St. Peter's Dome Climb and Sistine Chapel Combo Tour

See Rome from above then go deeper into the Vatican’s highlights and Michelangelo’s masterpieces

4.95 (850) ·

Travel Flexibly

· 5.00h · Vatican, Italy

A group of tourists standing in St. Peter's Square with their guide from The Tour Guy.

A pair of tourists standing on the first level of St. Peter's Dome with their guide from The Tour Guy.

A group of tourists walking through St. Peter's Basilica with their guide from The Tour Guy.

A group of tourists walking through the Papal Crypts while on tour with The Tour Guy.

An image of a Papal tomb in the Papal Crypts.

Ann image of the Pinecone Courtyard in the Vatican Museums.

Tourists looking at Lacoon and His Sons inside the Vatican Museums.

A group of tourists inside the Vatican Museums.

A group of tourists looking at the School of Athens with their guide from The Tour Guy.

A group of tourists inside St. Peter's Basilica.

Most tours skip the climb to St. Peter’s Dome, missing one of the most breathtaking views in Rome. With early access, ascend to the top of the Dome, where panoramic views stretch across Vatican City, the Eternal City beyond. Back on ground level, your guide will give a detailed overview of St. Peter’s Basilica before you step inside to explore at your own pace. Then, skip the line into the Vatican Museums for a guided visit through its most famous galleries, ending in the Sistine Chapel.

What you get with this tour

Skip the line tickets
Elevator tickets
Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
St. Peter's Basilica
Passionate, English-speaking guide
Group size of 30
Wheelchair accessible
Meals
Guide gratuity
Hotel pickup

Tour Itinerary

1

Meet your guide at Largo Del Colonnato
Begin your morning right outside of St. Peter’s Basilica, where you’ll meet your friendly guide and small group of fellow travelers
2

St Peter's Square
Roam through Vatican City’s jaw-dropping plaza, lined by 284 columns and 140 statues of saints, all of which were designed by Bernini
3

Dome climb
After taking the elevator to the lower level of St. Peter’s Dome, walk up 320 stone steps for an unforgettable view of the Eternal City!
4

St. Peter's Basilica
Enjoy an explanation of the world's largest church, admiring the Basilica’s incredible works of art and magnificent architecture
5

Vatican Museums
Explore the Vatican’s historic treasures and impressive art as you swiftly enter Vatican City’s exquisite museums with your priority tickets
6

Pinecone Courtyard
A stunning mix of ancient and contemporary art is found in this impressive courtyard, located just beside the Vatican Museums
7

Candelabra Gallery
Ancient Roman sculptures and impressive works of art line the long hallway of the Candelabra Gallery, known for its striking marble columns
8

Pio-Clementino Museum
An extravagant, red marble tub along with some of the world’s most renowned sculptures are housed in this prestigious museum
9

Gallery of Maps
Based on the work of Ignazio Danti, this series of massive frescoes depicts stunning topographical maps of Italy’s many regions and cities
10

Hall of Tapestries
Magnificent, large-scale tapestries created by Raphael and his students have been hanging in this narrow hall ever since the 1830’s!
11

Raphael Rooms
Spectacular frescoes painted by the renowned Renaissance artist are shown across four stunning room, including his iconic School of Athens
12

Sistine Chapel
Marvel at this world-famous Sistine Chapel, renowned for Michelangelo’s incredibly intricate fresco which adorns the chapel’s ceiling
13

The Last Judgement
Michelangelo’s jaw-dropping fresco overtakes the entire altar wall of the Sistine Chapel, famously depicting the Second Coming of Christ
14

End inside the Vatican Museums
After saying goodbye to your friendly guide at the Sistine Chapel, continue roaming through the immaculate Vatican Museums at your leisure

Additional Information

Good to know:

Dress Code: As the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel are deeply religious sites, everyone must cover their knees, shoulders, and toes. Guests who do not meet the dress code may be refused entry by security officials. No hats please.
Accessibility: Unfortunately, this tour is not wheelchair accessible. A foldable umbrella stroller can be utilized in the Vatican Museums, but is prohibited inside St. Peter's Basilica. A soft baby carrier is recommended.
Bag Policy: Camera tripods and large backpacks are not allowed in the museum, so please leave them at your hotel.
Please Note: The Sistine Chapel is a place of worship, so visitors are not allowed to speak inside the chapel. Your guide will explain what you'll see in advance.
Check-in: Arrive 15 minutes early for check-in at the meeting point so the group can enter sites on time.

Your 5-hour tour includes:

Expert English-speaking guide
Early entry to St. Peter's Basilica
Access to the elevator and stairs to the top of St. Peter's dome
Guided explanation of St. Peter's Basilica before entering
Skip-the-line entry to the Vatican Museums
Guided tour of Vatican Museums
See inside Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel
Maximum group size of 30

What to bring:

Comfortable walking shoes
Government-issued ID
Water bottle
Clothing that covers knees and shoulders
Camera

Customer reviews

4.95 (850)

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11 November 2025

Reviewed by
John M Koster

Fabrizio

11 November 2025

Reviewed by
James Pogue

Fabrizio was fantastic! We took several tours during our visit to Rome....and Fabrizio was by far the best tour guide we experienced. Thanks again Fabrizio!

07 November 2025

Reviewed by
Kevin Henahan

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Frequently Asked Questions

What to bring?

Since this is a walking tour, be sure to wear comfortable shoes and bring a bottle of water.

What to bring?

Since this is a walking tour, be sure to wear comfortable shoes and bring a bottle of water.

Can I see the Vatican without a guided tour?

Yes, you can reserve tickets to enter the Vatican without a guided tour. Click here for skip the line Vatican tickets.

What if I have concerns about my mobility on this tour?

If you have any doubts about your mobility, we suggest taking a Vatican Private Tour so your needs can be better accommodated.

Does the Vatican ever experience unexpected closures?

During state visits or special religious events, parts of the Vatican may be closed unexpectedly and without much notice. If an area normally visited during a tour is suddenly closed, our guide will still provide explanations of the closed areas from outside. They will even show you another gallery to compensate for the lost time in a usual location.

Will the Vatican Museums be crowded during this tour?

While we do our best to arrange the order of the tour to avoid the largest crowds, there is a chance the museums may be crowded while we are inside since the tour begins with the dome climb and visit to St. Peter's.

Is there a dress code to enter the religious sites on this tour?

We ask both men and women to cover knees and shoulders, otherwise you may be refused entry to religious sites and miss out on a portion of your tour. We understand the summers in Rome can be hot, so a great alternative is to bring a shawl/scarf/sweater with you. That way, you can cover your knees and shoulders when necessary.

Is there an elevator I can take instead of climbing?

On this guided tour, everyone will enjoy the use of the elevator to skip the first 231 steps and emerge at the landing inside the dome. From there, you can either admire the view from the terrace or climb the remaining 320 steps on foot.

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