Tickets, fountains and grottoes of the Boboli Gardens in Florence
The Boboli Gardens hide behind the Pitti Palace, near the Ponte Vecchio. Many visitors to Florence walk right past, mistaking them for an ordinary city park. But this is an open-air museum: with tickets, opening hours, and Monday closures. Below you'll find current opening hours, prices, and the spots worth climbing the hill for.
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History of the Boboli Gardens
💡 In short:
- The gardens are open every day from 8:15, but closed on the first and last Monday of the month (as of 09/2026, official Uffizi website).
- A ticket at the entrance costs 10 €, online in advance 13 €, and on the first Sunday of the month admission is sometimes free (as of 09/2026, Uffizi ticket page).
- A walk takes half a day if you go without rushing, and there are plenty of climbs here.
- Prices and opening hours: 09/2026, verified on the galleries' website.
The history of the gardens begins in the mid-16th century. Duke Cosimo I de' Medici bought the unfinished palace and the land on the hill behind it from the Florentine merchant Luca Pitti. The court gardener Niccolò Tribolo turned the slope into a park ensemble that came to be called Florence's "green architecture." The Medici hosted receptions and lavish celebrations here.
The palace and park remained the residence of the Grand Dukes until 1743, then passed to the House of Lorraine. After the capital of Italy was moved to Florence (1865-1871), the House of Savoy and King Victor Emmanuel II became the owners. Today the gardens belong to the state and are part of the Uffizi Gallery (as of 09/2026, official Uffizi website).
Location and features of the park
© Diego Delso · CC BY-SAPhoto: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsThe garden occupies the hill behind the Pitti Palace and descends to the fortress walls at Porta Romana. Gravel paths divide the grounds into zones: lawns, ponds, stone borders, statues, and fountains. From the upper terraces you get a panorama of Florence and the cathedral dome. Wear comfortable shoes: climbs and descents run through almost the entire garden, and the surface here is rocky.
What to see in the Boboli Gardens
Today the gardens are loved by both locals and visitors to Florence. It's convenient to plan your walk around the sights, from the amphitheater in the upper part to the pond in the far section.
The amphitheater and the first operas
The route starts at the stone amphitheater. Its semicircular area is adorned with an Egyptian obelisk brought from Luxor to Rome and from there to the Medici residence. On the lawn in front of the amphitheater, the dukes received guests and staged the first opera performances. During the day the area is fully exposed to the sun, so bring water and a hat.
© Diego Delso · CC BY-SAPhoto: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsFountain of Neptune and the dwarf Morgante
The main avenue of old cypress trees leads you to the Fountain of Neptune. In the center of an artificial pond rises a rock with the sea king on top. Neptune holds his trident point down, which is why locals nicknamed the sculpture "the fountain with a fork." Nearby hides the marble dwarf Morgante, court jester of Pietro Barbi, riding a huge turtle.
© Txllxt TxllxT · CC BY-SAPhoto: Txllxt TxllxT, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsIsolotto pond and the Ocean fountain
In the far part of the garden there is a pond with the Isolotto island. Its paths are lined with boxwood, and here you will find potted plants, a statue of Poseidon, and the Ocean fountain by Giambologna. From here you can clearly see how the terraces rise toward the palace. Come at opening time: by midday, groups gather by the water.
© sailko · CC BYPhoto: sailko, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5), Wikimedia CommonsKaffeehaus and the garden collections
On one of the terraces stands the 18th-century Kaffeehaus pavilion, a rare example of Rococo in Tuscany. You can still get a cup of coffee here today. Below you will see two stone hemispheres: these are old ice houses where meat was stored. On the upper level lies the Giardino del Cavaliere with a rose garden and peony bushes, while the Limonaia houses one of the largest citrus collections. The Porcelain Museum (Museo delle Porcellane) is closed for restoration (as of 09/2026, official Uffizi website).
© Rufus46 · CC BY-SAPhoto: Rufus46, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia CommonsGrottos of the Boboli Gardens
Grottos hold a special place in the Boboli Gardens. They served the Medici as cool, secluded rooms where they could escape the summer heat.
The Buontalenti Grotto (Grotta del Buontalenti) is considered the finest example of late 16th-century Mannerism. Work was begun by Giorgio Vasari and completed by Bernardo Buontalenti. Inside you will see stalactites, frescoes, natural stone, shells, and pebbles. Entry is allowed only with a park staff member, so the grotto may be a pleasant surprise, or it may not open during your visit.
