Italy: Do I need reservations to tour museums in Venice and Florence?
Oct 1st, 2004, 10:09 AM
#1
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Italy: Do I need reservations to tour museums in Venice and Florence?
We will spend 2 days in Venice and 2 days in Florence this month (October). Have never been to Italy before. Do we absolutely need to purchase advance tickets and reservations for Uffizi, Academia, Pitti Palace or Secrets Tour of Doge's Palace. We would prefer the flexiblity of an open schedule, but do not want to waste valuable time standing in lines. How bad will lines be in October?
Oct 1st, 2004, 10:21 AM
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If you want to avoid long lines you'd better make reservations for the Uffizi, Accademia and I think also Bargello. 011-39-055-294883 is their phone number. There are English speaking operators. There is just about 1.60 euros service fee but it is worth it.
Oct 1st, 2004, 10:22 AM
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Hi TC,
You don't have to purchase tickets in advance.
Secret Itineraries tour of Doge?s palace Phone number is 011 39 041 520 9070.
Uffizi and Academia Museum Reservations
The easiest and cheapest way is to call Florence 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. 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 1.60 euro for the service. This is MUCH cheaper than the commercial booking services.
You don't have to purchase tickets in advance.
Secret Itineraries tour of Doge?s palace Phone number is 011 39 041 520 9070.
Uffizi and Academia Museum Reservations
The easiest and cheapest way is to call Florence 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. 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 1.60 euro for the service. This is MUCH cheaper than the commercial booking services.
Oct 1st, 2004, 10:25 AM
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Hi TC,
Make the reservation, but you don't have to use it. You only pay for the ticket+reservation when you go to the museum to pick up your tickets. So, you loose nothing more than the cost of the call.
Make the reservation, but you don't have to use it. You only pay for the ticket+reservation when you go to the museum to pick up your tickets. So, you loose nothing more than the cost of the call.
Oct 1st, 2004, 10:29 AM
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This is a reply to a poster who said that s/he had been told by a reservation agency that the day in mid-October that s/he wanted to visit the Uffizi was sold out.
"From the US, call 011 39 055-294-883 8:30-18:30 M-F and 8:30-12:00 Sat. Florence time, at least a day before your visit and ideally at least a few days in advance for a better selection. Florence is 6 hours ahead of EST. You will get an English speaking operator and in 2-3 minutes you'll get an entry slot (15-min window) and a six-digit confirmation number. Using the same phone number, you can reserve in advance for the Accademia, Bargello, Medici Chapels, and Pitti Palace; of these, the Accademia has the worst lines. The booking fee is 1.60. This is MUCH cheaper than the commercial booking services. If you show up for your reserved time and there is no line, you can just buy the entry ticket and you don't have to pay the 1.60 booking fee."
You should definitely reserve for the Uffizi and the Accademia; in my experience, there is never that great a line at the Pitti.
The Secret Itinerary of the Ducal Palace should also be reserved in advance. The number to call is 011-39-0415209070.
"From the US, call 011 39 055-294-883 8:30-18:30 M-F and 8:30-12:00 Sat. Florence time, at least a day before your visit and ideally at least a few days in advance for a better selection. Florence is 6 hours ahead of EST. You will get an English speaking operator and in 2-3 minutes you'll get an entry slot (15-min window) and a six-digit confirmation number. Using the same phone number, you can reserve in advance for the Accademia, Bargello, Medici Chapels, and Pitti Palace; of these, the Accademia has the worst lines. The booking fee is 1.60. This is MUCH cheaper than the commercial booking services. If you show up for your reserved time and there is no line, you can just buy the entry ticket and you don't have to pay the 1.60 booking fee."
You should definitely reserve for the Uffizi and the Accademia; in my experience, there is never that great a line at the Pitti.
The Secret Itinerary of the Ducal Palace should also be reserved in advance. The number to call is 011-39-0415209070.
Oct 2nd, 2004, 03:21 PM
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I'm frugal and wouldn't waste the money calling long distance for a reservation when you can have your hotelier do it for nothing. I don't think anyone can predict how the lines will be. One day we were there there were long lines at the Uffizi, and no line at all at the Academia.
Since you want flexibility, I would suggest you wait until arrival, decide when you want to go, and ask your hotel to get you the reservations. As others have pointed out, if the lines are short when you arrive, you don't have to use the reservation, nor pay for it.
Incidentally, we found no lines at the Pitti Palace, which is large, but enjoyed the Opera museum more; it has a pieta by Michelangelo, unfinished, that is memorable.
Since you want flexibility, I would suggest you wait until arrival, decide when you want to go, and ask your hotel to get you the reservations. As others have pointed out, if the lines are short when you arrive, you don't have to use the reservation, nor pay for it.
Incidentally, we found no lines at the Pitti Palace, which is large, but enjoyed the Opera museum more; it has a pieta by Michelangelo, unfinished, that is memorable.
Oct 3rd, 2005, 01:32 PM
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Hi all. Does anyone know if there is anywhere you can reserve on-line and not have to pay for the price of the ticket if you don't show up? Or is this only by phone?
About how much does it cost to phone Italy from the east coast USA?
And does everyone agree that that advance reservations are not necessary for the Pitti Palace?
Thanks
About how much does it cost to phone Italy from the east coast USA?
And does everyone agree that that advance reservations are not necessary for the Pitti Palace?
Thanks
