Medici Chapels: Tickets & Tours 2026
Let’s set the scene. You’re standing on Piazza di Madonna degli Aldobrandini, looking at what seems like the unassuming back side of a Florentine church. Then you walk in, and the floor opens up under you.
Welcome to the Medici Chapels in Florence, the family burial place of the most powerful dynasty Florence ever produced. Inside, you’ll find a marble mausoleum so lavish it took nearly 350 years to finish, two tombs sculpted by Michelangelo himself, and a secret room only opened to the public in 2023.
- Updated on
At a glance:
Medici Chapels Tickets: Reserved Entrance
-> available here – from €18 per person
Guided Medici Chapels Tour:
-> available here – from €42 per person
Heads up on pricing: The official adult ticket price is €11, plus a €4 online booking fee, so €15 total via the state ticket portal. Third-party providers like GetYourGuide often bundle the booking fee into a single round number around €14, sometimes with an audio guide thrown in. Reduced rates apply for EU citizens aged 18 to 25, and entry is free for under-18s, though a small online reservation fee may still apply when you book ahead. So, be aware that pricing can definitely vary through GetYourGuide. It all depends on what type of tickets/tours you book.
We’ve visited the Medici Chapels more times than we’d like to admit, and honestly, we still think they’re underrated next to the Uffizi or the Duomo. Here’s everything you need to know about booking Medici Chapels tickets, what’s actually inside, and why this is one of the best-kept Renaissance secrets in Florence.
Medici Chapels Tickets & Tours 2026
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Ticket-Option
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Price
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Adults (18 and older) via official site
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€15
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Combi Guided Walking Tour (+Duomo)
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Approx. €97 (via GetYourGuide)
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EU Citizens (18-25 years)
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€2 reduced (+ €3 online booking fee)
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Children & Teens (under 18)
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Free (booking fee applies online for ages 6-17)
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Guided Tour (booked via GetYourGuide)
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From approx. €44 per person
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A Quick History of the Medici Chapels
The Medici were buried at San Lorenzo from the first half of the 15th century. Cosimo the Elder, the founding father of Medici power and the man Donatello and Brunelleschi worked for, lies in the church itself near the high altar.
The story of the chapels really starts with two big building projects, separated by about 80 years:
- 1419 onward: Brunelleschi designs the Old Sacristy inside San Lorenzo, a Renaissance landmark in its own right and the burial place of Giovanni di Bicci de’ Medici, the dynasty’s founder.
- 1521 to 1534: Michelangelo works on the New Sacristy. He has to suspend work twice; once when the Medici are expelled from the Republic of Florence in 1527, and again in 1534, when he leaves for Rome to work on the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel. Vasari and Ammannati finish what he started.
- 1604 onward: Ferdinand I commissions Matteo Nigetti, working from a design by Don Giovanni de’ Medici and Bernardo Buontalenti, to build the Chapel of the Princes as a Medici dynasty mausoleum. The decoration of the chapel continues right through the 18th century, when the last of the Medici was finally laid to rest.
- 1737: The Medici dynasty ends with Gian Gastone, and the House of Lorraine takes over the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. They finished the dome frescoes in the 19th century.
So when you walk through the Medici Chapels, you’re walking through about 350 years of Florentine power, religion, and ambition, all compressed into one small museum behind a church.
What's Inside the Medici Chapels in Florence
The Medici Chapels Museum has been a state museum since 1869. It’s set into the back of the Basilica of San Lorenzo, which is the official Medici parish church. The complex is divided into four main spaces, each with its own personality. Here’s what you’ll walk through:
1. The Crypt
This is the first room you enter, an octagonal underground chamber covered with cross vaults. It feels almost monastic. The crypt holds the tombstones of dozens of members of the Medici family, including Cosimo II, Ferdinand I, his wife Christina of Lorraine, the legendary mercenary Giovanni delle Bande Nere, Prince Lorenzo, and Cardinal Leopoldo. Don’t rush through. This is where the Medici dynasty actually rests.
2. Chapel of the Princes (Cappella dei Principi)
From the crypt, two staircases take you up into one of the most over-the-top rooms in Florence. The Chapel of the Princes is a monumental octagonal mausoleum, distinguished by its octagonal floor plan and a giant dome. Every surface is coated in polychrome marble inlays and semi-precious stones, using the famous Florentine commesso technique. Six grand dukes of Tuscany are buried here under massive sarcophagi.
