy to accommodate this option, but it is crucial to let us know when you book so we can inform your guide and ensure everything is prepared in advance. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Accessibility Notice: Starting December 2024: The elevators to the second floor are currently out of service due to renovations. Unfortunately, we do not have an estimated timeline for their return to service. Please note that our gallery begins on the second floor. Visitors will need to use the stairs unless prior arrangements are made. For guests with disabilities who cannot use the stairs, an alternative route is available. However, this path adds approximately 1 kilometer to the tour, requiring the use of an elevator at the museum's exit and additional walking time back to the entrance. This may extend the overall tour time. We are happy to accommodate this option, but it is crucial to let us know when you book so we can inform your guide and ensure everything is prepared in advance. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Book with confidence — see Context's flexible cancellation policy here.
Where You'll Start
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1063 Reviews
Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.
There were two couples on this tour coming from a cruise ship. Due to timing issues with the train returning us to port, we had to leave the tour early. This was no fault of the tour guide, Cornelia, simply our own poor planning. However, she was informed of our time limitations and desire to see as much of the artworks as possible. We were disappointed that quite a bit of time was spent in the courtyard with historical background. The crowds were large inside the museum - again out of the control of the guide, but it was difficult to hear her. Having earpieces to enhance her dialogue would have made this tour much more enjoyable. We did not want Cornelia to rush through the galleries, but both couples felt she could have moved the tour along more quickly and enable us to see more. Her wealth of art knowledge is indisputable, but we were disappointed that she was not a bit more accommodating regarding time.
Malinda
Reviewed on:
Nov 2, 2011
Would have liked the docent to arrive a few minutes earlier - just would have been reassuring that I was in the right meeting place - this is only because of my first experience where the docent did not show.
I was very disappointed that the docent for my tour called Evening Stroll in Florence simply did not show up. I was at the meeting place with another person who had signed up for the tour and who had a cell phone with her and we received no call or email to tell us this tour had been cancelled. I would have made alternate plans for the evining had I known this tour was not going to happen. Please refund my money.
Thank you.
Carol
Reviewed on:
Oct 26, 2011
Perhaps a little less time in Piazza de Signoria and a little more in the Uffizi. Also, it would be helpful for the docent to orient the group to his or her intellectual construct for the walk, in particular, as to the Uffizi: for excample, to state in advance, here is what we are going to focus on, and why, and why in this sequence. I make this suggestion because, among other things, it is themes and generalizations that people remember more than particular facts.
Richard
Reviewed on:
Oct 25, 2011
