I was very careful to book our upcoming trip to Italy when it came to museums, as I knew those in Florence are closed on Mondays. So I had planned on all day Saturday and Sunday for museums and other sites (we get in Friday afternoon from US and head to Siena on Monday). However, I did not take into account that our trip covers the first Sunday of the month when all museums are free and, apparently, very busy. As I understand it, neither the Uffizi or Accademia will even take reservations on that day. 2 questions: 1) can we do both of these places in one day (Saturday) if we get reservations (not doing Firenze pass since it appears we would only be able to use one day and, therefore, not cost-efficient per RS book). 2) If we can't do both or get reservations for both on that day, which do you think we can risk doing on Sunday without reservation? This will be Sun 4/3.
Posted by
Portland, Oregon, United States
907 posts
Good planning on your part. The answer to your first question is how much do you want to see? Academia wouldn't tale long if you just want to see the highlights (e.g. David). Uffizi on the other hand is one huge museum. We did it in a little over an hour but if you are a real art buff you could spend a couple of days there. Both museums are busy, I don't know about April, it should be less than the normal travel season. You are wise to go in the spring and avoid most of the crowds.
To your second question, which do you want to see the most? That would be the answer, prioritize your reservation. Most would say David, and that probably is the one thing in Florence you do not want to miss.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
The Uffizzi is much smaller than the Louvre or the Vatican museum, for instance. Rick suggests two hours for the average visitor, but even if you spent twice that long, you could still see both museums in a day.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
There is a gift shop that sells tickets to the Accademia right across the street, so you could probably get tickets to get in soon, if not right away, in a Saturday in April. When I was there two years ago in July the next appointment time was 30 minutes out. Or, reserve both tickets online before you go.
You can visit both in one day and even get to the Museum of San Marco, on the same street as the Accademia. Small and almost never a line.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16769 posts
LOL, Rick may suggest 2 hours in the Uffizi but we spent at least 5!!
Still, most tourists probably won't do that so yes, you can do both the Accademia and Uffizi in one day. The Accademia is quite a lot smaller than the Uffizi. And yes, I'd do your best to do that on Saturday with pre-purchased tickets.
Zoe mentioned San Marco? Excellent museum; do your best to fit that one in. It's also very close to lovely Piazza della Santissima Annunziata, ringed with the church of the same name and Brunelleschi's Ospedale Degli Innocenti. Stand in the middle, by the equestrian monument, and look down the street for an interesting capture of Brunelleschi's dome on the Duomo.
Posted by
89 posts
I am also planning a visit in Spring for a couple of days in Florence. Does anyone know if it is generally advisable to book tickets online in advance for Accademia and Uffizi? What are the odds to waste time in a line, wait for available time slot or even be denied entry on certain day due to those places being busy?
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16769 posts
Daniel, unless it's low season, personally, I would ALWAYS pre-reserve tickets or use a pass (unless you can take advantage of the gift shop tickets Zoe mentioned). Queues can be very, very long.
Posted by
Ottawa
1446 posts
If you reserve the Uffizi for the Saturday morning, then you can plan on grabbing a quick bite in their rooftop cafeteria/restaurant, sitting outside on their terrace, before heading out to the dell''Academia. It's not Tuscan cuisine, but it is an efficient use of time (and a great rooftop)...
I'd book a 3pm slot for the afternoon's visit to dell'Academia; which may give you room for a visit to the San Marco Museum between the two, if you are done with the Uffizi early enough.
The Bargello on Sunday morning would be a good bet, followed by the Pitti Palace's various museums - my 2 cents for that first Sunday of the month.
Hit the Duomo and its museum (Museo dell'Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore) on Friday afternoon. Also check out the really great Baptistry tour that they now offer on Mon, Wed and Friday afternoons at 16:30: http://en.grandemuseodelduomo.waf.it/tour_dett.php?idtour=8077
Have fun!
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16769 posts
I'll second Diane's reco for the Bargello: another excellent museum. This one is less visited than the Uffizi and Accademia but is a National Museum and free on first Sundays so it's possible that it'll be much busier than usual.
Tom, I'm not seeing any evening openings listed for the Uffizi or Accademia. The Bargello is open on Saturday nights (7:00 PM - 11:00 PM) only from October to December.
Posted by
Chicago
2124 posts
Accademia is definitely worth seeing, but it can be done in an hour, which we did last March. Got the tickets across the street & waited in line for a few minutes. The Uffizi, on the other hand, in its own way rivals the Louvre and demands your attention. Four hours minimum, and you still will not have seen everything. We had a reservation & spent that much time there in 2010, but wandered around ourselves, missing a lot as it turns out. Wish we would have had a knowledgeable guide in hindsight.
Posted by
26 posts
I would say that the Accademia is the must because you don't want to miss David, but I'm also not a super art buff. We did the Uffizi in a couple of hours. It was very cool, but I personally didn't feel the need to linger. But that's just me.