Having visited the Cathedral 20 years ago, I knew I had to see it again since we were returning to Florence for just 5 hours. And I put it on my bucket list to climb the 463 stairs at age 63 since I don't have a heart condition or respiratory disease. Start off at a steady normal (not fast) pace so you have enough energy to get to the top. I was in a long cotton skirt, but shorts would have been better because it gets hot. Highly recommend purchasing the Brunelleschi Pass ahead of time on their official website. It's 30 euros and good for 3 calendar days from the date selected to visit the dome. You get your entrance time for climbing the dome, and the pass also gets you into the Baptistery, the Opera del Duomo Museum, and Giotto's Bell Tower. No tickets are needed to enter the Cathedral.

My wife and I visited Florence September 14th to the 18th. We have been to Florence previously and loved touring the Duomo. This time however we felt that the experience was not satisfying because the artwork inside the church had been moved to a museum across the square from the church. This diminished the value of the sightseeing experience. We were glad we had seen the artwork in original environment previously.

Turning the corner of Via Dei Pecorino, the way the Cathedral, Baptistry, and Tower appear is jaw dropping. We visited on a Saturday, and the place was packed! We did the Duomo climb and while hard, the view was so worth it!

Truly the dome of domes. Highly recommend reading about the Dome and its history beforehand. The design, inventions and systems to move material into place, and overall approach taken by Brunelleschi was truly revolutionary at the time and even today astounding to behold given the era this was built in. Entry is timed and you need to be on time. The entrance is at the midway sidedoor of the cathedral on the north facing side. There are 420+ steps and it's no joke. There's one way up and a similar way down - but no lift. The portions where you transit inside the dome on a balcony (twice) are pretty high up with plexiglass preventing anyone from going over the rail. These portions were called the railroad tracks during construction and it's no wonder some workers fell to instant deaths from this height. Thus, if you have vertigo or are afraid of heights, then absolutely don't do this tour. The climb begins with circular stone stairs for awhile then there's the first point with a balcony, followed by more climbing. Towards the end, it becomes almost vertical and isn't something suitable for small kids or those with mobility issues. It's similar on the descent. Even then, you only have about 30 minutes total to make the whole transit as the ushers will tell you when you have to leave as the next group/time slot commences its ascent. Saw one woman pass out on the way up and request help getting down, the answer was simple and direct, which was "you have to get yourself down the same way you came, there is no lift". Plan accordingly and don't spoil it for others if you're out of shape. Be prepared. Recommend getting the Brunelleschi Pass which will give you 2-3 days and includes entry to this climb as well as the crypt, baptistry, cathedral, museum, and bell tower.

Stunning cathedral outside, so much detail. Not to mention the sheer size of the cathedral, it is huge. We were lucky to be able to attend a service at the cathedral, sitting under the dome, the dome is truly beautiful, the artwork stunning in so much detail. The service lasted 45 minutes. We did not wait to go to the service and it’s open to all. The stained glass, although is a smaller quantity in the cathedral is still beautiful and worth seeing.

The exterior of the Duomo is truly splendid. The interior is rather a letdown. The space seems dingy; only the frescoes in the cupula grab the eye. Another drawback is that visitors, of whom there are many, are kept out of large parts of the church. A comparison with Santa Maria Novella clearly favours the latter.

If you are Catholic, skip the line and go to morning mass. You can wander a little before the service and see the gorgeous stained glass, and beautiful carvings when the Duomo is relatively empty. We went to the 8:30 am mass. Look for the employee stationed at a side door. And bring a few Euros for the collection---this lovely basilica must cost a lot of money to maintain!

The Duomo is simply incredible for a number of reasons. Firstly it is simply immense. It dominates the whole city and you can see it from everywhere. Secondly the exterior is beautiful with its white, pink and green marble. Finally, it is definitely worth the trip both inside and up to the top of the dome. Halfway up you get to see the interior of the dome with its incredible paintings of a host of angels and devils. The view from the top is just amazing. A great place.

Fabulous impressive building consisting of so many magnificent features, including the unique exterior of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Campanile de at different the Battistero. The Cathedral is free to enter the main building, which consists of an impressive dome showing the amazing artwork telling the story of Jesus' life. In addition, there is the grotto which you have to purchase a ticket for but is well worth it as it shows a wide range of Roman mosaics, amongst other things. The Campanile de Giotto requires a ticket but is well worth the money as the views are stunning and spectacular. Be aware that it takes a bit of effort to climb the 400+ steps to the top. The Battistero is also worth a visit to see its amazing artistic work by various artists. The pieces are simply breathtaking. There are various packages you can buy at different prices to visit whichever of the buildings mentioned you wish to. Prices vary according to how many you wish to visit. I recommend all of them - a must do experience.

Book well in advance to get the time slot that suits your plans. The trip to the top is well organised and worth the trip. Make sure you drop off your bags beforehand, they are very strict. Lastly there a lot of steps but it is possible to rest in places and let others pass if you tire.