Tickets to Climb Florence Duomo: how to buy, prices and discounts

Designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, the dome of the Duomo in Florence is one of the major works of the Renaissance, as well as an architectural challenge for the time. Built between 1418 and 1434, a century later the inner vault of the dome was painted by Giorgio Vasari and Federico Zuccari with a series of scenes from the Last Judgement, a must-see on your trip to Florence.

As a characteristic monument of the Florentine city skyline and one of the most visited, getting tickets will be relatively easy without queuing at the ticket offices. Read on to find out more about how to buy tickets, tours and guided tours to discover Brunelleschi's great dome.

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The best option

Florence Brunelleschi Dome Climb, Museum and Baptistery Visit

Don't miss out on your ticket to the Brunelleschi Dome

A perfect option if you don't want to miss out on a ticket and want to avoid wasting time at the ticket office. With this guided tour you will also learn all about the dome, the baptistery of the Duomo and the museum inside it.

From £59 at Hellotickets

An exclusive tour with priority access and accompanied by an expert guide. You will climb the dome while a specialised guide will give you all the details about the fresco of the interior vault, the work of Giorgio Vasari and Federico Zuccari, and then you will go to the outside viewpoint, from where you will have one of the best views of Florence.

With this tour of the Duomo dome you will reach the top of this octagonal dome, 116 metres high, from where you will be able to appreciate the impressive architecture of the Piazza del Duomo or the Baptistery. Your guide will also take you to the Museo dell'Opera, where you can see works by Brunelleschi himself , Michelangelo and Donatello, and where admission is included in the tour.

Recommended if... all travellers passing through Florence, especially those who prefer a guided tour to understand the value of Brunelleschi's great work, you won't regret it!

The entrance fee to the Brunelleschi Dome starts at 20€ for adults and 10€ for children between 7 and 14 years of age. Below this age, children do not pay. However, tickets are not easy to find online and buying them at the ticket office will mean a long wait in the queues at the door.

It is therefore advisable to book a guided tour in advance for around 70 euros to explain the historical details of this must-see monument in Florence. There are tours that include the entire Duomo and other tours that include a visit to the Baptistery, the Museum and the Dome, but do not include entrance to the cathedral. In any case, an expert guide will accompany you throughout the tour.

Tickets to climb the Brunelleschi Dome can be purchased online at the official website of the Florence museums as part of the Brunelleschi Pass. My recommendation is to buy in advance: the Florence Duomo is a very visited monument and this way you will make sure you don't waste unnecessary time at the ticket office and at the same time you won't miss out on your ticket.

Also, if you book a guided tour of the Dome you can skip the queues at the ticket office with priority entrance.

No, there are no significant discounts to the Duomo Dome, except for children from 7 to 14 euros who pay a reduced rate and children under 6 who get in for free.

Tickets to the Dome of Brunelleschi are included in the Florence Pass and the Florence Card.

• Florence Pass: It can be purchased online for a price starting at 78€ and, in addition to the Florence Duomo, it also includes access to the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia Gallery. This pass also includes an audio guide app and priority access, so you won't have to wait in line unnecessarily.
• Firenze Card: Includes free priority access to a total of 72 attractions in Florence including the Duomo dome and is available from €85. Activation of the card takes place when you enter the first museum and from then on you will have 72 hours to enjoy it. This card, like the Florence Pass, can be purchased online.

To climb the dome of Bunelleschi you have to enter through the north side of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Cathedral of Florence. Specifically through the Porta della Mandorla, and the ascent takes place via 463 steps. As soon as you cross the threshold of the door I recommend that you pay close attention to everything around you because the visit is a true marvel.

On the one hand, you cannot miss the frescoes that can be admired from the first inner ring located under the vault of the dome. The work of Giorgio Vasari and Federico Zuccaro, they were painted between 1572 and 1579, a century after the construction of the dome, and represent, as in the Baptistery, a series of scenes from the Last Judgement. The frescoes were restored between 1978 and 1994.

During your visit to the Dome of Bunelleschi, you can also enjoy the wonderful views from the exterior belvedere, one of the best observatories in the city of Florence.

The Dome of Bunelleschi is located in Piazza del Duomo, a central point of the city of Florence. The best way to reach this enclave is on foot, but you can also go by tram, bus or car.

