St. Peter's dome Climb: Tickets and Best Prices

We have seen it hundreds of times in postcards, films, photos... but not everyone who comes to St. Peter's Basilica climbs the Dome, located inside the temple. The experience without climbing to the top of Vatican City is not complete.

In all the rankings of best things to do in Rome you will always have this plan in the top and from there you will see the incredible view of St. Peter's Square from the heights with the rest of the city at your feet. Although entering the Basilica is free, going up to the dome requires a special ticket. I'll tell you the best way to get tickets.

The best option

Guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica with access to the dome

Access St. Peter's Basilica with this guided tour that includes climbing the dome.

Don't miss anything of the great Christian temple of the Vatican and let yourself be guided by an expert who will take you inside the Basilica and exclusively to the terrace of St. Peter's dome.

From AED 207 at Hellotickets

During the approximately two hours that this visit lasts, you will have the opportunity to tour the great Basilica of St. Peter and discover all the works of art housed inside thanks to the art expert guide who will tell you every detail.

All this in addition to climbing up to its imposing dome, something that doing it on your own can be a great waste of time and energy due to the famous queues that form around the monument. And believe me, you'll need both to climb it. Seeing the panoramic views from the top of the Vatican will be one of your favourite moments in Rome and making it easier with this guided tour of the dome is something you'll appreciate.

Recommended if... You want to get an in-depth tour of the Vatican's Catholic temple without missing out on the climb to the highest Christian dome in the world.

The tour with access to St. Peter's Dome area is in small groups, which will bring you closer to the environment. Thanks to the specialised guide, you will learn about the historical and artistic value of the works of Michelangelo and Bernini housed in the Basilica and you will also visit St. Peter's Square to appreciate the famous Colonnade.

On the other hand, it is important to know that until recently, the only way to get tickets to go up to the Dome of St. Peter's was to queue inside the temple, as they were not sold online. Today that has changed and you can now book a guided tour to the Dome. This way you can avoid long waits at the ticket office.

Entry to the Basilica is free, but to go up to the Dome you will need a special ticket which you can only buy at the Basilica itself. To save unnecessary queues to buy this ticket (the capacity is limited and the wait is very long) there is a pack that combines the guided tour with the entrance to St. Peter's Basilica and the access to the Dome.

All this is done in a small group tour accompanied by an expert guide and I assure you that it is worth it: the Basilica is full of details and history and the crowds of people waiting to buy tickets in the Basilica itself will make you have to go up to the Dome already tired.

In short, for a very reasonable price you have included the guided tour and the exclusive entrance to the Dome, something that is not easy to find online.

You can buy tickets for the Dome of St. Peter's Basilica with audioguide for a price starting at 29 € on Hellotickets. This price does not include a guided tour and will not save you from queuing. If you choose to secure your ticket in advance and buy the pack that includes the guided tour of the temple and tickets to the Dome, the price is about 49 euros.

If you prefer to improvise and buy tickets for the Dome "on the spot", you can also do so. Once you get inside the Basilica, you will immediately see the signs that take you to the ticket office for the Dome.

But once you get past the queues in St. Peter's Square to enter the Basilica you risk missing out on the dome as again the queues for the ticket office will take the edge off. Or there may simply be no tickets available.

You can skip the queues by buying your tickets for St. Peter's Basilica on the official website of Hellotickets in advance.

St. Peter's Dome is open all year round. Normally, you can access it from 8 am to 5 pm between October and March, and from 8 am to 6 pm from April to September. When booking a visit to St. Peter's Basilica and Dome or buying tickets for St. Peter's Basilica and Dome you will have to choose the day and time of access.

But I say normally because these times can be modified in case there is a religious festivity or celebration that requires St. Peter's Basilica to be closed to the general public for security reasons. For this reason, I recommend that when you plan your trip to Rome you take into account that the Basilica may be closed on some days.

In general, as in any tourist spot in the city, the fewer people you come across, the better. And this is usually the case first thing in the morning. Besides, at that time of day the city is still quiet and the faint colours of the morning are beautiful.

The tranquillity and silence from the top of St. Peter's is also highly valued, so I encourage you to get up early. In general, it is also a good time to see St. Peter's Basilica and even the Vatican Museums.

I'm not going to lie to you: the climb is not easy, there is a lift only in one section and it is probably not suitable for claustrophobic people. But if you take it with calm and energy, I assure you that you won't regret it.

• Lift vs. stairs: If you decide to walk the entire climb, you should know that 551 steps await you ahead (if you take the lift you save a good part of it and "only" have to climb 320). You should know that, even if you pay the lift fare, you will also have to climb stairs.
• Queues for the St. Peter's Dome: Regarding the queues, in both options you will have to wait your turn -there are usually quite a lot of people- but as you can imagine, the queues to take the lift are longer if possible. Another thing you should know is that the queue to go up is different from the queue to go down, so you won't be able to turn back if you regret it in the middle of the ascent (I doubt you will regret it, but if you don't like tight spaces, think carefully before going up).
• My recommendation: In general, I recommend that you take it easy, enjoy the immensity of the Dome inside and don't rush to get to the top. The views from the top will make you forget how tired you are.

When climbing the dome of St. Peter's Basilica, it is essential to take into account a number of practical recommendations on what to wear:

• Comfortable clothes and shoes: Bear in mind that the climb includes more than 500 steps up narrow, steep passages, so it is important to wear comfortable sports shoes and clothes that allow you to move freely.
• Water bottle: With so many steps to climb, carrying a bottle of water is essential to stay hydrated.
• Hat and sunscreen: If you visit the dome in summer, it is important to wear a hat and sunscreen to avoid sunburn.
• Camera: The view is dazzling, so don't forget to bring a camera or mobile phone to capture the moment.
• Small bag or rucksack: For convenience, carry only a small rucksack to make the climb more comfortable.
• Cash: If you're taking the lift, which will free you from over 300 steps, be sure to bring cash for the entrance fee.

