Florence Tourist Traps

I waslooking to pre-order tickets, and found that I could book online. I knew there was an extra charge, but this is ridiculous! This is the payment screen that popped up at me:
Ticket full Euro 9,50 x 4

Online service Euro 24,90 x 4

Booking Euro 3,80 x 4

Total Euro 152,80
I am told on the Official Gallery website that tickets are 8.50 euro, and I'm ok with the 9.50 they are charging, and the booking fee, but to pay an online fee of 24.90 each is daylight robbery!

These are not real markets. They are just extenions of the local stores. Some will bargain, but they can get really nasty when you don't buy or bargain too hard. Plus, you can get lost, wandering 'round and 'round trying to find your companion. Don't split up :) Best buy? The scarves seemed a very good value for the $, very pretty. I bought a few for gifts. The pottery was high-priced and non-negotiable. And I (being a vegetarian) don't buy leather, but it looked nice, although not that inexpensive, as my mother priced some jackets. Give these a quick look, then go for lunch instead. Save your shopping dollars for other cities.

Unique Suggestions: Stay together. Keep moving. Don't get sucked in. Always have a ready excuse to keep going, as the venders can get "grumpy."

The famous Ponte Vecchio is a hub for tourists large and small, rich or budget! It is crowded and expensive but I just loved looking at all the magnificent and gawdy jewellry in the windows. I have to wonder how they stay in business since I have never really seen people shopping in them!

Fun Alternatives: There is no alternative - there is litterally only one "Old Bridge". Go anyways - but keep your credit card out of reach!!

The price tag for food either isn't clear or has 2 prices. 1 for take away (cheaper) and the other one for eating in restaurant. my experience, I saw 1 piece of pizza cost 3,2 for take away and 4 euro for eating in place. I ate it in restaurant in the end I have to pay 5 euro, they said because I ate it in restaurant.

Unique Suggestions: if you speak a bit Italian, is the best. Ask every details of the price otherwise you will have to pay unnecessary money. A lot of thief out there :-)

There are London style doubledecker buses in the city that bring tourists for rides around the city. Be advised that all the greatest attractions (Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio, Piazza Santa Croce, Ponte Vecchio...) are in areas restricted to traffic. You won't see much with these tours. Go for a walk instead. Most monuments are very close to each other.

Unique Suggestions: Just (don't) do it!

It's either crap at less than 10 euros or overpriced starting at 200 euros. We couldn't find anything in between these two prices.

Unique Suggestions: Don't buy anything ? Enjoy the beautiful views instead.

Fun Alternatives: I'm sure there are cheaper areas to find good jewelry in Florence.

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Not so much a tourist trap as a caution I guess....

If you decide to pull up a seat at one of the outdoor tables of the numerous cafes that line Florence's piazza's, you will certainly pay for the privilege of having a prime people watching position.

While it may cost you less than 1 euro to have a coffee standing at the bar inside, it may cost around 8 euros if you sit outside!

Sometimes when you go to one of these cafe's they come and take your order without you ever seeing a menu....or the prices....

Unique Suggestions: Look - I love sitting in these cafes and watching the world go by, but at least now I know what I am in for and am prepared when the bill arrives!!

Fun Alternatives: Why not buy a gelato or snack to takeaway from a shop nearby, and find a ledge to perch on in a Piazza - much cheaper!!

Well , forget what the book or travel guide said about the so called Museum with the most 1st class art pieces per inch in the world. yes no doubt there are master pieces from Botticelli etc etc but there is a catch there ....the museum is so small and so many paintings are all squezzed into a room.

Uffizi - accroding to my dear friend Rene ( one of Florence most noted celebrity ) means office , thus its was never meant to be a museum.

The whole area is dwarfed by British Museum and the Louvre anytime. In Louvre and British museum you never have to queue up for so long and you can appreciate those paintings with enough oxigen.

The exterior is also not very expensive and properly cared for. And the queue is horribly long. I blame it on the administrations inability to relocate to a bigger place and their inability to create more entrance ( but after all , its so small )

If you dont make reservation, dont trying to queue up unless you can turn up like two hours before the museum opens.

( my case- my dear celebrity friend booked for me , I forgot and went to PISA , but dutifully waited for 1 hour the next day before I walked away )

- I heard my VT fren said that if you go like at 6pm ..there will be no crowd and its also free