Brahmama

I will be there in 10 days and having heard so much about the ticket situation, I would like to hear from someone who is aware of the current situation.

I will be training in from Siena to spend the day. I have read 2 strategies:
1. To order tickets ahead of time and pick them at the museum.
2. To arrive very early and stand in line - as it has been said that the "reservation only" line is as long as the other line now.

Any suggestions appreciated by someone who has current knowledge, please! (Since 1/1/03)

KathyNZ

Which museum are you talking about, that would be a help? If you are going in 10 days it will still be winter and there are no queues at this time of year, no more than a few minutes anyway. I was there 23/12.is that recent enough and just walked straight into the Uffizi, the Pitti Palace museums and the Accademia. This is the time of year that the italians visit their own museums because of the lack of crowds obviously.

andy

http://www.florenceitaly.net/uffizitk.html

This is the post Via the Hotel Pendini in FLorence-they can pre-book the museum tkts:

Uffizi Gallery
- Loggiato degli Uffizi, 6 - Tel. 23885
- Weekdays 9am-7pm - Holidays 9am-2pm
- Closed on Mondays - Entrance L. 12.000

You can now book yourself your Uffizi Gallery
tickets in advance,
or book them at one of our hotels when in Florence.
The reservation office needs at least three days advance notice

Academia Gallery:

Academy Gallery - Via Ricasoli, 60 - Tel. 23885

ABOVE are the phone numbers or email addresses to get tkts....

The Hotel Pendini does the booking service as an added feature of helping the tourist.....

Andrea_expat

I was just there at the beginning of February and concur with Kathy that the lines shouldn't be too long.

I do highly recommend that you book a tour through the "Walking Tours of Florence" company (website below). They do small group tours with a native English speaker who is very knowledgable - it's about $35, includes the ticket price, and even if there were lines you wouldn't have to wait.

http://www.artviva.com/code/walktour.html

siena_us

To be quite honest, I would take the bus not the train. The train in Siena is a 10 minute bus ride outside of the city and takes more than an hour and a half. The bus leaves from Piazza Gramsci in the city (within the walls) and arrives next to the Florence train station in less than an hour and 15 minutes. I live in Siena and even I take the bus when going to Florence (it is easier than taking my car).

Brahmama

Thanks for the replies - they were all very helpful.

KathyNZ - Of course, I should have specified the museums - I am hoping for the Uffizi and the Accademia. Yes, it will still be winter, and I was gratified to hear that there may not be the lines to cope with. Thank you.

Andy, are you saying that the Hotel Pendini will make reservations even if the clients are not booked in their hotels? How very kind of them. We are based in San Gimignano for 4 nights and so will be coming in for a full day and also for a half day - before we take the train to Venice. Thanks for the information.

Andrea - what a helpful website to have! Thanks for sharing that. A guide would be lovely.

Siena - actually we will be coming from san G - so we will have to take a bus from there - but I don't have a website with the bus schedules - San Gimi to Florence. Do you have one?

misbegotten

Definitely book your tour of this museum through a tour agency. They bring you right to the front of the line. With a group tour and fending for yourself you could be waiting in line for many hours. We waited for four hours and were so cranky that we really didn't enjoy this wonderful museum. The museum adheres very strictly to x number of warm bodies in the building at one time. This is to best preserve these priceless works of art. Enjoy your trip and save some energy to climb the Duomo!

andy

Brahmama-

YES_ the Hotel Pendini runs this website to help tourists and BOOK the tkts for you...

There is a nominal charge ( like tktmaster) and you bypass the lines at the museum and pick up your tkts at the Gallery---

Email them- and also go onto the website link that I provided- click on Uffizi Gallery and it will explain-
If the explanation is not clear, then email them and they will answer you...

Win Win situation-
Enjoy!!

KathyNZ

From San Gim. there is a Sita bus leaving at 4pm, goes to Poggibonsi, you cross the road to the other bus stop and one to Florence will come along in a few minutes. This bus will go along the main highway but if you are able to catch the 3.15 pm from Poggibonsi, this one goes thru a lot of small villages on the way to Florence and is quite a delightful trip. A little bit longer of course in time.
If you prefer you can take the train from Poggibonsi to Florence, the Sita bus from San Gim. also stops outside the train station.
Whichever way, the italians have it down to a fine art so you won't get lost.

Byrd

We just returned (last night!) from Florence, and when we went to the Uffizi
Thursday afternoon we just walked in. We actually saw no crowds, just some school groups at the important sites. We were a group of four couples, so instead of taking the train or bus to Siena, we hired an 8-passenger van with driver-guide for the day. We went to Siena, San G, Monteriggioni, and also stopped at the Piazza Michaelangelo. The drive through the countryside, with our knowledgeable guide was fun and (to us) more relaxed that some of the other options.
Byrd

crazymina

I was just in Florence last week. I went to the Accademia. I arrived a few minutes before 9 am, and there was no one in line. I thought I should follow the crowds in, but there were no crowds to follow! For 15 minutes, it was just me and David...I was the only person in the entire place. It was magical...the joys of traveling in the winter.

But, I guess it wouldn't hurt to book in advance.