Klemio
Climb the Duomo Dome or Giotto's Bell Tower?
Climb the dome if you can plan ahead and book a slot, because you get inside Brunelleschi's engineering and stand right up against Vasari's painted ceiling on the way. Climb Giotto's Bell Tower if you decided last minute or you want the dome itself in your photos, since you cannot photograph the dome while you are standing on top of it.
Florence has two great cathedral climbs, side by side, and people agonize over which one. Both are steep stair-only climbs of more than 400 steps with no elevator, and both end on a high platform over the city. The real differences are what you see on the way up, what is in your photos, and how easy it is to get a ticket.
The dome requires a timed reservation and sells out. The bell tower usually does not, so it is the one you can often grab same-day. That alone settles it for a lot of travelers.
If you plan ahead, climb the dome. Getting inside Brunelleschi's masterwork and passing the frescoes makes it more than just a viewpoint, and the open top is easier for photos. If you are deciding on the fly, or you specifically want the dome in your skyline shots, Giotto's Bell Tower is the smart pick: easier to get into, cheaper, and the only one of the two that puts the cupola in your photo. Doing both is overkill for most people, since the views overlap.
Pick Brunelleschi's Dome if
- You can book a timed slot in advance
- You want to see Brunelleschi's engineering and Vasari's frescoes from inside
- You want an unobstructed platform for photos of the city
Pick Giotto's Bell Tower if
- You did not book ahead and want a ticket today
- You want the dome itself in your photos
- You want a slightly easier, cheaper climb with places to rest
FAQs
Usually no. They stand a few feet apart and the views are similar, so the second climb mostly repeats the first. Pick one. The main reason to do both is if you want the dome in a photo and also want to be on top of it.
The dome's view is a touch higher and more open, with lower barriers for photos. But the bell tower has the dome itself in the frame, which many people consider the better picture. It depends on whether you want to be on the dome or looking at it.
It is a real effort: over 460 steps, no elevator, and tight, low passages near the top. Skip it if stairs, heights, or tight spaces are a problem. The bell tower is a little gentler with landings to rest.
For the bell tower, often yes. The dome needs a timed reservation that sells out, so book it ahead, sometimes several days out in busy seasons.
Both climbs are sold through the cathedral's combined passes, which also cover the baptistery and museum. The dome sits on the pricier pass tier and the bell tower on a cheaper one, so check which pass includes the climb you want before buying.
Explore more in Florence
Plan your trip
- Best time to visit Florence
- Day trips from Florence
- One Day in Florence: The Honest Highlights Walk
- Two Days in Florence: Big Sights Without the Burnout
- Three Days in Florence: The Sights, the Backstreets, and One Day in Tuscany
- Florence with kids: what actually keeps them happy
- Florence at night: the city is better once the day-trippers leave
- Florence when it rains: a city that is mostly indoors anyway
- Uffizi vs Accademia: Which Florence Museum to Pick
- Piazzale Michelangelo vs Bardini Garden for Sunset
Where to next?
One short email, twice a month: handpicked experiences, hidden-gem cities, and the best windows to book them.