Rome & Florence Advance Museum Ticket Reservations

Posted by Gardenia (US) on 02/22/09 07:38 PM

Hi,
I would like a guided tour of the Vatican and Sistine Chapel but don't want to pay a lot of money for it as I will be traveling alone. I went to the Vatican website and noticed that one can purchase guided tour for $30 Euros. The price includes the admission ticket, earphones and guide. Is that like walking around with a headphone listening to a tape or am I actually going to get a person as a guide?

Borghese Gallery - is Ticketeria a trusted site?

I would like to visit the Uffizi Gallery and Academia of Science also. Depending on the sites, the tickets varies from 10.50 euros to $16.50 euros (includes reservation fee). The official site does not have any slots for the mornings. Does this mean I have to pay more from another site for the mornings?

Thank you for your input.

Posted by Larry

Elk Grove, CA, USA

02/22/09 07:48 PM

6898 posts

We've seen several messages on the site about posters seeing the mornings booked up. It appears that the secret may be to call them directly. Several posters have and they were able to get their morning tickets. The following is a post from Kent from Oregon on the phone number.

(Kent's message) Since you don't have a hotel to get the reservations for you, you can by-pass the middle men and get reservations yourself for the Uffizi and Accademia. Dial 01139055294883 (dial it just like that from the US) during office hours IN ITALY, which are Mon - Friday 0830 to 1830 Italy time. Be persistent, the hardest part is getting through, the line is often busy. That # should get you to an English-speaking operator, and you'll end up with days and an entry slot for each museum. For the Uffizi the time slot is a 15 minute window and you get a confirmation number--I forget the exact drill for the Accademia but you reserve both with the same operator (that's the way it worked in 2007). On the day reserved for the Uffizi, go to the museum about 10 minutes before the appointed time and you'll be able to skip the line and go to the special ticket office marked #3 for those with reservations, labeled in English "entrance for reservations only." What a treat--you'll gaze into the eyes of Renaissance Man (The David) and at the Uffizi see one of the greatest collections of Italian Renaissance art anywhere!

Posted by Margaret

Bel Air, MD, USA

02/23/09 06:52 AM

261 posts

I used Ticketeria last year to make Borghese Gallery reservation. I understand that you know have to purchase tix in advance. You can use a Roma card for the Borghese.

Last year, Uffizi and Accademia took only cash. No credit cards. I made reservations last year on the phone, it was very easy.

Posted by Gardenia OP

02/25/09 06:30 PM

157 posts

Thank you for everyone's reply. I tried ordering a ticket for the afternoon to the Academia and it would not accept my order. I gave my credit card info and got to the final step, it said it was canceled. I wish they would remove the option to buy online if that is no longer the option. I need to call my credit card to make sure I am not going to get any weird charges on it :(

I emailed the hotel to see if they could reserve them for me and if not, I will call them directly.