If you’re coming to Florence (Firenze), you’ve probably got ‘see Michelangelo’s statue of David’ high on your list of things to do.
After the Uffizi Galleries, a visit to the Accademia Gallery (Galleria dell’Accademia in Italian) to see the statue of David is the second most popular attraction in Florence. It’s also a great museum to visit with kids. Which means… there are a lot of people in line every day to see it. You’ve probably heard people talking about how to skip the line to see the statue of David. Unfortunately, you can’t skip the line – no one can. But, you can skip the loooooong line of people without reservations by planning ahead.
Don’t sacrifice your precious time and sweat waiting in line with everyone else… read on to learn how to get in to see the David as quickly as possible.
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Fall 2023 Update: Things have calmed down a bit (tickets were selling out this summer). I don’t think you’ll have a problem for the rest of the year, but it’s always best to book your Accademia tickets as soon as you know your dates. If you happen to find that tickets for your dates are sold out, your other option is to pay more and buy tickets through a third party, like GetYourGuide, which has offers like ‘Skip-The-Line’ Tickets to See David and ‘Skip-The-Line Tickets to See David (includes E-Book).
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How to Buy Skip the Line Tickets to See the Statue of David
Again, you can’t actually skip the line. The best you can do is skip the long and slow line of people waiting without reservations. With a reservation in hand (printed or on your phone), you can join the short (and fast) line to pick up your official printed tickets. You’ll then join a short line to enter the museum during your designated time slot (15-minute increments). There are no ways to avoid these two lines, no matter what anyone else tells you.
You’ll need to get on the computer and buy the tickets as soon as you know you’ll be coming to Florence. Why? Because the museum is popular and the number of visitors allowed inside at one time is limited (250), even more so following the pandemic.
Museum Opening Hours and Days
The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday. The museum in CLOSED on Monday.
Hours are 8:15 to 18:50. The last admission time is 18:20.
The museum is closed on December 25th and January 1st.
Reservations are required on Saturday and Sunday.
The museum is not currently offering free entrance on the first Sunday of the month.
Read more about Visiting Florence in December
Ticket and Reservation Costs
Regular/Full Ticket – €13
-18 and older, non-EU citizens
-26 and older, EU citizens
Reduced Ticket – €3
-18-25 EU citizens
-EU public teachers
Free Ticket
-17 and under
-people with a certified disability, with one accompanying person
Reservations
Reservations cost an additional €4 per person.
Reservations must be booked for all visitors age 6 and older. For example, if you are family of 5, all US citizens, you will pay the following for your Accademia Gallery tickets with reservations:
65 year old – €13 + €4 reservation
40 year old teacher in US – €13 + €4 reservation
18 year old – €13 + €4 reservation
12 year old – €4 reservation
1 year old – FREE
Tickets (and reservation fees) are NON-REFUNDABLE and you CANNOT CHANGE THE DATE. Before purchasing, make sure you have your dates right!
If you purchase from a third-party seller, the prices will be more than the prices above.
Purchasing Your Tickets
There are three ways to skip the long no-reservations line and since they only cost €4 more per ticket* than waiting in the long ‘no reservation’ line – they’re worth it!
*if you buy tickets from a 3rd party, you’ll pay more than an extra €4.
Option #1: Buy Tickets from the Official Accademia Ticket Seller – B-Ticket
Open your browser and go to the b-ticket site. If the Galleria Accademia isn’t selected, choose it from the list of museums in the drop-down-box:
If your desired date is in the near future, you can scroll down to find it and click on the ‘Tickets’ button to the right of it. If your date is further in the future, filter by date:
Remember that dates in Italy are formatted DAY/MONTH/YEAR, so December 7th, 2023 is written 07.12.2023.
Next, you’ll choose the 15-minute time slot you’d like and the type(s) of ticket(s). There may be some time slots that are already sold out:
When you’re finished choosing your tickets, scroll to the bottom and click the ‘Into the shopping cart’ button:
Double-check the details in your shopping cart – date, time, number and types of tickets and click ‘Continue’:
You’ll then need to login as a returning customer or register as a new customer:
If you’re a new customer, complete the registration form:
Choose the payment type:
Enter your payment details:
You’ll receive an email with your order details. The most important number is the order number, which you’ll need to collect your paper ticket at the Accademia Gallery ticket office:
On the day of your scheduled visit, walk to the entrance at via Ricasoli, 58/60.
