Hi: we'll be visiting Florence in September and we're thinking of getting the Firenze card. I've read conflicting suggestions about buying it online ahead of time (don't because you have to get the actual card when you arrive). I've also heard that now when you purchase the card you have to pick a time for the Uffizi and Accademia. So if you have to select a time, wouldn't it be better to buy the card online NOW in case the times you want are filled by the time you arrive in the city? Any help is appreciated thanks!
Posted by
Folsom, California
540 posts
We got ours when we arrived. It did mean standing in line for a bit at the tourist office, but it didn't take much time. In 2015 we didn't need to reserve in advance for museums, so not sure about this aspect of it.
We appreciated having the card.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
15800 posts
You don't need to buy your card in advance to make the now-mandatory reservations at the Uffizi and Accademia if you do it by phone: you'll be given a code that you'll you'll take to the ticket office at your appointed time. They will give you a confirmation that you'll show, along with your card, at the priority access entrance.
See the "Do I need to make reservations for the Uffizi and Accademia Gallery with Firenzecard?" section of the FAQ page of the Firenzecard website:
http://www.firenzecard.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=20&Itemid=119&lang=en
What you cannot do is make an advance reservation to climb the dome of the duomo, and unfortunately those slots could be filled by the time you arrive. Again, see the FAQ page.
You can buy the card in Florence at any of these places (from the FAQ page). You'd obviously want to choose one of the lesser visited attractions to avoid standing a long queue.
Cappella Brancacci – piazza del Carmine 14
Complesso di Santa Maria Novella – piazza Stazione 4
Galleria degli Uffizi - Porta 2 – piazzale degli Uffizi
Museo di Palazzo Vecchio – piazza Signoria
Museo Nazionale del Bargello – via del Proconsolo 4
Museo Stefano Bardini - via dei Renai 37
Palazzo Pitti – piazza Pitti 1
Palazzo Strozzi – piazza Strozzi
InfoPoint Turistico Stazione - piazza Stazione 4
Museo Novecento - piazza Santa Maria Novella 12
InfoPoint Turistico Cavour – via Cavour 1r