VIP David & Duomo Tour: Early Accademia Tour & Skip the Line Dome Climb with Exclusive Terrace Access

Relish the best experience possible at Florence's top attractions, David and the Duomo, in one unforgettable tour.

Florence is a true treasure trove of artistic and architectural marvels, but two attractions stand head and shoulders above the rest: the cathedral (or Duomo) and the Accademia Gallery, home to Michelangelo’s David. With so much demand, these sites can become crowded, particularly in the summer months.

Luckily, on our most exclusive Florence tour, you won't have to deal with any of that. Combining careful timing, skip-the-line entry, and special access, you'll cross velvet ropes to get up close and personal with the two giants of Florence: David and the Duomo.

Beat the crowds with an early morning or late afternoon tour at the Accademia Gallery.

Your David and Duomo tour is strategically timed to avoid the crowds, starting early with a reservation for the first entrance of the day at the Accademia Gallery or in the afternoon after the masses have departed. This way, you’ll have a little more space to explore not just Michelangelo’s David, but also his unfinished Slaves statues and several other priceless works often overlooked by visitors. With a small group of just 18 people or fewer and headsets for every guest, your Accademia tour will be intimate and your guide easy to interact with.

After the Accademia, you'll head through the Piazza del Duomo where you'll gaze upon the beautiful copper-plated doors of the Florence Baptistery. Soak up the atmosphere and familiarize yourself with the awe-inspiring sights surrounding the piazza before making your way to the ultimate highlight of this VIP experience. Your tour includes tickets allowing you to visit other monuments like the Opera Duomo Museum, Baptistery of San Giovanni and Crypt of Santa Reparata on your own after the tour (valid for 72 hours after your tour).

Our Florence Duomo tour gets you to the front of the line—and the top of the dome—without the wait.

The final leg of your visit will be a skip-the-line Duomo tour, where special access will give you more space than the average visitor. The floor of the Duomo has recently been roped off, and while normal visitors circulate on paths around the perimeter of the cathedral, you’ll be ushered through the velvet ropes to wander the space as you wish, getting closer to the details.

Please note: only the morning tour will include a brief visit to the Florence cathedral, while the afternoon tour will enjoy a spectacular view of the cathedral's interior from above as you climb the famous dome.

The cherry on top comes as you ascend to the Duomo’s rooftop terrace for incredible views and an up-close view of Brunelleschi’s enormous dome—the largest brick dome in the world. Due to the incredibly exclusive level of access to this hidden space (very few visitors even know the terrace exists!), you'll have it practically to yourself, with a maximum of just two small tour groups visiting at the same time. Your Florence Duomo tour officially ends here, but from this level of the building, you’ll also have access to a special door from which you can climb to the top of the dome (if you wish) without waiting in line for hours down below.

The views from the terrace are fantastic for examining the Dome itself up close, but from the top of the dome, you’ll see not just Florence, but far beyond into Tuscany. Give yourself some time to soak up the red roofs and rolling hills; it will be a long time before you see another view quite like this.

When you depart, you will have gained a deeper understanding and appreciation of Florence's two most iconic attractions, and how each of them fits into the city's centuries of history.

Please note that this description is an example and your experience may vary depending on the season, day of the week, and group size. Regardless of where your tour goes, you always have an excellent experience.