When to visit Florence and the Ponte Vecchio
There is no single best month. The climate averages show a hot, fairly dry summer, a mild spring and early autumn, and a wet October and November. The Ponte Vecchio is a walk-through bridge, so your plans are less about opening hours and more about heat, rain and which museum is open on your day.
This independent guide gives the average temperatures and rain by month, the weekly and yearly closing days of the main sights, and the seasonal garden hours. The numbers describe a typical year, not a forecast for the week you travel.
Florence weather by month
Long-term averages for 1991 to 2020: mean daily high and low, and rain per month.
| Month | High °C | Low °C | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 11.2 | 2.1 | 64 |
| February | 12.7 | 2.5 | 64 |
| March | 16.3 | 5.3 | 62 |
| April | 19.9 | 8.0 | 67 |
| May | 24.5 | 12.1 | 66 |
| June | 29.1 | 16.0 | 48 |
| July | 32.2 | 18.3 | 26 |
| August | 32.5 | 18.5 | 40 |
| September | 27.1 | 14.7 | 74 |
| October | 21.6 | 11.0 | 104 |
| November | 15.7 | 6.7 | 118 |
| December | 11.4 | 2.8 | 88 |
Measured at the Florence Peretola station, 40 m above sea level. These are climate averages and not the weather of any single year.
Season by season
Our reading of the table, not a promise.
Spring: March to May
Highs rise from 16.3 °C in March to 24.5 °C in May, with 62 to 67 mm of rain a month. Spring suits long walks between the bridge, the Oltrarno and the hill at the Piazzale Michelangelo. Take a light rain jacket.
Summer: June to August
June brings 29.1 °C on average and July and August reach 32.2 and 32.5 °C. July is the driest month with 26 mm. Plan outdoor walks for the morning and the evening, and keep museums for the middle of the day. The Boboli Garden stays open until 19:10 from June to August.
Early autumn: September
September is cooler than August at 27.1 °C, but rain rises to 74 mm. It is a good month for walking, but pack for rain.
Late autumn: October and November
October brings 104 mm of rain and November 118 mm, clearly more than July. Both months have mild days with highs of 21.6 and 15.7 °C. Take an umbrella and plan museum time for wet days.
Winter: December to February
Highs stay between 11.2 and 12.7 °C, with lows around 2 to 3 °C. Rain is 64 to 88 mm a month. The Boboli Garden closes at 16:30, so go to the garden early and keep the galleries for the afternoon.
Florence tours for every season
Walking tours, museum tickets and food tours that suit both warm days and wet ones.
Museum days and opening times
These rules matter more than the month.
| Sight | Open | Closed | Price in 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uffizi Gallery | Tuesday to Sunday, 08:15 to 18:30; ticket office until 17:30 | Monday, 1 January, 25 December | €25 on the day, €29 booked ahead; from 16:00 €16 or €20 |
| Palazzo Pitti | Tuesday to Sunday, 08:15 to 18:30; ticket office closes 1 hour earlier | Monday, 1 January, 25 December | €16 on the day, €19 ahead |
| Boboli Garden | Daily from 08:15; closing time changes by season | First and last Monday of each month, 25 December | €10 on the day, €13 ahead |
| Duomo interior | Monday to Saturday, 10:15 to 15:45 | Sundays and religious holidays for visits | Free; the dome needs a paid pass |
| Vasari Corridor, daytime | Tuesday to Sunday, first group at 10:15 | Monday | Uffizi plus Corridor €43 on the day, €47 ahead |
Boboli hours by season: January, February, November and December 08:15 to 16:30; March and October on winter time 08:15 to 17:30; March on summer time, April, May, September and October on summer time 08:15 to 18:30; June to August 08:15 to 19:10. The last entry is 1 hour before closing.
Free Sundays, evenings and afternoon tickets
Ways to shape the day around the crowds.
On the first Sunday of each month, entry to the Uffizi, the Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Garden is free. Free entry usually means no normal booking and no priority access, so expect to queue. Plan for a longer wait.
Since 1 January 2026 the Uffizi sells afternoon tickets for entry from 16:00 at €16 on the day or €20 booked ahead. They do not extend the opening hours.
From 3 July to 20 November 2026 the Vasari Corridor opens on Friday evenings from 19:00 to 23:00, with the last entry at 21:50. That ticket costs €20 on the day or €24 ahead and does not include the Uffizi collection. See the Vasari Corridor guide for the route.
The bridge itself is busy at every time of day, evenings included, and no hour is guaranteed to be empty. Walk across it early in the morning or late in the evening if you want a calmer visit, and use the viewpoints in our photo spots guide.
Plan the rest of your visit
Sights and practical pages.
Best time to visit Florence: frequently asked questions
What is the best month to visit Florence?
That depends on what you prefer. Spring and early autumn are milder than July and August on average, while October and November have the most rain. The table above lets you compare the months.
How hot is Florence in summer?
The average high is 29.1 °C in June, 32.2 °C in July and 32.5 °C in August. July is the driest month with 26 mm of rain.
Which day are the Uffizi closed?
On Monday, and also on 1 January and 25 December. The Palazzo Pitti has the same closing days. The Boboli Garden closes on the first and last Monday of each month.
Is the Ponte Vecchio crowded in the evening?
Yes, the bridge is busy in the evening as well. No time of day is guaranteed to be empty, so plan for people on the bridge at every hour.
When is entry to the museums free?
On the first Sunday of each month for the Uffizi, the Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Garden. There is usually no booking and no priority access that day.