Find out how to buy tickets for the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Dome tickets Rome: Useful information about prices, opening hours and what to expect.
The dome was designed by Michelangelo, but he did not live to see its completion.
Tickets and prices
There are two ways to get to the top of the dome: by elevator or on foot. The elevator takes visitors to the roof terrace of the Basilica, from where you have to climb the remaining 320 steps. If you walk all the way, you will have to climb 551 steps. The entrance fee varies: by elevator €10, on foot €8. School classes with a list of names pay €5 for the ascent on foot.
Opening hours
The dome is open from 7.30 am to 6 pm in summer and to 5 pm in winter. The ticket office closes earlier if there is a large crowd. Stay tuned to learn more about Dome tickets Rome has to offer.
Online Tickets and Guided Tours
There are often long lines at the ticket office for the tour of the dome. If you book a guided tour or an audio guide online, you can avoid waiting. Unfortunately, it is not possible to avoid the security lines at St. Peter’s Basilica. However, in the early morning or at noon, it is relatively quick. Even if you don’t feel safe climbing the dome alone, a guided tour is recommended.
What awaits you?
Take the elevator to the top of St. Peter’s. From there, continue on foot. One elevator is on the right above the Visitor Center of St. Peter’s, and the other is inside the Basilica on the left. The elevator that takes you to the top changes occasionally and is signposted. If it is the elevator on the right, the ticket office is right in front of it. If the elevator inside the Basilica goes up, the ticket office is in the portico of St. Peter’s.
Before ascending through the half-shells of the dome, it is worth taking a look at the interior of St. Peter’s Basilica from above. The dome rests on a ring, the tambour, which is supported by the four huge pillars around the papal altar. A walkway around the tambour allows visitors to admire the dome from close up and get a bird’s-eye view of the papal altar and the basilica.
Climbing the dome of St. Peter’s is a must for adventurous travelers and for those who want to enjoy an unparalleled panoramic view of Vatican City and Rome. Although the climb to the dome is not for the faint of heart, brave visitors will be rewarded with a breathtaking view.
The ascent through the dome of St. Peter’s is a one-way street. Once you start, you can’t turn back. Anyone suffering from claustrophobia should not attempt the climb. But with the crowd behind you, you have little choice but to keep going.
The higher you go, the narrower it gets inside the dome. The last section is a spiral staircase with a rope in the middle.
The view
The dome of St. Peter’s Basilica offers an unforgettable view in all directions. In the direction of the city center, you can see far beyond Castel Sant’Angelo and the Tiber to the Apennines and the volcanic cone of the Castelli Romani. On the other side you can see the Vatican City with its gardens and the Vatican Museums.
Practical tips
The roof of St. Peter’s Basilica has a bar, souvenir shop and restrooms.
When climbing up to the dome, it is important to walk slowly and steadily. If you walk too fast, you may get tired halfway up. On hot summer days it is important to bring enough water.
If you want to take photos of St. Peter’s Square and the city panorama, you must know that you will have the sun in front of you in the morning. The best photos are taken in the afternoon when the sun is behind you.
How do you get to the top of St. Peter’s?
You have to pay to go up to the dome. You can take the elevator or climb 231 steps to the roof terrace of the Basilica and from there climb 320 steps through the dome to the viewing platform.
Where is the entrance to the dome of St. Peter’s?
A sign in the portico indicates the entrance to the dome. It is located either on the right side of St. Peter’s Basilica or in the basilica on the left side next to the baptismal font.
Is it worth visiting the dome of St. Peter’s?
Climbing the dome is an unforgettable experience. You should be fit enough to climb the 320 steps and not suffer from claustrophobia.
How big is the dome of St. Peter’s?
The diameter of the dome at the base is 42.46 m inside and 49.8 m outside. It is 43.2 meters high and weighs an estimated 14,000 tons.
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