What to do near the Accademia
The Accademia sits on Via Ricasoli, north of the Duomo. In the surrounding streets you find a convent full of frescoes, a Renaissance square, a market hall and the Medici quarter around San Lorenzo. The twelve ideas below cover all three areas, so not every one is strictly in the San Marco district.
You can pair almost any of them with your David visit. The Accademia opens at 8:15 a.m. and is closed on Mondays, which is also the day when several nearby museums are closed. For Michelangelo's other works, see the Michelangelo in Florence page.
Ideas 1 to 4: San Marco and the Annunziata square
The closest group, around the T2 tram stop San Marco.
1. Museo di San Marco
A former Dominican convent at Piazza San Marco 3, with Fra Angelico's panels and frescoes, including the Annunciation. The regular ticket costs €11. It opens Tuesday to Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:50 p.m., so go in the morning. It is closed on Mondays and, as a rule, on the fifth Sunday of a month. Special openings are announced separately, so check before you go.
2. Piazza Santissima Annunziata
The square takes its name from the basilica and is lined by a historic group of buildings, among them the Ospedale degli Innocenti (idea 4).
3. Basilica Santissima Annunziata
The church on the same square is a separate visit. Visiting the square does not include the church. Check the opening and service times before you go.
4. Ospedale and Museo degli Innocenti
The museum tells the history of the building and its collection. The permanent collection costs €9, reduced €7 for ages 11 to 17, and children up to and including age 10 enter free. With an Accademia ticket from the same day it costs €6. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., with last entry at 6 p.m. The first Sunday of the month is not automatically free.
Accademia tickets →Our pick: the Duomo next door
Our take: the cathedral is a short walk away, and this tour covers both.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Florence walking tours and day trips
Guided walks, art visits and day trips from Florence, with live prices and availability.
Ideas 5 to 8: museums and gardens
Quieter stops for a second half-day.
5. Museo Archeologico Nazionale
Egyptian, Etruscan and classical collections. Use Via della Colonna 38 as the address for navigation, and check the opening days for your date.
6. Orto botanico, Giardino dei Semplici
The botanical garden at Via Pier Antonio Micheli 3 is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the ticket desk closing at 5 p.m. It is closed on Mondays and on public holidays. It also closes when the city has an orange or red alert for wind or thunderstorms.
7. Museo dell'Opificio delle Pietre Dure
The museum shows the Florentine tradition of stone inlay and the workshop history behind it, at Via degli Alfani 78. A museum ticket does not give access to all restoration workshops.
8. Palazzo Medici Riccardi
A city-centre palace on Via Cavour with its own museum and its own admission terms. You can reach it on foot or by public transport. Check the current ticket conditions at the palace.
Three half-day combinations
Morning at the David, then the Innocenti and the Annunziata square. This is the shortest option and keeps you in one area. With the same-day Accademia ticket you pay €6 at the Innocenti.
Convent morning: go to the Museo di San Marco when it opens at 8:30 a.m., because it closes at 1:50 p.m. Add the Accademia in the afternoon, up to the last entry at 6:10 p.m.
San Lorenzo half-day: Basilica, library, market and the Medici quarter (ideas 9 to 11). Add the Medici Chapels if it is not a Monday. For the walk from the station, see getting there.
Ideas 9 to 12: San Lorenzo and the Duomo
The Medici quarter and Florence's cathedral square.
9. Basilica di San Lorenzo
A Renaissance church with works by Donatello and Filippo Lippi, among others. It is not the same as the state museum of the Medici Chapels, which has its own entrance and ticket.
Medici Chapels →10. Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana
The monumental area belongs to the San Lorenzo complex. Michelangelo planned the library, and construction ran from 1524 to 1534 with his involvement. Distinguish the tourist area from the working study library. Check the current hours and prices before you go.
11. Mercato Centrale
The San Lorenzo market hall has a food market on the ground floor, open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday until 5 p.m., closed on Sundays and public holidays. The upstairs food hall is open daily from 8 a.m. to midnight, closed on 25 December. The two levels keep different hours.
12. Piazza del Duomo
The cathedral complex is a short walk from Via Ricasoli. Entry to the cathedral itself is free as a rule, while the other monuments need tickets. For the dome, the bell tower and the baptistery, see our Duomo guide.
Things to do near the Accademia: frequently asked questions
What is the closest thing to do near the Accademia?
The Museo di San Marco and the Piazza Santissima Annunziata, both in the same area. The Duomo is a short walk along Via Ricasoli.
Which nearby museums are closed on Monday?
The Museo di San Marco, the botanical garden and the Accademia itself. Check each opening calendar before a Monday visit.
Is the Innocenti cheaper with an Accademia ticket?
Yes. With an Accademia ticket from the same day, the permanent collection costs €6 instead of €9.
Can I see San Lorenzo and the Medici Chapels together?
Yes, they are in the same area. The basilica and the state museum of the Medici Chapels are two separate visits with separate tickets.
Can I visit the Duomo as well?
Yes. The cathedral is free to enter as a rule, and other monuments on the square need tickets. See our sister guide for details.
Is this website official?
No. This is an independent guide with no link to the Accademia, the city or the museums mentioned. Check each opening time and price on the venue's own page.