The most important thing first: the entrances
The complex uses a different entrance for each monument, and the signage doesn't help anyone in a hurry. Memorise these:
| Monument | Where you enter |
|---|---|
| Dome | Porta della Mandorla, cathedral's north side (Via Ricasoli side) |
| Cathedral (free) | Main façade portal, queue along the south flank |
| Bell tower | At the tower's base, south-west corner of the square |
| Baptistery | Piazza San Giovanni, facing the façade |
| Opera del Duomo Museum | Piazza del Duomo 9, behind the apse |
The €60 mistake: joining the long façade queue with a dome slot in your pocket. That line is for the free cathedral. With a dome ticket you turn the corner to the left: Porta della Mandorla, north side.
On foot from the station (the right way)
From Santa Maria Novella it's a flat 10 minutes: exit toward Piazza dell'Unità, take Via de' Panzani and continue on Via de' Cerretani. The dome bursts into view above the buildings — one of Europe's great architectural entrances. No map needed: follow the flow and the bell tower.
From Amerigo Vespucci airport
- T2 tram toward the centre: airport to the SMN station area in ~20 minutes, then 10 on foot. Standard urban ticket.
- Taxi: 15–25 minutes depending on traffic, with fixed rates to the centre — check the posted fare at the airport.
By car: don't (really)
The historic centre is a camera-enforced ZTL: unauthorised entry means a fine in the mail — rental cars included. Park outside the ZTL — the garages around the station are the most convenient — and continue on foot. If you're staying in the centre, ask your hotel to register your plate for permitted transit.
By tourist bus
Hop-on hop-off buses don't enter the pedestrian core, but the central stops leave you a few minutes' walk from the square. Useful for combining the Duomo with viewpoints like Piazzale Michelangelo without thinking about transport.
