Buying tickets for the Uffizi and the Accademia Galleries in Florence can sometimes be challenging, especially if you unknowingly stumble upon tour/scalper websites. Many retailers increase prices or offer packages with guided tours at inflated rates. The best solution is to buy directly from the official website, and it’s important to plan ahead, especially for places like the Accademia Gallery, where tickets sell out quickly.
In this article, I will guide you through the process of buying tickets from the official store for the Uffizi and Accademia, with accompanying screenshots that I took while following the steps. The procedure is the same for other state museums:
1. Let’s start with the visit to the official website for the Florentine state museums. Please, note that this site does not include private institutions, such as the Duomo, or municipal museums, like Palazzo Vecchio.
2. Select Uffizi Tickets: On the homepage, the first option you will see is for purchasing tickets for the Uffizi. If you are visiting during the high season, you might notice an option labeled “Uffizi early morning,” which allows you to buy tickets at a reduced price for the first two morning time slots at 8:15 and 8:30 am. For more information on this offer, consult the website.
3. Choose date and time: After selecting tickets, choose your desired date. You may need to click “show more” if necessary. In the following section, you’ll be prompted to select a time slot and the number of people. There are five options available for you to choose from.
Under the drop-down menu labeled “cumulative reductions and other prices,” you will see: “Full Price”, for adults aged 26 and over, “Reduced Price”, for individuals aged 18 to 25 from European Community countries or associated partner countries (check the list for details), “Free Admission”, for minors or other eligible categories (please see the list). A reservation fee of €4 applies for both the Uffizi and the Accademia Gallery.
4. Select Time Slot and Number of People: Choose the appropriate time slot and the number of attendees based on the pricing options outlined above.
5. Consider the Passe-partout: If you plan to visit more than one museum, consider purchasing the Passe-partout, which is valid for five days and includes entry to the Uffizi Gallery, Palazzo Pitti, and the Boboli Gardens (one entry per site).
6. Add to Cart and confirm: After selecting your tickets for the Uffizi, if you also wish to purchase tickets for the Accademia and/or other museums, click on the “cart” icon at the top of the homepage or on “B-Ticket.” You will then be able to finalise your purchase.
Confirm that the selected tickets are correct and that the dates align with your plans. Check the Privacy Policy box before proceeding.
7. Registration: On the next screen, you’ll be asked to register on the site. Registration is free. Once complete, log in using your credentials to purchase the tickets for the Uffizi and/or the Accademia Galleries.
8. Enter participant information: Provide the names, surnames, and dates of birth of all participants. Please enter the date formats correctly, using dots (e.g., 01.04.1975). The site processes this data in compliance with European privacy regulations. If you are part of a small group (5-6 people) and lack some information, ensure only the data for minors is accurate, as this will be checked upon entry the museum. Remember to bring proof of identity (physical or digital) for minors or those entitled to free admission.
9. Complete Payment: After filling in all required fields, select your payment method and click “pay.” A new screen will appear for you to enter your payment details. Wait a moment for confirmation. You will receive a confirmation email for the payment, along with another email containing your tickets from B Ticket Firenze Musei.
The tickets will be attached as PDFs at the bottom of the email. Make sure to print them or save them on your smartphone to bring on your visit day. Don’t forget to bring a copy of the identity document for any minors. This concludes the instructions on how to purchase tickets for the Uffizi and the Accademia galleries.
Other useful information for visitors who are about to visit these sites concerns the passage through the metal detector: inside these museums only bottles of water up to 50 cl are allowed; no other liquids are allowed, not even in 50 cl containers; it will therefore be the visitor’s responsibility not to bring bottles other than 50 cl water into the sites, otherwise they will be forced to throw them in the bins. Inside the state museums there are currently no cloakrooms; it is only possible to leave large backpacks at the Uffizi and Palazzo Pitti, while at the Cappelle Medicee there is a small section with lockers in which it is possible to leave backpacks and non-bulky objects. The Galleria dell’Accademia is not currently equipped with a backpack storage facility.
Should you still have any doubts about these technical aspects, or to book a museum tour, do not hesitate to contact me at:
info@guidaturistica-michelebusillo.com
