In short: you can’t take a suitcase into the Uffizi or up the Duomo, and the streets around them are pedestrian and crowded. The easiest plan is to leave your bags at Via Palazzuolo 170, 4 minutes from Santa Maria Novella station, then walk about 10 minutes to the Duomo or 15–20 minutes to the Uffizi.
The Duomo, the Uffizi and Piazza della Signoria are the three places every visitor wants to see, and the three places where luggage is most unwelcome. This guide explains the bag rules at each sight and the best way to visit them hands-free.
Bag rules at the main sights
- Uffizi Galleries: backpacks, bags, umbrellas and other large objects must be left in the museum cloakroom before entry. The cloakroom is free, but it’s designed for small items, not travel suitcases.
- Brunelleschi’s Dome: climbing with medium or large luggage, backpacks or bags is forbidden. The Opera del Duomo offers a free cloakroom for visitors’ bags at Piazza del Duomo before the climb.
- Cathedral, Baptistery, Giotto’s Bell Tower: security checks and narrow staircases (414 steps on the bell tower) make large bags impractical.
- Accademia Gallery: like most museums, it doesn’t allow large bags in the galleries.
Rules can change, so always check the official museum websites before your visit.
Why store near the station rather than near the Duomo
If you arrive by train, the station area is the natural place to leave your luggage: you pass by it anyway, there’s no need to drag bags through the busiest pedestrian streets, and you collect them on your way back to the platforms.
| From Via Palazzuolo 170 to… | On foot |
|---|---|
| Santa Maria Novella station | about 4 min |
| Mercato Centrale / San Lorenzo | about 8 min |
| Piazza del Duomo | about 10–12 min |
| Accademia (David) | about 15 min |
| Piazza della Signoria / Uffizi | about 15–20 min |
| Ponte Vecchio | about 15–20 min |
A hands-free route: Duomo → Uffizi → Ponte Vecchio
- Drop your bags at Via Palazzuolo 170 (register online first to get your code).
- Walk to the Duomo via Via de’ Cerretani: about 10 minutes.
- Climb the dome or the bell tower at your booked time: no bag stress.
- Walk down Via dei Calzaiuoli to Piazza della Signoria (5–7 minutes).
- Visit the Uffizi (closed on Mondays; book a timed entry).
- Finish at Ponte Vecchio, then walk back to collect your luggage before 23:00.
Tip: if you’re staying in a hotel near the Duomo, ask whether it keeps bags before check-in. If it doesn’t (many apartments don’t), our lockers are on your way from the station.
How much it costs
A visit to the Duomo and the Uffizi takes 4–6 hours: €7.90–€11.90 in a medium locker (one large suitcase or two trolleys), €10.90–€15.90 in a large one. All prices: luggage storage costs in Florence.
Frequently asked questions
Is there luggage storage at the Duomo?
The Opera del Duomo provides a free cloakroom for visitors’ bags before the dome climb. For travel suitcases and longer stays, a dedicated luggage storage is more practical.
Can I take a suitcase into the Uffizi?
No. Backpacks, bags and large objects must be left in the cloakroom before entry, and suitcases are not suitable for it.
How far is your storage from the Uffizi?
About 15–20 minutes on foot, through the centre.
See the masterpieces without the weight: register and get your code.
Cover image: Verum3414 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 (source)
