Thank you.
At the end of May, I would DEFINITELY pre-purchse tickets to the Uffizi online. Queues there will be very long.
You can do that here:
https://www.polomuseale.firenze.it/en/musei/?m=uffizi
We did the Pitti museums at the end of May a couple of years ago and practically walked right in; almost no queue at all. I don't know if things have changed but I would guess pre-purchasing tickets isn't necessary for that one. The Palatine Gallery - the best of the Pitti collection - did get pretty crowded in the afternoon, though.
Find all the information here:
https://www.polomuseale.firenze.it/en/musei/pitti.php?m=palazzopitti
Yes, there are varying ticket prices for different of the galleries or the gardens so it's easiest to just buy the combined ticket to the whole complex unless you know there's only one museum you wish to see. Click on any of the museums in the link above, and then click on "combined tickets": Translated from Italian:
"Combined ticket for the entire museum complex of Pitti Palace:
€ 11.50 (valid for 3 days - full ticket)
€ 5.75 (valid for 3 days - reduced ticket) To assess the cost of the ticket the visitor is requested to check the opening days and times of each museum"
I also walked right in to the Pitti Palace on an afternoon in September.
Friends (family of 4) were in Italy last summer. No lines at the Pitti Palace. Last time I visited, there was about a 15-minute line in mid-April. Possibly the weather had an effect - my friends were there in a bad heat wave so no one wanted the gardens; my visit was the opposite - gorgeous day, lots of people in the gardens and a special exhibit to boot.
Strange, I have yet to purchase tickets in advance for the Uffizi. But, I also tend to travel without a detailed schedule. I walk by the Uffizi, check out the line it is short and I walk in. The last two times I was there late May and late June/early July I just walked right in. Yes, I think I was lucky. If i was traveling with others who absolutely had to see the Uffizi I would order tickets ahead of time.
The last time we were there (late May) the ticket line was REALLY long; was glad we had a Amici degli Uffizi pass (which, very sadly, is no longer a good tourist option anymore).
Amici di Uffizi has been changed and is still an option for people who come often to Florence and know some Italian.
In fact a lot of guiding tours in other museums organized on some particular days regularly take place and are indeed very interesting. If you have one you may always ask at the Uffizi what visits are taking place while you are there.
