We participated in the early entrance to the Piazza del Duomo in Florence. It was well worth getting up early! So nice to be there before the crowds. Was also fun seeing the giant old keys to open the doors! tour guide Maria Kristina was great, very knowledgeable about the basilica! Fantastic experience!

I admit, I did not get a pass to go inside the cathedral, as I was only in Florence for a day and couldn't wait in line that long. But seeing the architectural marvel that is the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Flore from the outside was more than enough for me. I do not believe I will see another example of art and architecture more magnificent anywhere else in the world. This is reason enough to go to Florence.

Incredibly busy, maybe too busy at times, the size of cathedral is staggering from the outside it’s amazing how it changes through he course of the day with the lighting. Inside is also done really well with beautiful architecture and art work to admire, once again extremely busy inside with also a line up to get in, however line did move fairly quickly. Worth climbing to Dome can be demanding climb so if you have mobility issues you maybe should give it a miss.

A busy tourist spot. I highly recommend you visiting a lovely, traditional ristorante in this area. Be prepared for the queues to see attractions like the Duomo as they are long, so you might want to pre-book these, alternatively you might be happy just strolling the narrow streets and plazas. Florence has some of the finest leather and jewellery shops, but these can be pricey. There are no public toilets in Florence but cafes (for the price of a coffee) will let you use theirs and you may as well stop and absorb the hustle and bustle of this beautiful busy city. Remember to take plenty of water if visiting in the summer, small newsagents sell refrigerated bottles of water and other drinks for approximately 1-3€

We stayed near this area so walked through at various times of the day. Very busy with long queues to get in, traders and a few bikes and scooters. Stunning in the evening especially when the bell chimed. The architecture is amazing. a very special place.

Beautiful city, fabulous atmosphere. Wonderful shops. A real experience. I wish we had planned our trip better and booked a slot to go into the cathedral and palace. The queues were long and we missed out on the palace. Will definitely return.

Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral Square) includes the cathedral itself, Florence’s Battistero and Giotto’s Belltower. The Cathedral is open from 10:00am to 4:30pm, while the opening times of the other Duomo Complex attractions vary between 8:15am and 7:00pm Florence cathedral is part of a complex of buildings, one beside the other. Do not forget to have the Dome climb. The view from the top of Brunelleschi’s Dome is breathtaking. 463 steps.

Most popular, and touristy, square in Florence. Located in the midst of the Duomo, there's no shortage of eateries, shops and panhandlers in this square. Beware of belongings though as pickpockets do work the crowd and others at times try to sell you cheap knockoff items. Come for the pictures and to visit the Duomo and the sites, then move on as the best eateries are not located in this square.

The area is vast and circles the Duomo cathedral. There are places to sit and just take in the stunning building. There are many restaurants / cafes and shops surrounding the square. Here you can people watch the many visitors to Florence, just be careful of you belongings as it’s pickpockets paradise.

Thankfully we rebooked online our trek up the Duomo. Sold out slots on the day as so busy! Truly magnificent buildings. The climb up was pretty easy. Two stops along the way. Incredible views both inside and outside of the Duomo. You simply must visit!