Climb St. Peter's Dome: tickets and tours
Guided tours that include the dome climb and audio guide tickets from Tiqets, Headout and Viator side by side, plus the basilica's own official ticket.
551 steps Lift up to the terrace then 320 steps on foot
4.5 from 11,080 reviews on Tiqets, Headout and Viator
What to expect on the dome
Michelangelo designed the dome, and it was completed in 1590 under Giacomo della Porta. It measures 136 metres up to the cross. The climb starts with the section up to the terrace, which you cover on foot or by lift. You then walk along the inner gallery of the dome, where you look down into the nave and see the mosaics up close. The last 320 steps run between the inner and outer shells of the dome. They get narrower and more slanted towards the top and finish on the walkway around the lantern, with a view over St. Peter's Square and Rome.
The basilica itself is free to enter; you only pay for the dome. According to the basilica, a visit to the dome takes about an hour on average, plus the security check on St. Peter's Square and the time you spend inside the basilica. The basilica advises against the climb if you have heart or respiratory problems, a fear of heights or claustrophobia, or if you are pregnant.
Guided tours with the dome climb
On these tours a guide shows you around the basilica before you head up the dome. Two of the three tours also take you into the Vatican Grottoes, where the papal tombs lie beneath the nave.
Tiqets
St. Peter's Basilica and grottoes with guide and dome
- Guided tour of the basilica and Vatican Grottoes
- Access to the dome
- Languages: English, Spanish, French
from €42.00*
Book with Tiqets
Headout
Guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica with dome climb
- Guided tour of the basilica
- Climb to the dome
- Duration: 3 hrs
from €49.00*
Book with Headout
Viator
St. Peter's Basilica, dome and grottoes in a small group
- Groups of up to 10 or 25 people, private option too
- Basilica, dome and Vatican Grottoes
- Duration: 105 min
- Languages: English, Italian, Spanish, French, German and more
- ✓ Free cancellation up to 1 day before
from €48.60*
Book with Viator*Lowest price reported by the provider today. Day, time, group size and tour language change the price.
The dome on your own with an audio guide
No guide, but you go at your own pace: you get a reserved entry slot and an audio guide on your smartphone. With Headout you choose between the stairs and the lift when you book.
Headout
Reserved entry with dome and audio guide
- Dome by stairs or lift (options)
- Audio guide for the basilica
- Duration: 1.5–2 hrs
from €29.00*
Book with Headout
Viator
Basilica and dome with audio guide
- Reserved entry to the basilica
- Dome and audio guide included
- Duration: 75 min
- ✓ Free cancellation up to 1 day before
from €44.00*
Book with Viator*Lowest price reported by the provider today. It can vary by day, time and option (stairs or lift).
The basilica's official ticket
The basilica sells timed dome tickets itself: €17 with the stairs, €22 with the lift. There is no ticket with a guide, so a guided tour is always booked through a provider.
- Entry to the basilica and a digital audio guide are included; you can enter the basilica up to 90 minutes before your dome time slot
- The ticket is issued in your name and can be neither refunded nor changed
- Tickets on site are only available while the daily allocation lasts
How your visit works
Security check
All visitors go through the check under the right-hand colonnade of St. Peter's Square, even with a ticket or a tour.
Route
The basilica assigns you one of two routes. On the Sobieski route you see the basilica first and then go up the dome; on the Lambertini route you go through the Welcome Area and up the dome first. You need the QR code on your ticket at every entrance.
Climb
Stairs or lift up to the terrace, then along the inner gallery and 320 steps to the top. If it gets too much for you, you can turn back.
Terrace
The terrace at the foot of the dome has toilets, a kiosk, a shop selling religious items and the Vatican post office. The ticket is valid for one visit; there is no second entry.
Frequently asked questions about St. Peter's Dome
The basilica's official ticket costs €17 with the stairs and €22 with the lift. It includes entry to the basilica and a digital audio guide, but no guide. Tours and tickets from providers cost more; you can see the current starting prices on the cards above.
551 steps from bottom to top. The lift saves you the first section up to the terrace, but the remaining 320 steps are all on foot.
No. The lift only goes as far as the terrace. From there, narrow and partly slanted stairs lead up between the two shells of the dome.
The basilica gives an average of about an hour, depending on your pace and how long you stay at the top. Add the security check and the basilica on top of that.
That depends on the product. If a card above mentions free cancellation, the stated deadline applies; if it doesn't, check the provider's terms before you book. The basilica's official ticket is non-refundable.
Young children are allowed, but according to the basilica the climb can be difficult for them. Only small bags are permitted, and there is no cloakroom.
Shoulders and knees must be covered, both in the basilica and on the dome. Sleeveless tops, shorts or short skirts and hats are not allowed. Sturdy shoes are a good idea for the stairs.