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The Uffizi fills the first and second floors of a large building put up between 1560 and 1580 to a design by Giorgio Vasari. It is known around the world for its collections of ancient sculpture and of paintings that run from the Middle Ages to the modern period, so a visit is as much about the building as about the rooms.
the Uffizi page on the Galleries' site gives the background and the practical details, and it is the page to open before you set a date.
The Gallery is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 8:15 am (08:15) to 6:30 pm (18:30) It is closed on Mondays, on 1 January and on 25 December, so those days are best kept for another part of Florence.
When the crowds are heavy, staff can shut some rooms or routes for a while to protect the works and the visitors. the Galleries' visitor page lists notices of that kind.
A ticket allows a single entry and cannot be reused, so plan the whole visit in one go. The Galleries suggest buying in advance, particularly at very busy times, to avoid long queues at the door and shorten the wait.
Backpacks, bags, umbrellas and other large objects must be left in the cloakroom before you enter, and storage is free. Visitors under 12 must be accompanied by an adult, and mobile phones must be on silent.
You can photograph the works for personal or study purposes, apart from those lent to temporary exhibitions, as long as you use no flash, stands or tripods. The full list is on the Galleries' rules for visitors.
Only professional guides are allowed to work as tour guides inside the Galleries. Groups cannot exceed 16 people, and a guide leading more than 6 people has to use the whisper system, a microphone with earphones, which keeps the rooms calm.
If you want a guide for Florence as a whole, the Private Guided Tour of Florence: History & Top Landmarks is a private four-hour tour by vehicle, and its operator lists the Uffizi among the landmarks of the city. The Pitti Palace & Boboli Gardens Guided Tour in Florence visits the Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens, according to its operator.
Arriving by sea, the Private Full-Day Tour to Florence from Livorno Cruise Port runs a private day in Florence from the cruise port of Livorno, and its operator says entrance fees for the Uffizi are not included. On any of these, book your own timed entry if you want to go inside.
Monday, plus two dates in the year, as listed above.
For personal use, yes, but flash and tripods are out.
Yes, and big bags have to go there; storage costs nothing.
Sixteen at most, guide included in the whisper rule above six.