Construction began in 1604 under Cosimo I’s son, Ferdinand I, and the chapel wasn’t fully finished until Pietro Benvenuti frescoed the dome from 1828 to 1837 under the Habsburg-Lorraine family. Yes, the Lorraine took over Tuscany after the last Medici died.
3. The New Sacristy (Sagrestia Nuova) by Michelangelo
This is the headline act. The New Sacristy was designed by Michelangelo from 1519 onward, commissioned by two Medici Popes, Leo X and Clement VII, to house the tombs of Lorenzo the Magnificent’s heirs. The room is a square space topped by a half-dome, clearly inspired by the Old Sacristy, designed by Brunelleschi, inside San Lorenzo Basilica next door.
The two big tombs inside are designed by Michelangelo himself:
- Tomb of Lorenzo, Duke of Urbino: with the allegorical sculptures of Dawn and Twilight
- Tomb of Giuliano, Duke of Nemours: with the allegorical sculptures of Day and Night
- Madonna and Child (Madonna Medici): Michelangelo’s emotional centerpiece, flanked by Saints Cosmas and Damian, the Medici family patron saints
Fun fact: Lorenzo and Giuliano de’ Medici, the more famous pair (Lorenzo the Magnificent and his murdered brother), are buried under this same Madonna in a relatively modest tomb. The fancier monuments are for their less famous descendants. Renaissance priorities.
4. The Treasury
A smaller room that holds part of the Treasury of the Basilica of San Lorenzo. Expect sacred reliquaries, including silver and gold pieces dedicated to St. John the Baptist, the reliquary of St. Cosmas and St. Damian, and religious paintings traditionally attributed to Botticelli and Ghirlandaio. It’s small, but worth slowing down for.
Michelangelo's Secret Room: The Hidden Highlight
Here’s the wild bit. In 1975, museum staff discovered a small chamber under the New Sacristy with charcoal drawings on the walls. The drawings are widely attributed to Michelangelo himself. The going theory is that he hid in the room in 1530, when the Medici returned to power, and his life was in danger after he’d helped fortify Florence against them.
The room was finally opened to the public in November 2023. It’s tiny, only 4 visitors at a time, 15 minutes per slot. You need a separate ticket, and slots sell out at least a month in advance, especially in spring and summer. If you’re a Michelangelo obsessive, this is the booking you make first.
Booking tip: Michelangelo’s Secret Room is not included in your standard Medici Chapels entry. Reserve it directly via the official b-ticket.com portal at least 30 days out for any chance at a slot.
How Long Is the Wait to Enter the Medici Chapels?
Without a reservation, expect 30 to 60 minutes in line during peak season (April to October), especially around midday. With a timed-entry ticket, you’ll usually walk through security and ticket check in 5 to 10 minutes.
The chapels are smaller than the Uffizi, so capacity matters. Slots fill up fast in summer and over Easter. Book at least a few days in advance in high season; longer for the Secret Room.
Best time slots, in our experience:
- Before 10:30 am: rooms feel almost empty
- After 4:30 pm: tour groups have moved on
- Avoid: 11 am to 2 pm, peak cruise-ship crowds
Opening Hours
The Medici Chapels are open Wednesday to Monday, from 8:15 am to 6:50 pm. Last entry is 40 minutes before closing.
Closing days to watch out for:
- Every Tuesday
- 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month
- 1st, 3rd and 5th Monday of each month
- January 1, May 1, and December 25
Free admission days: The first Sunday of every month (#domenicalmuseo), plus April 25, June 2, and November 4. Reservations and tours aren’t available on these days, and crowds get intense, so plan accordingly.
How to Get to the Medici Chapels
The entrance is at Piazza di Madonna degli Aldobrandini, 6, on the back side of the Basilica of San Lorenzo. It’s a five-minute walk from the Duomo and an eight-minute walk from Santa Maria Novella train station.
By foot from the Duomo: Head west on Via de’ Cerretani, then turn right onto Borgo San Lorenzo. The basilica is straight ahead. Walk around the back to find the chapel entrance.
By bus: Lines C1 and C2 stop near Piazza San Lorenzo.
By car: Don’t. The historic center of Florence is a ZTL (limited traffic zone), and parking is a nightmare. If you must drive, use the Parcheggio Stazione Santa Maria Novella and walk in.
