I don't remember how the ticketing works for the Uffizi. However, there's a number you can call to make an advance reservation for the Accademia (David).

They speak English, give you a reservation # and you don't pay until you get there.

We walked up to the museum and saw a line around the corner. Just to the left there was a door with about 5 people there. We walked up to the booth, gave our reservation number, paid and got our tickets to just walk in.

I suspect Uffizi works the same. maybe somebody with recent experience will respond.

It is the same set-up. We had to telephone because I attempted this before I had called my credit card to warn them them not to block international charges (duh!). The telephone call for some reason doesn't trigger credit card security measures like the website:

From http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/galleria-degli-uffizi-florence.cfm

"Advance tickets Consorzio ITA, Piazza Pitti telephone: 1 055/294883 at least one day in advance of your visit. Keep the confirmation number and take it with you to the door at the museum marked "Reservations." Usually you're ushered in almost immediately. Come with cash, because credit cards are not accepted."

Thank you so much!

for June, i would book now.

if you use the phone, you don't get charged the booking fee until you pick the tickets up, so if there is no queue, you just buy the tickets and go in in the normal way.

in June, I'd expect queues.

How much time would you allow to be inside, assuming we want to see everything really outstanding,but not make a detailed study of each piece?

Also, which other galleries are 'don't miss' in Florence? David, and...?

I know this is a contrarian view, but I much prefer the copy of David in its original position in the Piazza dei Signori, where it was designed to stand. The perspective looks peculiar to me in the confined area of the Accademia.

The Fra Angelicos painted on the monks' cell walls of San Marco are lovely to see and if you go early enough it's a serene space. It is open only in the mornings in any case.

tinydancer - we took about 2 hours to wander round the Uffizi, though we did have breakfast in the cafe - very nice and not as expensive as you might think. we then spent at least the same again seeing the temporary exhibition they had downstairs which was Leonardo.

The Accademia will probably only take an hour unless you are fixated on musical instruments, or which they have a terrific collection. i agree with Tarquin about the San Marco - it opens at 8.30 am and earlier is definitely better!

Having seen both of those, you might want a spot of lunch, in which case there is an excellent cafe on the corner of the square and via cavour, which is worth visiting for the uniforms of the waitresses alone! alternatively, get the bus from the square up to Fiesole and have lunch in the square under the trees.

>>>Also, which other galleries are 'don't miss' in Florence? David, and...?<<<

I loved the Bargello, and also thought the Museo dell'opera was extremely interesting.

I agree with annhig about the cafe at the Uffizi- the view is absolutely beautiful (make sure you sit outside) and the food is good and surprisingly affordable.

You should always book ahead if you are there for a short period. This way you do not have to worry

"Also, which other galleries are 'don't miss' in Florence?"

As you can imagine, not all of the treasures of Florence are housed in galleries, and there are works by Michelangelo in many places throughout the city. Besides what has already been mentioned, here are a few sights I love, but you should do some research to see if they would interest you:

Baptistery (inside and outside)
The Duomo
Brancacci Chapel
Medici Chapel
Palazzo Medici Riccari
Palazzo Pitti
Basilica di Santa Croce
Palazzo Vecchio
San Lorenzo Church
Opificio delle Pietre Dure

Would second the Bargello and Museo dell"opera.

If tinydancer doesn't mind, I have a question on the topic as well:

I THINK regular, full priced entry fee for the Uffizi is 9.50E, I know they add 11E to book online, and apparently an additional 10E "presale fee" if you book too early lol (which I have been known to do)...

Since we arrive in Firenze the day before we plan to see the Uffizi, I was condsidering just going to the ticket office on Friday and asking for a reservation for Saturday... has anyone done this? And do you remember what you paid?

Thanks for responses and thanks for the borrowed space tinydancer!

Hi ready to go,

they DO NOT, repeat DO NOT, charge €11 to book on line on the official website, they charge €4 on top of the standard €6.50 - still a bargain, IMHO.

here's the link:

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

you may have misunderstood the italian version of the website, when it refers to the charge of €11 for entry when there is special exhibition on. alternatively you may be looking at an unofficial website, which are many and various. [NB - prenotare means "to book", NOT to book too early - it's a bit of a false friend in that respect].

you could try just rolling up, but if you know you want to go on the saturday, why not just make the call?

Oh my gosh annhig!! I was on a shady site :/ I feel so ashamed lol... usually I am always on Official sites!!! Here is the link I was on:

http://www.uffizi.com/online-ticket-booking-uffizi-gallery.asp

I was on the english version of the website (altough my Italian is passable if not better) This website I listed definitely was charging a fee for booking more than a month in advance, I copied and pasted below what it says (Prices for 2 tickets):

Chosen date: 03-08-2012
Chosen time: 10:00
Entrance fee
Full price: 2 + Presale Fee 30.00
On-Line booking 11.00
Final price €41.00

YIKES!! Im glad I asked, who knows if I would have booked on this site a couple months down the road!

Thanks a ton!

Hi ready to go - glad to have been of help!

the unofficial sites are sooo clever - though this one talks about customers, so that might have been a bit of a clue! [not getting at you ready, they make it difficult to spot the difference on purpose].

I put in a rogue date, and came up with a price of €15 plus a €5 booking fee and an audio guide added automatically for another €7.80. that's €27.80 for €6.50 ticket, that would cost €10.50 if booked through the official website or by phone.

Not bad!

RTG, don't beat yourself up, uffizi.com sounds like it would be the official site to me too. Pretty clever indeed...

Some hotels will book the Uffizi for you if you are staying with them. I sent an email with the time and date I wanted, and they sent back a confirmation. It takes a local phone call for them, and they just added it to our hotel bill. Don't think they added any extra charges.

Has any one taken the Uffizi tour with a guide?
Is it worth it?

Jean gave you a great list, I forgot about the Brancacci Chapel, which is beautiful and takes you to the Oltrano which is less crowded and even more interesting than the other side of the river. The Baptistery was another favourite, too, the mosaics are spectacular.

Thanks bardo1 and annhig I still feel like a big dummy though! The funny part is I have even used the site annhig posted months ago when I was setting the budget up! Hahaha... I thought it was funny that I wrote appx 13 USD for tickets on my spreadsheet and what I saw today was more than 2x that!

sundriedpachino - maybe Ill contact the apartment owners we are renting from - they have all been super friendly and available... I bet they wouldnt mind

We booked for 4 on the OFFICIAL museum site and including the internet booking fees it came to 42EUR for all 4 of us.

Glad others also got something out of this posting!

Loved the Bargello also. Another museum I thought excellent is the Museo Galileo of the history of science, which is right by the Uffizi.

glad to hear it, tinydancer.

hope you enjoy the experience.