Tours and Tickets to Experience Giotto's Bell Tower (Campanile di Giotto)

Yes, Giotto’s Bell Tower offers one of the best views of Florence’s cathedral and the historic center from above. Though most visitors climb the cathedral’s dome, you can’t admire the church from that vantage point. The bell tower, on the other hand, sits just opposite the cathedral, affording unique views of the church itself.

There are more than 400 steps to the viewing platform inside Giotto’s Bell Tower, so consider at least 10-15 minutes just to climb to the top. Plan to spend at least another 10-15 minutes taking in the view, then about 5-10 minutes to climb down to the exit.

Designed by Giotto and completed by Andrea Pisano and Francesco Talenti in the 14th century, the bell tower is one of Italy’s premier examples of Florentine Gothic architecture. Visitors are drawn more to the sweeping vistas that the tower offers from its sky-high perch than its stately architecture, however, and the tower is most famous for its spectacular views.

Yes, you need to purchase Giotto’s Bell Tower tickets to climb to the top. Timed admission to the tower is included in two of the three Duomo complex passes (the Brunelleschi Pass and the Giotto Pass), which bundle entry to the baptistery, museum, and other elements of the cathedral complex into a single ticket.

That depends on the height and view you prefer. The observation deck on Brunelleschi’s dome is higher than that of the bell tower and includes up-close glimpses of the dome’s interior frescoes. The bell tower is lower but faces the dome, so you get a bird’s-eye view of Brunelleschi’s masterpiece along with the surrounding rooftops.

You cannot purchase tickets exclusively for Giotto’s Bell Tower. Admission to the bell tower is bundled into the Brunelleschi Pass and the Giotto Pass along with other elements of the cathedral complex. The Brunelleschi Pass (including the dome climb) costs €30, while the Giotto Pass costs €20 per adult.