When people think of gardens in Florence, the Boboli Gardens often come to mind first. However, the Bardini Garden — located near the old fortress — is far less crowded than Boboli, features a café with breathtaking views, and is an absolute hidden gem worth visiting.
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- Bardini Garden: Tickets
- Getting There
- Highlights & Time Required
- The Café Inside the Garden: Unmissable Views
- Final Thoughts
📑 Contents
Bardini Garden: Tickets
Bardini Garden can be entered using the combined 5-day ticket that also covers the Uffizi Gallery, Pitti Palace, and Boboli Gardens (valid for one visit per venue).
According to Florence residents, the venues and scope covered by this ticket can change from time to time, so it is worth double-checking before your visit.
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Getting There
From the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, walk past Pitti Palace and continue up the hill for about 10 minutes — the entrance will appear on your left.
The entrance is fairly unassuming, but a couple of groups waiting for the 10 a.m. opening made it easy to spot. The surrounding neighborhood is a quiet, elegant residential area.
The view from the Bardini Garden café
Garden Highlights & How Long to Stay
The Bardini Garden feels roughly one-fifth the size of Boboli, yet it packs in an impressive variety of highlights: a small rose garden in full bloom, classic Italian statues, a pretty little fountain, a lush green tunnel, panoramic views of the Florence skyline from multiple vantage points, and an atmospheric café. Whether you are a garden enthusiast or not, it is a wonderful place to spend a relaxed afternoon.
Allow at least two hours, including time to sit and have a drink at the café.
Looking out over the Florence skyline from the terraced lawns
The Café Inside the Garden: Unmissable Views
The café inside the Bardini Garden offers a sweeping panorama of Florence, and you can sit as long as you like — it is an absolute must.
I ordered an orange juice, which came to around €5. It is essentially a carton of juice poured into a glass, but given the stunning view and the atmosphere, it is absolutely worth stopping for a break here.
Final Thoughts
The Bardini Garden may not be as famous as the Boboli Gardens, but it has plenty to offer — beautiful scenery, a lovely café, and far fewer crowds. Apparently it stays open until 8 p.m. in summer, so an evening visit to catch the sunset from the café terrace is a wonderful option too.
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