I was wondering what specific sites in Florence need to be pre booked for our trip in late October other than the Academia, Duomo and Uffizi.
These are the just some of the sites I was wondering about: Feel free to add to something not on my list :)
Pitti Palace
Medici Chapel
Museum of San Marco
Bargello National Museum
Palazzo Vecchio.
Basilica of San Lorenzo
Orsanmichele
Santa Maria Novella Church
You should be fine as a walk-in. One I would add is the Cappella Brancacci. They do require you to reserve in advance, but I doubt it’s ever crowded.
@lnbsig Thank you so much!
You’re welcome! Just remembered another: the Palazzo Davanzati, which houses the Museum of the Florentine House. You can get a sense of life during the Renaissance.
We were in Firenze 09/30-10/04. We got combo tix (Passpartout) for everything - go in the Academy (David) 2 hours after buying the tix. Firenze was crowded, but we never felt unsafe. We didn't do everything we wanted to - we could not get into the Duomo, as the lines were very long. We didn't manage to go to a mass (always an option for getting into a popular church).
Most of the sights on your list you will be able to get tickets on the day of....the Orsanmichele is only open 2 days a week and that one could be limited? I think Tuesday and Saturdays...Warning: San Marco was fabulous and not crowded. But we arrived at 1:00 and knew they closed at 2. However, at 1:40 a bell rang and we did not realize that was the closing alert bell. 10 minutes later we were ushered out the door at 1:50 never having made it upstairs to see the Annunciation and Savonarola's cell!
Just got back from five days in Florence. Crowded with tourists but otherwise still a great city.
I would add the new Duomo museum - directly behind the Duomo - it was amazing. If you like archeology they've expanded and improved the displays in the Santa Reparata - the ruins of the original church under the Duomo exhibit.
The Duomo combo tickets and Uffizi + Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens tickets worked out great for us. You need to make an appointment for the Uffizi but then the Pitti tickets are good for 5 days from there. Duomo tickets - you can add museum, Reparata and climbing the tower or the Dome (time needed) - and are good for 3 days so it gives you some flexibility when you go see them.
Note: Construction around the Uffizi has made it even crazier than normal but people are out giving directions.
Reserve where you can, hopefully October will be less busy for you than mid-September was for us.
Have an great trip!
=Tod
