Do we need to book Uffizi tickets in advance?

Your post is confusing. Will you be visiting the Uffizi with the tour or will you visit on your own during your two independent days? If you're on your own, you will save much wait-in-line time if you order your tickets in advance. Those with reservations enter first.

Two easy ways:

1. From the U.S., direct reservations line:
011-39-055-294-883 (last time I used this, there was an English prompt)

2. Have you asked your hotel? Many hotels graciously offer to make the reservation for their clients.

Your choices may be very limited this late in the game. If none are available, you'll have a long wait. The line gets verrrrryyyyyy long. Good luck!

The web site you're looking at has about a 5 euro markup per ticket that you don't need to pay. If you go here:

www.b-ticket.com/b-ticket/uffizi/venue.aspx

you'll pay the standard rate of 14 euros -- 10 plus a 4 euro reservation fee charged by the Uffizi. (Admission is normally 6.50, but it's currently upped to 10 because of a special exhibit.)

Note that the Uffizi is closed on Monday.

I took a look at the web site, and there are only a couple of afternoon spots left for Tuesday -- if you want to book for then, you should do it pronto. Calling the number swisshiker gives will do the trick too. The cost is the same by phone or on line.

Just an FYI: I read somewhere that the website (posted by Matt) only makes reservations for afternoons, no mornings.

You MUST get advanced tickets for the Uffizi or risk waiting in line for hours--or not getting in at all. swisshiker's advice is excellent. No need to pay extra fee on top of reservation and admission price.

That's a good point, swisshiker -- I hadn't realized it before, but on the web site you can book only from noon on.

I also checked out that website to book tickets to the Uffizi or the Accademia and there are only ticket time slots after 12pm. Can you not have time slots in the morning if ordering online?

This is the way it goes, make an advance reservation through the OFFICIAL site . When you are in Florence have a look at the line, if it is something reasonable for you, do the line and
do not use the reserve tickets, you will not be charged, reservation will simply die.
The fee is a few euros, of course if you do the line no extra fee but usually it is worth it because for most of us time is precious.

"Can you not have time slots in the morning if ordering online?" Correct.

If you would like a morning time slot, simply call the ticket office number posted above.

I just booked tickets for Uffizi for me + 2 kids €22 from Matt Lombardis link (The other websites all wanted to charge me €45 for the same tickets)- am very happy as we only have 2 days in Florence, but he is correct there were only afternoon slots. I didn't read all the posts about huge crowds in the gallery in the afternoon so I hope we will find a way to see something in the crush.

Culturevulture -- Did you book tickets for your kids at the discounted children's price? Note that only kids who are EU citizens are eligible for the discount, so if you're from elsewhere you'll run into a problem when you go to pick up your tickets.

If this is the case for you, you might call the reservation number swisshiker gives above and explain the situation. (Have your confirmation number handy.) I suspect this happens all the time, but I don't know how they handle it.

anyone having trouble with that number? I tried calling it on Sat which they do open from 830-12pm but got an operator saying the number or service is not available?

If you make an online or phone reservation, remember to head first to Door #3 to pick up your actual tickets. Simply show them your paperwork or tell them your scheduled time, they look you up and then hand you the tickets.

Once you have your tickets in hand, then proceed to Door #1 (entrance to museum).

Happy travels!

myserendipity - Did you call Italian time?

Graziella - The b-ticket.com is the official booking site. When you go to the official museum website for Florence and click to book tickets it rolls over to b-ticket.
http://www.polomuseale.firenze.it/english/Default.asp?

@kybourbon - Yea, I called Italian time and I trie calling today (Monday) italian time as well and still got a message saying the number is not in service. I dialed it as 011-39-055-294-883, using a long distance carrier called Lunex telecom. Am I not dialing it correctly?

Today is Monday and they are closed Mondays.

Opening hours:
Open Tuesday to Sunday 8,15 – 18,50

How far in advance can you book your tickets? It shows everything as booked in November, but I'm guessing that's because you can't reserve that far in advance.

I think currently the website is only booking through September.

Hi kybourbon: I did call the reservation number on a Tuesday during their opening hours and still I get a message from the long distance provider saying the number is not correct or not in service. I've searched and that seems to be the number to call, are you supposed to use a calling card for it to work?

