Is the Florence Duomo free to visit?
Entry to the cathedral itself is free — you only queue at security, and it closes to visitors on Sundays and religious celebrations. Everything else on the square is ticketed, and there are no single tickets: the dome, bell tower, Baptistery, Opera del Duomo Museum and Santa Reparata crypt are sold only on one of three combination passes, each valid for 72 hours.
The three Florence Duomo passes
| Pass | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Ghiberti Pass | €15 | Baptistery, Opera del Duomo Museum, Santa Reparata crypt |
| Giotto Pass | €20 | Bell tower, Baptistery, museum, crypt (no dome) |
| Brunelleschi Pass | €30 | Dome climb, bell tower, Baptistery, museum, crypt |
Only the Brunelleschi Pass includes the dome climb, and the dome always needs a fixed time slot chosen when you buy. A guided tour is often the simplest route in peak season, because the operator books the timed dome slot and skip-the-line entry for you.
Opening hours
Hours vary by monument, and several have their own quirks. As a guide to a typical visit:
- Cathedral (free nave): Monday to Saturday, 10:15 am – 3:45 pm. Closed to visitors on Sundays and during services.
- Brunelleschi's Dome: daily by timed slot, from the morning to early evening; closed on Sunday mornings. 463 steps, no lift.
- Giotto's Bell Tower: daily, 8:15 am – 6:45 pm (last entry). 414 steps, no lift.
- Baptistery of San Giovanni: daily, 8:30 am – 7:30 pm; closes at 1:30 pm on the first Sunday of each month.
- Opera del Duomo Museum: daily, 8:30 am – 7:00 pm; closed on the first Tuesday of each month.
- Santa Reparata crypt: Monday to Saturday, 10:15 am – 4:00 pm; Sundays and religious celebrations, 1:30 pm – 4:00 pm.
Two things to check before your date. The Dome is closed for maintenance from 16 to 20 November 2026, and the Baptistery's ceiling mosaics are under a multi-year restoration, so the vault may be screened when you visit. Hours also shift on religious holidays — always confirm the official times for your exact day.
Booking the dome climb
The dome is the one part you cannot leave to chance. Timed slots are released in advance and routinely sell out two to four weeks ahead between April and October. Book as early as you can, and treat your slot as the fixed point your day is built around. If it is already sold out on the official site for your dates, a guided dome-climb tour is often the only way left in.
Dress code. The cathedral and Baptistery are active places of worship: shoulders and knees must be covered, and flip-flops are not allowed. Bring a scarf or wrap in summer, or you can be turned away at the door.
Getting there
The complex sits in the pedestrian heart of the historic centre at Piazza del Duomo, about a ten-minute walk from Santa Maria Novella railway station. The official ticket office and info point is on Piazza San Giovanni, no. 7. Note that you cannot enter the monuments with luggage; a luggage storage is available nearby on Piazza del Duomo.
For the fastest way in, compare guided Florence Duomo tours that bundle the dome slot and skip-the-line entry, or read how the monuments fit together in our guide to the complex.
Skip the ticket-office queue
Guided tours reserve your dome slot and walk you straight past the security line — the surest way in during peak season.
Browse guided tours