The Madama Grotto (Grotta di Madama) is built from artificial stone with a spongy texture. On the marble floor stand animal sculptures and an oval basin with cherubs. The Grotto of Adam and Eve (Grotta di Adamo ed Eva) is a stone recess with frescoes and figures of Adam and Eve.
Opening hours and ticket prices
The gardens are open every day except the first and last Monday of the month and December 25. On January 1, 2026, the garden is open (as of 09/2026, official Uffizi website). Entry begins at 8:15, and the last admission is always one hour before closing. Closing time depends on the month: 4:30 PM from January through February and in November and December, 5:30 PM in March and October, 6:30 PM in April, May, and September, 7:10 PM in June, July, and August (as of 09/2026, schedule on the website).
Ticket prices in 2026 are as follows:
Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
Single ticket at the entrance on the day of visit | 10 € |
Single ticket online in advance | 13 € |
Combined Pitti Palace + Boboli (at the entrance / in advance) | 22 € / 25 € |
Reduced for EU citizens aged 18-25 | 3 € |
Boboli Gardens + Bardini Gardens (only at the ticket office) | 15 € |
All prices are as of 09/2026 according to the Uffizi price list. Children under 18 enter free, and the 18-25 discount applies only to citizens of the European Union. On the first Sunday of the month, admission is free for everyone.
You can enter the garden through the ticket offices of the Pitti Palace and the Belvedere Fortress, as well as from Via Romana and Porta Romana. Ticket offices close one hour before the garden closes.
If you want to add the city to your walk, check out Florence tours on GetYourGuide.
Tours and tickets in Boboli Gardens
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Where the gardens are and how to get there
The gardens' address is Piazza Pitti 1, 50125 Firenze (as of 09/2026, official address).
© Almaak · CC BY-SAPhoto: Almaak, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia CommonsThe garden entrance is through the courtyard of the Pitti Palace. The second entrance, Annalena, is on Via Romana, and two more are open at Porta Romana and the Belvedere Fortress (as of 09/2026, entrance map). From the Ponte Vecchio bridge you can walk there in about 5 minutes. From the center it's convenient to cross the river on foot, and from Santa Maria Novella station take a bus toward Piazza Pitti.
Boboli Gardens on the map
Below is an interactive map you can use to plan a route from your hotel.
⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions
How much does a ticket to the Boboli Gardens cost?
A full ticket at the entrance costs 10 €, and online in advance it's 13 €. For EU citizens aged 18-25 there is a reduced rate of 3 €, and on the first Sunday of the month admission is free (as of 09/2026, gallery rates). Children under 18 enter free regardless of citizenship.
What days are the gardens closed?
The garden is closed on the first and last Monday of each month and on December 25. On other days it is open, and on January 1, 2026 it is open specially (as of 09/2026, opening hours). Check the calendar before your visit, because the garden is sometimes closed due to weather.
How much time do you need to see it?
Allow at least two hours, or better yet half a day. The grounds are hilly, and between the amphitheater, the Neptune Fountain, and the Isolotto pond you'll walk several kilometers of paths. In summer bring water: there is little shade on the climbs.
How do you get to the gardens from the station?
From Santa Maria Novella station, walk through the center or take a bus toward Piazza Pitti. From the Ponte Vecchio bridge there is a short walking route across the river. The garden entrance is in the courtyard of the Pitti Palace, and there is also one open at Porta Romana.
What should you see first?
Start with the amphitheater and the Neptune Fountain, then go down to the Isolotto pond with the Ocean Fountain. Don't miss the Buontalenti Grotto, which you can only enter with a park staff member. If you still have energy, climb up to the Giardino del Cavaliere and take a look at the Kaffeehaus.
In short: what to book
The Boboli Gardens are easy to combine with the Pitti Palace: a single entrance ticket costs 22 € and covers both sites (as of 09/2026, prices on the website). If you only have half a day, buy a ticket online in advance for 13 € and arrive at the 8:15 opening. You can check garden tickets on Tiqets. Bring water, comfortable shoes, and don't forget about Monday closures.
A small editorial team writing guides for independent travel. We travel ourselves, but we haven’t been everywhere, so we check prices, opening hours and how to get there against official sources.