This Unique Florence Duomo Climb Belongs on Your Bucket List
Wondering whether the Florence Duomo climb is worth it?
On my third visit to Florence, I finally decided to go for it. But not just any Duomo climb. What ultimately convinced me this would be worthwhile is the VIP nature of the Florence Duomo climb experience I booked.
A tour so unique that our guide, who has been leading tours across Florence for 8 years, shared how special an experience it was even for him and his fellow tour guides!
Read on for more details on what sets this tour apart, whether or not it’s right for you and what to expect if you do book it.
Planning a trip? Use my favorite resources:
- Accommodations: booking.com
- Travel Insurance: SafetyWing
- Tours & Excursions: Viator
- Flights: Skyscanner
- City Pass: Go City
- eSim: Airalo
Florence Duomo Climb: VIP After Hours Tour
There are plenty of Duomo tour options to choose from, but only this one gives you the unique opportunity to be alone (with your small group) inside, as well as private terrace access.
The experience begins in the evening, when you gather near the entrance to meet your guide at 5:30 PM. You’ll get a ticket and a compact earpiece to help you listen to your guide throughout the entire visit.
What I wasn’t expecting, and that you should be aware of for your Florence itinerary planning purposes, is that this ticket is actually valid for 72 hours.
This means that after the tour, you’ll have additional opportunities to explore even more of the Duomo on your own. The ticket grants you entrance to the baptistry, bell tower and Duomo museum.
What Makes it Unique
Ever visited a popular tourist site and wished for fewer fellow tourists all around you? This tour helps you avoid the crowds significantly, and in some areas – completely! That’s because with this VIP Florence Duomo climb experience, you’ll get private access to both the north and south terraces.
This was so magical because during the time of my visit at the very end of September, our walk along the terraces timed perfectly with a gorgeous Tuscan sunset. Since our small group was the only one there, we got unobstructed photos of the stunning scene.
After visiting the dome and terraces, we made our way back down to sit for a while in the church itself. Incredibly, we were the ONLY ONES there. In this atypically calm setting, our expert guide shared even more of the Duomo’s fascinating history, and the backstories of various frescoes.
We were waiting, I realized. What for?
For the lights to be turned off in the church! That’s right, we got to be the very last visitors of the day and did not exit until they turned the lights off. At that point, our group trailed outside and watched the Key Master lock up for the night!
This truly was a VIP experience – when else do you get privileged access to such a popular and iconic site?
👉 Click to book the VIP Florence Duomo Experience
What to Expect
First, you’ll skip the lines and enter through the ‘almond door.’ In addition to your tour guide, you will have another guide who is a representative of the Duomo and knows how to navigate the building.
The tour begins with an ascent to the top of the dome. There are 463 steps to the top, with some stops at different levels along the way. I found it especially incredible to be up so close to the artwork on the ceiling inside.
Our guide often stopped to share details with us I never would have known otherwise that helped me appreciate all I was seeing even more.
The Climb Itself
It’s important to note that the climb all the way to the top isn’t for the faint of heart. Unfortunately it is not wheelchair or stroller accessible. It also would be quite difficult to carry a small child up (something I thought about because I was traveling with my sister’s family and toddler niece).
In addition to there being many steps, spiral staircases and tight spaces there are points during the climb when you really need both hands because the steps become more ladder-like than stairs.
Check in with yourself about your comfort and actively level before committing to this experience. Overall, I didn’t find it much different from any other tower climb I’ve done across Europe.
Highlights
Ours was the first group up to the very top of the dome so we got a chunk of time to admire the views and take photos without any other crowds.
By the time things got buzzing with other people at the top of the dome, our group was heading down for private access to the terraces. I saw my best Florentine sunset that evening from these terraces.
This meant a lot to me because my typical sunset viewing spot in the city – Piazzale Michelangelo – was way too crowded a couple nights later. I was glad to have caught at least one epic sunset view during my trip, thanks to this tour.
I also learned so much about how the dome was built, the materials and design used for constructing the Duomo as a whole and even a bit of what Florence was like from an economic perspective back in the day. All this fascinating information from our guide really upleveled the tour to take it beyond magnificent views.
After the terraces, we made our way back down to the church where we stayed until they turned out the lights. The experience ended with us trailing outside and watching the Key Master lock up for the night.
👉 Check tour prices and availability for your travel dates
FAQ: Doing the Florence Duomo Climb
Here are some quick thoughts on what to consider before booking your Florence Duomo climb:
How hard is it to climb the Duomo in Florence?
This depends on your activity level and comfort level with smaller spaces. If you’ve done other dome or tower climbs (such as Sacre Coeur in Paris, for example) chances are you will be okay to manage climbing the Duomo in Florence.
Be aware that there are 463 steps to the top, and some are more ladder-like than stairs.
Is it free to climb the Duomo in Florence?
No, climbing the Duomo in Florence requires a ticket. It is best to join a skip-the-line guided tour. This VIP experience will help you maximize your Duomo climb.
Is it worth climbing the dome in Florence?
Yes! Having done the climb myself, especially the VIP experience with private access to the terraces, I can strongly recommend it for beautiful views over the city. After all, the dome is the tallest building in Florence.
Is there a dress code to climb the Duomo in Florence?
The Duomo is a place of worship, and as such there is a standard dress code to adhere to out of respect.
Be sure to have your shoulders and knees covered (so, no sleeveless tops, shorts or short skirts/ dresses). I wore a sleeveless maxi dress with a lightweight, long-sleeve button down over it which I always had on in interior spaces.
Final Thoughts: A Unique Florence Duomo Climb Experience
Before taking this VIP Duomo climb tour, I had always wondered whether it was truly worth it to climb the dome. On previous trips, I simply did not want to deal with the crowds and so I never went.
On my third visit to Florence I decided it was probably time to check out what all the fuss was about and I’m SO grateful I got to do it via this VIP experience.
The small group, private access and well-informed guide made it such a wonderful experience for me. If you want a unique way to see a very popular site, then this tour is the way to do it.
Disclaimer: Thank you to Take Walks for hosting me on this tour. All opinions, tips and recommendations are 100% my own, based on my first-hand experience.
