Climb Giotto’s bell tower: tickets, hours and tips for visiting

One of the most unforgettable things to do in Florence is the climb of the Giotto’s bell tower. The view of the city is stunning, you can see the whole piazza del Duomo from above, and the Dome of the cathedral from a very close distance.

I have climbed it so many times, and is always a great experience. Here are my best tips as a local tour guide to climb Giotto’s bell tower in Florence, wishing you the best time there!

My name is Claudia and I am a licensed tour guide in Florence, with over 10 years of experience. Learn more about me and my private tours in Florence.

Things to know before climbing Giotto’s bell tower

• Opening hours are from 81.5 am to 6.45 pm. The bell tower is open every day of the week.

• There are 414 steps to climb. And no elevator. The staircase is very narrow, barely one person can fit in each direction.

• The bell tower is 84.7 meters high, which corresponds to 277 feet or 1.09 yards.

• There are three floors where you can rest and enjoy the view of the city and the cathedral. They are corresponding to the windows.

• The bell tower is a catholic religious building, so there is a dress code. Remember to cover your knees and shoulders.

• It’s forbidden to bring luggage, backpacks, strollers and umbrellas inside the bell tower. They can be left free of charge at the Opera del Duomo luggage storage. The luggage storage is located right next to the entrance to the Opera del Duomo museum, behind the cathedral. Go and drop off your luggage at least 15 minutes before the scheduled boarding time, as there may be a queue at the luggage drop.

• The original decorations of the bell tower, created in the 14th century by Giotto and Andrea Pisano, are kept inside the Opera del Duomo museum in Florence. It’s a beautiful museum that I recommend you visit, and entry is included in the ticket for the bell tower (and also for the dome). The sculptures that are actually on the bell tower are modern replicas.

Should I climb Giotto’s bell tower? Is it worth?

Climbing the Giotto’s bell tower is definitely worth. Not just for the gorgeous view of the city from above, but also for a unique and very close view of Brunelleschi’s dome.But there are a few things to consider:

But the climb is not for everyone. I don’t recommend the experience to those who suffer from claustrophobia and to those having heart or mobility issues.

During the summer, when it’s really hot, climbing 414 steps in the middle of the day can be a real nightmare.

Should I climb Giotto’s bell tower or Brunelleschi’s dome?

This is one of the questions I get asked most often. If you have enough time (and energy), you should climb both. The two experiences are different and complementary: from the dome you will see the bell tower better, and from the bell tower you will see the dome better.

The ticket for the climb to Brunelleschi’s dome, which is called Brunelleschi pass, also includes the climb to Giotto’s bell tower. It’s valid for 3 days, starting from the day in which the climb to the dome was booked. So if you have planned to climb the dome, you can also climb the bell tower in the following 72 hours, without having to buy another ticket.

The climb to the dome is much more popular, and sells out many days in advance, especially in summer. However, for Giotto’s bell tower it is much easier to find tickets at the last minute.

If you like the idea of ​​seeing Florence from above, also check my blog post about the best viewpoints in Florence.

How to book tickets and plan your visit

There are 3 types of tickets to visit the Duomo of Florence complex:

• Ghiberti Pass – don’t buy that. It does not include the climb to Giotto’s bell tower. It includes only entry to the Opera del Duomo museum, the Baptistery and the crypt of Santa Reparata.
• Giotto Pass – includes the climb to the Bell Tower, as well as the entrance to the Opera del Duomo museum, the Baptistery and the crypt of Santa Reparata, under the cathedral. Price is 20 euros per person.
• Brunelleschi Pass – includes both the climb to the dome and to the bell tower. Price is 30 euros per person.

All 3 ticket types have a duration of 72 hours. You can find more information on this in my article about how to visit the Duomo of Florence.

If you purchase the Giotto Pass you will have to choose a day and a time slot for your visit to the bell tower: that will be the first day of the ticket’s duration.

If you buy the Brunelleschi Pass you will have to choose a day and a time slot for your climb to the dome: that will be the first day of the ticket’s duration. In this case you can visit the bell tower at any time (within opening hours) on any of the three days of validity of the ticket.

You can buy tickets in advance on the official website of the Duomo of Florence. You can also buy them on site, at the Opera del Duomo ticket office, but only electronic payments are accepted and not cash. And be aware that they might be sold out days before. That’s why I always recommend to book them online with large advance.

Frequently asked questions about Giotto’s bell tower

When was it built?

The foundations of the bell tower were built in 1298, the year construction of the cathedral began. But the actual construction of the bell tower only began in 1334.

Who designed and built Giotto’s bell tower?

As the name suggests, the bell tower of the Duomo was designed by Giotto, who began its construction in 1334. Giotto died only three years later, and at the time he had only built the first level of the bell tower. The works continued from 1337 with the architect Andrea Pisano. But they were interrupted again in 1348 due to the black plague, which killed almost 50% of the population of Florence, including Andrea Pisano himself. Construction began again in 1359 with the architect Francesco Talenti, who finally completed the bell tower.

How tall is the bell tower of the Duomo of Florence?

Giotto’s bell tower is 84.7 meters tall, which corresponds to 277 feet or 1.09 yards.

What material is made of?

Giotto’s bell tower is covered with white Carrara marble, green marble (from Prato) and pink marble. They are the very same kind of marbles that cover the Baptistery and the Cathedral.

Why is the bell tower separated from the body of the church?

Many Italian churches have the bell tower separated from the body of the church, that’s a typical feature of historical Italian architecture. You will also notice this in many other cities, for example the church of San Marco in Venice.

The reason why the bell towers were built separate from the church is that Italy is an area where earthquakes are very frequent, and bell towers were usually the first buildings to collapse during an earthquake. So they wanted to prevent it from collapsing on the church, also damaging that.

How long does it take to climb Giotto’s bell tower?

Of course this depends on you, how fast you can climb the stairs, and how much time you want to spend enjoying the view and taking pictures. However, I recommend allowing at least 30-45 minutes for the visit.

What is the best time of the day to climb it?

The best time of the day to climb the bell tower of the Duomo is the very early morning, as soon as it opens (8.15 am). This is the time when there are fewer queues, the morning light is beautiful, and in summer it is not too hot yet.

If you visit Florence in spring or autumn, sunset occurs in the late afternoon, around 6 or 7 pm. This is also a great time to see the city from the top.

The central hours of the day are the worst: they are the busiest and hottest in summer.