Travel Hacks for Museum Ticket Reservations in Florence (and the Best Places for a Quick Bite)
Florence is Italy’s cultural capital. The spoils of centuries of cashed-up Florentine royalty hoarding and wooing the country’s best artists, architects and sculptors are laid bare for the serious art historian or the mildly curious modern traveller with an eye on Lonely Planet’s top 10 must-sees.
But getting into Florence’s museums can be tough. The city attracts more than 10 million visitors a year, and you know they’ll all be making a beeline for the Uffizi at some point during their stay.
So how do you avoid the crowds and make sure you don’t miss out?
There are a number of ways to grab tickets for Florence’s museums.
Book Ahead
Being prepared is the antithesis of the Italian way of life, we know. You can’t really imagine them reserving a restaurant in Florence, let alone a museum ticket. They’re far more likely to just saunter in a minute before closing without a care in the world. It would probably work too — but if it doesn’t, they can always come back. Those of us who aren’t lucky enough to live in the city can’t, so it pays to plan ahead.
In the past, the official state Florentine museums’ website allowed you to buy tickets for most museums in one place. That’s no longer the case. Tickets are now split across two official websites.
The official website of the Florentine state museums, allows you to purchase tickets for:
– Accademia Gallery
– Palazzo Davanzati
– Michelangelo’s Secret Room
– Orsanmichele
– Medici Chapels
– Bargello Museum
This website allows you to purchase tickets for:
– Uffizi Gallery
– Pitti Palace (including the Palatine Gallery, Modern Art Gallery, Royal Apartments, etc.)
– Boboli Gardens
– Vasari Corridor
The Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia Gallery are the two museums you really don’t want to leave to chance — unless you’re visiting between November and March and don’t mind arriving before 8am or after 4pm. For most of the other museums on the list, you can usually buy a ticket on the day without standing in line.
If you do want to reserve a ticket, always buy it from the official website. There are plenty of privately owned ticketing sites that charge extra or, worse, sell tickets that aren’t valid. Some hotels can also arrange tickets, usually for a small commission.
Some tickets are multi-passes. For example, the Uffizi Passepartout 5 Days ticket includes entry to the Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens, so read the description carefully before you buy. Tickets generally include priority entrance (except for the Uffizi, where reservations are always required), but you must arrive within 15 minutes of your allocated time. The most popular time slots — usually between 10am and 1pm — sell out first.
When planning your itinerary, check how long it takes to get from one attraction to another and avoid overloading your days. Florence’s museums are best enjoyed at a leisurely pace.
You can’t buy tickets on the first Sunday of every month. Entry is free — but it gets extremely crowded. I also recommend avoiding popular museums during Italian national holidays and long weekends (the so-called ponti).
outside Orsanmichele, source: Wikipedia Commons
Phone it in
You can still book museum tickets over the phone, both from Italy and overseas, in English. It might sound old-school, but calling can be useful — especially for last-minute availability.
That said, the system has changed.
For museums managed by CoopCulture (such as the Uffizi, Pitti Palace, and Boboli Gardens), phone bookings now require immediate payment, including the booking fee.
For museums managed by Firenze Musei (such as the Accademia Gallery), you don’t pay during the call. Instead, you receive a payment link by email and have 20 minutes to complete the payment, or the reservation is cancelled.
The phone number +39 055 294 883 is now valid only for Firenze Musei (including the Accademia Gallery, Bargello Museum, and Medici Chapels).
The number +39 055 035 4135 is valid for museums managed by CoopCulture (Uffizi, Pitti Palace, Boboli Gardens, and others). It’s open Monday to Sunday, 8:00am–7:00pm.
Last minute tricks
If you’ve arrived in Florence and decided to wing it, there are still a few tricks to try before joining the massive queues.
First, try calling the relevant call centre. Otherwise, you can attempt to buy tickets in person at select locations.
The My Accademia Libreria bookstore (Tuesday–Sunday, 8:15am–5:30pm, Via Ricasoli 105R) still sells tickets for the Accademia Gallery.
