In short: what to buy and where
- You want to see the Duomo and the museums: the OPA SI PASS on the official channel, €14, or €16 with the floor uncovered.
- You want the rooftops too: the Porta del Cielo, €21, bought online in advance, because places are few.
- You're short of time: Duomo + Piccolomini Library, €7, or €10 with the floor uncovered.
- You want flexible dates: GetYourGuide, which often lets you cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before, at a higher price.
- You want a guide: guided tours are bought from GetYourGuide or Tiqets, not from the Opera.
Who the Opera della Metropolitana is
The Opera della Metropolitana di Siena is a non-profit cathedral works body (fabbriceria), documented since 1190, that looks after and maintains the Cathedral and the buildings around it. Ticket revenue goes to conservation. Its headquarters are at Piazza Duomo 8 (+39 0577 283048), but for information and bookings the Opera relies on Opera Laboratori, which also runs other museums in Siena and Tuscany: the number to call is +39 0577 286300, the email opasiena@operalaboratori.com.
The complex includes the Cathedral, the Piccolomini Library, the Baptistery, the Crypt, the Museo dell'Opera with the Panorama from the Facciatone, the Oratory of San Bernardino and the rooftop walk, the Porta del Cielo. The pass is worth the money above all for two places many people skip: the Piccolomini Library, frescoed by Pinturicchio and his workshop between 1503 and 1508, and the Museo dell'Opera, home to Duccio's Maestà and Giovanni Pisano's original statues for the façade. From the museum you climb up to the Facciatone, the unfinished façade of the New Cathedral, by way of a narrow ascent that rewards you with one of the best views over the city. Allow about two hours for the whole route.
OPA SI PASS and the other official Siena Cathedral tickets
| Ticket | Official price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| OPA SI PASS | €14; €16 with the floor uncovered | every site except the rooftops, 3 consecutive days |
| Porta del Cielo | €21 | OPA SI PASS plus the rooftops; from 1 March to 6 January |
| Cathedral + Library | €7; €10 with the floor uncovered | the quickest ticket |
| Children aged 7–11 | €3 pass; €6 Porta del Cielo | under 7s free |
Residents of the comune of Siena and people born there, people with disabilities with a companion, and students at Siena's two universities also get in free. The pass includes a free audio guide to listen to on your own phone: bring earphones.
Four ways to buy
- Online at operalaboratori.vivaticket.it, the channel to use for the Porta del Cielo.
- Call centre of Opera Laboratori, +39 0577 286300.
- Ticket office at Piazza Duomo 7.
- "Dear Guests" visitor centre at Via di Città 48, a few minutes from the Campo.
Both ticket offices are open every day. The Porta del Cielo is sold only online, or at the ticket office if places are left: in high season, don't count on it.
The floor and the calendar
The marble floor, 56 panels made between the 14th and the 19th centuries, stays covered for most of the year. It is normally uncovered from late June to late July and then from mid or late August into the autumn, generally until mid or late October, extended to November in some years; around the Palio dell'Assunta it is covered again. When it is on view, the pass goes up to €16, the Cathedral also opens on Sunday mornings and Masses move to the Santissima Annunziata. The idea, widespread online, that you can only see it "from August to October" is wrong: check the dates on the official floor page.
From April to October the complex usually opens from 10:00 to 19:00; in winter from 10:30 to 17:30. On Sundays and public holidays only the Cathedral has shorter hours. Last entry is half an hour before closing.
Cancellations and support
This is the least transparent aspect of the official channel. The visit pages don't set out the refund terms clearly; secondary sources mention a €6 fee up to 4 days before and no refund in the last 3 days. Read the terms before you pay. On the plus side, the call centre does answer questions about bookings, which the Opera della Primaziale in Pisa does not.
On accessibility: there is a ramp on the left-hand side of the Duomo, but the Museo dell'Opera, the Crypt and the Baptistery are not wheelchair accessible.
When a reseller makes sense
When we last looked, Tiqets was selling the OPA SI PASS from €21.50, non-refundable, and the Duomo + Library ticket from €15; GetYourGuide from €19.50 and from €12 respectively, often with free cancellation up to 24 hours before. The platforms adjust their prices frequently and we recheck them constantly, but they always stay above the official price.
There are three good reasons to pay more: you want to be able to cancel without a fee, you want a guided tour, or you want a package that combines the Duomo with something else. Watch out for Tiqets packages that show a "normal value" for the pass higher than the official price: they don't save you anything compared with buying from the Opera.
Siena: Cathedral Complex Pass with Audio Guide (OPA SI PASS)
(3,891 reviews) from €19.50
Book on GetYourGuide
If you want the Duomo before opening time, look for the 07:30 "Clavigero" visit, which the Opera runs on certain dates while the floor is uncovered: you follow the keeper of the keys as they open the Cathedral, the Library and the rooftops.
Who does well to buy from the Opera
Almost everyone. If you're staying in Siena or arriving early from Florence, the three-day pass lets you split the visit, and the price is the lowest available. Art lovers should aim for the periods when the floor is uncovered and, where possible, add the rooftops. If you're arriving on an organised tour, entry is often already included: check before buying a duplicate.
Related reviews and useful pages
The visit to the city, with the Campo, the Museo Civico and the Torre del Mangia, is in the guide to Siena. If you're combining Siena and San Gimignano in one day, compare the day trips from Florence.
On the resellers: Tiqets and GetYourGuide. For the Piazza dei Miracoli, read the guide to the Opera della Primaziale Pisana.