How to Skip the Line to See David by Michelangelo

The masterful statue of David by Michelangelo is honestly a must-see in Florence. It is truly an incredible piece of art in a stunning setting, but that also means that pretty much everyone else visiting Florence also wants to see the sculpture. Luckily, you can buy tickets ahead of time to skip right by the line.

The first thing you need to know is that Michelangelo’s David is at the Galleria dell’Academia in Florence, so that is the museum that you need to purchase tickets for. In addition to the world-famous sculpture, there are paintings by other Renaissance masters, including Botticelli.

The museum is small and so the crowd allowed in at any one time is limited. For that reason, if you want to see the statue of David, I highly recommend you reserve tickets ahead of time to skip the line. There are several ways to do this including via the official site, through trusted resellers, and by joining a tour. However, you plan to see the Michelangelo masterpiece you just want to be sure you stroll in right past this line thanks to your forward thinking:

Here is every way to get priority entrance to the Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence:

Official Site

The official site to book skip the line tickets is b-ticket, which has a partnership with Florence’s museums. It doesn’t look very flashy but it does work. The issue is that the tickets that are released here officially tend to sell out very quickly. You need to pick “Galleria dell’Accademia” from the third drop down instead of “tutti i musei” for easier searching.

So unless you are fairly lucky, you may not be able to find any at the last minute. For example, they tend to be completely sold out a month in advance.

Click on the date you want to visit the galleria and if tickets are available you will see “interno/full” which simply means that you are buying a full price ticket.

Tickets to see the statue of David by Michelangelo cost €12 at the door. However, there is a mandatory €4 charge for online book reservations, which means the David tickets go up to €16 if you are buying them online.

The reason that you have to buy them for a specific time slot is that this is how to skip the line. If you arrive a few minutes before your allotted time, you get to walk right past everyone who is waiting without reservations. There is nothing more to pay, you are all set to go.

Last Minute Skip the Line Tickets

I personally tried to book skip the line tickets to see David about two weeks before my trip but they were sold out on the official website. I knew that I did not want to waste time waiting in line because there is so much to do in Florence (and I was traveling with a baby) so I purchased last minute tickets to see the statue of David from Tiqets. 

These tickets are €20, which seemed completely reasonable and it worked perfectly. I also simply find the Tiqets website so much easier to use. I did not have to print anything out – the email confirmation was all I needed. Confirmation for the tickets also arrives by text message if you prefer. 

What you do need to do is arrive about 10 minutes before your entry time because you need to take this confirmation on your smartphone to a small office located across the street from the entrance to the museum. It only takes a minute, but that is where you will be given the official paper ticket that allows you in the Galleria itself.

After a short security check – you’re in!

If there are no tickets left on Tiqets, or if you want an even more complete experience, your last option is to take a tour.

Guided Tour to See David by Michelangelo

The Galleria dell’Accademia is deceptively simple because David is such a showstopper. There are actually also other works by Michelangelo here as well as paintings and sculptures by famous artists. Taking a tour with an expert guide is a great way to be sure you don’t miss a thing.

This guided morning tour will take you right past the line and introduce you to the other masterpieces by Ghirlandaio and Botticelli. At the end of the one hour and 15-minute tour, you are welcome to stay inside and continue to enjoy the magnificent setting. Here is another short tour option for about $30 USD.

If you prefer to see even more of Florence, but want David to be included, this Florence walking tour will help you discover the best of the city – including skip the line access to the Accademia and a visit to the Duomo. 

However you plan to see it, I hope that it is a moving experience. I was so happy to revisit recently and will absolutely be back again soon to see the museum at an even slower pace.

Please note: this post may include affiliate links to services that I personally use and recommend. If you chose to make a purchase through those links, I may earn a small commission.

Read More:

How to Buy Museum Tickets (and Skip the Line) in Florence How to Skip the Line at St. Mark’s Basilica How to Get Pompeii Tickets (and Skip the Line) How to Buy Vatican Tickets to Skip the Line