Have your hotel book it for you. Most hotels don't mind doing that.

Thanks kybourbon for your replies! I'll get myself a calling card hoping it'll work and call the hotel as well.

Hi all,

Anyone having problem with the b-tcket. I book ticket for 2 person for both Academia & Uffizi on on Jul 2 for visiting on Jul 15.

However, after the process of the credit card, the web browser shows blank. I, then refresh, and then the web browser shows blank again. And then it says my transaction is cancelled.

The next day I called up my credit card company and was told the transcation was approved.

I did not receive a confirmation email from them. I've check my spam email too.

I tried to email 'help@bassilichi.it' but I received delivery status failed.

Sigh! Help! I am flying of to Milan in 5days time!!

Hi jp,

There is a phone number for Bassilichi at the Uffizi ticket site: fax (0)5 54 14 851
The area code for Italy is 39.

Hope this helps.

thanks so much!!

I'll try to fax as the emails keep having delivering status failure.

I'm in the same ticketless boat and posted a similar question. Was told that if I go late, the lines aren't so bad. Not true?

Wow, I know that I paid a lot more than 6.50 on-line last July 2008, so live an learn. I think that one should go the on-line option, unless one can get there quite early. The lines were very long @ 9am when I arrived to pick up my ticket and it felt good to be able to walk right into the building. This museum is incredible, although demands a lot of time(more than one visit). Go to the rooftop cafe where there are some beautiful views of the city. Enjoy!

The regular walk-up price is 6.50€, but there is a special exhibit right now (required) that adds 3.50€ to the ticket. If you book online through the official website there is a 4€ reservation fee. A ticket should be 14€ online through the end of September. They are staying open longer on Tuesdays - From 7 July to 29 September the Uffizi Gallery will extend the current opening hours up to 21.00 on Tuesdays

Opening hours:
Open Tuesday to Sunday 8,15 – 18,50
Closed Monday, New Year’s Day, May 1st and Christmas Day.
Tickets:
For the Il Fasto e la Ragione exhibition, the ticket prices will be € 10,00 (full price) and € 5,00 (reduced price).
Full Price: € 6,50
Reduced: € 3,25
Free admission
Buy tickets on line
Booking:
Firenze Musei, Tel: 055 294883
Booking charge: € 4,00

Do not book from b-ticket. I am still having problem with it. I am still ticketless. Sigh!

Leonora,

Did you call up Bassilichi? Have u gotten your ticket? I tried calling but am always in the waiting.

I think by the time I waited, my phone bill from overseas will cost more than the tickets itself.

Hi, I called the Uffizi as suggested here (phone # 011-39-055-294-883). I waited on hold for a long time, then an impatient woman answered and asked me for the date/ time I'd like to go, asked me for my last name, and gave me a confirmation number. I politely asked if she could spell back my last name to me to make sure she had it right, and she got really annoyed, and then said that she wasn't sure what the spelling was. So I re-spelled and she spelled it back correctly (and angrily). She said that I buy the tickets once I'm there.

I'm feeling a bit nervous that I'm going to show up and they won't have my reservation, since I didn't actually buy the tickets yet (I expected to pay by credit card and receive some kind of email confirmation). Does this work ok, just showing up with a confirmation number and hoping they spelled your last name right? How far ahead of my reservation time should I arrive at the museum? Where should I go to pick up my tickets? Someone mentioned "door #3", not sure how long the line for this door is. Thanks!!

I bought my Uffizi tickets online and it says to arrive 15 mins early. I'd say you should get there 30 mins before hand, just in case. I am sure they will have your reservation, but you will have to queue to pay for the tickets.

You could always just buy online - http://www.b-ticket.com/b%2Dticket/Uffizi/default.aspx

Thanks! I wanted to get a morning time which wasn't available online, which is why I had to go the phone route. Fingers crossed!

Has anyone on this list tried the phone call/ confirmation number approach? Did it work? How early did you arrive ahead of the reservation, and how long did the line to pay take?

(Again, I would have just purchased online, but they seem to only have afternoon times online)

Thanks

I tried the phone number today and didn't get an option for reserving tickets, only hours and prices and information. I'll try again tomorrow.