Entry to Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral (the Florence Duomo) is free and needs no ticket; climbing Brunelleschi’s dome, however, is possible only with the Brunelleschi Pass and a named, non-changeable time slot. The complex has five monuments: the cathedral, the dome, Giotto’s bell tower, the baptistery and the Opera del Duomo Museum, plus the Santa Reparata crypt.
This guide explains which pass to choose with a decision tree, summarizes the official opening hours, and cross-checks the monthly heat with the 463 steps of the dome. It complements our Florence travel guide.
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Florence Duomo: key facts
- Cathedral: Monday to Saturday 10:15 am–3:45 pm, free entry without a ticket; closed on Sundays and during religious services — checked on 15 October 2026 on duomo.firenze.it
- Dome: Monday to Friday 8:15 am–6:45 pm (last slot), Saturday 8:15 am–4:30 pm, Sundays and public holidays 12:45–4:30 pm — checked on 15 October 2026 on duomo.firenze.it
- Standard price: Brunelleschi Pass €30 (ages 7–14: €12, under 7: free) — checked on 15 October 2026 on duomo.firenze.it
- Booking: compulsory for the dome (named time slot, non-changeable); the pass is valid for 3 calendar days
- Closures: all monuments on December 25, January 1 and Easter Sunday; dome closed for maintenance from November 16 to 20, 2026
- Prices recorded on 15 October 2026 and subject to change: check before you go.
Tickets: official vs resellers
The Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore sells its passes at tickets.duomo.firenze.it and at its ticket offices (Piazza San Giovanni 7, Piazza Duomo 14/A), subject to availability. For the Brunelleschi Pass, each visitor’s first name, surname and nationality are required at purchase. Resellers offer “skip-the-line tickets” or tours that include the dome: check that the dome slot is booked in your name. We do not publish price differences.
| Pass | Access | Adult | Ages 7–14 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brunelleschi Pass | Dome, bell tower, museum, baptistery, Santa Reparata | €30 | €12 |
| Giotto Pass | Bell tower, museum, baptistery, Santa Reparata | €20 | €7 |
| Ghiberti Pass | Museum, baptistery, Santa Reparata | €15 | €5 |
| Guided dome tour (Italian/English) | Dome with a guide | €50 | €30 |
| Cathedral | Nave | Free | Free |
Which pass should you choose? A decision tree
- You want to go inside the dome → Brunelleschi Pass, and book the slot as soon as your dates are fixed. The pass must start on the day of the dome visit.
- You want a view of the dome but not the dome itself → Giotto Pass (bell tower; a time slot is compulsory for the bell tower).
- You are afraid of stairs or heights → Ghiberti Pass (museum, baptistery, crypt) plus the free cathedral.
- You are in Florence on a Sunday → the cathedral is closed; the dome is open only from 12:45 to 4:30 pm.
- You also want the Uffizi on the same day → dome early in the morning, Uffizi in the afternoon (see below).
Opening hours and closing days
| Monument | Hours (checked on 15 October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Cathedral | Mon–Sat 10:15 am–3:45 pm; closed Sunday and during services |
| Dome | Mon–Fri 8:15 am–6:45 pm; Sat 8:15 am–4:30 pm; Sun and public holidays 12:45–4:30 pm (last slots) |
| Giotto’s Bell Tower | Daily 8:15 am–6:45 pm (last slot); closed November 9 to 13, 2026 |
| Baptistery | Daily 8:30 am–7:30 pm; 1:30 pm on the 1st Sunday of the month |
| Opera del Duomo Museum | Daily 8:30 am–7 pm; closed on the 1st Tuesday of the month |
| Santa Reparata | Mon–Sat 10:15 am–4 pm; Sun 1:30–4 pm |
The official website also notes that the mosaics of the baptistery vault are being restored and cannot be seen, and that the bell tower is under works (terrace open, view partly reduced).