Hot Tips We Wish We'd Known
- Buy your San Lorenzo ticket separately if you want both: The Medici Chapels and the Basilica of San Lorenzo (with Brunelleschi’s Old Sacristy) use different tickets and different entrances. The basilica is on Piazza San Lorenzo at the front; the chapels are at Piazza di Madonna degli Aldobrandini at the back.
- Pair it with the Laurentian Library: Michelangelo also designed the Laurentian Library inside the San Lorenzo complex, and it’s astonishing. Combo tickets often include both.
- Bring a pocket guide or audio guide: Signage inside the chapels is minimal. An audio guide rental costs €6 (€10 for two), or just download a guide before you go.
- Plan around the San Lorenzo Market: The Mercato Centrale is a two-minute walk away. Visit the chapels at 8:15 am opening, then head to the market upstairs for lunch. Top-tier morning in Florence.
- Mobility issues: The main chapels are accessible via a ramp at the entrance. The crypt is reached via stairs in some areas, so contact staff in advance if you need step-free routing.
- Combine with Florence’s other Medici places: The Medici story spans the Uffizi (Cosimo I’s office complex), Palazzo Vecchio (their seat of power), Palazzo Pitti (their private residence), and the Medici Chapels (their tomb). Doing all four is a brilliant Florence-themed itinerary.
Ready to plan your visit to the Medici Chapels in Florence? Book your skip-the-line tickets, secure your time slot, and step into 350 years of Renaissance power. We’ll see you in San Lorenzo
FAQ: about the Medici Chapels
How much do Medici Chapels tickets cost?
Standard Medici Chapels tickets cost €11 for adults at the official ticket portal, plus a €4 online booking fee. Skip-the-line tickets through providers like GetYourGuide start around €14. Guided tours range from €45 to €50, and combo passes with other Florence museums begin at €60.
Are the Medici Chapels worth visiting in Florence?
Yes, the Medici Chapels are absolutely worth visiting in Florence. The museum is the final resting place of the Medici family, home to Michelangelo’s monumental tombs of Lorenzo and Giuliano, as well as the dazzling marble-clad Chapel of the Princes. It’s one of the most underrated stops in the city.
Where are the Medici Chapels located?
The Medici Chapels are located at Piazza di Madonna degli Aldobrandini, 6, in central Florence, behind the Basilica of San Lorenzo. The entrance sits on the opposite side of the basilica from Piazza San Lorenzo and is a five-minute walk from the Duomo.
Who is buried in the Medici Chapels?
Several members of the Medici family are buried in the Medici Chapels. The crypt and Chapel of the Princes hold the tombs of Cosimo I, Cosimo II, Cosimo III, Ferdinand I, Christina of Lorraine, Giovanni delle Bande Nere, and the grand dukes of Tuscany. Lorenzo the Magnificent rests in the New Sacristy.
Is Michelangelo's Secret Room open to the public?
Yes, Michelangelo’s Secret Room has been open to the public since November 2023. Access is strictly limited to four people at a time, with 15-minute slots, and requires a separate booking. We recommend reserving at least a month in advance through the official b-ticket portal.
How long does a visit to the Medici Chapels take?
A typical visit to the Medici Chapels takes between 1.5 and 2 hours. That gives you enough time to explore the crypt, the monumental Chapel of the Princes, Michelangelo’s New Sacristy, and the Treasury without rushing. Guided tours usually run about 1 hour.
Are tickets to the Medici Chapels free for children?
Tickets to the Medici Chapels are free for visitors under 18. Reduced rates apply to EU citizens aged 18 to 25. A small online reservation fee may still apply when you book tickets online in advance, even for free entries.
Are the Medici Chapels accessible to visitors with mobility issues?
The Medici Chapels are partially accessible to visitors with mobility issues. The main level is reachable by a ramp at the entrance, and the museum is equipped with facilities for disabled access. Some adjacent areas use steps, so contact staff in advance to plan a step-free route.
Can I visit the Basilica of San Lorenzo with my Medici Chapels ticket?
No, your Medici Chapels ticket does not include entry to the Basilica of San Lorenzo. The basilica, which contains Brunelleschi’s Old Sacristy, requires a separate ticket and uses a different entrance on Piazza San Lorenzo at the front of the church.
Do I need to book tickets for the Medici Chapels in advance?
Booking your Medici Chapels tickets online in advance is highly recommended. Entry uses timed slots, and the museum is small, so reservations sell out fast in peak season. Booking ahead also lets you skip the line and walk straight in at your chosen time.
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