When you get there, look across the street to the left at via Ricasoli, 105r and enter (or join the short line) at the ticket office. The attendant will ask for your reservation number (on your phone, printed out, or given vocally) and print your tickets for you.
With your tickets, you can walk across the street and join the line at the priority entrance for your entrance slot (a 15-minute period printed on your ticket). You’ll enter the museum with a small group of visitors who have reserved that time slot.
Good To Know: If you find the ticket office closed (sometimes after 5:30pm or on other occasions), just head directly to the museum and you’ll get your tickets printed inside.
Option #2: Buy Tickets in Combination With a Guided Tour
This option is fine if you would like a guide to take you through the Gallery.
If you decide to visit on a guided tour, make sure you confirm that the guide or company will also be purchasing your tickets and reservation. Many times they will, but I know some guides who have their clients purchase the tickets on their own.
Be cautious about purchasing tickets from non-official websites (b-ticket.com is the official ticket seller) or on the streets from resellers. Because it can be difficult to tell which ones are legit, use resellers that your hotel works with or that a guide recommends. I highly recommend using the official b-ticket website, but know others who use GetYourGuide when there are no tickets available on the official site.
Enjoy visiting the Accademia Gallery and feasting your eyes on Michelangelo’s masterpiece, his statue of David!
You may also like
11 Places to See Michelangelo’s Art in Florence
Complete Guide to Piazzale Michelangelo
Option #3: Reserve Your Tickets By Phone
You can speak with an operator at the official Florence Museum Booking Office at +39 055.294.883 and pay by credit card. After payment, you’ll receive your tickets by email and then will need to bring your ticket code to get your tickets and then wait in the entry line for your time slot (like in Option #1).
Skip-The-Line Tickets to See David FAQ
Yes! I highly recommend Sashia Scalvini (onsiteflorence[at]yahoo[dot]com) if you’d like a guide at the Accademia. She can also take you on a customized Florence walking tour that includes other museums and attractions in the city. She’s also a sommelier and excellent guide for other areas of Tuscany.
See my Florence Directory for more recommendations.
No, you can stay as long as you’d like! The 15-minute time slot is the time you must show your ticket at the entrance to enter the museum. Be sure to show up for that slot or you may be turned away. Remember that you’ll need to collect your physical tickets from the ticket office, so make sure you arrive in advance – I recommend showing up to the ticket office 30 minutes before your time slot.
If you buy a ticket with a reservation, you don’t need to worry about crowds, because you won’t need to wait in the long line of folks with no reservation. And, because the museum limits the number of visitors inside at one time, it won’t matter when you book. If you decide to brave the line without a reservation, it’s best to arrive before the museum opens in the morning or during lunch.
If they’re sold out, I would ask my hotel if they have a connection to tickets. You may also check out GetYourGuide. Note that this is a third-party seller so the tickets are more expensive. You’ll also want to review the cancellation policies.
The museum gift shop sells a guide to the museum. The art is well-labeled throughout the museum. Rick Steves also has a 25-minute audio tour.
There are quite a few good books about Michelangelo and David.. I recommend checking out one of the following before you visit the David statue:
From Marble to Flesh, by A. Victor Coonin
The Agony and the Ecstasy: A Biographical Novel of Michelangelo, by Irving Stone
Stone Giant: Michelangelo’s David and How He Came to Be, by Jane Sutcliffe (for kids)
The Giant: A Novel of Michelangelo’s David, by Laura Morelli
You can look for these at one of Florence’s Bookstores to Visit with Kids.
The Stone Giant is an excellent children’s book about Michelangelo’s work on the David statue
If you don’t have a credit card, the best option is to stand in line and purchase your tickets at the museum. Unfortunately, you will need to wait in the long line.
If you’re ok seeing a replica, you can visit one or both of Florence’s David replicas. One is in Piazza della Signoria in front of the Palazzo Vecchio. The other is towering above Florence in Piazzale Michelangelo. You can also find a colorful mural in the marble quarries near Colonnata.
If you know when you’d like to visit and you want to avoid waiting in line, it’s always a good idea to reserve your time slot. While the winter tends to be less crowded in Florence, you could end up at the museum with others who thought the same. It’s worth spending the 4€ to not have to worry about waiting in the long line.
