Florence: Duomo First Entry, Key Holder & Dome Climb

The early entry into the Duomo was great, and our guide was fantastic. The tour is approx. 50mins and then you climb the done. My friends climbed the Dome and said it was amazing as there was no pressure to rush as we were the only ones permitted entry. Due to ankle surgery I could not climb it but assumed from the tour detail that I could wander around the building and gain entry to the other areas paid for as part of the ticket whilst I waited. This was not possible as they were closed at the time we were there. Instead I was ‘allowed’ to sit on a bench to wait. To access the other parts included in the ticket price we would have to go return when it was fully open to the public after 10.15am, which by that time it was very busy so we didn’t try to view them. If you want to be in the first group to climb the dome this tour is for you, but if not it is not worth it despite the guide saying the climb was ‘optional’ there was no option on the price.

Exceptional experience, worth every cent. Entering the Duomo before public opening is a humbling experience. Watching the doors unlock with the key holder and standing inside with zero crowds as the interior lights turn on is unforgettable. Our guide, Laura, made the tour. She was easily the best guide we had during our entire stay in Florence, balancing deep historical knowledge with great humor. She kept everyone engaged, answered every question thoroughly, and even shared excellent Florentine history book recommendations at the end. Climbing the dome before the rush makes this tour worth every penny. Highest of recommendations.

There was a fair amount of time wasted waiting around for our allocated time to climb the dome which I felt could have been better spent showing us the crypt or other parts of the Duomo. The climb was amazing and the views from the top were amazing, glad I made the effort to do it early as I don’t think it would have been easy to do in a crowd.

Unbelievable experience! We got to walk in with the Key Holder and literally watch them turn the lights on for the day. We had a detailed tour and climbed all the way to the top before the doors opened to the public. Being the in the cathedral and then on the roof essentially by ourselves was something we will remember forever. Highly recommend!

The your was absolutely amazing. Book this tour if you want to see the church with no one else inside. The we were the first to ascend the steps and were the only people at the top of the Duomo for a good 10 minutes which was enough time to get pictures and have our fantastic guide show us the city from above. If you are on the fence, book this tour, it is great!!!