Getting Florence Duomo tickets is actually very easy: there are several options available, suitable to all kind of travelers and budgets.
Situated in Piazza Duomo, the religious complex is home to Florence’s Cathedral – Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore in Italian – and six other wonderful monuments: Brunelleschi’s Dome, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistery of San Giovanni, Santa Reparata Crypt and the Opera del Duomo Museum.
This article will explain all the different ways of getting tickets for the Duomo Florence and the connected attractions, so as to inform your decision-making process. You will also find plenty of other practical information that will help you plan your visit and make the most of it.
Don’t forget to read my posts The Best Things To Do In Florence and The Most Beautiful Churches In Florence.
The Monuments Of Piazza Del Duomo, Florence
Florence’s Piazza del Duomo is a crossroads of incredible attractions. You can literally spend a day exploring the area without ever getting bored. The main monuments to see there are the Cathedral, AKA the Duomo of Florence, Giotto’s Bell Tower, Brunelleschi’s Dome and the Baptistery of San Giovanni.
The Cathedral towers over the city being 116,50 meters (more than 383 feet) tall; and makes its presence felt by 3,600 square meters of beautifully decorated walls. The building we see today is the result of 170 years of work, by artists and architects. Dedicated to Santa Maria del Fiore, the Virgin of the Flower, it is an allusion to the lily, the symbol of the city of Florence.
Giotto’s Bell Tower (Campanile di Giotto in Italian) is 84.7 meters (almost 288 feet) tall and approximately 15 meters (that’s more than 49 feet) wide. You can get a perfect view of Florence if you climb to its highest point. With narrow stairs to the top, every 100 steps you have the chance to rest and admire the painted Frescoes, which are an encyclopedia of medieval knowledge.
The Dome (Cupola, in Italian) was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi. It is the premise for cultural rebirth after the dark Middle Ages, due to its mastery of beauty and ingenuity. He designed an octagonal self-supporting dome that didn’t need a centre. Built from different materials, it stands at 116 meters (380.5 feet), making it the largest masonry vault in the world.
The Baptistery of San Giovanni (which is currently closed for restoration works) is an octagonal baptistery and one of the oldest buildings in the city (1059 and 1128) and has the status of a minor basilica. Named after St John the Baptist, patron saint of Florence, it is one of the monuments that represent the civic identity of the city.
Finally, continue reading to learn how to get Florence Duomo tickets.
How To Get Florence Duomo Tickets
There are several ways of getting Florence Duomo tickets. You can opt for a ticket from the official website, third-party sites, through tours, or at the door. If you decide to get a tour online, be sure to shop around first and compare ticket prices as they may vary between tour and travel operators.
Purchasing your tickets for the Duomo Florence and for the monuments of the Duomo Complex is actually mandatory. If you do not have pre-purchased tickets, you run the risk of not being able to climb the Brunelleschi Dome or visit the other monuments on your day of visiting.
Get your Florence Duomo tickets via the official website
There are two kinds of Florence Duomo tickets: those that only allow you to visit the church itself, and those that give you admission to other nearby monuments too.
Single Florence Duomo tickets
There is no admission fee to visit Florence Cathedral, and you can actually enter without a ticket or booking. However, if you want to visit the other monuments in the Duomo Complex you should be aware that there are no individual tickets and that bookings are mandatory. You can only get a combination ticket that includes various monuments of the Duomo Complex.
Combination tickets with other Duomo Monuments
This is the official website to get tickets for the Duomo Florence, and for other monuments of the Duomo Complex. Online bookings to visit the monuments of the Duomo Complex are actually mandatory. In other words, you can’t just show up at the door and walk in.
It is definitely worth visiting all these religious sites as each one of them offers something particularly different, from its history and design perspective. Try to plan your visit by choosing the monuments you want to see, taking into account the recommended visiting times.
The official website lays out the three passes you can choose from.
Brunelleschi Pass – at €30 for adults, this is the most expensive option and includes visits to all the monuments of the Duomo Complex, with a single valid ticket for three calendar days from your selected date. The pass is available for €12 for children between 7 and 14 years of age, and for free for children up to 6 years old. Keep in mind that minors must be accompanied by an adult.
Giotto Pass – it costs €20 for adults and €7 for children between 7 and 14 years old (children up to 6 years of age can get in for free) and gives you access to Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistery, the Opera del Duomo Museum and Santa Reparata.
Ghiberti Pass – it costs €15 for adults and €5 for children between 7 and 14 years old (children up to 6 years of age can get in for free) and gives you access to the Baptistery of San Giovanni, the Opera del Duomo Museum and the ancient basilica of Santa Reparata. Italian and foreign students of all levels can buy Ghiberti Pass at reduced price upon presentation of a valid student ID.
Free admission is available for all monuments for people with disabilities and their companion. To get your free access, you need to send an email to accessibilita@duomo.firenze.it or contact the desk in Piazza Duomo 14, providing a certification document.
