Cindywho

Hello, I am wondering if it is better to make reservations ahead for Venice and Florence sights through a service (for a fee) or do it directly with the museum/etc. We will be there in early June so I definitely want to reserve times before going.

Which service can you recommend? Did everything work out if you booked directly by phone from US? How far in advance should I make reservations?

Thank you

ira

Hi C,

Why would you want to pay someone to do something for you that you can easily do yourself for almost nothing?

Uffizi and Academia Museum Reservations
The easiest and cheapest way is to call Florence 1010987 (dial around number), 011 (U.S. international access code) 39 (Italy's country code) then 055-294-883 8:30-18:30 M-F and 8:30-12:00 Sat. Florence time. There is a long listing of press 1 for this and 2 for that--press 4 for bookings. You will get an English speaking operator and in 2-3 minutes YOU CAN RESERVE FOR BOTH. This is through the reservation service at the Uffizi and costs beyond the normal entry fee only about 3 euro for the service. This is MUCH cheaper than the commercial booking services.

You will not be charged for the reservations unless you use them.

Secret Itineraries tour of Doge’s palace Phone number from US is 011 39 41 520 9070. English-speaking operator.

You will not be charged for your tickets if you don't go on the tour.

Online bookings are at http://tinyurl.com/z3jy2

Have a nice visit.

Apres_Londee

I think booking ahead is the smart thing to do.

I can't help with Venice, but we reserved our entry time at the Accademia and Uffizi in Florence by calling ahead ourselves. It was incredibly easy, and we were very glad we did so.

With apologizes and many thanks to poster ira, whose intructions I've copied below:


******
Uffizi and Academia Museum Reservations

The easiest and cheapest way is to call Florence 1016868 (dial around number), 011 (U.S. international access code) 39 (Italy's country code) then 055-294-883, 8:30-18:30 M-F and 8:30-12:00 Sat. Florence time. There is a long listing of press 1 for this and 2 for that--press 4 for bookings. You will get an English speaking operator and in 2-3 minutes YOU CAN RESERVE FOR BOTH. This is through the reservation service at the Uffizi and costs beyond the normal entry fee only about 3 euro for the service. This is MUCH cheaper than the commercial booking services.

You will not be charged for the reservations unless you use them.
******

I'm not sure how far you can you reserve in advance, I think a couple of weeks should be fine although perhaps someone else can correct me. We called only a couple of days before arriving in Florence, and had only two choices of time/days left to choose from.

I recommend reserving the Uffizi for first thing in the morning, at 8 or 8:30am, if that fits with your plans.

Then, once you've toured the first corridor, walk the rest of the "U" shape through the second and third corridor directly to the cafe. Have an early lunch or snack on the rooftop outside, before the real lunchtime rush. Then walk back to the beginning of the second corridor and resume your tour. This plan of attack worked out really well for us.

Apres_Londee

Oh dear. I was posting at the time as ira. Thanks again for your reservation instructions, ira! They worked like a charm.

Cindywho

Ira, thank you for confirming what I thought to be true. A website for a commercial booking service made it sound like you couldn't rely on doing it yourself because you did not receive a voucher to present.

I am only confused by the first phone number you provided "1010987 (dial around number)" ???

skriss

Oh yes, just phone the museums directly and book that way. It is very easy. Booking ahead is a great idea...the lines can be quite long if you do not have a reservation.

Apres_Londee

>>>I am only confused by the first phone number you provided "1010987 (dial around number)" ???<<<

I think that is an optional way of reducing your long distance charges, if you are calling from the US.

The Uffizi will give you confirmation numbers when you reserve- you just write them down and present them when you enter the museums. The system is pretty efficient and user-friendly.

janelp

Depending on how many there are in your family and how many museums you wish to visit, you may find a Friends of the Uffizi membership well-worth investigating. http://www.amicidegliuffizi.it/soci_engl.html
It is €100 (a year) and is good for many of the museums in Florence. You do not need to stand in line or have a reserved time. You just go to the head of the reserved line, show the doorkeeper your card and go right in.It is good for a family of 4. Another nice aspect is that you can come and go as you please so that you do not need to "do" the Pitti Palace or the Uffizi in one visit.

ira

Hi CW,

1010987 lets you call Italy for about 10 cts/ min + a 59 ct connection charge.

Usually cheaper than using standard long distance.

janelp

Another note about the Uffizi pass, the link mentions 4 people every 15 minutes. Don't let that scare you. We were there for a year and never had a problem getting in as we wanted. As you will note the pass is for the Uffizi, Pitti, Accademia, Borgello, Medici Chapels and many more venues.

Gor217

I have been trying to reserve tix online for the Uffizi and the site moves at a snail's pace. No luck so I will trying the telephone booking tomorrow. What I DID notice on the site is that only 5 people are admitted every 15 minutes. Is that right? Also, we are trying to book for Jan. 11 or 12 and no spots are available until noon or 1:00 p.m. Will there be earlier options if I use the phone system? Would it be a mistake to go around noon or wait unitl 2-3 p.m.?

ira

Hi Gor,

>Would it be a mistake to go around noon or wait unitl 2-3 p.m.?

No.

Tour buses start at about 10:00 and leave about 16:00.

2010

bookmarking

dorkforcemom

We went to Florence last month. Prior to our visit, I sent an email to our hotel inquiring if they could/would make reservations for the Accademia and Uffizi - they did, sending confirmation emails with the appropriate details. There was not a charge for doing this - it saved phone calls and was easy. Perhaps if you're staying in a hotel, this would work, too.

Gor217

Ira, the phone call was the way to go...<5 minutes and I had reservations for both Uffizi (first thing in the morning when website said no openings until noon!)AND Academia. We leave on Monday and are sooooo excited. Many thanks to all on this site of all of the help.

SUMMAGOLD

Secret Itineraries tour of Doge’s palace Phone number from US is 011 39 41 520 9070. English-speaking operator.

ira, i tried to call that number, and its coming up busy or cannot be completed as dialed.. wats up?

J62

That is the same # I used this summer to make reservations. No problem at at all.


http://www.museiciviciveneziani.it/f...e=prenotazioni

TELEPHONE BOOKINGS
- call centre 041 5209070, from 9am-6pm (Mon-Fri) and 9am-2pm (Sat).

(Or from the US 011 39 41 5209070)

ira

Hi S,

>ira, i tried to call that number, and its coming up busy or cannot be completed as dialed.. wats up?

Are you calling between 08:00 - 12:00 or 14:00-16:00 Venice time?

J62

hmmm. I just tried the # a couple of times. Once I got a busy signal, once garbled static/noise, twice a message "beep. the international number you are dialing is not in service" or something like that.

SUMMAGOLD

you have to add the 0 before the 4. this worked:

011 39 041 520 90 70.