Visiting the Uffizi Gallery was one of the highlights of my recent trip to Tuscany but having read so much about it in the past, I found that it was a very different experience actually going there and I learned quite a few things in the process. Here are my practical tips for visiting the Uffizi once you have found a vacation rental in the Florence area.
1. Book Tickets In Advance
I always say this in guides but it really is true. We had booked our tickets in advance and we still found ourselves approaching a rather depressingly long line. However, it moved quite quickly and we were in in no time.
1. Book Tickets In Advance
I always say this in guides but it really is true. We had booked our tickets in advance and we still found ourselves approaching a rather depressingly long line. However, it moved quite quickly and we were in in no time.
If there are quite a few people in your party, consider booking as a group. There were six of us and we noticed the groups line was very short by comparison and regretted not chancing our arm and booking as a group.
2. Be a little aggressive
In said queue, a lot of people were rather confused-looking tourists – ourselves among them. As such, through each stage of heading inside, there was fumbling and stops. Two elderly German ladies ahead of us, however, were clearly pros at such things and stormed ahead. They even skipped us originally but we were in such admiration of their no-nonsense attitude that we couldn't even get mad! Don't get swept away in the confusion, be a little aggressive and plough on ahead through the throngs of wanderers for your own sanity.
3. Give yourself time
Unless there are specific works you want to see and that's all you care about, be sure to give yourself plenty of time for your trip. We almost ran through and we were still in the gallery over three hours. There is so much to see from the art itself, to the architecture, to the décor. It is far too much to ever really take in on one visit but you can have a general look around. If you have the time for it, I would actually set aside almost a whole day for your visit and really take it at your own pace.
For the rest of my tips, be sure to read on to the next post!
2. Be a little aggressive
In said queue, a lot of people were rather confused-looking tourists – ourselves among them. As such, through each stage of heading inside, there was fumbling and stops. Two elderly German ladies ahead of us, however, were clearly pros at such things and stormed ahead. They even skipped us originally but we were in such admiration of their no-nonsense attitude that we couldn't even get mad! Don't get swept away in the confusion, be a little aggressive and plough on ahead through the throngs of wanderers for your own sanity.
3. Give yourself time
Unless there are specific works you want to see and that's all you care about, be sure to give yourself plenty of time for your trip. We almost ran through and we were still in the gallery over three hours. There is so much to see from the art itself, to the architecture, to the décor. It is far too much to ever really take in on one visit but you can have a general look around. If you have the time for it, I would actually set aside almost a whole day for your visit and really take it at your own pace.
For the rest of my tips, be sure to read on to the next post!