In order to get your tickets, you’ll you have to register with a valid email and then make the payment. You will then receive an email with the pass you’ve chosen and other useful information. Bring this ticket with you, as it will be requested at the entrance. Once purchased, the reservations can’t be cancelled or modified and you can’t get a refund.
Get your tickets for the Duomo Florence via third party booking sites
Countless third party booking sites offer skip-the-line mobile tickets. Of course, in terms of price, most are a few euros more expensive than the official price, but in exchange you get impeccable customer service, usually 24/7 and in a language of your choice, and you can also count on a significantly more flexible cancellation policy, usually within 24 hours before your visit.
My favorite third party booking sites to look for skip-the-line tickets are usually GetYourGuide and Tiqets. They allow you to read reviews from other travelers, so that you know exactly what to expect.
For last minute Florence Duomo tickets with Brunelleschi Dome click here or here.
Join a guided tour of Florence Duomo
Another great way of securing tickets for the Duomo and the other monuments in the religious complex is to join a guided tour, either with a live guide or with an audio guide. You obviously don’t have to take a guided tour, but it’s definitely a good idea if you want a more insightful experience when you visit. You’ll have a guide taking you to the gate, letting you know what you need to do at every step of your visit, and showering you with interesting information about the sites you are visiting.
That’s how my friend and I visited the Duomo of Florence and Brunelleschi’s Dome when we went, and we were definitely happy of our choice.
Companies such as Get Your Guide and Walks of Italy offer a number of guided tours. The benefit of booking tours on third party sites rather than the official site is that you can read the reviews, so you know exactly what to expect. The tours sold on the official website have no reviews.
Here are the best options for guided tours:
VIP David & Duomo Tour: Early Accademia Tour & Skip the Line Dome Climb with Exclusive Terrace Access – this is the tour my friend and I took. It’s sold on Walks of Italy. It’s a great tour to do if you want to also visit the Duomo and get the magnificent views from the Dome.
Florence: Cupola Climb Tour with Duomo Complex Entry Tickets – sold on GetYourGuide, this is an excellent option if you just want to visit the Duomo and the Dome. You could also consider this option if you prefer a small group tour, or this one.
Florence Cathedral: Terraces and Dome Skip-the-Line Tour – similar to the tour above but you also get to explore the terraces.
Florence: Cathedral Skip-the-Line Guided Tour – a very good and budget friendly option if you are only interested in visiting the Cathedral.
VIP Private Tour Florence Cathedral Dome & Monuments – a great tour that goes to almost all the monuments of the Duomo Complex (you’ll have to pick between the Dome and Giotto’s Bell Tower).
Florence: Cathedral Guided Tour & Tickets to 4 Attractions – a great budget friendly option considering you get a guided tour of the Cathedral and tickets to all attractions in the Duomo Complex.
Florence: Baptistery, Duomo Museum, & Cathedral Walking Tour – a greatly reviewed tour of the Cathedral and the Baptistery that also goes to the Duomo Museum.
For an audio guide tour of Florence Duomo with Brunelleschi Dome click here.
The official website offers three tours in English: a tour of the Dome; one of the Baptistery and the Museum, and one of the Cathedral. Prices are as follows:
Tour of the Cathedral – €13 for adults; €7 for children between 7 and 14 years of age. Children under 6 go free.
Tour of the Dome – €40 for adults; €30 for children between 7 and 14 years old. Children under 6 go free.
Tour of the Baptistery – €25 for adults; €15 for children between 7 and 14 years of age. Children under 6 go free.
Tours bought on the official website can’t be cancelled or refunded.
Get the Florence Pass
Another way of getting tickets for the Duomo of Florence is the Florence Pass, not to be confused with the Firenzecard which, on the other hand, gives you no access to the monuments of the Duomo Complex. Attractions included are Florence Cathedral and Brunelleschi’s Dome, the Uffizi Gallery, the Galleria dell’Accademia (where you can see Michelangelo’s David. You also get a city app you can download on your phone and a 10% discount on all other attractions in the Tuscan city.
What’s great about it is that you can book the time slots for your visit before your actual purchase, so you literally only have to visit one site. As this is a combination of tickets to the individual attractions it includes, you end up getting quite a good discount too.
To get your Florence Pass, click here.
Get your Florence Duomo tickets in person
Finally, there is the option to buy your tickets for the Duomo Florence on-site in the square – though this option is obviously subject to availability and you may not even get a ticket for the time slot you want. There are two ticket offices, on in Piazza Duomo 14/A that only accepts electronic payments, and another in Piazza San Giovanni 7.
The ticket offices are open Monday to Sunday from 8:00 am to 7:15 pm. Beware that the line to get tickets in person may actually be very long.
Other Useful Information
Official tickets for the Duomo Florence
There is no admission fee to access Florence Duomo, but you’ll have to pay a fee to visit all other monuments of the Duomo Complex. This is a breakdown of the costs:
Brunelleschi Pass – €30 for adults, €12 for children between 7 and 14 years of age, free for children up to 6 years old.
