Your ultimate guide to navigating Duomo tickets.
The Cathedral Complex is probably the most iconic thing to do in Florence. The Santa Maria del Fiore with all of its beautiful components is a must-visit for travelers, but navigating the ticket process can be a bit of a nuisance. There are lots of different tickets and different vendors that make the process more difficult. In this guide, we’ll tell you absolutely everything you need to know about tickets to the Cathedral Complex so you’ll have the best possible experience and a stress-free trip.
The Cathedral Complex explained
The Cathedral Complex consists of essentially four independent structures. First, there is the actual cathedral, Santa Maria del Fiore. This is one of the world’s largest churches. It took over a hundred years to complete, with construction starting in the late 13th century. Note that you don’t need a ticket to visit the cathedral itself.
Second, there is the Duomo. People often refer to the entire structure as ‘the Duomo’, but this technically only refers to the actual dome. It is also known as the Cupola di Brunelleschi, after its architect, Filippo Brunelleschi. To visit the Duomo, you’ll need to climb the 463 steps to the top, which is a rather strenuous exercise.
Third, the Cathedral Complex consists of the Bell Tower (or: Giotto’s Bell Tower). To visit this Gothic structure, you’ll need to climb the 414 steps to the top.
Finally, there is the Baptistery. This octagonal structure dates from the 11th century and, as such, is one of the oldest structures in Florence.
Honorable mentions: next to the Cathedral Complex, you’ll find a museum dedicated to the construction process of the Duomo (the Opera del Duomo Museum). Additionally, you can visit the old church below the Santa Maria del Fiore, Santa Reparata.
Duomo ticket options
The safest bet is to get tickets for Florence’s Cathedral Complex through the official website at duomo.firenze.it.
As mentioned above, to visit the cathedral itself, you don’t need a ticket – entrance to the Santa Maria del Fiore is free. That being said, the lines to enter the cathedral can get extremely long. Especially if you visit Florence in peak travel season (roughly from May to September) and if you plan to visit later in the day.
Tip: To avoid the long lines at the Santa Maria del Fiore, visit early in the morning.
You can buy tickets months in advance. Don’t wait too long to reserve a ticket: the closer you are to your visit days, the more likely tickets will sell out. Reserving tickets at least 1 month in advance is a good rule of thumb – especially if you wish to visit the Duomo.
There are three different ticket options to purchase for the Cathedral Complex.
Brunelleschi Pass
The Brunelleschi Pass is the most complete ticket: it allows entry to the Duomo, Bell Tower, Baptistery, the Opera del Duomo Museum and Santa Reparata. The ticket is valid for three days. When purchasing your ticket, you need to select a date and timeslot. This is your assigned entry day and time for the Duomo. After that, you can visit the other structures within 3 calendar days.
Note that this is also the only ticket that allows entry to the Duomo. So, if you wish to climb those wicked steps to the top, you’ll need this ticket.
The ticket costs €30 for adults and €12 for children between 7 and 14. Children under 7 can enter for free.
Giotto Pass
The Giotto Pass allows you to enter the Bell Tower, Baptistery, the Opera del Duomo Museum and Santa Reparata. Similar to the previous ticket, the ticket is timeslot-based: you enter the Bell Tower on the selected date and time, after which you can visit the other structures within 3 calendar days.
With this ticket, you can’t visit the Duomo.
This ticket costs €20 for adults and €7 for children between 7 and 14. Children under 7 enter for free.
Ghiberti Pass
Lastly, the Ghiberti Pass offers a budget option to travelers with entry to the Baptistery, the Opera del Duomo Museum and the Santa Reparata. Your visit must start on the selected date and time at the Santa Reparata. After that, you have 3 calendar days to visit the other structures.
This ticket does not allow entry to the Duomo or the Bell Tower.
This ticket costs €15 for adults and €5 for children. Children under 7 go free.
Go on a guided tour of the Duomo
To get the most out of your experience at the Cathedral Complex in Florence, consider booking a guided tour of the Duomo. With this tour, you’ll learn more about this fascinating structure and its history, and – bonus – it will allow you to skip the long lines.
Guest post by: Two in Rome
