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Brunelleschi's Dome vs Giotto's Campanile: choose the climb or choose the view

Reviewed by TheOneToGo Editorial · Updated July 13, 2026

The verdict

The Dome wins for the unforgettable climb, but the Campanile wins for the best view.

Pick Brunelleschi's Dome if you want the once-in-a-lifetime climb inside the cathedral's engineering miracle. Pick Giotto's Campanile if you want the better Florence photo, because from the bell tower you can actually see the dome.

white and brown concrete dome building during daytimePhoto by Jonathan Körner on Unsplash

The Dome is the more extraordinary experience. You climb 463 steps, pass between the shells of the cupola, see Vasari's Last Judgement frescoes up close, and reach the top after a narrow, steep, no-elevator route that must be reserved by time slot.

The Campanile is the more flexible and visually satisfying climb. It is 414 steps with no elevator, and depending on the pass you buy it can be easier to fit into the day. The decisive point is simple: the classic skyline view includes Brunelleschi's dome because you are not standing on it.

Brunelleschi's DomeGiotto's Bell Tower
What you experience A climb inside the dome structure, between the shells, with close views of the Last Judgement frescoes. A tower climb through Giotto's campanile, with terraces that open up as you rise.
Steps and difficulty 463 steps, narrow, steep, no elevator. Bad fit for vertigo, claustrophobia, heart or respiratory issues, and pregnancy. 414 steps, no elevator, still a serious climb but a little less intense and more straightforward.
Access and booking Requires a Brunelleschi Pass and a fixed Dome time slot. The reservation cannot be changed once issued. Requires a Duomo pass. With a Brunelleschi Pass, the bell tower does not need a separate reservation during the pass validity, while a Giotto Pass purchase may assign a tower slot.
Crowds and pressure More pressure because the entry time is strict and the passageways are tight. Usually easier to work into the day, although the stairs and upper platform can still feel crowded in peak hours.
The view Big Florence view from the cathedral roofline, but you do not see the dome because you are standing on it. The better view for most people: Florence with the dome in the frame.
The verdict

Pick Brunelleschi's Dome if

  • you want the full Brunelleschi engineering experience
  • you care about seeing the frescoes up close
  • you can commit to a fixed timed slot
Brunelleschi's Dome guide

Pick Giotto's Bell Tower if

  • you want the classic photo with the dome in it
  • you want a slightly easier climb
  • you need more flexibility in your Florence day
Giotto's Bell Tower guide

FAQs

The Dome is better as an experience. The Bell Tower is better for the view, because it includes the dome.

Yes. The Dome requires a Brunelleschi Pass with a specific time slot, and late arrival tolerance is very limited.

Yes, the Brunelleschi Pass covers both, but doing both means 877 steps total. Most people should split them across the pass window or pick one.

The cathedral floor is free to enter during opening hours, but the Dome, Bell Tower, Baptistery, Museum, and Santa Reparata require a Duomo pass.

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