[Florence] Duomo climb late-day advice for June

Well, I think I climbed it mid-day as that was when we had time. I remember that as we got further up, the ceiling got lower, and the passage more narrow. There was a steady stream of people coming down, using the same passage, so it all got quite tight, and hot. I think going at the end of the day might be an advantage, as the crowds will start to thin out, and it might be a bit cooler, and maybe by the time you get to the top there won’t be so many people jostling for the best view.

I climbed up mid-afternoon and it was fine (surprisingly tiring for me - average physical shape).

My #1 tip is get to the line a while before your entry time! I got there about 30-40 minutes before my time. I was one of the first people in group to climb and you’ll have more time at the top, as well as getting to the top before the entire group arrives gives you a few minutes of relative calm.

Thank you both! Those are excellent tips, especially the timing to end up at the head of your timeslot, so to speak. Really appreciate you both!

I don’t know your budget, but we are visiting Florence in late August and are thinking about taking a tour called ‘Awakening the Duomo’. It is at 6:45 am and you get to watch the actual opening of the church and climb the dome with your small group. It’s about 2.5 hours. But it costs 165€. It is through Florencetown Tours, mentioned in Rick’s book, the company. The tour is relatively new.

Oh that does sound like an interesting option -- might be more than my 14-year-old could bear at that hour of the morning on vacation, though. ;-) Definitely an idea for an adults-only trip!