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Best approach to see David and Uffizi as part of the My Way Tour?

Posted by (Michigan) on

I am excited about our Florence part of the My Way Italy tour, and want to secure some reservations for seeing David, and visiting the Uffizi. I'm also considering a guided walking tour around the Duomo, Baptistery, and Campanile area. I've seen some tours that are for small groups, as well as the possibility for us to simply get individual tickets for the museums. We will not have much time there, sadly. (This fall)

It's important to me to try to get early times to avoid crowds if possible- I was able to do that for the Vatican Museum tour (thanks to advice from this forum! :-) ).

So - I'm seeking recommendations. Our available times would be afternoon on the first day, after 3+ hours on the bus to get to Florence, or early morning to mid afternoon the next day - which is the only full day we will have in Florence. I've already chosen a Tuscan Farmhouse Pizza and Gelato Making Tour for that later afternoon/evening of the full day. Then we leave the next morning for the next tour spot.

Individual timed tickets or a group tour, hoping some new friends from the My Way Tour might like to join us and we'd all pay less per person?

I appreciate your helpful hints! This is my husband's first trip to Florence, so we have a few must-see's, and hope to make great choices for that limited time.

Thanks,
Laurie

Posted by
3039 posts

The Uffizi Gallery is closed on Mondays except on Aug 14 and their hours are 8:15a to 6:30p. The last entry time is 5:30p. I highly recommend visiting at 8:15a and when you have the most energy. Afterwards, skip on over to Accademia and see David.
Reserve tickets for the Uffizi two months out to guarantee a reservation. Buying tickets for Accademia isn’t necessary since that line moves fast.
Did you receive Rick Steves’ guidebook when you booked your trip? If so, take his self-guided walking tour of Florence. This way you won’t miss seeing anything. You can also download Rick’s app on your phone that also features this walk. Rick’s book and his app also features self-guided tours of both the Uffizi and Accademia, so no need to hire a guide. However, Rick’s book may suggest local guides that he uses; this way you’ll be putting money into ITs economy instead of an American corporation.

Posted by
429 posts

Thanks, MaryPat! I have used the Audio tour of the Academia when I visited David years ago - and it was wonderful. We could truly save some money and simply use the RS available walking tours and audio apps if we wanted. That is a good way to save money.

Benefit of a live guide is that we'd hear the guide's personality and presentation together, rather than the silence of the guide experience with each of us on headphones. So we are still considering that element. I've been to Florence, but my husband has not. I've not been to the Uffizi, though - and didn't realize there was a RS tour for that gallery - so thank you for that idea.

Some good news is that the tour is far enough out that we can get 8:15 tickets to the Uffizi, and that really appeals to me. I think I still might reserve David tickets for a while after the 8:15 time, like perhaps 11:30, so we aren't rushed in the Uffizi and can meander over to the Accademia knowing that we have a reserved time slot.

Thanks for helping me think this through. It's making me reconsider a half day tour - after all, one of the reasons we chose the My Way tour was to have flexibility in how we chose to spend our time in each city.

We really don't have much time in Florence - but those two places are tops on our Florence list for 2023.

Any other suggestions are welcome!

Laurie

Posted by
8 posts

We are also on the My way tour starting Oct 3
When is your tour?
Marti

Posted by
429 posts

Marti, we will be traveling earlier than your trip. I hope you have a great time! I am excited about this trip!

Laurie

Posted by
16032 posts

The Uffizi Gallery is closed on Mondays

Just to mention, the Accademia is also closed on Mondays, as are all other Italian State Museums.

Posted by
203 posts

We used Walks Inside Florence and did the Sunset Promenade Private Tour which might work for the evening you get there. Very reasonably priced and great information about Florence. Highly recommend seeing the Baptistry and the Duomo Museum.

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