Florence Cathedral (Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore) is open to visitors from Monday to Saturday, 10:15 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. On Sundays and during religious celebrations, the cathedral is closed to tourist visits because it is reserved for worship.
One detail that helps with planning is that entry to the cathedral is free (you don’t need a ticket just to enter the nave), but you still need to follow the dress rules for a place of worship, so cover shoulders and keep outfits at least knee-length.
Closed days
If you’re planning around Florence Cathedral closed days, the key point is simple: the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is closed to tourist visits on Sundays and during religious celebrations, because the building is reserved for worship.
A lot of travelers assume “cathedral = open every day,” then arrive on a Sunday and get stuck outside, so it’s worth locking this in early when you build your Florence itinerary.
Because it’s an active cathedral, access can also change around services or special церemonies, so even on a normal weekday it’s smart to check the official timetable close to your visit date if your schedule is tight.
Lastentry
Florence Cathedral last entry is essentially 3:45 pm, because the official visiting window for the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (the Duomo interior) runs Monday to Saturday, 10:15 am to 3:45 pm, with no visitor entry on Sundays or during religious celebrations.
If you’re planning around that “last entry” time, it’s smart to treat 3:45 pm as the hard cutoff for visitor access and aim to be at the door earlier, since security checks and queues can eat up time.
One common confusion is that “Florence Cathedral” sometimes means the whole Duomo complex, especially the Brunelleschi’s Dome climb, which has a different last admission (“last slot”). For the Dome, the official last slot is 6:45 pm Monday to Friday, while Saturday and Sunday/public holidays end at 4:30 pm (last slot).
Also note that the Cathedral interior is free and doesn’t require a ticket, but there is a strict dress code for worship spaces, so outfits that leave shoulders bare or legs uncovered above the knee can get you turned away even if you arrive before the last entry time.
Florence Cathedral packing
Florence Cathedral packing is a little different from packing for a normal museum, because Santa Maria del Fiore is still a working place of worship, and the Duomo complex has strict rules about clothing and what you can carry. If you show up dressed for a hot day in Italy but forget the dress code, or you arrive with a backpack because you’ve been sightseeing all morning, you can end up wasting the best part of your visit just fixing problems at the door.
The first thing to “pack” is the right outfit. For the Cathedral and the Baptistery, you need clothing that covers your shoulders and your knees, and entry can be refused if your shoulders are bare or your legs are uncovered above the knee.
In real life, this usually means planning for that moment when the sun is strong and you want to wear less, but you still need to look respectful inside. A light layer you can put on quickly is the simplest solution, and it keeps you from having to buy something overpriced near Piazza del Duomo just to get in. The official visitor information also warns against outfits like low-cut tops and very short shorts or skirts, and notes that sandals may not be allowed in worship spaces.
The second thing is your bag. If you’re visiting the monuments in Piazza del Duomo with a ticket, the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore requires you to use the free luggage storage at Piazza Duomo 38/r for medium and large bags, backpacks, and suitcases.
They’re very clear that items like suitcases and backpacks must be left there, along with things that often catch travelers off guard such as umbrellas, tripods, and even canes if they are not being used for walking assistance.
Just as important, the luggage storage does not accept valuables like money and jewelry, and it won’t take baggage over 25 kg, so it’s smart to keep your important items on you in a small, simple way rather than assuming you can check everything.
If your plan includes Brunelleschi’s Dome, pack even lighter than you think you should. The Dome climb is 463 steps with no elevator, and the official guidance strongly discourages it for visitors with heart conditions, vertigo, claustrophobia, or for those who are pregnant.
From March 1, 2025, the Dome entry is tied to a booked time slot and the ticket is nominative, which means your name is checked and an ID document can be requested at the entrance.
You’re expected to be in line about ten minutes before your slot begins, and only a small delay is tolerated, so it’s worth packing your day in a way that keeps you calm and on schedule rather than rushing across the city.
Small details matter inside the complex, too. Photography is allowed, but the official rules on the site emphasize no flash and no equipment like tripods, which is another reason to keep your gear simple.
The same “travel light” mindset makes the whole experience smoother, especially if you’re also doing climbs or you want to move between sites without constantly thinking about where to stash your belongings.
When you pack with these rules in mind, Florence Cathedral stops feeling stressful and starts feeling like what it should be: a powerful, beautiful break in your day. You walk in without negotiation at the door, you’re free to look up and take your time, and you’re not distracted by a bag that’s too heavy or a plan that’s too tight. That’s the real goal of Florence Cathedral packing: fewer surprises, more time inside the Duomo where it actually counts.