Best time to climb the dome
463 steps, no lift: heat matters. According to the WMO 1991–2020 normals for Florence-Peretola used on our Florence page, July and August exceed a mean maximum of 32 °C (90 °F). Our reading cross-checks these normals with sunrise time and the first slot (8:15 am on weekdays).
| Month | Max temp | Sunrise (15th) | Sunset (15th) | Day length | Our reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 11.2 °C (52 °F) | 07:45 | 17:02 | 9 h 17 | ✅ Comfortable climb |
| February | 12.7 °C (55 °F) | 07:14 | 17:44 | 10 h 30 | ✅ Comfortable climb |
| March | 16.2 °C (61 °F) | 06:27 | 18:20 | 11 h 53 | ✅ Comfortable climb |
| April | 20.0 °C (68 °F) | 06:32 | 19:58 | 13 h 25 | ✅ Comfortable climb |
| May | 24.3 °C (76 °F) | 05:50 | 20:33 | 14 h 43 | ✅ Comfortable climb |
| June | 29.1 °C (84 °F) | 05:32 | 20:58 | 15 h 26 | ⚠️ Aim for the first slot |
| July | 32.3 °C (90 °F) | 05:46 | 20:54 | 15 h 08 | ❌ Heat: 8:15 am is a must |
| August | 32.4 °C (90 °F) | 06:18 | 20:19 | 14 h 01 | ❌ Heat: 8:15 am is a must |
| September | 27.3 °C (81 °F) | 06:53 | 19:26 | 12 h 32 | ⚠️ Aim for the first slot |
| October | 21.5 °C (71 °F) | 07:28 | 18:32 | 11 h 03 | ✅ Comfortable climb |
| November | 15.6 °C (60 °F) | 07:08 | 16:49 | 9 h 41 | ✅ Comfortable climb |
| December | 11.4 °C (53 °F) | 07:41 | 16:38 | 8 h 57 | ✅ Comfortable climb |
The Opera del Duomo does not publish attendance by hour or by month, so we do not give any.
Visit route
- Dome at the first slot (arrive 10 minutes early at the Porta della Mandorla, on the north side).
- Bell tower (no time slot needed with the Brunelleschi Pass).
- Cathedral (free, from 10:15 am) and Santa Reparata.
- Break, then the baptistery and the Opera del Duomo Museum (the original baptistery doors).
Uffizi + Duomo + Accademia in one day
Doable but packed. Suggested plan: dome at 8:15 am, bell tower, cathedral at 10:15 am; the Accademia Gallery (David) in late morning with a booked slot (check its official hours); the Uffizi Gallery in the afternoon (check its official hours and closing day). Keep the baptistery and museum for the 2nd or 3rd day of the pass’s validity.
Getting there
The Duomo is in the historic centre of Florence. The dome is entered through the Porta della Mandorla, on the north side. Luggage: a free left-luggage service is compulsory at Piazza Duomo 38/R (7:30 am–8:15 pm) before entering the monuments — checked on 15 October 2026 on duomo.firenze.it.
Accessibility and dress code
- Dome: 463 steps, no lift; not recommended for people with heart problems, claustrophobia or vertigo.
- Visitors with disabilities and one companion: free entry after assessment, contact accessibilita@duomo.firenze.it.
- Dress code in the cathedral and baptistery: no flip-flops, bare shoulders or legs uncovered above the knee.
Common mistakes
- Booking the dome on the 2nd day of the pass: validity must start on the day of the dome visit.
- Arriving late for your slot: it cannot be changed.
- Bringing a bag: it must be left at the left-luggage office before the monuments.
- Beachwear: entry is refused in the cathedral and baptistery.
- Planning the cathedral on a Sunday: it is closed to visitors.
What to see nearby
The Uffizi Gallery is close by, via Piazza della Signoria. Our guide to things to do in Florence covers the Ponte Vecchio, the Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens.
Frequently asked questions
Is entry to the Florence Duomo free?
Yes, the cathedral is free and ticketless from Monday to Saturday (10:15 am–3:45 pm). The dome, bell tower, baptistery and museum are paid.
How much does it cost to climb the Florence dome?
The Brunelleschi Pass costs €30 (recorded on 15 October 2026), €12 for ages 7 to 14, with a compulsory named time slot.
How many steps are there to the top of the dome?
463 steps, with no lift, according to the Opera del Duomo.
Can you change your dome time slot?
No: according to the official conditions, Brunelleschi Pass bookings cannot be changed.
What should you wear to visit the Duomo?
No flip-flops, bare shoulders or legs uncovered above the knee in the cathedral and baptistery.
Our sources
- Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore (tickets.duomo.firenze.it): opening hours, prices, pass conditions, consulted on 15 October 2026
- Climate normals: WMO 1991–2020, Florence-Peretola station (NOAA), see our Florence page
- Astronomical calculations: NOAA solar algorithm (Global Monitoring Laboratory), IANA time zones, applied by Destination de Voyage to the site’s coordinates (15th of each month, year 2027)
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026.