Address and orientation
The Pitti Palace stands at Piazza de' Pitti 1, 50125 Firenze, in the Oltrarno — the quieter, more artisan half of Florence on the south bank of the Arno. Everything in the historic centre is walkable from here; the only real decisions are which bridge to cross and how early to arrive for your timed ticket.
On foot: the routes that work
From the Ponte Vecchio — 5–10 minutes
Cross the Ponte Vecchio to the south bank and keep straight on Via de' Guicciardini. The street runs slightly uphill for about 300 metres and opens directly onto Piazza Pitti — the palace façade is impossible to miss. This is the classic approach and the one to take on a first visit.
From the Duomo — about 15 minutes
Head south past Piazza della Signoria (or via the quieter Via de' Calzaiuoli parallels), cross the Ponte Vecchio and continue up Via de' Guicciardini as above. If the bridge is packed, cross the Arno one bridge west at Ponte Santa Trinita instead and follow Via Maggio south — it lands you a block from the piazza.
From Santa Maria Novella station — 20–25 minutes
Leave the station on the city side and walk south past the church of Santa Maria Novella, continue down Via de' Tornabuoni (the designer-shopping street) to the river, cross Ponte Santa Trinita, then follow Via Maggio until Piazza San Felice, where a short left turn brings you onto Piazza Pitti. It is a flat, well-signed walk of just over 1.5 km — with luggage or in August heat, take a bus or taxi instead.
From Florence airport — allow 30–45 minutes
Florence's Amerigo Vespucci airport (Peretola) sits about 6 km north-west of the centre. A taxi can take you all the way to Piazza de' Pitti, since taxis may enter the restricted zone; public transport from the airport brings you to the Santa Maria Novella station area, from where you follow the walking route above. Check current airport–centre connections on at-bus.it before you fly.
By bus
Florence's historic centre is served by small electric minibuses rather than full-size buses. The C3 and D minibuses stop near the palace and link the Oltrarno with the station and the centre — routes change periodically, so verify current lines and stops on at-bus.it (the official Tuscan transit site) before relying on them. Tickets are cheapest bought in advance via app or at tobacconists rather than on board.
By car: the ZTL warning
Do not drive to the palace. Piazza Pitti lies inside Florence's ZTL (Zona a Traffico Limitato), a camera-enforced restricted-traffic zone covering the whole historic centre: every plate that enters without a permit is photographed and fined automatically, and multiple gates can mean multiple fines from a single wrong turn. Hotel guests can sometimes be registered for access — arrange it with the hotel before entering, never after.
- Park outside the ZTL and walk. The garages around Porta Romana, at the top of the Boboli hill, are the closest sensible option — from there it is a downhill walk of about 10–15 minutes along Via Romana to the palace.
- Coming by taxi? Taxis may enter the ZTL, so drop-off on or beside Piazza de' Pitti is no problem.
- Day-tripping by car? Consider parking near the station or at a park-and-ride and treating the city as car-free.
Piazza Pitti: what to expect on arrival
The piazza itself is part of the experience: a wide, gently sloping square paved in stone, rising toward the palace's 200-metre rusticated front with no trees or monuments to soften it — the slope doubles as seating, and on sunny days half of Florence seems to be picnicking on it. Cafés and gelaterie line the row of houses facing the palace, handy for a pre-visit espresso.
The entrance queue forms at the central doorway of the façade. With a prebooked timed ticket you join the shorter security line and skip the ticket desk entirely; on free Sundays expect the queue to stretch well across the square. Arriving 10–15 minutes before your slot is enough — see opening hours (closed Mondays) and our advice on how long to allow once inside.
What's around the palace
- Santo Spirito — Brunelleschi's basilica and the Oltrarno's liveliest square, 5 minutes west; ideal for lunch before or after your visit.
- Ponte Vecchio — 5 minutes back down Via de' Guicciardini, so pairing the palace with the Uffizi side of the river is easy.
- Boboli Gardens entrances — the main garden entrance is through the palace courtyard, with separate gates at Porta Romana and on Via Romana (Annalena); a combo ticket covers them all.
- The five museums — once through the door, everything from the Palatine Gallery to the Costume Museum is on one palace ticket.
First time at the palace? Read up on the history of the building on the way over, and check prices and discounts if you're travelling with under-18s — they enter free with a reserved ticket.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Pitti Palace?
At Piazza de' Pitti 1, 50125 Firenze, in the Oltrarno — the district on the south bank of the Arno. It faces its own sloping square, a 5-minute walk from the Ponte Vecchio.
What is the nearest station to the Pitti Palace?
Firenze Santa Maria Novella, the city’s main railway station, is the closest — about a 20–25 minute walk. There is no metro in Florence; from the station, walking or the C3/D minibuses (verify current routes on at-bus.it) are the practical options.
Can I drive to the Pitti Palace?
Not realistically. The palace sits inside Florence’s ZTL restricted-traffic zone, where cameras record every entering plate and fines are issued automatically. Park outside the ZTL — for example at the garages around Porta Romana — and walk in.
How far is the Pitti Palace from the Uffizi and the Duomo?
From the Uffizi it is about a 10-minute walk across the Ponte Vecchio. From the Duomo allow roughly 15 minutes on foot through the centre and over the river.
Which entrance do I use at the Pitti Palace?
The main (and only public) palace entrance is through the central door on Piazza de’ Pitti, where the queue forms. The Boboli Gardens also have separate gates, including Porta Romana and the Annalena entrance on Via Romana, useful with a combo ticket.
Can a taxi drop me at the door?
Taxis are allowed inside the ZTL, so a driver can drop you on or beside Piazza de’ Pitti. Ranks are found at the station and major squares, or book through the city taxi services — ride-hailing coverage in Florence is limited.