Climbing St Peter's Dome: Tickets, Stairs and the View over Rome
St Peter's dome, designed by Michelangelo, is one of the best viewpoints in Rome. You climb it from inside St Peter's Basilica, by the stairs alone or partly by lift. It is a real effort: 551 steps by the stairs, 320 after the lift, including a narrow, sloping section. Allow about an hour for the climb and the way down, on top of your visit to the basilica.
Highlights
The dome seen from outside
It towers over the Vatican and can be spotted from almost everywhere in Rome, which makes it a landmark for travellers.
The inner gallery
After the lift or the first part of the stairs, you step out onto the inner ring at the base of the dome. From there you look down on the nave and see the mosaics that decorate the vault up close.
The climb between the two shells
The steps follow the curve of the dome. The walls lean: you have to walk bent over. This is the narrowest and hardest part.
The top and the view
From the top, the eye takes in St Peter's Square, the Vatican Gardens and the rooftops of Rome.
Practical info
Tips
- Two options: the stairs alone (551 steps, all on foot) or the lift up to the terrace level, then 320 steps. The lift therefore does not remove the effort. The staircase in the upper part is narrow and sloping: if you are claustrophobic, prone to vertigo, have a heart condition or are in poor physical shape, do not climb. Large backpacks and suitcases are not accepted and there is no cloakroom: come with a small bag. Bring water and wear good shoes. The basilica dress code applies (shoulders covered, no shorts or skirts above the knee): see dress code at the Vatican and in churches. Prices, online ticket on the basilica's official site: €17 by the stairs, €22 with the lift, basilica access and digital audio guide included (checked in October 2026); tickets are also sold on site, depending on the places left, with a queue in high season. Online tickets cannot be changed or refunded. Guided tours including the dome exist with tour operators. To plan the day: Vatican Museums or St Peter's Basilica? and around the Vatican. See also St Peter's Dome Climb: Official Ticket or Guided Tour?.
How to get there
St Peter's Basilica, Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Vatican City. Metro line A, Ottaviano-San Pietro station, about 10 minutes on foot. Buses 40 and 64 to via della Conciliazione.
Opening hours
Our guides that feature it
Nearby
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