The massive Uffizi Galleries are home to world-renowned masterpieces by heavy-hitters from Botticelli to Raphael, and welcomes around five million visitors each year. Admission to the Uffizi Galleries is among the most sought-after Florence museum tickets, and dates between May and October regularly sell out. Book your entrance day and time before arriving in Florence to avoid disappointment, or join a Uffizi Galleries tour that includes admission.

The massive statue of David that Michelangelo completed in 1504 is a symbol of Florence, and its likeness graces everything from aprons to keychains. Admire the original at the Accademia Gallery (Galleria dell’Accademia), where a special hall was constructed to house the statue after it was removed from Piazza della Signoria in the late 19th century. One of the most popular museums in Florence, the Accademia should be on every visitor’s short list of cultural attractions.

Head across the river to visit the dazzling Palatine Gallery inside Pitti Palace (Palazzo Pitti). These sumptuous halls house hundreds of paintings by Italian and European masters, a collection that once belonged to the Medici dukes who resided in the palace. Admission to Pitti Palace includes entry to all five museums inside the massive complex—the Palatine Gallery, Gallery of Modern Art, Museum of Costume and Fashion, Treasury of the Grand Dukes, and Museum of Russian Icons.

The Bargello Museum (Museo Nazionale del Bargello) focuses almost exclusively on sculpture. Housed in the atmospheric Palazzo del Podestà—a gem of medieval architecture—this museum contains works by artists like Donatello and Michelangelo in marble, bronze, and terracotta and offers a unique perspective on Florence Renaissance art. Visit the collection with a guide for insights into this former Medici collection, or book your timed ticket in advance to explore on your own.

Just behind the Florence Duomo, The Opera del Duomo Museum (Museo dell’Opera del Duomo) houses some of the most significant artworks used to decorate the exterior and interior of the city’s main church over the centuries. This creatively curated collection features wow-worthy exhibitions from a replica facade displaying dozens of original statues to the towering bronze doors forged by Ghiberti (copies are outside on the Florence Baptistery (Battistero di San Giovanni), exposed to the elements).

The Ospedale degli Innocenti is one of the most unique history museums, with a pocket-size art gallery inside that’s among the city’s best-kept secrets. This former orphanage took in the abandoned children from the 15th to the 20th centuries, and visitors today can explore its Renaissance confines designed by Brunelleschi. Learn about its history via the interactive and multimedia exhibits on the main floor, then head upstairs to admire the compact collection of around 80 artworks.

Florence was the birthplace of the Renaissance, but the city also has lovers of contemporary creativity covered at Palazzo Strozzi, a 15th-century palace that now hosts a rotating roster of art exhibitions that highlight some of the most famous contemporary artists in the world. Check Palazzo Strozzi’s website before visiting Florence or stop by the ticket office in the palace’s internal courtyard to check for same-day availability.

Take a break from Florence’s endless artistic masterpieces and delve into the history of science at the Galileo Museum (Museo Galileo). Marvel at antique instruments like barometers, globes, and microscopes, plus telescopes used by Galileo and other Renaissance scientists and astronomers. You can even pause in front of the mummified remains of Galileo’s finger, one of the oddest relics in the museum. Visit on your own or join a guided tour of the museum.

Most of Florence’s museums have a strict no-touching policy and aren’t particularly family-friendly. The Leonardo da Vinci Museum, however, is an exception. Visitors of all ages can admire the museum’s collection of life-size working models of Leonardo’s inventions, built based on his original sketches, plus go hands-on at interactive exhibits focused on his work. The workshop space offers kids and their grown-ups the chance to learn the basics of physics, engineering, and mechanics.