Free and cheap · A free cathedral, hill views, first-Sunday museums and cheap buses · Checked against operators’ and city pages
Free and Cheap Things to Do in Florence, and When Paying Is Worth It
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A free day, in order
This free day runs Monday to Saturday, hills first, then the river, then the cathedral. Each stop has a window that sets its place.
- Start at the Rose Garden, which opens at 9am, then look over the city from Piazzale Michelangelo just above it.
- Walk up to San Miniato al Monte when it opens at 9:30am, and leave before it closes at 1pm.
- Go down to the river and cross Ponte Vecchio to Piazza della Signoria, where the loggia holds Cellini’s Perseus.
- Reach the Duomo before 3:45pm, with legs and shoulders covered and no hat.
- Finish on the Lungarno at sunset and watch the light change over the Arno.
The free cathedral and the open-air sculpture
The cathedral interior costs nothing, but its free window is short and Sundays are excluded. Piazza della Signoria is an open-air gallery of originals and copies.
Good to know
- Duomo interior: free, no ticket, Monday to Saturday 10:15am to 3:45pm. It is closed to visitors on Sundays and during religious celebrations.
- Bare legs, bare shoulders and hats are not admitted, and bulky bags are refused, so carry only a light day bag.
- The dome, bell tower, Baptistery and museum are not part of the free entry; each needs one of the three passes.
- Piazza della Signoria: Cellini’s Perseus and Giambologna’s Rape of the Sabine Women stand in the loggia, and a copy of David stands before Palazzo Vecchio.
Free hill views, gardens and the river
The best free views are on one hill south of the river. None needs booking, but San Miniato shuts at midday and stops for services.
Good to know
- Piazzale Michelangelo is a public terrace facing the Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio, Santa Croce and Ponte Vecchio, with a bronze copy of David at its centre.
- The Rose Garden, just below the square, opens daily at 9am and closes at 8pm from May to September, 5pm in winter. The city lists no entry fee.
- San Miniato al Monte: free, no reservation for individuals or groups, closed to visitors during services and over the middle of the day. The monks sing vespers in Gregorian chant each afternoon.
- Ponte Vecchio and Ponte Santa Trinita cost nothing to cross, nor do the Lungarno embankments between them. Santa Trinita was rebuilt in 1958 exactly as it was.
Museums with a free day
State museums open free on the first Sunday of every month at their normal hours. The Uffizi and Accademia cannot be reserved that day, so the queue is the price.
Good to know
- The Uffizi takes no reservation or priority pass on free Sundays, apart from disabled visitors, their companions and pregnant women.
- The Accademia has no cloakroom and refuses large bags and backpacks; on free days you join the queue and wait your turn.
- The Uffizi, Accademia, Bargello and San Marco are all closed on Mondays.
| Free window | What to know | |
|---|---|---|
| Uffizi, Pitti and Boboli | First Sunday of each month | No reservation or priority pass; the Uffizi opens at 8:15am |
| Accademia (David) | First Sunday, plus a few national holidays | Booking switched off; join the queue; no cloakroom |
| Bargello | First Sunday of each month | National museum, open Tuesday to Sunday, 8:15am to 6:50pm |
| Museo di San Marco | First Sunday of each month | Mornings only: open to 1:50pm, last entry 12:45pm |
Nearly free, and worth it
A city bus ticket is the cheapest sightseeing here: it lasts 90 minutes and saves the hill climbs. Buy it before boarding, because the driver’s price is higher.
Good to know
- The city ticket is valid for 90 minutes in Florence. Tickets bought from the driver cost more, and drivers are not required to give change.
- Bus 13 links the station area with Piazzale Michelangelo and saves the climb; roadworks divert parts of its route from time to time.
