Visit Boboli Garden in Florence: tickets, prices, schedules

Did you plan to stay in Florence? Don't miss Boboli Garden! Here is our info on this beautiful Italian garden!

Located behind the Palazzo Pitti in the historic centre of Florence The Boboli Garden is the most famous park in the city and attracts millions of visitors every year! A true green lung with its 45 hectares, it also has a unique historical value and promises a breathtaking view of Florence.

If you want to escape the city brouha, the Boboli Garden is the place where you have to go! Here's all you need to know to visit the Boboli Garden in Florence!

The History of the Boboli Garden

After having obtained the domain in 1549 and made the acquisition of Palazzo Pitti , the wife of Cosme I de Medici , Eleonore of Toledo, has been built these Renaissance-style gardens by Niccolò Tribolo who died some time after undertaking the work. The construction site was taken over by Bartolomeo Ammanati , with the contribution of Giorgio Vasari for caves, and Bernardo Buontalenti , who carved the statues. After several expansions and layouts, the gardens opened their doors to the public in 1776.

A true inspiration for a large number of European courses and qualified as an outdoor museum, Boboli Garden is ranked at UNESCO World Heritage in 2013. You can enter this magnificent place by one of the four entrance gates (Celle de la cour du Palazzo Pitti, the Forte del Belvedere, the Porta di Via Romana and the Piazza di Porta Romana). You can also access it by Piazza Pitti.

Did you know? This is where the potato was grown in Europe for the first time, just like dwarf pears and other exotic plants!

What to see at the Boboli Garden in Florence?

Many wonders are to be discovered throughout your walk in the Boboli Garden: statues, fountains, lakes, caves, sculptures... A real parenthesis of nature in the heart of Florence!

The amphitheatre

The first thing you need to see if you visit the Boboli Garden is the old amphitheatre, located just behind the Pitti Palace. There is a beautiful Egyptian obelisk in the centre. Originally led by the pharaoh Ramses II in the city of Heliopolis, he was first transported to Villa Medici in Rome before being installed in Florence by the Medici family.

The Great Cave

Very in vogue at the time, the Great Cave, or Buontalenti Cave , was financed by Francis 1st of Tuscany. Composed of several rooms, they house frescoes and several statues such as the « Venus out of the bath » of Jean Bologna and replicas of statues Michel-Ange .

Very extravagant, seeing strange from some angles, the cave is a masterpiece of maneuverist style Florentin. Another smaller cave is to go see on the site : La Grotticina della Madama .

The fountains

The fountains of Boboli Garden participate in its charm and are for some impressive! La Fontaine de Bacchus, also known as Fountain of the dwarf Morgante , is at least original. The statue represents the favorite of Duke Cosme I, under the traits of the Roman god of the vine. Another fountain appreciated by the site is the fountain of Neptune de Stoldo Lorenzi located in the Neptune basin.

The other fountains of Boboli Garden to see:

• The fountain of Jupiter
• The fountain of the artichoke of Giovanni Francesco Susini and Francesco del Tadda
• The fountain of the Ocean of Jean de Bologna

The Kaffeehaus

Not far from the Grande Grotte is a Rococo style pavilion built in 1775: The Kaffeehaus . This is where Leopold I of Tuscany came to take the coffee with its courtyard. Today you can enjoy the top of the Kaffeehaus which receives a bar where you can admire the Viottolone, in other words the secondary axis of the site.

The Garden of the Knights

Another place in the Boboli Garden that offers a great panorama: The Knights Garden. With its rose garden and dahlias, its pavilion built in the early 17th century (it now houses the porcelain museum), and its terrace overlooking the Tuscan hills, the Jardin des Chevaliers is the magical place of the Boboli Garden!

Il Viottolone et l’Isolotto

Il Viottolone is a Cyprès alley located in the western part of the site. He will take you to the Isolotto, a small island decorated with statues and citrus in pots with a replica of the Fontaine de l’Océan in the centre. A real little corner of tranquility that you must absolutely explore!

How to visit the Boboli Garden in Florence?

Folding in the Boboli Garden requires to prepare its coming well. From visiting time to site accessibility, we selected the most frequent questions.

How long does the visit last?

You will need at least 2 hours to visit the Boboli Garden. I advise you to spend a half-day there to have the time to discover all the wonders of the park.

What is the best time to visit the Boboli Garden?

The Boboli Garden is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Florence and will be very busy at any time of the day. Nevertheless, the good deal is to go there between May and June. You will see the dahlias and flowers there and there will be less tourists than in the summer. The temperature will also be more bearable!

Are there unauthorized objects or specific prohibitions?

Walking sticks, bikes, skateboards, skates or any other motorized means of transport are forbidden in the gardens. Please note that a specific authorization is required for photography and shooting (for cinema or television), whether for professional purposes or for publication.

It is also forbidden to bring dogs or animals into the gardens, even on a leash or with a muzzle. Only guide dogs are allowed.

Accessibility

For persons with reduced mobility, two entrances are accessible: the Pitti square on the left side of the court; and that of the square Porta Romana . The garden is only accessible with an attendant. Indeed, the soil is mainly composed of clay and gravel and is almost completely gradient, with climbs and descents. The porcelain museum is not accessible.

Health facilities near the amphitheatre are also accessible to people with reduced mobility.

How to get to Boboli Garden?

Whether it’s a weekend or a week, Florence is a non-stop plane from Paris. Several low-cost companies also serve Pisa Airport. You can easily reach Florence, which is about 1 hour drive away, if you rent a car For example.

Whatever your program, think to take a look at our partner's website Ulysses to find a flight at the best price.

Once in Florence, you can reach the Boboli Garden which is located in Piazza Pitti, 1, 50125 Firenze FI, on foot, by bus or by car if you opted for the car rental . This last option will allow you to go to Dôme de Florence without depending on the Florentine transport or after having visited the Palazzo Pitti because he's right next door.

With regard to buses, the site is very well served by the local buses of the company ATAF, including lines 11, 36 and 68.

Prices and times of Boboli Garden

HORARI

Boboli Garden is open Monday to Sunday.

Opening hours: 08:15

Closing hours:

– 16:30 in November, December, January and February – 5:30 pm in March (18:30 pm in the summer hour) – 6:30 in April, May, September, October – 6:50 pm in June, July and August – 5:30 in October (at the end of the summer hour)

The last admission is always an hour before closing time. The site is closed on the first and last Monday of each month, January 1st and December 25th.

Good to know.

Gardens may be subject to temporary closures or changes in opening hours if weather conditions pose a risk to visitors. The entrance via the Romana square (Palazzina di Annalena) is closed on the first Sunday of each month.

RATES

Admission is free on the first Sunday of each month. It is advisable to buy tickets for the Boboli Garden in advance to avoid queue. Know that it is also possible to make a guided tour of Boboli Garden ! There are also guided tours coupled with the Office Gallery and the Pitti Palace .

From March to October

• Adult: 10€
• Adult 18-26 years old: 5€
• Child (-18) : FREE
• Persons with disabilities : FREE

November to February

• Adult: 6€
• Adult 18-26 years old: 3€
• Child (-18) : FREE
• Persons with disabilities : FREE

For more information about reduced rates, visit the website of the Tourist Office Florence. You can also benefit from a 20% discount if you own the CityPass de Florence ! The latter allows you to have access to all Florence Museums at a lower cost for 72 hours and also includes the transfer from the airport.