It doesn't appear that we can prepay/avoid the lines for the Duomo, does anyone have an idea of the average wait line in mid-July? I'm trying to figure out my timing in Florence. I looked into the Terraces tour but they run in the morning and we won't arrive until around noon. Is the Duomo as popular and crowded as the Uffizi and Accademia? Do the lines go fairly fast or is this an all day wait? Any advice is appreciated!
Lora
Posted by
Bay Area
3551 posts
During summer the wait is uusually unbelievably long and in the sun. We waited at least an hr only to spend more time climbing steps than seeing the dome. Sometimes it is really better to just see inside the cathedral.You can only decide once you are there what is better for you. gd luck.
Posted by
San Diego, CA, United States
864 posts
It would be a long long wait to climb dome (a separate venue) but to enter the Dumo itself try late afternoon. The dome itself is an engineer's dream. "Brunellelleschi's Dome" by Ross King is great and readable by laymen/women. Nothing in Florence is as popular as the Uffizi or Accademia. Why is the Dome of interest? Well, darn it all, it is a big dome! However, unless you are interested in the why and how it is so famous I'd skip it.
Posted by
Birmingham, Alabama, USA
290 posts
Lora, Unless you have a particular interest in the dome, remember that you can also climb the campanile, and have basically the same view. I think it's a few fewer steps, but you also get to rest as you go up and catch your breath, as there are various levels with plenty of space to sit or lean against a wall on your way up.
Posted by
Myrtle Beach, USA
12315 posts
We chose to climb the Campanile, because I wanted a view of the dome rather than from the dome. Our hotel wasn't far from there so I had a chance to see the line pretty often. I noticed relatively short lines first thing in the morning (maybe 10-15 minutes) and long lines (probably 1 to 1 1/2 hours or more) during the rest of the day.