St Peter's Dome tickets cost €17 by stairs or €22 with the lift. Both online tickets include the Basilica and its audio guide. You climb 551 steps from the ground or 320 after the lift.
Updated Hours and tickets St Peter's Basilica official site, read ; tour prices read
The lift reaches the terrace, so you still need to be comfortable with 320 steps through narrow spaces to reach the top.
The place
St Peter's dome, also called the cupola, has two stages. You reach the terrace by lift or stairs. From the inner ring you can see the mosaics close up and look down into the Basilica.
The outer ring is another 320 steps above the terrace. From there you look over St Peter's Square and the Vatican Gardens. The rooftops of Rome stretch beyond them.
Michelangelo designed the dome and built it up to the drum. Giacomo della Porta finished it between 1588 and 1590. The climb takes you inside this structure on the way to the view.
What to do: If you want the dome and Basilica, allow about 2.5 hours for the booked visit. The free Basilica visit suits you if you want to avoid the climb.
The ticket
| Ticket | Adult price |
|---|---|
| Dome by stairs551 steps; online ticket includes the Basilica and its audio guide | |
| Dome with the liftLift to the terrace, then 320 steps; same Basilica access |
Official adult online prices, read
The official online tickets cost €17 by stairs or €22 with the lift. Both include your Basilica visit and its audio guide. You do not need a separate €7 Basilica booking.
You choose a dome time when you book. Your email gives the order of your visits and the assigned route. Follow those details for your Basilica visit as well as your climb.
The booking carries your name and cannot be transferred or changed. There is no refund if you cancel. You receive a full refund if a liturgy or Holy See event cancels the visit.
You can buy dome tickets on the day while places remain. Sales points include the Portico Desk and souvenir-shop ticket offices. An online booking gives you a set time before you arrive.
What to do: Choose the €22 lift ticket if you want fewer stairs; 320 remain. The €17 stair ticket costs less if you are comfortable with the full 551.
The climb
By stairs551 steps in all
By lift320 steps in all
There are 551 steps from the ground to the top. The lift replaces the first 231 steps. The final 320 pass through narrow spaces with steep inclines, whichever ticket you buy.
The climb is unsuitable for wheelchair users and discouraged during pregnancy or with heart, breathing or mobility problems, vertigo or claustrophobia. You can turn back if the climb becomes too hard.
The climb is recommended from age 6, and under-18s need an adult. Rain alone does not close the dome. Access can close temporarily in extreme weather, so your plans may need to change.
What to do: If the remaining 320 steps suit you, wear comfortable shoes and bring a small bag. Stay with the free Basilica visit if the narrow climb would be difficult.
Opening times
St Peter's dome7:30 to 17:00. Every day, current season
St Peter's Basilica7:00 to 19:00. Every day, current season
The dome opens from 7:30 to 17:00 in winter. These hours run until 28 March. The Basilica opens from 7:00 to 19:00. The last published summer dome hours were 7:00 to 18:00.
On the day
Security checks come before your dome visit. They take place in St Peter's Square and apply to everyone. Leave time for the queue before your booked slot; a ticket does not remove these checks.
Your entry QR codes arrive by email with your assigned route. Sobieski takes you through the Basilica before the dome. Lambertini puts the dome first, then the Basilica. Follow the order in your email.
Your shoulders must be covered, with long trousers or a skirt below the knee. Only small personal bags are allowed and there is no cloakroom. The terrace has toilets and a refreshment area.
Official online tickets cost €17 by stairs or €22 with the lift. Both include a Basilica visit with its audio guide. The lift leaves 320 steps to the top.
The official shop is booking.basilicasanpietro.va. Choose the stairs or lift ticket and a dome time, then follow the route in your entry email.
No, the lift reaches the terrace and leaves 320 steps to the top. The full stair route has 551 steps.
No, the dome needs a separate paid ticket. Basilica entry alone is free; online dome tickets include a Basilica visit and its audio guide.
Allow about 1 hour for the dome visit, including time at the top. The full booking with the Basilica takes about 2.5 hours. Your pace affects how long the climb takes.
Yes, on-site desks sell dome tickets while places remain. Book online if you need a set slot; buying on the day suits you if your plans are flexible.
Tours
A dome tour adds a guide to your visit. The official online ticket costs €17 by stairs or €22 with the lift. Basilica entry and the Grottoes are free if you visit them on your own.
The papal crypt and tombs on these routes are in the Grottoes; the Necropolis needs a separate booking.
What to do: Book direct if you want the climb and Basilica audio guide at €17 or €22. A tour suits you if you want a live guide and accept the higher price.
Basilica, papal crypt and dome
Two hours in the church and crypt, then the guide walks you to the lift and you climb on your own. Dome tickets are reserved in advance.
from €50 per adult
See the tourBasilica, papal tombs and dome
A licensed Basilica guide for 90 minutes, then dome access on your own afterwards. Give full names at booking, or entry can be refused.
from €55 per adult
See the tourBasilica, papal tombs and dome
Six people at most for 2.5 hours, starting at the dome. You pay far more than on the larger groups for that cap.
from €169 per adult
See the tourPrices in euro per adult, read : the usual lowest price of each option, without short sales. The booking page shows the price for your date. We add no fee.
Nearby
Free entry and security checks before your visit
Free papal tombs beneath the Basilica
Official prices and what each ticket includes
