Florence in Feb half term - will Uffizi and Accademia still be busy?

[whiteroseredrose]

Trying to work out logistics. Going with DH, DS (18) and DD (14) Saturday 10th till Weds 14th February.

We went to Rome last year and the DC wanted to 'tick' sights off including the Vatican (so they could see the Sistine chapel) and the experience was AWFUL. Absolutely heaving and we were pushed along by the crowds like on a conveyor belt.

I'm concerned that the Uffizi and Accademia will be a similar experience. I'm worried that we'll just be pushed along by a crowd just to see the Birth of Venus / David. My parents said that there are lots of other quieter places to see art there. Would we be missing out massively by not going to one or other?

Has anyone been in February? Or should we chance it and try to get tickets on the door at about 4 pm if it looks calmer?

Any advice would be very welcome!

I've been in February. It was a while ago now but I don't remember it being bad. February must be one of the quieter months?

DD and I were in Florence last year at February half-term. Unfortunately, we were there on a Monday when Uffizi was closed, but it was very, very quiet in the city, as it was in Siena, Arezzo and Pisa on the other days.

DD and I loved just wandering around, going to the market, having lunch, looking at the architecture from the outside.

Thanks for your replies. I think the kids want to go so I'll go for early tickets and hopefully avoid too many crowds that way.

We went in early December. Thought it would be quiet - ha ha. Booked in advance for 4.30pm at the Uffizi, picked up the tickets and still had to join an enormous queue. I wouldn’t recommend not booking; the queue for that was even more horrendous and wasn’t moving at all.

We couldn’t even get into the Botticelli room (though we left it a while, went back and walked in with no problem once it had cleared).

Also went in December but we just walked into the Accedemia ..We didn't book and no queue at all.maybe we were just lucky .. I think it was a Tuesday..

However we never got inside the Duomo or Uffizi ..queues round the block.. but Florence is brilliant anyway .

These are great places to go without queues

Best view of Florence is from San Miniato al Monte, which also has a fascinating graveyard - creator of Pinocchio buried there) . We also loved Santa Croce which has Rossini, Machiavelli, and Galileo Galilei, buried there and Santo Spirito in Oltrarno which is just beautiful inside with a lovely Michelangelo crucifix.

The Chapel of the Magi in Palazzo Medici Riccardi, is also an amazing piece of artwork ..., but we were disappointed in the rest of the building.. but maybe its because its still used as the council offices!.

Upstairs at Mercato Centrale food market is a great place to eat with a family

One great thing to watch before you go are the Andrew Graham Dixon programmes : The Medici: Makers of Modern Art . All on You tube .

We were there the Friday and Sat of October half term and it was busy but not heaving. We booked the Duomo for 9.30am I think. We had to wait outside for 5 mins and then we were in. It was slow-ish going as you basically have to follow the line of people all the way up but it was fine, even with two five year olds. Once we came down the whole area around the cathedral was much busier. There were also signs saying no more Duomo tickets (to go up) that day and only a few left for the following day.

I think we did the Uffizi at about 3pm. Again pre-booked and we had no queue - maybe a few people in front of us to pick up the pre-booked tickets. It was busy inside but totally fine to see everything.

I think we did the Accademia at 10.30am or 11am - it was the second pre-booked 'slot'of the day. Again, maybe a few people in front of us to collect the tickets and then maybe a five minute queue to get in once collected. There was a big queue for those who hadn't pre-booked. Again, busy inside but still fine to take everything in and to see everything.

The Central Market was very busy at lunch time but we managed to grab a table and food.

The Ponte Vecchio was also very busy.

I wouldn't want to go at a busier time but hopefully Feb will be a little quieter.