St. Peter’s Basilica Dome offers some of the most impressive views of Rome. It really is one of my favorite places in town for that, and it’s been since I first discovered it during a trip to Rome with my dad many years ago.
The Dome is the second tallest building in Rome and can be seen from many places in town. It’s an impressive sight, especially at night when it is beautifully illuminated.
Unfortunately, getting to the Dome can be a bit of a hassle. Much like the rest of the Vatican, the Dome of St. Peter’s Basilica can be quite crowded. You can’t get tickets in advance – they are only sold in person at the door. But there are ways to have a great experience regardless.
Since I have climbed St. Peter’s Basilica Dome many times, in this post I will tell you everything you should know before visiting St. Peter’s Basilica Dome, with useful information on how to get the tickets and skip the line.
Is St. Peter’s Basilica Dome Worth Visiting?
St. Peter’s Basilica Dome is definitely worth visiting, and if anything it will enhance your experience of visiting St. Peter’s Basilica and exploring the Vatican. The site has a unique story, and only by visiting you can fully appreciate it.
St. Peter’s Basilica Dome was built to cover the main basilica together with the rest of the Vatican, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With its height of 136 meters (446 feet) and diameter of 42 meters (almost 138 feet), this is one of the largest domes in the world.
While the church was designed by artists Bernini, Bramante and Raphael, the Dome was designed exclusively by Michelangelo, inspired by the Pantheon in its design. Construction of the Dome started in 1546, when Michelangelo was 71.
When Michelangelo died, in 1564, the construction had yet to be completed. Giacomo della Porta and Domenico Fontana started working on the site again in 1588, and the Dome was finally completed in 1590 (the church was only completed in 1626).
Once you reach the top of the Dome, you get breathtaking views of St. Peter’s Square, the Vatican Gardens and the city of Rome.
Let’s now see in a bit more detail how you can enjoy this magnificent attraction.
How To Get St. Peter’s Basilica Dome Tickets
To visit St. Peter’s Basilica Dome, you need St. Peter’s Basilica Dome tickets – but these aren’t sold online, and there are often lines at the counter. The only way to avoid those lines is to be smart about them, and know when to go. Guides are best at this, but here are a few tips to help out.
Head to St. Peter’s Basilica Dome at 7:30 am
This is the most budget-friendly way of visiting St. Peter’s Basilica Dome – it can be a bit of a hit-and-miss in terms of lines, depending on the day. Anyhow – just head there super early: the Basilica opens at 7:00 am, and they start letting people in at the Dome at 7:30 am.
The best thing to do is to climb the Dome first and then visit the Basilica afterward – you have to go through the Basilica anyway once you leave. Just as well, if you want to admire Rome in the golden light of sunset, climb the Dome right before it closes and visit the church afterward, since it closes later than the Dome.
These are the ticket options:
- €8 ticket to climb all 551 steps to the top of the Dome;
- €10 ticket for the elevator – for which there may be a line – to the interior terrace, from where you will have to climb the remaining 320 steps.
Join a tour of St. Peter’s Basilica with Dome climb
At the moment, there are St. Peter’s Basilica Dome tickets available for purchase online. You can however join a guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica which includes a visit to the Crypt and the Dome climb.
It’s more expensive than a plain ticket option, but completely hassle-free as the guides know how to time the visit – not to mention, you get the bonus of a guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica – which I wholeheartedly recommend!
Tours typically start at 8:00 am. Your first stop will be the Dome: you’ll take the elevator to the first terrace, and then climb the remaining stairs. Then, you’ll head back for a guided visit of the church.
Keep in mind that even if the tour you are joining includes St. Peter’s Basilica Dome tickets, the guide will have to buy them at the gate much like all other visitors. But a good guide will know his/her timing well.
I recommend this guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica with Dome climb. It’s the one my sister and I did during a recent trip to Rome and we truly enjoyed it. The tour is run by Touriks, a local company that employs local guides. Our guide, Mario Fedele, was the absolute best!
