How to Climb St. Peter’s Dome

St. Peter’s Basilica is one of the most beautiful churches in the world, and it’s definitely worth a visit. It is home to many beautiful and important works of art, including the beautiful La Pietà, Michelangelo’s famous marble sculpture. But did you know that you can also climb St. Peter’s Dome and enjoy some gorgeous views? Here’s how to climb St. Peter’s Dome.

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How to Climb St. Peter’s Dome

You definitely want to climb St. Peter’s Dome. We have even arranged a special tour dedicated to St. Peter’s Basilica and its jaw-dropping dome! Our new Ultimate St. Peter’s Basilica Dome Climb is the perfect tour for anyone who wants the full St. Peter’s experience. You can also add the Vatican to your experience.

If you want to climb St. Peter’s Dome on your own, this article will help you reach your goal! We’ll start with a quick step-by-step guide on how to climb the dome, followed by some additional information you’ll need. Here’s what we’ll cover:

• 6-Step Guide To Climbing St. Peter’s Dome
• Tour Options
• How To Get To There
• St. Peter’s Dome Hours
• How To Get Tickets To Climb St. Peter’s Dome

How To Climb Michelangelo's Dome of the St. Peter’s Basilica

6 Steps to Climbing St. Peter’s Dome—Pun Intended!

Step 1: Avoid Wednesdays

Don’t plan on climbing the Dome of St. Peter’s Basilica on a Wednesday. The Papal Audience takes place on Wednesdays, which could complicate things.

Step 2: Get There Early

Get to St. Peter’s Square early. We recommend arriving around 8 am, so you won’t have to wait in a long security line or the line to climb the dome.

Step 3: Go Through Security

Enter the Basilica by going through security, which is located in the right-hand side colonnades as you enter the square. You’ll see some fencing and metal detectors. Don’t worry, you can’t miss it.

Step 4: Find the Entrance to the Dome

When you walk up the stairs to go inside the Basilica, walk through the largest archway and look straight ahead. You’ll see an area on the right-hand side of the Basilica with some fences. If you arrive at 8 am, there should be no lines. You’ll see visible signage that refers to climbing the Dome.

Step 5: Take the Elevator

Pay for the elevator! It only costs about €4 extra, €10 total, to take an elevator most of the way up. You’ll bypass a few hundred of the 551 steps, which will make your visit less exhausting.

Step 6: Enjoy the View!

Enjoy the view at the top! After you take the elevator and walk up the steps, you’ll find yourself at the top. Take lots of great photos and enjoy your time. There is even a bar to get coffee on top of the Basilica!

St. Peter’s Basilica Tour Options

We offer two tours that climb the St. Peter’s Basilica with a licensed guide. The first only visits the Basilica but includes the papal tombs below (not St. Peter’s tomb). The second tour is a combination of the first tour and a Vatican Museums tour. This way you can visit the dome and see the Vatican museums and Sistine Chapel.

Popular Vatican Tours

How To Get To St. Peter’s Dome

Where is St. Peter’s Dome?

The St. Peter’s Dome is easy to find. Just head to the famous St. Peter’s Basilica and you’re there! Once you get to St Peter’s and have gone through the security gates, face the church. There are a few entrances you can walk through. To the right, you will see an entrance with a green sign that says “Dome Entrance”. From there, follow the arrows to the ticket kiosk.

*If you’ve just taken a Vatican Tour and ended at St. Peter’s Basilica, this is the perfect activity to finish off your Vatican experience. Especially because, if you’re on our tour, you’ll have skipped the lines and security gates, and can simply head straight to the dome!

Who Built St. Peter’s Dome?

Short Answer: Michelangelo built the dome and Donato Bramante designed the Basilica supporting the dome. For more info on the dome and its construction, check out St. Peter’s Basilica: Facts and History.

St. Peter’s Dome Hours

St. Peter’s Dome is open to visitors all day, but closing times do change slightly depending on the seasons.

• 1st April – 30th September: 7:30 am – 5 pm
• 1st October – 31st March: 7:30 am – 5 pm

How to get Tickets to Climb St. Peter’s Dome

If you’re not interested in a guided tour, you can purchase your tickets to the dome at the ticket kiosk. As mentioned above, the entrance is to the right of St. Peter’s Basilica. Follow the arrows until you reach the little ticket kiosk.

You have two choices with different prices:

• On Foot for €8: This is the cheaper option, where you climb 551 steps in total to get to the top. If you enjoy some physical activity, go for this option. It is a great walk and it gets exciting as you start nearing the top of the dome and the passages become narrower and narrower. There is also something rewarding about climbing all those stairs, and reaching the top for the ultimate view!
• By Elevator (plus a few steps) for €10: This is slightly more expensive, as you get to swoop up the majority of the climb in a modern-day capsule! If you are unable to walk a lot of stairs, or just don’t feel like the climb, this is the best option. You’ll still have to take a few stairs at the end, but it beats 551 of them.

Please note: The ticket office does not take cards, so be sure to bring cash with you. If you go all the way into St. Peter’s and don’t have cash, you will need to leave to withdraw money and re-enter through security all over again.

Not ready to book a tour? Check out our guide to planning your visit to the Vatican.