What's New in Florence for 2026 and 2027: Museums, Rules and Hotels
Updated: 3 days ago
Updated October 2026
Florence changes slowly, but every trip I find a reopened room, a new rule or a new scaffold. This is my running list of what is new, updated in October 2026, so you can plan with current information.
Museums and monuments
The Vasari Corridor is open again
The elevated passage the Medici built in 1565 to walk from Palazzo Vecchio to Palazzo Pitti reopened on 21 December 2024 after years of work. It is about 750 meters long and runs over Ponte Vecchio. Visits need a reservation and end in the Boboli Gardens. In 2026 there were Friday evening visits from 3 July to 20 November.
The new Botticelli rooms at the Uffizi
In June 2026 the Uffizi reopened its redesigned Botticelli rooms. The Birth of Venus and Primavera now have more space around them. In August 2026 the museum announced a two-year program of further works across the Uffizi, Pitti and Boboli. My new Uffizi guide explains what that means for your visit.
Duomo closures in November 2026
The bell tower is under restoration, with views partly reduced, and closes from 9 to 13 November 2026. The dome closes for maintenance from 16 to 20 November 2026. The dome climb is 463 steps with no lift.
Tickets and passes
Firenzecard Restart
Since 1 March 2026, Firenzecard Restart adds 48 hours to a Firenzecard bought in the previous 12 months, for the museums you missed. The standard card does not include transport. You need the Firenzecard+ add-on for buses and the tram.
New rules for visitors
No golf carts or rickshaws. Since 15 October 2025, these tourist vehicles are banned in the UNESCO area.
No key boxes. Self check-in key boxes on the street are banned, and a regional court upheld the ban.
No new short-term rental licenses in the center. The city stopped issuing new short-let authorizations inside the UNESCO zone. Every legal rental must display its national CIN code.
Summer night ZTL. In 2026 the center was closed to traffic from 23:00 to 3:00 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights between 2 April and 4 October. Expect a similar calendar in 2027.
New and reopened hotels
The Westin Excelsior became The Excelsior, a Luxury Collection Hotel, in July 2025.
W Florence opened in 2025.
Palazzo Firenze by Baglioni opened in March 2026 near Santa Croce.
Villa San Michele, a Belmond hotel in Fiesole, reopened in April 2026.
Dates for 2027
Easter Sunday and the Scoppio del Carro: 28 March 2027.
Calcio Storico final and San Giovanni fireworks: 24 June 2027.
Florence Biennale: 23 to 31 October 2027 at the Fortezza da Basso.
What it means for your trip
Put simply: book the Vasari Corridor early, give the Botticelli rooms extra time, and if you plan to climb the dome or the bell tower in November, check the closure dates first.
If you are renting an apartment, check that it shows its CIN code and that check-in is done in person. If you are driving, plan around the ZTL, including the summer night closures. My parking and driving guide has the details.
Restorations to watch
Florence is always restoring something. Scaffolding comes and goes on church facades, bell towers and palace courtyards. It is a sign of how carefully the city looks after its heritage, but it can affect photos and views.
I check the official site of each monument a week before a trip and again the day before. When a favorite view is covered, I look for an alternative: the Duomo from the top of Palazzo Vecchio's tower, or Ponte Vecchio from the Uffizi's rooftop café.
Insider tips for 2026 and 2027
Book the big three early. The Duomo climb, the Uffizi and the Accademia sell out first in spring and autumn.
Use the evenings. Late openings, like Friday evening visits to the Vasari Corridor in season, are the calmest hours.
Travel shoulder season. November, February and early March bring short lines and soft light. My month-by-month guide explains each month.
Stay across the river. The Oltrarno has quieter streets and some of the best restaurants.
Pair Florence with the countryside. A few nights in a Tuscan villa after the city is the perfect balance. Browse Exclusive Villa Collection.
Things that have not changed
Some things in Florence never change, and that is the point. The Ponte Vecchio jewelers still open their wooden shutters every morning. San Miniato's monks still sing vespers at dusk. The trattorias of the Oltrarno still serve ribollita in winter and pappa al pomodoro in summer. The markets at Sant'Ambrogio and San Lorenzo are still where Florentines shop.
And the best view in the city is still the one you earn, from the top of the dome or the steps of San Miniato. New rules and reopened rooms are worth knowing, but they are details.
The heart of a Florence trip is the same as it was when I first came: slow walks, long lunches and art that stops you in your tracks.
How I keep this page current
I update this page each January and whenever a big change happens. If you spot something new on your trip, tell me, and I will check it and add it.
Booking timeline for 2026 and 2027
Florence is busier than ever, so timing your bookings matters. For the Uffizi and the Accademia, I book timed tickets as soon as my dates are fixed, especially between April and October. The Duomo dome climb sells out weeks ahead in summer.
For hotels in May, June, September and October, book several months in advance; the same goes for holiday weekends such as Easter and the 8 December bridge. Popular restaurants open bookings a few weeks out, and small trattorias still prefer phone calls. Day trips with private drivers and wine tours in harvest season also fill early.
The quieter months
For fewer crowds, I recommend November, January, February and early March, apart from holidays. Museums are calmer, hotel availability is better and the city feels more Florentine. Many restaurants close for a week or two in January or February for holidays, so check before you go.
New ways to get around
The tram network continues to grow, connecting the airport, the station and more of the outer neighborhoods.
Work on new lines, such as the one toward Bagno a Ripoli, means some streets have construction and diversions, so check routes before you travel. The tram from the airport to the center remains the easiest arrival, and it runs often throughout the day.
Short term rental rules
Florence has introduced limits on new short term rentals in the historic center to protect housing for residents. Existing licensed apartments still operate, but choose listings carefully and look for an official registration code, the CIN, which Italian law now requires on rental listings.
Respecting the city
Florence has added rules to protect the center, including limits on eating on the steps of some churches and monuments, restrictions on new restaurants in certain areas and bans on golf carts and rickshaws in parts of the center.
Fines apply. Most rules simply ask for common courtesy: do not sit on church steps to eat, keep noise down at night and use the bins.
What I always tell friends
Book the two or three things you really care about, and leave the rest of your days open. The best moments in Florence are often unplanned.
Water and heat
Summers keep getting hotter. In July and August, I plan indoor museums for midday, carry a refillable bottle for the public fountains and save walks for early morning and evening.
FAQ
Is the Vasari Corridor open?
Yes, by reservation.
What is Firenzecard Restart?
An add-on that extends a Firenzecard from the last 12 months by 48 hours.
Can I take a golf cart tour in Florence?
No. They are banned in the historic center.
When is the Duomo dome closed in November 2026?
The dome closes for maintenance from 16 to 20 November 2026, and the bell tower from 9 to 13 November.
Can I stay in a short-term rental in central Florence?
Yes, in rentals that already hold a license. Each legal rental must display its CIN code.
About the author
I'm Jason GaNung, and I write every guide on Florence Life. I have spent extensive time in Florence over many trips, and I have stayed in many of the hotels and villas I cover, so my picks come from my own stays, not press releases. More about me.
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