Giotto Pass – €20 for adults, €7 for children between 7 and 14 years old, free for children up to 6 years of age.
Ghiberti Pass – €15 for adults, €5 for children between 7 and 14 years old and students of all nationalities, free for children up to 6 years of age.
Modifications to the reservation and refunds
Florence Duomo tickets purchased via the official website don’t allow cancellations, modifications and refunds. For more flexible cancellation policies, consider purchasing your tickets or tours on third party booking sites.
Free visits
Visiting the Duomo of Florence is free for everyone, but unless you are visiting one of the other attractions in the complex, you can expect a line to get in. Free admission to the other monuments of the Duomo Complex is available for children up to 6 years old and for disabled visitors and one person accompanying them.
Florence Duomo opening hours
The Duomo Monuments and Florence Duomo opening hours vary throughout the year, depending on the specific season. The best thing to do before you visit is to actually check on the website for the opening times on the specific date you intend to visit. Below is a breakdown of the opening times at the time of writing:
Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral – daily, from 10:15 am to 4:45 pm. As it is a place of worship, on Sundays and religious celebrations, the Cathedral is closed to visitors.
Giotto’s Bell Tower – daily, from 8:15 am to 7:45 pm.
Brunelleschi’s Dome – Monday to Saturday, from 8:15 am to 7:30 pm; Sundays from 12:45 pm to 5:15 pm.
Baptistery of San Giovanni – daily from 9:00 am to 7:45 pm. Please take care to notice that at the time of writing the Baptistery is closed for restoration works.
Museo dell’Opera del Duomo – daily from 8:30 am to 7:45 pm.
Book in advance
You don’t have to make reservations to visit the Duomo of Florence. However, online bookings are mandatory for all other monuments of the Duomo Complex.
What to do if Florence Duomo tickets are sold out
Tickets for the Duomo Florence and the Duomo Complex sold on the official website are usually the first to get sold out. You will have better options of finding tickets on third party booking sites (they often buy tickets in bulk and allow cancellations, so you may be able to count on someone canceling at the last minute), and even higher chances if you decide to join a guided tour.
For a guided tour of Florence Duomo and Brunelleschi Dome, click here, here or here.
For last minute Florence Duomo tickets with Brunelleschi Dome click here or here.
Security checks when visiting Florence Duomo
You will have to go through airport-style security to gain access to each of the monuments of the Duomo Complex. In fact, once inside you will also have to follow specific routes and use specific exits.
Is photography allowed?
Yes! As long as you don’t use the flash or a tripod. In fact, you should definitely bring a camera if you go up Brunelleschi’s Dome or Giotto’s Bell Tower, as the views are stunning!
Toilets and other facilities
The only bathrooms are inside the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo. Alternatively, you can use one of the public toilets in the area that cost €1.
Accessibility
Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral is accessible to people who have limited mobility or on wheelchair – there are wheelchairs available at the entrance to the Cathedral and the Museum, and the security staff is also available to help and provide information. Service animals such as guide dogs are also welcome.
As there is no elevator, there is no disabled access to the Brunelleschi’s Dome and to Giotto’s Bell Tower.
Other useful information
In order to get access to the Duomo and the monuments of the complex, print your voucher or ticket and bring it to the Duomo with you, and make sure to be there no less than 15 minutes before your entry time. You may not be allowed to enter if you arrive more than 5 minutes late.
You have to climb 463 sometimes steep and narrow steps to access Brunelleschi’s Dome, and 414 for Giotto’s Bell Tower, and there is no elevator. For this reason, access to both monuments is not recommended to people who have limited mobility, heart conditions, respiratory diseases and to pregnant women or people who suffer from vertigo and claustrophobia.
No cloakroom is available at Florence Duomo and at any of the monuments of the Duomo complex, so make sure to leave any bulky items in your room. You should also be dressed appropriately – the Cathedral, the Brunelleschi Dome and the Baptistery are religious buildings for which you are expected to be dressed modestly.
Further Readings
If you are traveling to Florence, these other posts will be useful:
- How To Get From Rome To Florence
- Where To Get The Best Views In Florence
- The Perfect 3 Days In Florence Itinerary
- How To Visit Giotto’s Bell Tower
- How To Get Boboli Gardens Tickets
- How To Get Tickets To Pitti Palace
- How To Get Tickets To The Uffizi Gallery
- How To Get Galleria Dell’Accademia Tickets
- How To Get Tickets To Palazzo Vecchio
- How To Make The Most Of One Day In Florence
- How To Make The Most Of Florence At Night
- 13 Best Day Trips From Florence
- A Wonderful Florence To Pisa Day Trip
- A Perfect Day Trip From Rome To Florence
- The Perfect Day Trip From Florence To Cinque Terre
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