St. Peter's Dome: Stairs or elevator?
551 steps on foot or 22 euros for the elevator? Here you can compare both options honestly - price, number of steps, duration and for whom which option really suits.
Stairs or elevator to the dome of St. Peter's Basilica - the short answer
Both options end on the same viewing platform at a height of 136 meters - but the way there is very different. The stairs-only option costs 17 euros and takes you up 551 steps. The elevator option costs 22 euros, takes you up to the terrace at roof level and saves you the first 231 steps. Important to know: You will have to walk the last 320 steps from the terrace to the top in any case - there is no elevator to the viewing sphere.
For most visitors, the 5 euro surcharge for the elevator is a good investment: The first 231 steps are on wide, straight stairs and are physically unspectacular - the really strenuous and narrow spiral staircases only come afterwards. If you are fit and want the full experience, take the stairs. If you want to save time and energy - for families with children or older visitors, for example - take the elevator.
On this page you can compare both options in detail and find the right tickets below. With all three providers - Tiqets, GetYourGuide and Headout - you can choose between stairs and elevator during the booking process.
Stairs vs. elevator: at a glance
Direct comparison of the two official ticket variants - price, number of steps, duration and suitability.
| Criterion | Stairs | Elevator |
|---|---|---|
| Official price | 17 € | 22 € (+5 €) |
| Total steps | 551 steps | 320 steps |
| Steps to the terrace | 231 on foot | 0 (elevator) |
| Steps to the top | 320 on foot | 320 on foot |
| Viewing platform height | 136 m | 136 m |
| Duration ascent | 30-45 min. | 15-25 min. |
| Physical requirement | High | Medium |
| Suitable for children | From approx. 10 years | From 6 years |
| Suitable for claustrophobia | No (narrow spiral staircase) | Conditional (upper part remains narrow) |
| Inner dome ring | Included | Included |
| Audio guide basilica | Included | Included |
| Our recommendation | For fit visitors who want the full experience | For families, older visitors and anyone who wants to save time |
Note: The official prices apply to direct purchases via the Vatican. Guided tours via Tiqets, GetYourGuide and Headout start from around 33 euros - with a live guide, headset and usually additional access to the Vatican Grottoes. There is also a choice of stairs or elevator.
For whom is what worthwhile?
Both variants have their strengths. This overview will help you decide.
Stairs - 17 €
The full experience, 551 steps long
Pro
- 5 € cheaper than the elevator version
- A real experience - you walk the same steps as pilgrims have done for centuries
- You see the construction of the dome from the inside on the move
- No waiting time at the elevator in high season
- Challenging from a sporting point of view, but doable for experienced riders
Contra
- 551 steps are strenuous - plan 30 to 45 minutes
- The first 231 steps are unspectacular (straight stairs) and require unnecessary effort
- Not suitable for people with heart problems, respiratory problems or limited mobility
- Hardly feasible with small children
Athletically fit adults who see the full ascent as part of the experience.
Elevator - 22 €
5 € surcharge saves you 231 steps
Pro
- Saves the first 231 steps and therefore most of the effort
- Up faster - ideal if you're on a tight time budget in Rome
- Family-friendly - recommended from 6 years
- Gentler on knees, back and circulation
- More relaxed even in the heat
Contra
- 5 € more expensive than the staircase version
- The last 320 steps to the top are still mandatory - even for elevator users
- Elevator only up to the terrace, upper area not wheelchair accessible
- In high season there may be short waiting times at the elevator
Families with children, older visitors, anyone with a tight time budget or less desire for physical exertion.
Prefer to book directly with the Vatican?
The official tickets cost €17 for the staircase version and €22 with the elevator. Only a digital audio guide for the basilica is included - no live guide, no access to the grottoes. The booking is nominative and cannot be canceled.
