Visit Palazzo Pitti: Opening Hours, Location, Directions
Sprawling across 32,000 sq ft, Palazzo Pitti is one of the largest and must-visit palaces in Florence, Italy. The majestic two-floor palace turned grand museum today preserves some of the most timeless Renaissance masterpieces, paintings, artwork, and sculptures.
The palace is divided into multiple artsy museums and galleries — Treasury of the Grand Dukes, the Palatine Gallery, Imperial and Royal Apartments, Gallery of Modern Art, and the Museum of Costume and Fashion. Oh, and at the backyard of the palace is the largest park in Florence - Boboli Gardens. Being an open-air museum, the lush green garden displays an array of antiques and sculptures dating back to the 16th century.
Palazzo Pitti Opening Hours
Tuesday to Sunday: 1:30 PM to 6:30 PM
If you’re heading there on weekends or on holidays, it’s mandatory to make reservations a day prior to the visit.
Note: the palace is closed on Mondays and on January 1 & December 25th.
Best Time To Visit Palazzo Pitti
Spring and autumn are considered the best time to visit these museums and other cultural hotspots in the city. As it's off-season during these months, you can skip the crowd which this city attracts during the summers.
Palazzo Pitti Location
Nestled in the heart of Oltrarno (Florence’s hippie neighbourhood) the Pitti Palace is just a few minutes walk from the city's popular and iconic landmark - Ponte Vecchio, an arch bridge over the Arno river.
Apart from its rich history, the bridge is also known for the jewellery shops built along it. So, make sure you spend some time strolling in there. When in this vicinity you must also check out Forte di Belvedere and Piazzale Michelangelo for a breathtaking view of Florence’s skyline.
Apart from the majestic architecture, the neighbourhood also houses multiple gardens and parks. Bardini Gardens and Giardino del Bobolino are not just known for their pretty landscape and lush greenery, but are also the closest to the Pitti Palace.
Getting there
Bus
Board the bus C4 which drops you at the Pitti bus stop, right outside the palace. Or bus No 11 that drops you at Piazza San Felice bus stop that’s opposite the palace.
Train
Unita is the nearest tram stop to the palace. You can check the tram schedule and timing on Florence's tram transport agency - Gest. Train number T2 leads you to Unita, which is also the last stop of this tram route.
Car
Known for its cultural and architectural beauty, it’s best you stroll around Florence walking and can avoid driving around. Especially, as most landmarks are in close proximity.
Parking Facilities
There’s no parking facility inside the palace. Visitors may park in parking lots nearby, such as Borgo Tegolaio, Garage Fosi, Garage Lungarno and Garage Ponte Vecchio.
Palazzo Pitti Facilities & Services
The Pitti Palace offers an array of facilities and services to its visitors.
- Cafeteria: You can finish off exploring the palace and grab a cup of coffee at their in-house cafeteria nestled in the right side of the courtyard.
- Locker room: Visitors may deposit their travel bags, umbrellas or jackets in these wardrobes located at the right side of the courtyard. This service is free of cost.
- Audio Guide: You can sign up for this service at the ticket counter itself. You can access audio guides in languages including English, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish. However, audio guides have been temporarily suspended by the palace owing to the Covid-19 situation.
- Parking: Visitors arriving to the palace via a personal vehicle can use the garage lots near the Pitti Palace.
- Wheelchair Accessibility: The Pitti Palace allows visitors with reduced mobility to access wheelchairs free of cost by presenting the required documents at the reception of the palace.
Palazzo Pitti: Know Before You Go
- Visitors with reduced mobility can access wheelchair free of cost from the reception area in the palace
- The Pitti Palace is well-equipped with disabled-friendly toilets that are located in the inner courtyard area, on the right side of the cafeteria.
- The right-wing of the museum has got two lifts through which the first and the second floor can be accessed easily.
- On every floor, there are trained staff to help out with opening doors, stairlift, etc.
- Entry of visitors whose temperature is over 37.5 degrees is forbidden.
- It is mandatory to cover your mouth and nose with a suitable CE mask.
- Visitors are required to maintain an interpersonal distance of 1.80 meters and avoid any kind of group gatherings.
- Mobile phones must be switched off or put on silent mode.
- Visitors may not touch or lean against the artwork or sculptures.
- Capturing photographs using flash or selfie sticks is not allowed.
- Guests may not consume food or beverages in the exhibition area.
- Carrying knives, any kind of firearm, drones, or any dangerous material is not permitted.
The Pitti Palace hosts regular exhibitions, conferences, shows and online events.
Currently, you can be a part of their special exhibition that displays the greatest artwork of the Italian painter Raphael namely - Portrait of Leo X with Cardinals Luigi de' Rossi and Giulio de' Medici.
Meanwhile you can also tune into their live streaming of events every Tuesday and Friday at 1:30 PM.
Book Palazzo Pitti Tickets
Around Palazzo Pitti
Boboli Gardens
A lavish Italian-style garden, this approximate 111-acre outdoor museum is right behind the Pitti Palace. Today, Boboli Gardens houses a vast collection of sculptures, fountains and exotic botany.
Boboli Gardens Tickets
Uffizi Gallery
Just a 10 minutes walk from the Pitti Palace, Uffizi Gallery is another must-visit art museum in Florence. The gallery displays artwork of great artists including Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raffaello.
Uffizi Gallery Tickets
Accademia Gallery
Popularly known to house Michelangelo’s sculpture David, Accademia Gallery recently reopened to the public in May 2021 with new layout and renovation.
Accademia Gallery TicketsVisit Palazzo Pitti: FAQs
Yes, Palazzo Pitti has been open to the public and visitors since May 2021.
Palazzo Pitti is located in Oltrarno, Florence.
The Palazzo Pitti is open from 1:30 PM - 6:30 PM Tuesday-Sunday.
The Pitti Palace adheres to strict safety rules including mandatory covering of mouth and nose, maintaining an interpersonal distance of 1.80 meters. Furthermore, the entry of visitors whose temperature is over 37.5 degrees Celsius is forbidden.
The best time to visit Palazzo Pitti would be evenings, as it can get sunny and humid in the afternoons.
You can use public transport including trains and buses, or its best to walk it up as most landmarks are in close proximity.
No, there is no parking facility in the Pitti Palace.
Yes, the palace is wheelchair accessible and one can use a wheelchair free of charge.
Yes, there are a bunch of ATMs in close proximity to the Pitti Palace which are within just two-three minutes walk.
Yes, wheelchairs are available inside Palazzo Pitti.
Yes, you can deposit your jackets, bags, umbrellas etc. for free of charge.
Yes, there’s a baby pit-stop in the basement which can be used for baby care and breastfeeding.