Accademia Gallery Tickets 2026: Prices, Skip-the-Line & Michelangelo's David
Tickets cost €20. Most visitors come for one sculpture and leave in under an hour. Here's whether it's worth it and how to see it without the crowd.
Every year, 1.7 million people visit the Accademia Gallery for one reason: Michelangelo's David. Most spend under an hour. Some spend under 20 minutes. The sculpture is 5.17 metres of Carrara marble carved by a 26-year-old in 1504, and it looks nothing like the postcards suggest. It looks better.
How much are Accademia Gallery tickets in 2026?
Two ways to book: GetYourGuide (skip-the-line, free cancellation) or the official site.
Current prices (2026):
- Standard: €20
- Accademia + Bargello combo (48 hours): €26
- 6-museum pass (Accademia + Bargello + Cappelle Medicee + Orsanmichele + Palazzo Davanzati + Museo Stibbert, 72 hours): €38
- Reduced (EU citizens 18-25): reduced rate applies
- Free: under 18, disabled + 1 companion, first Sunday of the month
No booking fee on the official site. Timed entry is required — pick your slot when you buy.
Where to book
Our take: The Accademia sells out less often than bigger galleries, but GYG is the safer bet in summer or booking less than a week ahead — skip-the-line means no queue stress and free cancellation covers you if plans shift.
What are the Accademia Gallery opening hours?
Tuesday to Sunday, 8:15 AM to 6:50 PM. Last entry at 6:20 PM. Closed every Monday, January 1, and December 25.
The 8:15 AM slot is the calmest. David's tribune fills with tour groups by 10 AM, and between 11 AM and 2 PM the room is three rows deep around the sculpture. Wednesday and Thursday mornings are the quietest weekdays. Full breakdown in our Accademia opening hours and best-time guide.
The Accademia guide — your room-by-room route through David and the Prisoners
- Where exactly to stand to see what Michelangelo actually carved into the right hand
- The Prisoners: four unfinished Michelangelos in the hallway most visitors walk past
- The Cristofori piano — one of three surviving originals in the world, almost never crowded
Is the Accademia Gallery worth visiting?
Yes, with a caveat. The Accademia is a one-headliner museum. David is extraordinary — the marble seems to breathe, and the scale only becomes real when you stand next to it. But the rest of the collection is smaller and less varied than the Uffizi.
That said, two things make the visit worthwhile beyond David. The four Prisoners (unfinished Michelangelo sculptures lining the hallway to David) show his working process better than any finished piece. Figures twist out of raw marble blocks, half-formed. The musical instrument collection on the first floor, including a 1690 Stradivarius, sits in near-empty rooms while everyone crowds around David.
If you only have time for one Florence museum, pick the Uffizi. If you have half a day, do both. The Accademia takes 45 minutes to 1.5 hours. Not sure which to prioritise? See our Uffizi vs Accademia comparison.
What should you know before visiting the Accademia?
The queue is real. In summer, walk-up waits reach 2 hours. Any timed ticket (official or third-party) skips the ticket queue. Security is quick, under 5 minutes.
Bags must be small. There is no cloakroom. Large backpacks and luggage are not allowed. Leave them at your hotel or use a luggage storage near the station (Florence SMN is a 10-minute walk).
After multiple Accademia visits since 2024, the Art Visit Guide order is the one that follows.
Go to David first, then work backward. Walk straight through to the tribune at the end of the main hall. Spend your time with David while the room is still manageable, then circle back to the Prisoners and the painting galleries at your own pace.
The combo ticket saves money. The Accademia + Bargello pass (€26) covers two museums for the price of 1.3 tickets. The Bargello holds Donatello's bronze David, the other David that changed sculpture.
- Museum
- Galleria dell'Accademia, Florence
- Ticket
- €20 standard · €26 with Bargello combo (48h)
- Free entry
- First Sunday of the month (no pre-booking, long queues)
- Hours
- Tue-Sun 8:15 AM – 6:50 PM · Last entry 6:20 PM
- Closed
- Mondays, January 1, December 25
- Getting there
- Via Ricasoli, 58/60 · 10 min walk from Florence SMN station
- Book at
- GetYourGuide · 4.6★ · free cancellation · galleriaaccademiafirenze.it
- Guided tour
- GetYourGuide: David Small-Group Tour · skip-the-line · Viator: 9-pax group + Stradivarius collection
- Website
- galleriaaccademiafirenze.it
Hours and prices can change — confirm on the official site before you go.
Last verified: April 2026
Frequently asked questions
How much are Accademia Gallery tickets in 2026?
Standard admission is €20 at the official site. Skip-the-line tickets through third parties cost €35-39. EU citizens aged 18-25 pay a reduced rate. Under 18 is free. The Accademia + Bargello combo ticket is €26 (valid 48 hours).
How long do you need at the Accademia Gallery?
Most visitors spend 45 minutes to 1.5 hours. If you are coming only for Michelangelo's David, 30 minutes is enough. The Prisoners, the musical instrument collection, and the painting galleries add another 30-60 minutes.
Is the Accademia Gallery worth visiting?
Yes, if you want to see Michelangelo's David in person. No photo or replica prepares you for the scale (5.17 metres tall) or the detail. The rest of the collection is secondary but the Prisoners alone are worth a stop.
When is the Accademia Gallery free?
The first Sunday of every month. No advance booking. Queues stretch 2-3 hours in peak season. The €20 ticket with a timed slot is a better use of your time.
Accademia or Uffizi — which one?
Both, if you can. The Uffizi is broader (100+ rooms, 2-3 hours) and covers Botticelli, Leonardo, Titian, and Caravaggio. The Accademia is focused (45 min to 1.5 hours) with Michelangelo as the centerpiece. If forced to choose one, the Uffizi gives more for your time. But David is the single most memorable thing you will see in Florence.
Planning your Florence visit? Read our Uffizi Gallery tickets guide or explore Rome with the Vatican Museums tickets guide and Colosseum tickets guide. Ready to book? Get Accademia skip-the-line tickets on GetYourGuide (4.6★, 600+ reviews) — free cancellation, skip the queue.