Florence museums late Nov, long lines if I don't make a reservation?
 

We are hoping to take a quick trip to Florence while we are visiting family in Bologna the week of Thanksgiving. Since we don't know what day we might be going (we may not know until the night before) I can't pre-book museum reservations. Since this is off season is it possible to get into the Uffizi and the Accademia without waiting in long lines?

You should have no problem at the Accademia just about any time of day. For the Uffizi, if you get there early, the line should not be too long.
At least, those were our experiences in late November.

Hi vino,

From http://www.uffizi.firenze.it/infoE.html
Reservation Service:

Reservations can be made, as long as ticket availibility lasts, by calling +39.(0)55.294883
Monday thru Friday 8.30am-6.30pm; Saturday 8.30am-12.30 am.
On Saturday and holidays an answering service is operative.
Fax +39(.(0)55.264406

Reservation-tel Euro 1,55.

You can do this the day before. You will not be charged unless you use the reservation.

You can reserve for the Accademia at the same time.

Take Ira's suggestion. Reserving both museums from the US a few weeks before our June 2004 trip was a breeze and was worth every cent of the overseas call-use the Costco or equivalent calling card! The phone was promptly answered by an attendant who spoke English well. We avoided the long long line to see David. Just went up to the front of the line and told the lineskeeper that we had reservations, and he immediately let us in. For the Uffizi, we had to go to a separate ticket office to buy the ticket and again avoided the line. Keep the reservations numbers handy. Have a wonderful trip!

I agree that reservations are well worth the small cost. The Accademia is especially busy because "David" has reopened.

Not reserving in advance has nothing to do with cost. Since we are visiting family who live in Bologna we don't know what day we might get down to Florence and probably won't make that decision until the night before, after the reservation office closes.

What I'm trying to figure out is if it is worth going down to Florence for the day, probably leaving on an early morning train (before the museum reservation office opens).

I've visited Florence on Thanksgiving weekend in 2002 and 2003. I was also there two weeks ago. In all three cases, we visited the Accademia later in the afternoon and there was no line. In 2002, we walked into the Uffizi after lunch, again no line.

Thanks HowardR and ellenem. It is good to hear that it would be worth taking the chance that we could go last minute at this time of year and not miss out on these museums.

I iterate that I think you'll be fine in late November. Most visitors to Florence during the tourist season don't realize the difference in the size of the crowds at the museums in late November.
If you do take an early train as planned, I would suggest going to the Uffizi first. Of the two facilities, that one would draw a bigger crowd. If it's busy at that time, just go to the Accademia and return later in the day.

Thanks HowardR, good suggestions, we'll try the Uffizi first.

I was in Florence Nov 2002. The hotel helped me make a reservation for the Uffizi, but I didn't go, I ended up just exploring all the piazzas. There were very minimal lines, and in fact the reservation was not even needed per the museum. I'd say go ahead and reserve, though. You never know.

I was just in Florence at the end of Oct. 2004. Even at that time I didnt think reservations were all that necessary at the Accademia.

The Uffizi would have been impossible without reservations at the time. If you get reservations make sure you go across the street to actually buy the tickets before you stand in line,,,,several people got to the front of the line to get and didnt have tickets,,,rushh...

for sure get a reservation to the uffizi..the day i went you could easily get into the accademia without reservations (about 9 am)

enjoy florence, its beautiful