The views, the views and the views. Without a doubt, one of the best panoramic views of the city. From the top of the Dome you will have a totally different perspective of the city and many of its details. Here are the things to look out for to get the most out of your visit.

• Bernini's sculptures on the Colonnade: From the top you will be able to contemplate, in the foreground, the 140 sculptures at the top of Bernini's colonnade in St Peter's Square. From above, these figures take on another dimension and open out onto the skyline of the impressive Piazza.
• The perfection of St. Peter's Square: If the Square is impressive from below, the sensation of seeing it from the sky is unparalleled. You will be able to appreciate its majestic size, the perfection of its ellipsis and the optical effect of this architectural marvel.
• St. Angelo's Castle and its passages: On the horizon, the profile of Castel St'Angelo and the walls (or "pasetto") that link the Vatican to the Castle stand out in the foreground. The immensity of this fortification is hard to imagine as you walk along the streets around it, but from the heights it takes your breath away.
• The rooftops of the city: Rome's skyline is a myriad of orange roofs, stone domes crowning every street and an infinite number of terraces and penthouses full of flowers and life. The city's best skyline can be seen from the top of the Dome and is worth a leisurely stop.
• The interior of the Dome: The way to the top can also be enjoyed: between steps, don't forget to take a look at the Dome's skyline to enjoy its immensity and its details.

Booking a visit to St. Peter's Basilica with access to the dome is a must. It is an emblem of Renaissance architecture. Designed by Michelangelo Buonarroti (who died in 1564), its design was completed and built by Giacomo della Porta and Domenico Fontana between 1588 and 1590.

The interior decoration of the dome includes spectacular religious-themed mosaics designed by artists such as Giuseppe Cesari and other artists of the period. In addition, the dome has undergone various restoration and conservation works throughout history to preserve its artistic splendour and structural integrity.

Tour St. Peter's Basilica at your own pace: it's huge and its interior is loaded with worthwhile works: from Michelangelo's Pietà, which you'll recognise immediately because there are always visitors admiring the image, to the central baldachin. Take your time and enjoy it because it is full of details.

Moreover, if you choose the guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica you will not miss any detail and you will be able to understand the historical, artistic and religious importance of the largest Catholic church in the world.

• The Pietà: Michelangelo gave life to this spectacular marble sculpture of almost two metres between 1498 and 1499 to represent the Virgin Mary picking up the body of her son Jesus who died on the cross. The quality of the details, the dimensions and the perfect proportions soon made it one of Michelangelo's most admired works. It is currently located in the first chapel on the right, very close to the entrance of the Basilica.
• The Crypts: Although the last Popes have not been buried in these crypts, if you decide to descend into the bowels of St. Peter's Basilica, you will be able to see the tombs and mausoleums of more than 100 Popes and the necropolis of St. Peter. You can buy the entrance ticket inside the temple itself, as to access the crypts you need a specific ticket which costs around €13.
• The Baldachin: This colossal structure designed by Bernini to cover the altar of the Basilica dominates the interior of the temple, capturing the attention from almost every corner. It is made of bronze and stands almost 30 metres tall (you'll have to stand a long way back for it to fully appear in a photograph).

Yes, it is possible to get dizzy during the climb up to the dome of St. Peter's Basilica, as there are over 500 steps up a long and steep spiral staircase, the passages are narrow and it can get very hot especially during the summer months. For this reason, here are a series of recommendations for you to enjoy the experience of climbing the Dome to the fullest and without mishaps:

• Take your time: Don't rush and go at the pace you need, taking as many breaks as you need, i.e. if you feel anxious or dizzy, take breaks.
• Avoid looking up, down or sideways: Keeping your eyes on what's in front of you will prevent you from getting dizzy.
• Stay hydrated: Dehydration can make dizziness worse, so make sure you have water with you.
• Breathe calmly: Breathe deeply, calmly and regularly.

Finally, we would like to point out a number of must-do things to do in the Vatican that you have to include in your list of the best things to do in Rome:

Join a guided tour of the Vatican Museums

In order to organise your visit to the Museums, the first thing you should know is that, in general, when we talk about tickets to the Vatican, we are talking about tickets that give access to the Vatican Museums, where thousands of works are housed and of course, the popular Sistine Chapel.

The Vatican City itself is free to move around and you can walk around the square and even the Basilica without having to buy any tickets or pay anything at all. More or less long, more or less early and more or less exclusive (you can choose to do it in a large or small group), a tour of the Vatican Museums is practically a must. Walking past so much history and symbolism without understanding much is a shame.

Turn around the colonnade in St. Peter's Square

Vatican City would not be the same without the marvellous circular colonnade that makes it up. If you also like photography, you will enjoy playing with the perspectives of this work of art.

Take the opportunity to see the Pope live

Whether you are religious or not, seeing the Pope live is something you can easily do when you visit the Vatican. You'll have to stick to specific days and times (Wednesday mass or the Angelus on Sundays) but you can.

Don't leave the Vatican without eating well

Eating well near the Vatican is possible. This touristy area has some hidden restaurants that are well worth a stop. Whatever you're looking for (pizza, pasta, a sweet snack or an amazing sandwich), you'll find some great places around the Vatican.