I'll be going to Florence, Venice, and Rome for only 6 days total starting on Saturday. Naturally I'm pretty nervous about being stuck in a line for hours on end, but I've just planned the trip this week so things are a bit rushed. Currently I'm planning on lining up for the Uffizi and Accademia at least an hour before each museum opens since I can't get reservations. Do you think this would guarantee me to get in by 8:30am or will a lot of other people have the same idea? Vatican City and Sistine Chapel: I'll be going on a day where there's a papal audience and in the early afternoon, which is supposedly one of the better days to line up. Do you guys think I should get a reservation anyway? Also I know RS mentions that we can take a direct exit from the Sistine into St. Peter's Basilica. Is the Pinacoteca considered a must? I won't be using the museum's audioguide. Thanks!
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23345 posts
Did you ask your hotel to make reservations for you? Sometimes the hotels have access to reservation even when sold out to the general public.
Posted by
San Jose, CA, USA
36 posts
Calling by phone might help. The online reservation system doesn't seem to show anything before noon (even when I checked a date weeks in advance). When I called I was able to get Uffizi and Accademia reservations as early as 8:45 am. If I recall correctly, there was a phone menu option for English (if not, the operators could speak English anyway).
Posted by
Texan in CA
4408 posts
Absolutely call the Uffizi! And from another thread about Vatican City that's just for you: http://www.roninrome.com/%20sites-and-attractions/20-tips-on-visiting-the-vatican-museums DO read anything on RonInRome.com that you think could be useful to your trip; I can almost guarantee it'll be worth your (limited) reading time!
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
For the Accademia, you are only in there for about an hour. Once you see the David, the rest of the museum goes quickly. If you show up at 5:30pm, the lines are usually gone as the museum closes at 6:50pm.
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
7581 posts
For the Uffizi, guides provide information to get reservations the same day. We showed up in the morning, went to the reservations window, picked a time for later in the day, showed up and went right in. The Academia is much more manageable, you can make a decision based on the line length whether to wait, or stop back later.
Posted by
OP
Chicago
9 posts
Thanks for all your suggestions! I actually tried calling the Uffizi, but was put on hold for 10 minutes and couldn't spare to use any more credit on my French phone. I will also be staying at a hostel so I'm not sure if they do reservations. I will check out the line for the Accademia in the evening my first day, and if it's short just do it then. Otherwise I'll line up early the second day. I had stumbled upon the Ron in Rome website, but missed the Vatican page. I'll be in Rome on a Tuesday, so we'll just do the Vatican first thing in the afternoon.
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
You won't be able to take the direct access door from the Sistine chapel to the basilica unless you're on a tour. The guards have really been strict about only letting tour groups use the "tour door" so you may have to take the long way. Only you can decide if the pinacoteca is a must. I enjoy it but others give it a pass. If you are visiting the museums on the day of a papal audience I would suggest going early to avoid the after audience crowds. I would still make an entry reservation to avoid any of the lines. Donna