- The Bargello and San Marco charge EU citizens aged 18 to 25 a much lower reduced ticket and admit under-18s free, a saving on any day.
| Item | € per adult | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Single ticket, valid 90 minutes | €2 | ≈ US$2 |
| Single ticket bought from the driver | €3 | ≈ US$3 |
| One ticket from a 10-ticket carnet | €1.82 | ≈ US$2 |
Free versus paid: our verdicts
Three choices come up on every budget trip. The free version is often enough, but each has a point where paying changes the day.
| Option | Our verdict |
|---|---|
| The free cathedral interior, versus paying for the dome climb | The interior is worth doing free. The dome buys a timed climb and a close look at the Last Judgment fresco, which no free view gives. |
| The Uffizi on a free first Sunday, versus a reserved slot on another day | Free saves the whole fee but cannot be reserved, so you queue. A reserved slot buys a chosen entry time on any day but Monday. |
| Walking the squares and bridges yourself, versus a tip-based guided walk | The sights cost nothing to see. A guide is worth a small booking for the Medici story; budget for the tip on the day. |
When paying is worth it: about €45 for the Uffizi
Pay for a slot when the free version costs a queue you cannot spare. A reserved slot lets you pick your day and hour, instead of waiting for the first Sunday of the month.
Good to know
- Uffizi: our reviewed option is a reserved timed entry with no guide, free to cancel up to 24 hours ahead.
- Accademia: our reviewed option is a priority timed ticket for the David, also free to cancel up to 24 hours ahead.
- Walking tour: the booked price is only the booking; the guide is tipped separately on the day, so budget for it.
| Item | € per adult | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Uffizi Gallery, reserved timed entry | €42.99 | ≈ US$47 |
| Accademia Gallery, priority timed ticket | €36 | ≈ US$40 |
| Walking tour, booking only | €3 | ≈ US$3 |
Florence tours and activities on Mubboo
Paying is worth it for the Uffizi, from about €45, and for a guided small-group visit, from ≈ US$80; everything else here stays free or close to it.
Prices checked 19 Sep 2026 · per person, tickets and transport, excluding accommodation
What it costs, and where to book
| Plan | Tickets and transport | Book |
|---|---|---|
| Uffizi reserved timed ticket, our reviewed option | about €45 | Book Uffizi tickets |
Prices checked 19 Sep 2026 · per person, tickets and transport, excluding accommodation. Amounts over 20 are rounded up. Ticket prices are per person for the first reviewed ticket and change by date.
Explore Florence Before You Book
Take a virtual drive or walk, then find tours and tickets for the places you like.
Where paying is worth it, and where it is not
Spend on a reserved Uffizi or Accademia slot, or on a guide who explains the Medici. The Duomo interior, the hill views, the bridges and the first-Sunday museums stay free at full strength.
Mubboo compares flights and tours and may earn a commission when a traveller uses a partner link. Booking and payment happen with the provider.
Questions people ask
Is the Florence Duomo free to enter?
The cathedral itself is, Monday to Saturday from 10:15am to 3:45pm, with legs and shoulders covered. The dome, bell tower, Baptistery and museum need a pass.
Are the Uffizi and Accademia free on the first Sunday?
Yes, both take part. Neither can be reserved that day, so you join the queue, and the Accademia refuses large bags and backpacks.
What is free on a Monday in Florence?
The cathedral, San Miniato, Piazzale Michelangelo, the Rose Garden and the bridges. The Uffizi, Accademia, Bargello and San Marco are all closed on Mondays.
Can I visit San Miniato al Monte for free?
Yes, with no reservation. It is closed to visitors during services and over the middle of the day, so plan to go in the morning.
What is the cheapest way to get around Florence?
Walk the centre and use one city bus ticket for the hills. It lasts 90 minutes, and buying from the driver costs more.
Is a tip-based walking tour really free?
The guide is tipped in person, on top of a small booking price. Budget for both, and read the listing for what the booking covers.
Plan deeper in Florence
Sources (24)
Every figure above was checked on the dates shown.
