Museums and Attractions Milan and Venice

Posted by Jtraveler (NY, NY) on 03/29/15 11:51 PM

I don't seem to have acted early enough for tix to see the Last Supper in June, but what kind of mania am I dealing with to gain admission to other major tourist sites? Are museums like Pinacoteca Brera likely to sell out as well? How about in Venice?

I recall on a trip to Florence once, barely getting a ticket to see the Uffizi gallery, and had a miserable time there being marched through the exhibit like a conga line of tourists. If the major museums in Venice and Milan are like this, oy... this is not the kind of tourism for me.

Posted by kentfast

03/30/15 01:31 AM

33 posts

You can see the last supper and other sights as part of a three hour tour for €65. see www.autostradale.it

Posted by Zoe

Toledo, Ohio, US

03/30/15 01:34 AM

11613 posts

Try a broker (I use Select Italy) for Last Supper tickets. Groups are limited to about 25 at a time, so you won't feel crowded. The broker makes a profit, of course, but you don't have to buy a city tour just to see Leonardo's Last Supper. $17/person. Lots of June tickets available.

Posted by Jtraveler OP

NY, NY

03/30/15 01:49 AM

500 posts

I had no success on Select Italy for my dates - honestly, not the end of the world. I'm more concerned about having a decent experience at other museums in Milan and Venice - and want to find out also how early I will need to buy tickets. I'm not a happy camper at places like Uffizi or Louvre, I'm hoping at least at Brera the scene will be a little calmer? (or am I dreaming?)

Posted by Sam

Green Bay

03/30/15 03:03 AM

20087 posts

I think the Louvre and the Uffizi are the 2 biggees that draw huge crowds, maybe throw the Vatican into the mix. I wouldn't worry too much about the Brera and Accademia. Crowds should be bearable.

Posted by Harold

New York, NY, USA

03/30/15 04:24 AM

11294 posts

One great thing about Milan is that Italians outnumber tourists [g]. So, I wouldn't expect the Brera to be particularly crowded, certainly not with the crush loads that the Uffizi gets (remember, no cruises passengers go for the day to Milan like they do to Florence). Other than the Last Supper, tourist crowds are rarely a problem in Milan.

Venice is a different matter. Treat it like you treat Times Square - by going to the equivalent of Ninth Avenue, you'll have a much better time (in other words, you only have to go a short distance from the most crowded areas to have a very different experience). I haven't been to the Accademia in years, but the Peggy Guggenheim and the Scuola San Rocco were a bit crowded (not to much to enjoy, but almost). If you want to go to a famous sight in Venice, try to go as early as possible, or later in the day when the worst of the daytrippers have left.