Palazzo Vecchio Florence: Museum and Tower Tickets, Thursday Hours, Secret Passages and How to Avoid the Crowds

Palazzo Vecchio, Florence's fortress-like town hall on Piazza della Signoria, is both a working city hall and a museum of Medici splendour. The museum ticket costs about €12.50-13.50, and a combined ticket with the Arnolfo Tower about €19.50-22; the tower needs its own ticket, has limited slots and closes in rain. Reduced prices apply to ages 18-25, and the Firenze Card covers it. The museum is open daily, typically 9 am to 7 pm (shorter in some seasons), but on Thursdays it closes at 2 pm, and tower hours are shorter. It's busiest 11 am-3 pm, especially in the Salone dei Cinquecento when tour groups pass through from the Uffizi next door. Arrive , climb the for clear views of the Duomo, then tour the rooms. The (book ahead) is a highlight. Allow .