Uffizi Gallery: Small Group Guided Tour (Skip-the-Line)

Visiting the Ufizzi Gallery (La Galleria degli Uffizi) is a must when visiting Florence, as it's one of the oldest and most famous museums in the world with one of the greatest collection of paintings (Giotto, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Raphael and some European painters) and ancient statues and busts from the Medici family.

The best way to explore this museum is to join a guided tour to learn history facts of the Uffizi Gallery and great stories behind each famous painting or sculpture.

Plus, you'll avoid waiting for the buying the tickets and you'll use priority entrance (smooth and quick entry).

The Uffizi Gallery in Florence

We recommend this fabulous tour by City Wonders, which is available every day with several departure times (from morning until afternoon).

You'll easily find the meeting point - it's a short walk from the Ponte Vecchio (the tour representative will be wearing blue City Wonders jacket and holding tour sign). Headsets you get will allow you to clearly hear the guide throughout the tour (very useful).

Uffizi Gallery from outside

The tour starts with an introduction of Uffizi Gallery (that dates back to the 16th century and it was designed by Giorgio Vasari in 1560 for Cosimo I de' Medici to house the administrative and judiciary offices) then takes you on the second floor, where there are 45 halls displaying works of art from the 13th to the 18th centuries.

Your guide will take you to watch all the main works with an excellent historical sequence and the explanations of even very interesting details about each the paintings.

Giotto's Virgin and Child enthroned, surrounded by angels and saints

At the Uffizi Gallery you'll see Giotto's Virgin and Child enthroned, surrounded by angels and saints. This painting was made at the height of his artistic maturity and, for over a century, it was a model of inspiration for Florentine painters. The work is also known as Maestà di Ognissanti.

The Birth of Venus, from Sandro Botticelli

Primavera from Botticelli

One of the most famous masterpieces you'll see in this museum are Primavera and the Birth of Venus, from Sandro Botticelli. You may recognize his painting of the Birth of Venus, which shows the goddess being carried ashore in a giant seashell. Primavera shows arrival of spring with dancing gods and muses in a garden.

Uffizi Gallery the Holy Family by Michelangelo

Michelangelo’s Holy Family (or Doni Tondo) painting dates back to the same period as his David statue, and is one of the few remaining examples of Michelangelo’s painting, together with the breathtaking frescoes in the Sistine Chapel.

The Doni Tondo also laid the foundations of mannerism, also known as Late Renaissance. This style of European art featured bizarre, striking poses and iridescent colors, and your guide will help you to see its clear origins in this masterpiece.

Famous diptych by Piero della Francesca

You'll also see one of the most celebrated portraits of the Italian Renaissance (done by Piero della Francesca), the diptych features the Duke of Urbino, Federico da Montefeltro and his wife Battista Sforza (by Piero della Francesca).

Once the tour is finished you can continue your exploration of first floor and then visit the souvenir shop to buy small memento from the Uffizi Gallery.

The best way to book this guided tour is via GetYourGuide. Once the tour is booked you'll get confirmation email but the easiest way to access the ticket in via GetYourGuide mobile application.

There, you'll see all tour details, date and time, duration, booking reference code, contact of tour provider (in case you need to phone them) and the explanation how to find the meeting point. You can easily cancel the tour online (if this option is available). So easy and without any hassle!