Statue of David in Florence: Tickets and Visitor Guide (2026)
Even if you have just a single day in Florence, you shouldn’t miss Michelangelo’s David. I have paid him a visit more than once and would do so again in a heartbeat.
The statue is housed in Florence’s Accademia Gallery. Here’s how to see David in Florence, including how the ticket system works and what to expect on the day
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Opening hours: 8:15 am to 6:50 pm (last admission at 6:20 pm). Extended evening openings on Tuesdays in June and July. Check current hours here.
Closed: Every Monday, January 1, December 25.
Full ticket price (2026): €20 + €4 booking fee.
Recommended tours:
Why You Should See the Statue of David in Florence
Carved from a single block of Carrara marble, the sculpture represents the biblical figure David, who defeated the giant Goliath with a single stone. He stands in a contrapposto pose, his weight shifted onto one leg, sling over his shoulder in the moment before the fight.
Michelangelo carved him between 1501 and 1504. He was originally intended for Florence’s Duomo, but was placed instead in Piazza della Signoria, in front of the Palazzo Vecchio. This prime position said everything about how much the city valued him.
David is one of Michelangelo’s greatest sculptures, and widely regarded as one of the most important in art history.
How to Buy Tickets to See David at Florence’s Accademia Gallery
Similar to the Uffizi Galleries, Florence’s other big artistic attraction, I highly recommend pre-booking your ticket to visit the Accademia Gallery. Reports of epic queues to buy tickets are not exaggerated, and there’s a real chance you won’t get in at all.
Buy your ticket as soon as your Florence dates are fixed.
Regardless of what you might read, there’s no true skip-the-line ticket for the David statue. What booking ahead gets you is a far shorter queue to collect your ticket and enter during your time slot.
#1: Buy your ticket from the official website (the cheapest option)
B-ticket is the official ticketing website for the Florentine State Museums. To process your order, you will need to register as a new customer (or sign in as an existing customer). Major credit cards are accepted.
Once your order is processed, you will receive an email confirmation which includes an order number.
#2: Buy your ticket by phone (alternative cheapest option)
There is also an official phone line to buy tickets for the Accademia Gallery. The number is +39 055 294883.
#3: Buy your ticket from a 3rd party reseller (the most flexible option)
Booking through a reseller costs a few euros more, but it has its advantages:
- As resellers purchase tickets in bulk, this is a useful option if tickets are sold out on the official website.
- GetYourGuide is the platform that I use and they usually offer free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance. This is handy if you want to keep your plans flexible.
#4: Buy a ticket bundled with a guided tour (the value-added option)
This option is for you if you’d like to learn more about Renaissance Art or Florence and want someone else to take care of reserving your time slot. These tours include your ticket to see David.
Uffizi & Accademia small group walking tour: A 4-hour tour that includes entrance to the Uffizi and Accademia plus a short walking tour.
Florence walking tour with Accademia Gallery ticket: A 2-hour tour combining the Accademia Gallery with a short walk around Florence.
#5: Buy a Firenze Card
If you plan to visit other top Florence attractions, the Firenze Pass could save you money. As with any city pass, do the maths before you buy.
How to See David for Free
It is possible to see David without handing over a single euro. Well, sort of.
#1 Free entry to the Accademia Gallery
The good news is that you can visit the Accademia Gallery for free on the first Sunday of the month and a few selected dates throughout the year. The bad news is that you cannot book tickets in advance. Arrive early and be prepared for a very long wait.
#2 See the fake Davids
If you are not able to get tickets to see the real thing, you can see one or both of the fake Davids, just a few of the fabulous free sculptures in Florence.
One stands in the original spot outside the Palazzo Vecchio, among the statues in Piazza della Signoria. The other is a bronze copy in Piazzale Michelangelo, one of Florence’s best viewpoints.
My Top Tips for Seeing David in Florence
1. Book ahead
Don’t waste precious time in Florence queuing for tickets or, worse still, risk leaving the city without clapping eyes on Michelangelo’s buff biblical shepherd.
2. Try to avoid busier times
David draws the crowds year-round, but summer months and weekends are the worst.I last visited the Accademia Gallery midweek in April and it was not rammed with visitors.
3. Bring a guide
A good guidebook or the museum’s audio guide adds a lot to the visit. Book the audio guide with your ticket, or buy it on arrival.
4. Leave large bags at the hotel
There’s no cloakroom, so large bags and backpacks aren’t allowed in. Water bottles over 500ml aren’t either.
Don’t Miss the Other Artworks in the Accademia Gallery
David is the Accademia’s biggest draw, but not its only one.
Look out for The Prisoners, also called The Slaves, a set of unfinished Michelangelo sculptures made for Pope Julius II’s tomb. The gallery also holds his Palestrina Pieta and St Matthew, a collection of Florentine Gothic and Renaissance paintings by Botticelli, Ghirlandaio and Filippo Lippi, and a set of historical instruments that includes the oldest piano in the world.
Ready to See More Art in Florence?
Florence is an all-you-can-eat buffet of Renaissance art. If you want to learn more about the “divine artist”, here are my favourite books about Michelangelo.
- 8 Places to Find Michelangelo Sculptures in Florence, Italy
- Where to Find Fabulous Free Sculptures in Florence, Italy
- 20 Famous Paintings in the Uffizi Gallery That You Cannot Miss
By Bridget
Bridget Coleman is an award-winning travel blogger who is an incurable Italy addict and has travelled its length & breadth on multiple occasions. Find out more here.
To get in touch, email her at hello@flashpackingitaly.com