Where to Climb a Dome: the 15 Best Cupola and Tower Climbs Worldwide

1.Florence: Cathedral & Brunelleschi’s Dome Ticket & Audio App

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 6,973 reviews · 1 - 3 days · from $70Our pick

Meet staff at Porta della Mandorla, collect your reserved Dome entry, and climb 463 steps without a live guide. Your pass also covers the Cathedral, Baptistery, Giotto’s Bell Tower, Museum, and Santa Reparata Crypt for 72 hours. A mobile audio app and Tuscan food tastings are included.

“It was great to have a start time for the Dome walk (I’d recommend going earlier than later as it gets very hot on the walk up and there’s no much air). The rest of the attractions were great. The only advice I’d give is to arrive early or later in the day as the queues were horrendous between 11am and 4pm.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Florence: Brunelleschi’s Dome Climb Entry Ticket & Duomo

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3,815 reviews · 3 days · from $53

Meet an English-speaking host by the Lindt shop beside Florence Cathedral, collect your timed Dome ticket, and climb 463 steps through tight stairways to the frescoed summit. Your pass also covers the cathedral, crypt, baptistery, museum, and Giotto’s Bell Tower for three days, with audio-guide access through the POP GUIDE app.

“The dome climb is completely worth it! It was nice to go early before the streets were too crowded. The city is beautiful in the morning!”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Florence: Brunelleschi’s Dome Reserved Entry Ticket & Duomo

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 2,216 reviews · 3 days · from $57

Reserve your timed climb of Brunelleschi’s Dome, then visit Florence Cathedral, the Baptistery, crypt, museum, and Bell Tower over three calendar days. You’ll climb 463 steps without an elevator, use a multilingual mobile audio guide, and receive digital tickets by WhatsApp, iMessage, or email.

“Highly recommend this experience! We did the 0815 dome climb and it was nice and cool during the day. The guide messaged us the day before with tickets via what’s up. Getting in was a breeze and I love how the pass is good for 3 days to see everything else! The views are amazing and recommend!”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Florence Skip-the-Line Duomo Tour with Guide & Brunelleschi Dome

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,176 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $143Top rated

Explore Florence’s Duomo Museum, cathedral, private terraces, and Brunelleschi’s Dome with an English-speaking guide. You’ll climb 463 steps through tight passages to reach the cupola and its wide city views. Guides have included Helena, Brian, Christina, Aurora, Viola, and Guido.

“When visiting Florence you have to visit the Duomo! And there is no better tour than this!! Elena was our tour host and we can’t say enough nice things about her! She was knowledgeable, funny, interesting and very passionate about this beautiful city and, of course, the Duomo! The view of the frescoed dome and the sweeping city scape were amazing!! The lines to get in were tremendous - it was worth the price to skip the hours we would have spent waiting! Plus, we wouldn’t have gotten so much great information from Elena!! Loved this day!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Florence: Duomo Area Tour and Brunelleschi Dome Climb Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,169 reviews · from $69

Learn the story of Florence’s Duomo, Baptistery, and Giotto’s Bell Tower with an English-speaking guide in a group of up to six. Then climb Brunelleschi’s Dome on your own with a timed entry, and use the ticket for three days to visit the museum, crypt, Baptistery, and bell tower.

“The climb was a bit of a challenge, but we’re glad we did it. It was worth is for the view!”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Florence: Brunelleschi’s Dome Climb and Duomo Complex Pass

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 1,068 reviews · 3 days · from $74

Reserve your 463-step climb of Brunelleschi’s Dome, then visit Florence Cathedral, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistery, crypt, museum, and a VR Dome experience over three days. This is a self-guided pass with audio and video options, not a live tour.

“The 360 degrees view from the dome of the Duomo was amazing. You get to see the city of Florence and some of its countryside. The Duomo’s gothic architecture was even more impressive when seen from inside. (Please note, you do have to climb stairs- no elevators-but the view is worth it).”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Cooking Art Brunelleschi with Unlimited Wine

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 448 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $35Best value

In a medieval tower on Via de’ Bardi, you’ll spend about three hours making ravioli, tortelli, and pappardelle from scratch. Chefs such as Valentino, Andrea, Arturo, Eduardo, and Giordano guide the work, then serve your pasta with Tuscan sauces, wine, and soft drinks.

“Valentino was great! Funny and inclusive of everyone, he corrected us when we went wrong but he was such a great teacher we didn’t go far off the mark. The place the cooking class is in was beautiful as well.”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Cooking Art Brunelleschi

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 356 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $39

In central Florence, you’ll make ravioli, tortelli, and pappardelle from scratch inside a 1200s medieval tower near Brunelleschi’s Dome. Chefs such as Lorenzo, Valentino, Eno, and Arturo guide the class, with sauces, lunch, Tuscan wine, and soft drinks included.

