Tips For Visiting St. Peter’s Basilica Dome And The Basilica

Entrance to St. Peter’s Basilica is free, but climbing the dome requires a ticket.

There are two options for accessing the dome inside St. Peter’s Basilica:

• Elevator + Stairs: €10 (elevator covers 2 floors, followed by 320 steps on foot)
• Stairs Only: €8 (entire ascent is 551 steps)

Ticket Tips for St. Peter’s Basilica Dome

You can purchase tickets on-site, but bring cash, as tickets are sometimes cash-only.

Buying tickets on-site may result in longer waiting times.

Our Tip: We booked our tickets online in advance to our Rome trip and saved about 30 minutes of waiting, which was a big advantage given the long lines at St. Peter’s Basilica.

For more tips, check out the section below on our personal experience.

Enjoy our travel tip? Sign up for our Italy newsletter, where you only receive the best travel tips, and travel discounts. 
You’ll also receive our travel planning checklist:

Tips for Climbing to the Dome’s Base and Roof

After entering St. Peter’s Basilica, head to the right to join the line for dome access.

You’ll pass by the ticket center for the dome climb, where you can either purchase a ticket or proceed to the entrance with your pre-purchased ticket.

Here’s what to expect:

1. Ticket Purchase: You’ll pass the ticket center for the dome climb. Either purchase a ticket on-site or proceed directly if you’ve pre-booked your ticket.
2. Initial Ascent: You can take the elevator to save 231 steps or begin your climb on foot.

We chose to climb from the bottom since the elevator wait was long. There’s only one elevator, which can only accommodate 10 people per ride. If you’re physically fit, you’ll save time by walking up.

The stairs up to the elevator level are wide and low, making this initial climb relatively easy. You’ll first reach the roof terrace. A short exterior staircase then leads you to the entrance at the base of the dome.

From here, you’ll have an incredible view of the basilica’s interior.

Don’t miss this viewpoint! We were amazed by the basilica’s size, the floor mosaics, and the dome itself. This view alone is worth the climb!

The ascent continues via increasingly narrow stairs and a spiral staircase leading to the dome’s roof. 

From here, you’ll enjoy a panoramic view—one of the best vantage points to see the Vatican and Rome from above. There’s no time limit, so you can enjoy this area as long as you’d like.

The descent takes you back to the roof terrace, where you’ll find a souvenir shop and views of the statues visible from St. Peter’s Square.

Dress Code

Both men and women must cover their shoulders and knees to enter St. Peter’s Basilica. The same dress code applies to the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican Museums.

⭐️ Need help planning your Rome and Vatican City trip? Check out our itineraries, packed with tips, maps, and suggested routes: Rome in one day, Rome in 2 days, and Rome in three days.

Our Personal Experience

Tickets and Waiting Times

We purchased our dome access tickets online. Even with tickets, we had to wait almost two hours to reach the dome entrance.

Our ticket included that a guide brought us to the entrance, and helpful information, saving us about 30 minutes of waiting time.

Without pre-purchased tickets for this special Vatican City attraction, we would have waited 2.5 hours instead of 2 hours—the extra cost was worth it to us.

We booked for early morning and visited the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel later in the afternoon.

Fortunately, skip-the-line tickets are available for the Vatican Museums, which helped us avoid incredibly long queues.

Since entry to St. Peter’s Basilica is free, expect to wait 1-2 hours to enter.

During our visit, we experienced Rome in the rain, making the wait more uncomfortable. Unfortunately, there’s no way to skip the basilica’s main entrance line.

Security and Entry Process

You must pass through security screening, located under cover at the end of the right colonnade area. Bags are x-rayed, similar to airport security. After clearing security, proceed to the basilica.

At the basilica steps, you can either:

• Queue left to enter the basilica directly
• Queue right for the dome climb or to visit the crypt (free access) containing papal tombs and St. Peter’s tomb

We visited in this order: the dome, the basilica, and the crypt. In total, we spent 2 hours waiting in line and 2.5 hours visiting the dome, basilica, and crypt.

Our ticket included an audio guide, which was worthwhile as it explained the major sculptures, altars, and the basilica’s history.

When exiting, you’ll pass the Vatican Post Office, where you can write and send postcards.

Afterward, we visited the ancient Egyptian obelisk in St. Peter’s Square and one of Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s hidden architectural features.

You can find out more about this special vantage point in our hidden gems in Rome article.

FAQs About The St. Peter’s Basilica And Dome

Final Tips For Visiting The St. Peter’s Basilica Dome

Climbing the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica is a must for every Rome visitor.

Make sure to plan enough time.

Our tip: If you want to visit St. Peter’s Basilica, the dome, and the Vatican Museums including the Sistine Chapel, you’ll need a full day in total.

Definitely book a ticket for the Vatican Museums to skip the waiting lines.

Also, plan enough time between visiting these two attractions. To walk from St. Peter’s Square to the Vatican Museums, you’ll need about 15 minutes.

Don’t forget to dress appropriately for both sights. Covered shoulders and knees are a must for both women and men.

For more travel tips, check out our guide for visiting Rome for the first time, and feel free to share your Vatican experiences in the comments!

PLAN YOUR TRIP TO ROME

✈️ Compare and book flights to Rome airport with Expedia
🚅 Book train tickets to Rome and within Italy with RailEurope or  Omio
🚗 Rent a car with DiscoverCars

🏨 Book your Rome hotel with Booking or Expedia
🎒 Find budget hotels and hostels in Rome at Hostelworld

📱Get a SIM card for Italy at DrimSim to avoid high roaming fees
📈 Get Travel Insurance for Italy 

🗺 Buy a Rome City Card for public transportation and access to the main attractions
🎟 Find tours and activities for Rome at GetYourGuide or Viator

Is your flight delayed or canceled? Airhelp helps you to receive compensation. You can check them out here.