Florence Tourist Trap Tips by Jefie

Loooong lines at the Uffizi and Accademia!

It's possible to skip the line at some of Florence's museums by booking tickets on line at http://www.firenzemusei.it/. It costs an additionnal 4 Euros to make the reservation, and you must pick a date and time. This system, though it must be great for those whose prime reason for visiting Florence is to see the Uffizi or Accademia, also has for side effect that it's nearly impossible to get in without a reservation! The lines are ridiculously long and if like me you don't like to be tied down to a schedule when you travel and would rather not book tickets in advance, then chances are you'll have to choose between wasting precious hours of your time in Florence by waiting in line or skipping the Uffizi and Accademia galleries all together. We ended up picking the second option. We only had 3 days to spend in Florence and with so many things to see and do, we decided to leave the Uffizi and Accademia for another time.

Unique Suggestions: If your heart is set on visiting the Uffizi and Accademia, make sure to book your tickets at http://www.firenzemusei.it/. Tickets are available for the Uffizi, Accademia, Palazzo Pitti, Bargello and Medici Chapel, but unless you're traveling during peak tourist season you really only need to book in advance for the Uffizi and Accademia. You can also try getting up REALLY early and go stand in line first thing in the morning.

Fun Alternatives: There are several other museums in Florence that are less popular but still worth visiting, especially the Bargello and Palazzo Pitti. Art lovers will also discover many masterpieces hidden in the churches of Florence.