“Chef Victoria was fantastic. We loved her detail and her enthusiasm in showing us the recipes and how to cook the sauces and pastas. Thank you so much to Chef Victoria for a fantastic class!”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Brunelleschi’s Dome and Cathedral Complex Reserved Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 195 reviews · 1 to 3 days (approx.) · from $83

You receive a timed reservation for Brunelleschi’s Dome climb plus a 72-hour pass for Florence’s cathedral, crypt, baptistery, bell tower, and Duomo Museum. This is self-guided, with ticket help from John or Ion by message, and the dome climb is a serious workout.

“Excellent experience Not an easy walk up, the stairs are small in places and angled sometimes very weird for some people. HOWEVER, it is well worth it: There is a certain connection you develop with other climbers and the feeling is awesome when you reach the top. Many places to stop and rest along. I would definitely recommend doing it. The dome is covered i side by a beautiful and frightening painting which is worth seeing up close.”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Florence: Climbing Tour of Brunelleschi’s Dome

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 191 reviews

Meet your English-speaking coordinator by the Lindt shop, learn about Florence Cathedral and Brunelleschi’s daring design, then climb 463 steps to the dome’s summit. The guide does not climb with you, but explains the art and engineering beforehand. Expect a demanding ascent, close views of the fresco, and wide city views.

“Anna was great! Easy to meet up outside the chocolate store. Waited in line for a few minutes but Anna shared some history before we got in. whole tour to the top and down took about an hour and a half. Very awesome views, was worth the steps and you get to see the inside of the cathedral and the dome at a few points during the climb up. We didn’t do the other sections since we were short on time but highly recommend the Dome climb if also short on time.”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Florence: Duomo Tour with Brunelleschi’s Dome Climb & Access

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 161 reviews

Explore Florence’s Duomo complex with an English-speaking guide, including the Baptistery, Cathedral exterior, and Opera del Duomo Museum. Then climb Brunelleschi’s Dome independently for sweeping city views. Your pass also covers the Cathedral, crypt, and Giotto’s Bell Tower for three days.

“Our guide Anastasia was excellent. Really enjoyed the history of the Duomo outside and she really brought this to life with her tour in the Baptistry and the magnificent museum. The climb was not for the faint hearted but worth the effort. Would recommend”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Florence: Cathedral & Brunelleschi’s Dome Ticket & Audio App

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 148 reviews · 3 days · from $69

Meet a host by the Lindt shop near the Cathedral’s Dome entrance, collect your reserved Dome ticket, and climb 463 steps for Florence views. Your 72-hour pass also covers the Bell Tower, Baptistery, Cathedral, Santa Reparata Crypt, and Opera del Duomo Museum. Use the POP GUIDE app in five languages.

“Was an overall good experience. We did not have a guide. Forgot to tell my husband to download the Pop Guide 😩 but even with it, (I had it) we could not open the files to access the info. Downloaded later when we were on wifi.”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Florence Skyline from the Top of Brunelleschi’s Dome

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 99 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $106

Explore Florence’s Duomo area with a local guide, then climb Brunelleschi’s Dome independently. Your pass also covers the cathedral, baptistery, Opera del Duomo Museum, and Giotto’s Bell Tower for 72 hours. Guides including Claudio and Maurizio are praised for clear, lively explanations.

“Great guide , very knowledgeable and fun group. Overall, amazing walk through of the city up until the climb to the Duomo at sunset.”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Climb the Dome, Own the View: Duomo Complex Tour Pass

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 76 reviews · 2 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $59

Meet your small group near Florence’s Duomo for a guided visit to the Baptistery, Opera del Duomo Museum, and cathedral façade. Choose the Dome option for Brunelleschi’s 463-step climb, then use your pass for the cathedral, crypt, or Giotto’s Bell Tower within the allowed period.

“Just wonderful! We were lost and late to meet the group, my partner was absolutely exhausted from working before flying 8 hours to Florence, but Anastasia came like an angel out of no where and found us outside the baptistry! She showed us things and told us history about the art we never would have known without the tour. This small group tour is well worth the money-there is no way an average person could know where to go let alone appreciate the history behind the art. I highly recommend this service because they went above and beyond to help us when we were late and lost. John texted me,…”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.Brunelleschi’s Dome & Florence Duomo Cathedral Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 63 reviews · 3 days · from $89

Reserve your timed climb of Brunelleschi’s Dome, then use a three-day pass for Florence Cathedral, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistery, Opera del Duomo Museum, and Santa Reparata Crypt. An English-speaking host helps with entry, but no live guide is included.

“The Dome climb wasn’t for anyone who isn’t fit. However, when at the top viewing point the views were amazing. The Duomo itself from the outside is spectacular, however, the inside was very plain except for the Dome area. We were a bit disappointed. We didn’t get the chance to see the Museum so cannot comment on that. Tickets were expensive due to the Duomo being free to enter.”

Check availability →Read our full review