- Mubboo reviewed ticket options for Florence (the booking platform destination 519); per-person prices read when the page is built — mubboo.flights/florence/tours (checked 2026-09-19)
- Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore, the Cathedral (free access, hours, dress code, Sunday closure) — duomo.firenze.it/en/discover/cathedral (checked 2026-09-19)
- Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore, tickets (passes needed for every monument except the cathedral) — duomo.firenze.it/en/713/tickets (checked 2026-09-19)
- Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore, the Dome (booked time slot, climb, Last Judgment fresco) — duomo.firenze.it/en/discover/dome (checked 2026-09-19)
- FeelFlorence (Comune di Firenze), Piazza della Signoria — www.feelflorence.it/en/points-interest/piazza-della-signoria (checked 2026-09-19)
- FeelFlorence (Comune di Firenze), Piazzale Michelangelo — www.feelflorence.it/en/points-interest/piazzale-michelangiolo (checked 2026-09-19)
- FeelFlorence (Comune di Firenze), Rose Garden (seasonal opening hours) — www.feelflorence.it/en/points-interest/rose-garden (checked 2026-09-19)
- Abbazia di San Miniato al Monte, hours, information and contacts (free entry, no reservation, services) — sanminiatoalmonte.it/contatti/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- FeelFlorence (Comune di Firenze), San Miniato al Monte — www.feelflorence.it/en/points-interest/san-miniato-al-monte (checked 2026-09-19)
- FeelFlorence (Comune di Firenze), Ponte Vecchio — www.feelflorence.it/en/points-interest/ponte-vecchio (checked 2026-09-19)
- FeelFlorence (Comune di Firenze), Ponte Santa Trinita — www.feelflorence.it/en/points-interest/ponte-santa-trinita (checked 2026-09-19)
- Uffizi Galleries, free entry on the first Sunday of the month (Uffizi, Pitti Palace, Boboli Gardens) — www.uffizi.it/en/events/free-entry-sunday (checked 2026-09-19)
- Uffizi Galleries, the Uffizi (opening days and hours) — www.uffizi.it/en/the-uffizi (checked 2026-09-19)
- Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze, visit information (hours, free days, cloakroom) — www.galleriaaccademiafirenze.it/en/visit/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- Musei del Bargello, Museo Nazionale del Bargello (hours and closing day) — bargellomusei.it/musei/bargello/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- Musei del Bargello, Museo Nazionale del Bargello tickets (reduced and free admission, first-Sunday free entry) — bargellomusei.it/biglietti/museo-nazionale-del-bargello/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- Direzione regionale Musei nazionali Toscana, Museo di San Marco (hours, reduced and free admission) — museitoscana.cultura.gov.it/luoghi_della_cultura/museo_di_san_marco/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- Ministero della Cultura, Domenica al Museo (free entry to state sites on the first Sunday) — cultura.gov.it/domenicalmuseo (checked 2026-09-19)
- Autolinee Toscane, fares (Urbano capoluogo ticket) — www.at-bus.it/en/ticket (checked 2026-09-19)
- Autolinee Toscane, Urbano capoluogo ticket (90 minutes in Florence) — www.at-bus.it/en/ticket/urban-tickets/urbano-capoluogo (checked 2026-09-19)
- Autolinee Toscane, on board from the driver ticket — www.at-bus.it/en/ticket/urban-tickets/board-driver-ticket (checked 2026-09-19)
- Autolinee Toscane, Urbano capoluogo 10 Journeys carnet — www.at-bus.it/en/ticket/urban-tickets/urbano-capoluogo-10-journeys (checked 2026-09-19)
- Autolinee Toscane, line 13, Piazzale Michelangiolo and the station area — www.at-bus.it/en/linee-e-orari/firenze-urbano-13 (checked 2026-09-19)
- Mubboo Tours search, Florence (the booking platform destination 519) — mubboo.flights/api/tours/search?destinationId=519&mode=keyword&language=en&sort=featured (checked 2026-09-19)