Important: What the elevator does NOT replace
Even with an elevator ticket, you have to climb 320 steps on foot. The elevator only takes you up to the terrace at roof level. From there, an increasingly narrow spiral staircase between the inner and outer shells of the dome takes you further up - at an angle in places, with a rope to hold on to. This is the most physically demanding and narrowest part of the ascent and is not suitable for people with claustrophobia, a fear of heights, heart disease or severe mobility restrictions - regardless of the ticket.
If you only want to see the basilica and the terrace with a view of Vatican City, you can still book the elevator ticket and forgo the ascent. The view from the terrace is already impressive - only the full 360° panorama from the top is reserved for the spiral staircase.
Book St. Peter's Basilica tickets - choice of stairs or elevator
With these top 3 tours, you can choose between stairs and elevator during the booking process. Including live guide, headset and access to the Vatican Grottoes.
GetYourGuide
Rome: St. Peter's Basilica, dome ascent and underground tour
- Duration: 1:30-2:30 h
- German, English, French, Spanish, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Arabic, Russian, Chinese, Turkish
- Stairs or elevator selectable
- Incl. Vatican Grottoes
- Cancellation 24h free of charge
Tiqets
St. Peter's Basilica, dome and Vatican Grottoes: guided tour
- Duration: 2:15 h
- French, Portuguese, English, Spanish, German, Italian
- Stairs or elevator selectable
- Incl. Vatican Grottoes
- Cancellation 48h free of charge
Headout
Guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica with ascent of the dome
- Duration: 3:00 h
- English
- Stairs or elevator selectable
- Incl. Vatican Grottoes
- Immediate confirmation
The elevator surcharge of around €5 is shown in the booking process of the respective platform. Prefer the official ticket directly from the Vatican? Costs €17 (stairs) or €22 (elevator) - without a live guide and without access to the grottoes.
Frequently asked questions about stairs and elevators
With the official Vatican ticket, the elevator option costs 22 euros instead of 17 euros for the stairs-only option - an extra 5 euros. For guided tours via Tiqets, GetYourGuide or Headout, the surcharge is shown separately in the booking process and is in a similar range.
320 steps. The elevator takes you up to the terrace at roof level - the last 320 steps from the terrace to the viewing platform at the top lead up an increasingly narrow spiral staircase between the inner and outer shells of the dome. This part is compulsory and cannot be avoided.
For most visitors, yes. The first 231 steps are not physically spectacular - wide, straight stairs without a view. The really strenuous and narrow spiral staircases only come afterwards and are compulsory in both versions. If you want to save time and energy, take the elevator to the terrace and then climb the last part on foot. If you want the full experience and are physically fit, take the stairs.
No. The elevator only goes up to the terrace, the upper area is not wheelchair accessible. The last 320 steps up the narrow spiral staircase are not manageable for people in wheelchairs or with severe mobility impairments. However, the view from the terrace is worth seeing even without climbing any further.
Yes, with the official Vatican ticket as well as with Tiqets, GetYourGuide and Headout, you can choose between stairs and elevator during the booking process. The surcharge for the elevator is displayed transparently before you pay.
The Vatican recommends climbing the dome from the age of 6 - by elevator. For the stairs-only version, which involves climbing all 551 steps, children should be 10 years or older, as the first 231 steps can be tiring for younger children before the really exciting part even begins. Children under the age of 17 must always be accompanied by an adult.
In the high season (June to August) and at weekends, there may be short waiting times at the elevator, as only a limited number of people can take each ride. In this respect, the staircase option is usually congestion-free. However, both groups wait equally in front of the security check at the entrance to St. Peter's Basilica.
Neither option is ideal. The last 320 steps lead through a very narrow spiral staircase between the two dome shells, with a rope to hold on to - this is an intense experience even for non-claustrophobic visitors. If you only want to see the terrace with a view of the Vatican City, you can book the elevator ticket and forgo the ascent.
Ready for the 136 meters?
Whether it's the stairs or the elevator - secure your ticket for the dome of St. Peter's Basilica now and enjoy the panoramic view over Rome.
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