Palazzo Vecchio is Florence’s civic palace and museum, standing on Piazza della Signoria in the historic centre. Inside, you can follow a route through monumental rooms and see highlights such as the Salone dei Cinquecento, with the tower and battlement walkway offering another perspective on the palace.
- Location: Piazza della Signoria, Florence
- Museum hours: Open daily
- Standard admission: €17.50–€18 for the museum; €12.50–€20 for Arnolfo’s Tower, depending on the ticket
Palazzo Vecchio and Piazza della Signoria
Palazzo Vecchio is the historic civic palace at the heart of Piazza della Signoria, in the Florence old town, and it still serves as the seat of Florence’s city government.
The palace was built between the end of the 13th century and the beginning of the 14th century to house the Priors of the Arts and the Gonfaloniere of Justice.
The square spreads out in front of the palace, while the nearby Loggia dei Lanzi displays a sculpture gallery. Together, the palace façade, piazza and loggia make this a compact area to take in before entering the museum.
For a wider walking route through this part of the city, the one-day Florence walking itinerary from the Santa Croce area puts the central sights into a broader sequence.
Museum highlights and historic rooms
The Palazzo Vecchio Museum combines archaeological remains, historic rooms and elevated viewpoints in a single visit. Its route includes remains of the Roman theatre beneath the palace, monumental rooms decorated by artists of the 15th and 16th centuries, and the medieval battlement walkway and tower.
Make time for the Salone dei Cinquecento, the Studiolo of Francesco I de’ Medici and the Hall of Maps. These rooms give the visit its focus, while the remains beneath the palace and the upper route add distinct layers to the building’s story.
The museum’s free ground-floor section, “Tracce di Firenze,” follows the same opening hours as the rest of the museum route. If you are planning to pair the palace with another major art collection, the Uffizi Gallery visit guide covers planning a visit there.
Palazzo Vecchio hours, tickets and guided visits
Opening hours
- Monday to Wednesday and Friday to Sunday: 9:00–19:00
- Thursday: 9:00–14:00
Last checked November 2026. Hours can change on holidays and for special events.
The City of Florence and MUS.E give museum admission prices of €17.50–€18 standard and €12–€15 reduced. Reduced admission applies to visitors aged 18–25 and university students.
The city’s standard ticket for Arnolfo’s Tower is €20, with a reduced price of €13; MUS.E gives €12.50 standard and €10 reduced for Tower and battlement admission. Museum admission is free for visitors aged 17 and under, with additional free-admission categories including visitors with disabilities and their companions.
Ticket sales end one hour before closing, and visitors are asked to arrive 15 minutes before a visit. Advance purchase is mandatory for Arnolfo’s Tower; the official ticket office offers online purchases and recommends booking online. For reservations, contact info@musefirenze.it or 055-0541450. Check the official site before you go.
How do you get from a Florence hotel to Palazzo Vecchio?
From a room at this two-star Florence hotel, Palazzo Vecchio is about a 3-minute walk away. The palace stands on Piazza della Signoria, so the walk brings you directly to the square in front of the building.
Access and visit planning
You can enter the museum through the main entrance on Piazza della Signoria or the side entrance on Via dei Gondi. Visitors with mobility disabilities should use the side entrance. The museum is accessible except for the mezzanine, battlement walkway, tower and some rooms used for educational activities.
Arnolfo’s Tower rises 95 metres and has 223 stone steps to the final battlement lookout. It is not accessible by wheelchair or stroller, children under 6 are not admitted, and visitors under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. The city also discourages tower visits for people with mobility difficulties, heart or respiratory conditions, vertigo or claustrophobia.
Rain closes the tower, but the medieval battlement walkway remains accessible when that happens. Civic events can also lead to partial or full museum closures, so consult the museum’s visitor notices before arranging your visit.
FAQs
- Ticket
- €20 standard and €13 reduced for Arnolfo’s Tower, or €12
What are the Palazzo Vecchio opening hours?
Open daily.
How much are Palazzo Vecchio tickets?
Official sources give museum admission prices of €17.50–€18 standard and €12–€15 reduced. Tower prices vary by ticket: €20 standard and €13 reduced for Arnolfo’s Tower, or €12.50 and €10 for Tower and battlement admission.
Can you visit Arnolfo’s Tower with children?
Children under 6 are not admitted, and visitors under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. The tower is not accessible by wheelchair or stroller.
Is Palazzo Vecchio accessible?
Most of the museum is accessible, but the mezzanine, battlement walkway, tower and some rooms used for educational activities are exceptions. Visitors with mobility disabilities should enter through Via dei Gondi.