Florence Duomo Complex Bell Tower Skip-the-Line Entry Ticket

Should have read it more carefully looking for a pass to walk up the Duomo and this tour DOES NOT not include it…. Only the bell tower, baptistery and museum…. Guide seemed knowledge… dropped out of the tour because the line was about 30 to 45 minutes to get into the museum

There are far better options for touring the Duomo, including going independently. I held off on sharing this review in the hope that the operator would reconsider my refund request. Unfortunately, I have been met with radio silence after a single exchange where I refuted their claim that this was my error. This tour is advertised as a skip the line entry. When we arrived we were told that EU Tours does not do skip the line entry to the Duomo and that the false advertising was TripAdvisor’s issue, not theirs. TripAdvisor disagrees. I requested a partial refund for the inconvenience which I thought was reasonable particularly given the price and the extreme heat on 20.07.2026 which we sought to avoid with the advertised skip the line entry. This was a health concern as well as one of general comfort. We found that we were not the only folks on the tour with the same aims and reactions to being told we were not, in fact, skipping the line. Indeed, even now, the tour shows a timed entry of 11:30am (the start of the supposed skip the line tour) when, in actuality, that is the time when the group steps into the general queue and is not a “timed entry” as advertised. The actual timed entry for the tour (of the bell tower only) was 12:45pm. We waited in line in the 37C heat for nearly a hour, leaving us about 15 minutes total in the church. The timing was not disclosed until we received our tickets from the operator at the Duomo. My refund request was denied stating that “the tour operator did not approve it.” One of the two between EU Tours and TripAdvisor is responsible and I’ve been denied at both. What’s more, the COO of EU Tours SRLS (Daniela) insisted that I must have spoken with a 3rd party or a competitor when I stated that I was told that EU Tours does not do skip the line tours. Considering that the people I spoke with were our tour guide wearing an EU Tours lanyard, the rallying point person with the EU Tours flag in hand, and a gentleman checking in our group wearing EU Tours branded clothing, I absolutely refute that claim. They all said the same thing in no uncertain terms: EU Tours does not do skip the line for the Duomo. Because of EU Tours’ misleading information on the booking, we suffered heat stress-relation health issues from the long wait in the sun, were unable to use our tower entry as it was much later than advertised, and spent about 15 minutes inside the cathedral for our trouble. I cannot recommend this tour or operator and will avoid them in future trips due to this experience.

What an experience this was. We were a little worried that we would find the climb too strenuous, but actually the resting platforms allowed us to catch our breath before resuming. It was actually not as bad as we thought it would be, especially during one of the hottest days. The view was magnificent and we are glad we opted for the bell tower climb and not the duomo since it allowed us a beautiful view of the duomo. I would say communication of collection of validated ticket could be easier - we didn't realise that we would need to show our Trip Adviser receipt to then receive the voucher for entrance. We had queued up only to be told we didn't have the right paperwork and had to find the validator outside the Lindt shop first. This could have been made a little clearer..otherwise an absolutely fabulous experience!

Warning! There are lots steps, at least 1000, going up in the Bell Tower. The stairway is narrow and people are going in both directions. It was super hot the day I went. The view from top was fantastic!

My legs are still shaking, but I’d do it again. The view of Tuscany from the top is unreal. Having the pre-booked ticket was a lifesaver because the city is packed. Don't think twice, just book it.

Visiting the Florence Duomo Complex and climbing the Bell Tower was one of the highlights of our time in Florence. The skip-the-line entry made the experience much easier and allowed us to spend more time exploring instead of waiting. The climb is definitely a workout, but it’s absolutely worth it. The views from the top are breathtaking, with panoramic sights of Florence’s red rooftops, the surrounding hills, and a close-up perspective of Brunelleschi’s magnificent dome. The Duomo Complex itself is stunning, and the architecture and history make the visit even more meaningful. I recommend wearing comfortable shoes, bringing water, and taking your time on the climb. Overall, this is a must-do experience for anyone visiting Florence. The views alone make it unforgettable.

It was truly a great experience. The tour itself. We did have great difficulty in finding the correct spot to meet up. We ended up missing our time slot but they did put us in the next time slot. Worked out great. You do need to have a scarf to cover shoulders if they are bare. Victoria was our guide and she was very knowledgeable and kind.

Take your time climbing, there’s no rush. Seeing the inside of the dome frescos up close on the way up was a huge bonus. The reserved entry ticket made the whole logistics side of it completely stress-free. 10 out of 10 for the experience and the view.

Leant a lot in a fun way with Giulio! About Florence history, about the Cathedral and the surrounding buildings. Great experience

Amazing experience. We bought the ticket for the entrance to the Duomo and the Bell Tower. The climb is not for the lighthearted and is a bit challenging. The staircases are narrow, with small stairs. There are times where only one person at a time can pass. It is a long climb to the top, but extremely worth it. The view of Florence is amazing and you can get a great view from all the different sides. The inside of the Duomo is breathtaking and a site to behold. We spent approximately 2-3 hours to complete the tour.