We are visiting Florence for 1 day & it's in early August. Can someone please tell me the difference between the following:
Pricing is a bit different, they both state skipping the lines, so I'm a bit confused on which is better. Travelling with a group of 8 friends
Grazie :)
buy tickets from the museum Academia itself not a third party which advertises 'skip the line' which does not exist. Any ticket bought ahead skips the ticket line. You will be in a line of other people with tickets for your time slot. The museum may not sell 8 tickets at once so you may need two people to purchase 4 each. There is no such thing as a 'skip the line' ticket; that is middleman vendor hype. They have no special tickets different from what you purchase at the official museum site.
Hi, welcome to the site. Can you please tell us which website you see these options? The general advice is to buy directly through the official website https://webshop.b-ticket.com/webshop/webticket/eventlist?language=en&production=1
First,make sure you are on the official website. The name of the Museum is the Accademia. The term "skip the line" tickets is misleading. ANY repurchased advance ticket is a "skip the line" because you don't have to stand in the line to buy a ticket. All have an option to simply purchase an entry ticket. In this case, you must also select your entry time. There are also several other options that offer combo tickets to other sites, guided tours or in your case an audio tour. Pick the ticket option that works for you. You should know that Rick has a free audio guide for the Accademia elsewhere on this site: https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/audio/audio-tours/italy
Here's a little clarification based on other responses. We took The Best of Florence Walking Tour with Walks of Italy. Our tour started at 8:15 inthe Piazza San Marco and we walked down to the Accademia. We arrived before the normal opening hours and went in immediately. We were inside the museum at least 15 minutes before the doors opened. We spent 45 minutes there, which is enough to see David and other statues. From there we walked through Florence, visiting the Duomo and other sites. It was a wonderful morning and our tour guide, who has a Master's Degree in Italian History was very knowledgeable and friendly.
This was in December and I'm sure the crowds were much less than they will be in August. I have also been in Florence in August. It was hot!
This forum has been very useful for me, thank you. I am also planning on visiting famous David sculpture @ Accademia and Uffizi Galleries on August 2, 2025, as a “Florence On Your Own”excursion from La Spezia Port of call for Sun Princess Cruise.
To get advance TIMED tickets from their web site, I need to know when we will arrive in Florence from La Spezia Port? How long will it take for a coach ride from La Spezia to Florence?
Assuming coach departs La Spezia Port at 8:00AM, will it be safe to purchase Accademia tickets for 10:30-10:45AM ENTRY? Will a ONE HOUR DURATION visit to Accademia be sufficient?
I still want to visit Uffizi Galleries for TWO HOURS in the afternoon, and catch the Princess coach back to La Spezia Port at 5:30PM, or else turn into a pumpkin. Does the same advance ticket site offer tickets for Uffizi Galleries and is that web site legitimate & reliable?
Will anyone else from this forum be on the same Sun Princess cruise stopping in La Spezia Port on August 2, 2025? Thank you all, AMITAVA
I think you need to talk to the Excursions department at Princess to determine both the ETA in Florence, and their parking location. Then you'll know how long it will take to walk to the Accademia to make your timed entry. Failing that, join your Roll Call on Cruise Critic, which is the primary resource for all things cruise related. Hopefully some of your fellow cruisers will have more specific details. An hour is plenty to see the Michaelangelo sculptures. Google maps puts the drive at a tad under 2 hours, but makes no adjustments for traffic enroute.
Always use the official websites when making ticket purchases- or any other purchase. It's listed above.
Clean: Thank you, I followed your recommendations. Princess Excursions was not of much help - they did not know. However, the drive will be ~2 hours each way. Assume departure from La Spezia Port @ 8:00AM, we should be in Florence @ ~10AM. So, a TIMED reservation window, for Accademia entry, 10:30-10:45AM, should be a safe bet. This time slot is available now & I will make res at the web site above now.
I’ll also make res for Uffizi Gallery for 1:30PM entry for ~2,hours’ visit. That should leave time for a quick fly past the Duomo, Baptistry & Santa Croce basilica. Also, time needed to buy a few classic Italian leather items, such as a wallet & belt, will do me fine! Just be sure not to miss the return coach at 5:30PM.
the drive will be ~2 hours each way. Assume departure from La Spezia Port @ 8:00AM, we should be in Florence @ ~10AM. So, a TIMED reservation window, for Accademia entry, 10:30-10:45AM, should be a safe bet.
That's a tight window. If you haven't booked yet maybe give yourself a bit more wiggle room? Also FYI, for the Accademia and Uffizi you need to arrive 15 minutes early and line up to exchange your voucher for the actual ticket, and then line up in a second line for entry.
Thank You all in the forum for your helpful advice on visiting Accademia and Uffizi gallery in ONE DAY, August 2, as “Excursion on your own” from Sun Princess cruise, RT from Le Spezia Port.
DONE DEAL!! I have already purchased & made timed reservations for Accademia (David) at 10:30AM entry, AND, Uffizi Gallery at 1:30PM , from the official Florentine State Museum site.
Turns out, Princess coach will depart Le Spezia @ 7:30 AM, should arrive Florence City Center by ~9:30AM, well in time for Accademia @ 10:30AM, with to me to spare. Enough time to buy leather wallets, belt, purse from a particular shop along Leather Trade School in P. Santa Cruce, and lunch, from 11:30AM to 1:30PM. Uffizi gallery visit from 1:30PM to 3:30PM. Fly past Duomo, Bapistry & Ponto Vecchio and catch Princess coach back at 5:00PM to Le Spezia Port. What a terrific day!
What do you think? Is this plan feasible for two Senior Citizens, but fleet of foot? Main objectives for visiting Florence are: David and famous Uffizi Gallery paintings! I know there’s MUCH MORE to see, but I’ll be back with knowledge, vim & vigor!!
JEEPU
