Private Uffizi Gallery and Vasari Corridor tour Florence

Skip the queues and walk Florence's hidden Medici passages with a guide focused only on you.

This private guided tour of Florence takes you through the Uffizi Gallery's masterworks by Botticelli, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, then into the Vasari Corridor—a 1565 Medici passageway reopened to the public in 2024 that crosses the Arno and links the Uffizi to Boboli Gardens. Your own English-speaking guide brings Renaissance art and architecture to life without other guests in your group, and the tour ends at the Buontalenti Grotto, a whimsical sculpture garden built by the Medici family. Timed entry tickets to both the Uffizi and Vasari Corridor are included; you'll need to bring ID, and the tour involves moderate walking.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Uffizi and Vasari Corridor

• Skip the long lines at Uffizi Gallery
• Explore Renaissance art with personal guide
• Learn about Medici family's influence
• Walk the Vasari Corridor over Arno River
• Discover stories of the secret passageway
• Visit Buontalenti Grotto in Boboli Gardens

The Experience

If you land in Florence with a free afternoon or want to see the city's most famous art without spending hours in line, this tour solves the planning. You skip the queue at the Uffizi and walk straight to works by Botticelli, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci with a guide who answers your questions and lets you linger where you're drawn. The Uffizi is crowded most days; having your own guide and no other guests in the group means you move at your pace and the art stays the focus instead of the crowd.

After a short break, you walk the Vasari Corridor—a passage the Medici built in 1565 to move between their palace and gardens without stepping into the street. It was closed to the public for centuries and reopened in 2024. The corridor is elevated, crosses the Arno River, and offers views and stories that have stayed hidden until recently. Your guide walks it with you and explains what you're seeing as you move through this rare space. The tour ends in the Buontalenti Grotto, a surreal sculpture garden tucked into the Boboli Gardens, another Medici creation that most visitors miss.

The whole experience takes three hours. You'll walk at a moderate pace—bring comfortable shoes and ID on the day of your tour. Tickets for the Vasari Corridor are nominative, so when you book, provide the first name, last name and date of birth for everyone in your group. Public transportation is nearby if you need it to reach the meeting point.

What’s included

• Your private English-speaking guide.
• skip-the-line timed entry tickets to the Uffizi Gallery.
• access to the newly reopened Vasari Corridor with timed entry.
• entry to the Buontalenti Grotto in the Boboli Gardens.
• expertly guided walking tour through all three sites.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Walks - Italy & Spain

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're visiting Florence for the first time or have only a few hours free and want to see the city's most important art without the stress of queues or planning. The private format means your guide focuses entirely on you and your group, so you can ask questions and spend time with the works that matter to you instead of moving with a crowd.

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Top questions

What exactly is the Vasari Corridor and why is it worth seeing?

The Vasari Corridor is an elevated passageway the Medici family built in 1565 to connect the Uffizi Gallery to the Boboli Gardens without walking through the street. It was closed to the public for centuries and reopened in 2024. The corridor crosses the Arno River and offers views of Florence and the river that few visitors ever see, along with stories of Medici power and Renaissance Florence.

Will I really skip the line at the Uffizi, or do I still wait?

You skip the line entirely. Your timed entry ticket gets you straight into the gallery without queuing at the door, and your private guide takes you directly to the masterworks instead of navigating the crowds.

Is this tour suitable if I have difficulty walking long distances?

The tour involves moderate walking throughout and is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments, wheelchairs or strollers. You'll walk through the Uffizi, the Vasari Corridor and the Boboli Gardens at a steady pace over three hours.

What's included in the price, and what do I need to arrange myself?

The tour includes your private English-speaking guide, timed entry tickets to both the Uffizi Gallery and the Vasari Corridor, and entry to the Buontalenti Grotto. You don't arrange tickets separately or worry about meeting times—your guide handles the access and timing. Gratuities are not included.

Do I need to provide any information when I book?

Yes. Tickets for the Vasari Corridor are nominative, meaning they're tied to each person's name. When you book, provide the first name, last name and date of birth for all participants in your group. Bring ID on the day of your tour.