For the Uffizi, the only officially recognised ticket offices are:
– The Uffizi ticket office under the portico at the beginning of Piazza degli Uffizi
– Piazza Pitti
– The three entrances to Boboli Gardens (Annalena, Forte Belvedere, and Porta Romana)
You can also try the Uffizi’s official ticket office inside Door #2, which has now been moved to the beginning of the portico.
Keep in mind that most national museums in Florence are closed on Mondays, which means Tuesday is often the hardest day to score a last-minute ticket.
outside Uffizi gallery, souce: wikipedia commons
If all else fails, there’s the Firenze Card.
This three-day sightseeing pass costs €85, which is steep, but it can be worth it if you’re struggling to get museum tickets. It includes entry to Florence’s major attractions — including the Uffizi and the Accademia — without needing to book ahead. (Note: the Duomo dome climb is no longer included.)
You simply show up, scan your card, and skip straight to the front of the line.
Reservations are now mandatory for the Uffizi Gallery, Accademia Gallery, Palazzo Vecchio Museum, Brancacci Chapel, and the Tower of Palazzo Vecchio, but the booking fee is already included in the Firenze Card.
Realistically, unless you plan to skip meals and wear out the soles of your shoes, you probably won’t “save” money. What you’re paying for is convenience — and access to major museums when tickets are otherwise sold out.
The 72 hours start from the moment you enter your first museum, and each attraction can only be visited once. Also note that many museums are closed on Sundays and Mondays, so plan carefully.
The Firenze Card can now be purchased online or from a limited number of official locations (such as the airport, Santa Maria Novella station, and Palazzo Vecchio), rather than at all museums.
Where to eat in and around Florence’s museums
Just writing about Florence’s museums is hungry work, so remember to pencil in a quick bite while you’re on your whirlwind tour. For inspiration, check out our guide on budget eats in the capital, as well as The Guardian’s top 10 eats near Florence’s attractions and Eat Sip Trip’s shortlist of excellent gelato in Florence's historical center.
Here are some of our favourite spots for great meals without any detours.
Near the Uffizi:
Vini e Vecchi Sapori: The hand written menu is short, traditional and changes daily, but you can always expect homemade pastas and sauces as well as zuccotto, a sweet trifle. Via dei Magazzini, 3r. Lunch and dinner, Monday to Saturday.
Buca dell'Orafo: A traditional Tuscan trattoria serving porcini mushrooms in summer, artichokes in autumn, pasta with peas in summer and amazing Bistecca Fiorentina all year round. Via dei Girolami, 28. Lunch and dinner, Monday to Saturday.
Ora d'Aria: Tuscan tradition transformed through innovation and elegance by a Michelin-starred chef. Think steak tartare with truffles and artisan beer or pappa al pomodoro with basil gelato. Via dei Georgofili, 11R. Lunch and dinner, Tuesday to Saturday, Monday dinner.
Near the Bargello National Museum and Palazzo Vecchio
Massimo Bottura's tortellini at Gucci Cafe
Gucci Osteria by Massimo Bottura: Haute cuisine meets haute couture at this fashionable label’s flagship restaurant. The menu is a true melting pot with everything from cacio e pepe to high-end hot dogs and Peruvian tostadas. Piazza della Signoria. Lunch and dinner, every day.
Il Cernacchino: A true taste of homestyle Florentine cooking. Most people rave about the panini, particularly the porchetta one, but the simple primi, soups and tripe are good too. Via della Condotta, 38R. 9:30am-7:30pm, Monday to Saturday.
Near Piazza della Repubblica
I Due Frattellini: This 100-year-old sandwich shop uses only locally sourced ingredients. The salsa verde is so good, they slather it on everything. Via dei Cimatori, 38/r, 10am-8pm every day.
Looking for more food in Florence advice? Contact us to arrange a travel consult! Be sure to check out our food blog and check out our food tours in Florence for when you need a break from the crowded museums! Our tours are small and expert-led, come eat with us!
