Cross with a route in mind
Begin at Ponte Vecchio and cross into Oltrarno, then continue towards Piazza Pitti. Pause in the square to look at the palace’s broad stone frontage. Treat this as a neighbourhood outing first: you can enjoy the bridges and public squares without turning every doorway into a ticket purchase.
Mobile data for your trip. Check what your current plan includes for roaming. If you need another option for maps, messages and booking details, compare NXTL eSIM coverage and rates. Check that your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked, and check coverage for every stop. Download important maps and confirmations for offline use too.
Choose art or a garden, rather than both by default
Pitti’s Palatine Gallery is the indoor choice if you want paintings in a palace setting. Boboli is the outdoor option, with slopes and gravel paths: use the current map for a shorter visit around the amphitheatre and a chosen fountain. Bring water and suitable shoes. Check ticket coverage and access directly; neither option needs to be squeezed into the spare hour before dinner.
Keep the closed collections on your list
At our 9 October 2026 review, the Treasury of the Grand Dukes and the Porcelain Museum were closed until further notice. Pitti’s Room of the Iliad was also closed, with Mars Room closure announced for 13 October and Apollo for 20 October. These collections and rooms are worth returning for, but choose the available Palatine route instead. Packtricia will check for reopening; always check the museum before travelling.
Return through Santo Spirito
Continue to Piazza Santo Spirito and let the neighbourhood square provide a pause before the return. Choose a current café menu that fits whether you want coffee or a meal, rather than assuming every terrace serves at all hours. Follow the lanes towards Ponte Santa Trinita for a view back towards Ponte Vecchio from a different bridge.
Use a weather alternative you can actually visit
Boboli can close for weather emergencies; its published 7–8 October 2026 weather closure had ended by the date of this review, but that does not guarantee operation on your arrival day. Check current notices. In rain, shorten the bridge loop and spend longer in an available Pitti collection. The Uffizi Galleries’ 14 October strike notice also affects this decision, so confirm Pitti independently rather than assuming the whole complex is guaranteed open.
Check before you go
Opening arrangements and visitor rules can change. Check the official information before your trip.
