Florence Duomo and Brunelleschi's dome — which pass, which climb, and how to plan it

The complex in one minute

The Duomo is not one sight but six. The cathedral itself (begun 1296 by Arnolfo di Cambio), Brunelleschi's dome (1420–1436, still the largest masonry dome ever built), Giotto's bell tower (begun 1334), the octagonal Baptistery opposite with its bronze doors, the excavated church of Santa Reparata under the cathedral floor, and the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo behind, where the original sculptures and doors are kept.

The striped marble facade looks medieval but dates from 1887; the original was never finished and was pulled down in the 16th century.

Which pass to buy

All three passes are valid for 72 hours from first use, and include the Baptistery, the Museo dell'Opera and Santa Reparata. Prices as of autumn 2026; children 7–14 pay less and under-7s are free.

Ghiberti Pass — €15. No climbs. Right if stairs aren't for you, or you'll get your view elsewhere.

Giotto Pass — €20. Adds the bell tower. Our pick for most people: the view from the top includes the dome itself, which is what you want in the photograph.

Brunelleschi Pass — €30. Everything, including the dome climb. Worth it if you want to walk inside the structure and see the Last Judgement frescoes on the underside of the dome up close.

The climb you reserve (dome or bell tower) has a timed slot and must normally be done on the first day of the pass; plan the rest around it. Buy from the cathedral's official ticket site; there is also a ticket office on Piazza San Giovanni.

Climbing the dome

463 steps, no lift. The route takes you up between the two shells of Brunelleschi's double dome — the herringbone brickwork that let it be built without a timber frame is visible on the way — then out onto a gallery inside the drum, just under Vasari and Zuccari's Last Judgement fresco, before the final steep climb to the lantern.

The passages are narrow and one-way in places. It's not for anyone with serious claustrophobia, vertigo, or heart or mobility problems. Allow 45 minutes to an hour including the top.

Book well ahead: in spring and summer, dome slots can sell out weeks in advance. Opening hours vary by day and season and are shorter on Saturdays and Sundays; the dome also closes for annual maintenance — in 2026, from 16 to 20 November.

Climbing the bell tower

414 steps to the top terrace, about 85 metres up, with stops at landings on the way. Less claustrophobic than the dome and generally easier to book. The view straight across to the dome and down onto the cathedral roof is the best in Florence.

The top is caged with a protective mesh; photographers should bring a lens that can shoot through it. The bell tower is open daily, with its own maintenance closure (9–13 November 2026).

The cathedral, the Baptistery and Santa Reparata

The cathedral. Free, no reservation, but the queue on the north side can be long by mid-morning. It's open Monday to Saturday in the middle of the day (roughly 10:15 to 15:45) and closed to visitors on Sunday and during services. Inside it's vast and sparse: look for Uccello's painted equestrian monument to the mercenary John Hawkwood and the 24-hour clock he also decorated.

Santa Reparata. The early-Christian and medieval church the Duomo replaced, excavated beneath the nave; Brunelleschi's tomb is here. Entered from inside the cathedral with a pass.

The Baptistery. The oldest building in the group. Its gilded doors are copies; Ghiberti's 'Gates of Paradise' originals are in the museum. The mosaic ceiling is under long-term restoration, so part of it may be screened.

Dress code applies throughout: shoulders and knees covered.

The museum almost everyone skips

The Museo dell'Opera del Duomo is included in every pass, and it's one of the best museums in Florence. Here are the original Gates of Paradise, Donatello's wooden Penitent Magdalene, his and Luca della Robbia's choir lofts, and Michelangelo's late Bandini Pietà, carved for his own tomb. A full-scale reconstruction of the medieval facade fills the main hall. Allow at least an hour. It's often quiet in the late afternoon.

A plan that works

Day 1, morning: your reserved climb at the earliest slot you can get, then the Baptistery.

Day 1, late morning: the cathedral (queue shorter just after it opens) and Santa Reparata.

Day 2, late afternoon: the Museo dell'Opera, when the day groups have left.

Pair the Duomo with the Accademia, five minutes north, or the Uffizi, ten minutes south. Wine-window hunters will find several within a short walk — see our buchette del vino guide.