Is it better to purchase Opa SI Pass tickets online or upon arrival? Its website said that "valid for three days from date of purchase.", Does it mean I should buy the tickets online within three days before my visit? The website also requires me to pick a time, am I required to visit the Duomo at that specific time?
Thanks.
Just left Siena and I wouldn’t think you need to book online. We bought a one day pass...which we used this past Sunday and had no wait to get into the Duomo when it first opened. Even when we left an hour or so later there was no line. We didn’t buy a pass which covered ascending to the dome-so I couldn’t say how much advanced booking you’d need for that. But the other 5-6 exhibits which came with the basic ticket had absolutely no wait. Enjoy, beautiful Siena!
Oh-I believe the 3 days refers to the fact you have 3 days from time you first use pass to enter first exhibit to use....regardless of when purchased.
Take the time of year into consideration. Siena is PACKED in the summer high season. If you care, the mosaic floor of the Duomo is only uncovered during some lower-traffic times. That can actually increase visitors in shoulder-season. In high season, the visit time is likely to be enforced. I don't know about slack times of year. In any case, you don't want to have to line up to get a visit time, and then wait for the time to arrive.
Thanks everyone. I plan to visit Siena in mid Oct.
Hi Sam
We did ascend to the dome and it’s worth doing.
We did this last year in Spring. The view inside the cathedral looking down at ground level is impressive but the eye level views of the statues and ceiling is awesome. At one point you pass to the outside standing at dome level for fabulous views, though quick, of Siena and countryside.
Highly recommend.
Based on my visits there in the other shoulder I wouldn't expect any significant delay in October just rocking up and going in, paying as you do so.
I was there in late Sept.
If you don't plan on doing the Heavens Gate tour ; nothing will sell out in advance and I would wait.
The Heavens Gate tour does sell out and is handled/sold differently now then in the past so could sell out quicker now.
You do have to be there on time as it is a small tour, they likely will be flexible if late as they were for me.
In 2016 when we went you could not buy them online ; only the regular tickets for the duomo for the full pass you had to book via email correspondence.
I had bought tickets in advance for an 11 AM time slot/tour I believe. We were coming from Florence and the morning did not go as quickly as I thought so we reached Siena past our slotted time.
They were nice about it and booked me on later one.
The afternoon times until 4 PM were all sold out so they changed my tickets to the 4 PM slot for the tour without charging me.
(my exact recollection on the times may be slightly off)
So instead of seeing the duomo first we headed to the Campo Piazza and spend a few hours there, had lunch, etc... before heading back to the duomo for our tour.
We were only there for the day but we had a rental car so the time didn't matter to us.
The tour is really neat and the tiles were exposed when we visited.
The 3 days thing means the pass is good for the Tour but then also gives you 3 days worth of access to all of the other sites in the complex. Baptristy, Duomo, Museums, etc... it does not need to be purchased 3 days in advance. You could buy day off but risk the times being all sold out.
I was there in late October as well. I went in the morning, got the ticket and arranged the Porta del Cielo tour for later that day. I don't recall it being a problem, and if you have a couple days, go on the first day to give yourself an emergency backup, just in case. But it'll probably be fine. The mosaics are spectacular, and still not crazy crowded, especially earlier before the tours get there or later in the afternoon after they leave. Even when school groups got there, the cathedral is big enough to absorb the people.