• Bytram: The T2 line runs next to Florence's Piazza del Duomo. The nearest stop is the Unità stop.
• Bus: The C4 line runs closest to the Duomo and the nearest stations are Stazione Scalette and Stazione Via Panzini.
• Car: If you go by car to the Duomo in Florence I recommend that you park in one of the car parks closest to Piazza del Duomo: Garage del Bargello or Parcheggio Sant'Ambrogio Firenze.
• Train: Santa Maria Novella station is 750 metres from Piazza del Duomo, so you can reach the Duomo in just 10 minutes on foot.

Climbing the Brunelleschi Dome is possible every day of the week. The opening hours are Monday to Friday from 8:15 am to 7:45 pm; Saturdays from 8:15 am to 5:30 pm, and Sundays and public holidays from 12:45 pm to 5:30 pm.

Climbing Brunelleschi's Dome is a must if you go on a trip to Florence with the youngest members of the family. Children will be amazed by the views from the exterior observation deck and will also benefit from a 50% discount on admission from the age of 7, so the final price will be around €10. In addition, children under the age of seven get in free of charge. However, it is important to note that all children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

The visit to the Brunelleschi Dome is estimated to last approximately 45 - 50 minutes. To climb the dome you will have to climb a total of 463 steps. It is important to note that there is no lift so you need to be in good shape to be able to climb to the top.

If you are going to visit the Brunelleschi's Dome you have to take into account that in the same Piazza del Duomo you can visit the whole complex of the Cathedral which includes:

• Santa Maria del Fiore: The Cathedral, also known as the Duomo , dates back to the early 15th century. It is one of the most impressive cathedrals in Europe and the third largest after St. Peter's in Rome and St. Paul's in London. Designed by the architect Arnolfo di Cambio, it is characterised by its imposing and dazzling green and white marble façade. Find out what to see and do inside the Florence Cathedral.
• Battistero di San Giovanni: Located opposite Santa Maria del Fiore, the Battistero is the oldest building in Piazza del Duomo and is internationally known for having one of the most important doors in the world: the Door of Paradise, decorated with ten bronze panels depicting scenes from the Old Testament.
• Giotto's Campanile: With more than 400 steps, climbing the Campanile is another of the best viewpoints in the city of Florence. This work started by Giotto was finished by Andrea Pisano in 1359.
• The Museo dell'Opera del Duomo: This museum is located behind the dome and houses some of the original sculptures and objects from the Duomo and the Battistero di San Giovanni, as well as some works and models by the architect of the dome, Brunelleschi. The Bandini Pietà by Michelangelo and the Gates of Paradise by Ghiberti stand out.
• Crypt of Santa Reparata: Inside the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is the crypt, on the remains of which the present cathedral was built. Santa Reparata dates back to the 5th and 6th centuries and was opened to visitors in 1974. On your visit you can see walls and pillars of the original church, mosaics and artefacts from Roman and medieval times.

In the post What to see and do in Florence's Piazza del Duomo you can read all the details. Also, about a five-minute walk from Piazza del Duomo is the Uffizi Gallery, a must-see on your trip to Florence.

In this art gallery you will have the opportunity to see works of great artistic value such as 'Spring' and 'The Birth of Venus' by Botticelli, 'Tondo Doni' by Michelangelo, 'Madonna and Child with two Angels' by Filippo Lippi, 'The Venus of Urbino' by Titian, 'Bacchus' by Caravaggio, 'Madonna of the Goldfinch' by Raphael or 'La Maestà di Ognissanti' by Giotto.

If you want to get the full details while visiting Brunelleschi's Dome, don't hesitate to book a guided tour. You will be able to admire the frescoes and enjoy the view while listening to the commentary of an expert guide. The price for this tour starts at €60 per person.

On your climb to Brunelleschi's dome it is important that you take into account the following recommendations to get the most out of your visit.

• There are a total of 463 steps and in some of the sections the stairs are very steep, so I recommend that you wear comfortable shoes and be prepared.
• From the outside viewpoint you will have some of the best panoramic views of Florence, so don't forget your camera. You'll be able to take some amazing snapshots.
• On the way up to the dome you can admire the frescoes of the Last Judgement by Giorgio Vasari and Federico Zuccaro. You won't have much time to admire them because the corridor is very narrow, but you will also have the opportunity to admire them on the way down and even more closely.
• It is one of the best visits you can make on your trip to Florence, so don't miss it.
• The climb is not recommended for people with heart conditions, claustrophobia, dizziness and pregnant women.
• Minors must be accompanied by adults.
• The start time of the visit is selected at the time of purchase and will appear on the ticket. Only 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the stated start time will be allowed.