Florence Duomo & Brunelleschi's Dome Tickets (2026 Guide)

Brunelleschi’s dome over the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is one of the engineering achievements of the Renaissance. Built between 1420 and 1436 without any temporary wooden support structure - a problem that had stumped architects for a century - it remains the largest masonry dome in the world. Climbing it means ascending 463 steps through the double-shell structure to the lantern at the top, with extraordinary views across Florence and the surrounding hills.

The dome is not the only attraction in the Duomo complex. A single pass covers the cathedral, dome, Giotto’s Campanile, the Baptistery, the crypt of Santa Reparata, and the Opera del Duomo museum.

Tickets and What’s Included

Brunelleschi Pass (the standard combined ticket): approximately €20 as of 2026. Valid for 72 hours and covers:

• Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo)
• Brunelleschi’s Dome (timed entry, separate booking required)
• Giotto’s Campanile (Bell Tower)
• Baptistery of San Giovanni
• Crypt of Santa Reparata
• Opera del Duomo Museum

The Cathedral itself is free without a pass - you can enter without booking. But the dome, campanile, baptistery, and museum all require the pass.

Important: Dome entry is timed and must be pre-booked as a separate step on the Opera del Duomo website or through authorised sellers. The pass gets you into everything except the dome; the dome requires an additional reservation specifying your time slot. Slots sell out quickly - especially the earliest morning times.

Giotto’s Campanile is a worthwhile alternative if dome slots are sold out. It’s 414 steps (no lift) with equally impressive views, and slots are easier to obtain.

Browse guided Duomo tours with GetYourGuide.

Opening Hours

Hours vary by site within the complex:

Cathedral (Duomo): Monday–Saturday 10:15–16:30; Sunday and religious holidays more restricted (mass times vary). Free entry.

Brunelleschi’s Dome: Monday–Friday 08:15–19:20; Saturday 08:15–17:00; Sunday and first Saturday of the month 13:00–16:00 (restricted access). First available slot is 08:15 - this is the one to book.

Giotto’s Campanile: Daily 08:15–19:20.

Baptistery: Monday–Saturday 08:15–10:15 and 11:15–19:30; Sunday and religious holidays 08:15–14:00.

Opera del Duomo Museum: Daily 09:00–19:00.

The whole complex closes on 1 January, Easter Sunday morning, 8 September, and 25 December.

Getting There

The Duomo is in the heart of Florence’s historic centre, approximately 10 minutes on foot from Santa Maria Novella train station.

• On foot: The simplest option. The dome is visible from most of the city centre - follow it.
• Bus: ATAF bus C1 stops on Via dei Cerretani, one street north of the Piazza del Duomo.
• Parking: Florence’s historic centre is a ZTL zone - non-resident vehicles cannot enter. Park outside the ZTL boundary (signage clearly indicates this) and walk or take a bus.

The Duomo square itself is pedestrianised. Approach from any direction on foot.

Climbing the Dome: What to Expect

The dome climb takes you through the interior of Brunelleschi’s double-shell structure - one of the few historic buildings in the world where visitors move through the actual structural fabric of the building. It is a unique experience and entirely unlike taking a lift to a viewing platform.

The route:

1. Enter from the south side of the cathedral (separate from the main cathedral entrance).
2. The first section climbs through the nave, with views down into the cathedral interior from the gallery level.
3. The second section climbs between the inner and outer dome shells, where you can see Brunelleschi’s herringbone brick technique at close range.
4. The final section reaches the lantern at the top.

Time required: Approximately 30–45 minutes up, 20–30 minutes down. Allow more time at the top if you want to take photographs without being rushed by those behind you.

Physical requirements: 463 steps on spiral staircases, some with very low clearance and steep pitch. Not suitable for visitors with claustrophobia (sections of the staircase are extremely narrow) or significant mobility limitations. There is no lift.

What you see at the top: 360° views across Florence, the Arno valley, and the Tuscan hills. Immediately below the lantern is the drum of the dome, decorated with Giorgio Vasari’s fresco of the Last Judgment (1572–1579). As you descend, you’ll pass closer to this fresco and can examine details impossible to see from the cathedral floor 90 metres below.

Giotto’s Campanile

The Bell Tower, directly south-west of the Duomo, was designed by Giotto in 1334 (completed by others after his death). It’s 84 metres tall, slightly higher than the dome’s drum (though the lantern of the dome sits higher). The climb is 414 steps with views comparable to the dome’s - in some respects better, as you can photograph the dome from the same height level.

Advantage over the dome: No timed entry system, less advance booking pressure, and you can see the dome itself from the top. Many visitors who miss out on dome slots do the campanile and find it equally satisfying.

Baptistery of San Giovanni

The octagonal Baptistery (dedicated to Florence’s patron saint, John the Baptist) dates largely from the 11th and 12th centuries and is one of the oldest buildings in Florence. The exterior features the famous bronze doors:

North doors (Lorenzo Ghiberti, 1401–1424): The result of a celebrated competition in 1401 in which Ghiberti beat Brunelleschi. The competition panels from both finalists survive - Brunelleschi’s panel is in the Bargello Museum.

East doors (“Gates of Paradise”, Lorenzo Ghiberti, 1425–1452): The doors Michelangelo reportedly called the “Gates of Paradise”. The originals are inside the Opera del Duomo Museum (the doors on the building are high-quality replicas). Ten panels depicting Old Testament scenes with extraordinary depth and narrative complexity.

The interior ceiling mosaic (13th–14th centuries) depicting the Last Judgment, with Christ in Majesty and a terrifying devil consuming sinners at the top, was directly influential on Dante’s conception of Hell in the Divine Comedy.

Opera del Duomo Museum

Consistently under-visited relative to its quality, the Opera del Duomo Museum houses the original sculptural works from the cathedral complex, including:

• Michelangelo’s Pietà Bandini (c. 1547–1555) - the second of his three Pietàs, depicting the deposition of Christ, with a self-portrait as Nicodemus. A late work of raw emotional power.
• Donatello’s Habakkuk (Lo Zuccone, 1423–1435) - a study in psychological realism, reportedly so lifelike that Donatello struck it and commanded it to speak.
• The original Ghiberti doors (“Gates of Paradise”) - restored and displayed at close range, allowing examination of details impossible to see when they were on the building.

Allow 90 minutes minimum. The museum is included in the Brunelleschi Pass.

Avoiding Crowds

Book the 08:15 dome slot. This is the single most effective strategy. By 09:30, the staircase is significantly busier; by 11:00, you may face waits at pinch points inside.

Visit the campanile in the afternoon when the dome crowds have dispersed. The late afternoon light from the campanile top over the city is exceptional.

The Baptistery is least crowded before 10:00 on weekday mornings. After 11:00, tour groups arrive in volume.

The museum has no timed entry - visit it last, once you’ve done the dome and campanile.

Practical Information

Dress code: Shoulders and knees must be covered to enter the cathedral and baptistery. No shorts, bare shoulders, or low-cut tops. Scarves are available at the entrance.

Bags: Large bags must be left in the free cloakroom at the dome entrance. Only small bags are permitted on the dome climb.

Photography: Permitted throughout. Flash is not allowed inside the cathedral during services.

Children: The dome is not recommended for under-6s (stairs too steep and narrow). The campanile is slightly more manageable. The museum is child-friendly and has excellent English signage.