Another option is this very thorough tour of St. Peter’s Basilica by Take Walks, another excellent company, which includes a visit of the grottoes and of the Dome.
Ways of Climbing the Dome
When you climb the Dome of St. Peter’s Basilica, you have two different options:
- Climb the 551 steps to reach the very top of the Dome.
- Take the elevator to the first terrace and then climb only 320 steps to the top of the Dome.
The price difference for the two tickets is minimal, so you may want to invest in the elevator to ease your way to the top. On the other hand, there may be lines to board the elevator.
Once you get to the first terrace you will get impressive views of Piazza San Pietro below, and of the upper statues.
From the first terrace, continue climbing along a very narrow spiral staircase, at times having to hang on a rope. It’s a dark climb, with the occasional small window to peak outside. It will take you 10 minutes to climb this final section.
You will go down via another staircase.
It will take you about one hour to visit St. Peter’s Basilica Dome. This includes the time needed to climb to the top (depending on which option you pick, anything between 10 and 20 minutes); admire the views and take photos and then head back down to visit the Basilica. You may want to keep this in mind if you are packing your day with other visits.
Q&A For Visiting St. Peter’s Basilica Dome
Opening times
St. Peter’s Basilica Dome is open daily from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm (October to March) and 7:30 am to 6:00 pm (April to September).
For the updated opening times, you may want to consult the website of the Vatican here. Keep in mind it’s in Italian only, but it is fairly self explanatory.
St Peter’s Basilica Dome tickets prices
St. Peter’s Basilica tickets prices are as follows:
- €8 ticket to climb all 551 steps to the top of the Dome;
- €10 ticket for the elevator – for which there may be a line – to the interior terrace, from where you will have to climb the remaining 320 steps.
How to get to the St. Peter’s Basilica Dome
The entrance to the Dome of St. Peter’s Basilica is inside the church, in Piazza San Pietro. Once you walk in, it’s on your right after the security checks. Clear signs are pointing to the ticket office of the Dome.
The nearest metro station is Ottaviano, on line A: it’s a 5-minute walk to the entrance from there.
If you are traveling by bus from Termini, take n. 40 or 64.
If you are traveling by bus from Tiburtina, take bus n. 492.
From the Colosseum, take bus n. 81.
Dress code
There is a strict dress code to enter the Vatican – including the Basilica and the Dome. Avoid wearing shorts, tank tops, and flip-flops; cover your knees, chest, and shoulders. Wear long pants or a long skirt even in the summer months, and carry a light shirt to wear for the duration of the visit.
Security checks
You will have to go through the security checks when entering St. Peter’s Basilica. For a faster process, leave any bulky items in your room, and don’t bring prohibited items such as umbrellas, tripods, knives or scissors.
Toilets and other facilities
Toilets are located on the first terrace, where you will also find a water fountain, a coffee shop and a souvenir shop. You will have to go a few steps down from the terrace.
The best views of St. Peter’s Basilica Dome
The views of Rome from the Dome of St. Peter’s Basilica are stunning, but the views of the Dome itself are just as incredible. You will get beautiful views from the Aventine Hill, where Villa del Priorato di Malta has a unique keyhole view of St. Peter’s Dome.
You’ll also get incredible views of the Dome from the dining room of the lovely B&B Orange Garden.
Further Readings
Make sure to read my other posts about Rome
- The Best Things To Do In Rome
- The Perfect Itinerary To See Rome In 2 Days
- A Fantastic Itinerary For 4 Days In Rome
- A Wonderful Itinerary For 5 Days In Rome
- A Great Itinerary For A Fabulous Week In Rome
- 31 Incredible Places To Explore Rome Off The Beaten Path
- 18 Useful Things To Know Before Visiting Rome
- 20 Great Day Trips From Rome
- What To Eat In Rome
These are my detailed attractions’ guides:
- How To Get Tickets To The Colosseum And Skip The Lines
- Seven Smart Ways To Get Galleria Borghese Tickets And Skip The Lines
- A Guide To Visiting The Pantheon, Rome
- How To Visit The Sistine Chapel
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