St Peter's dome has 551 steps by stairs or 320 after the lift. The lift stops at the terrace, so the final stretch is on foot. Official online tickets cost €17 by stairs or €22 with the lift.
Updated Rules and prices St Peter's Basilica official site, read ; tour prices read
Both routes end with the same 320 steps through the dome.
The climb
By stairs551 steps in all
By lift320 steps in all
The lift saves you 231 steps to the terrace. You then climb the remaining 320 on foot. This upper section has narrow spaces and steep inclines on both routes.
The stair ticket costs €17 for the full 551 steps. The lift ticket costs €22. Both official online tickets include a Basilica visit and its audio guide; Basilica entry alone is free.
What to do: Choose the €22 lift ticket if you want fewer stairs before the upper climb. The €17 stair ticket costs less if you are comfortable with all 551 steps.
Before you buy
The climb is not advised with heart or breathing conditions, vertigo, claustrophobia, mobility difficulties or pregnancy. The stairs make the route inaccessible to wheelchairs, including with a lift ticket.
The climb is recommended from age 6. Visitors under 18 need an adult. Only small personal bags are allowed, and there is no cloakroom for larger bags.
If the final 320 steps are too much, you can visit the Basilica free. You can look up into the dome from there without booking the climb.
The ticket
| Ticket | Adult price |
|---|---|
| Dome by stairs551 steps; online ticket includes Basilica visit and audio guide | |
| Dome by lift320 steps remain; online ticket includes Basilica visit and audio guide |
Official adult prices, read
Allow about 1 hour for the dome visit. The official online booking with the Basilica lasts about 2.5 hours. Your pace and time at the top affect the visit length.
The dome currently opens from 7:30 to 17:00 in winter. St Peter's Basilica opens from 7:00 to 19:00. If you want both, plan around the dome's earlier closing time.
You can book online at booking.basilicasanpietro.va. Tickets are also sold at the Portico Desk and souvenir-shop ticket offices while places remain. A booking still requires you to pass security checks.
Your booking email gives your route and visit order. Sobieski means Basilica first, then dome. Lambertini means dome first, then Basilica. Follow the times in your email for each visit.
No, the lift stops at the terrace. It saves 231 steps and leaves 320 to climb on foot.
Allow about 1 hour for the dome visit, including time at the top. The official online booking with the Basilica lasts about 2.5 hours. Neither figure is an estimate of the queue.
The upper 320 steps are steep and pass through narrow spaces. Taking the lift does not remove this section. You can turn back if the climb becomes too difficult.
Yes, the climb is recommended from age 6. Visitors under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Official online tickets cost €17 by stairs or €22 with the lift. Both include a Basilica visit and its audio guide.
Yes, while places remain. Tickets are sold at the Portico Desk and souvenir-shop ticket offices. You still need to pass security checks.
Tours
These tours add a guide for the Basilica visit and include dome access. Basilica entry alone is free. The official online dome tickets include the Basilica's audio guide.
Basilica, crypt and dome
From €50 for a 2-hour English tour, against €17 by stairs or €22 with the lift direct. It includes the Basilica and crypt with a reserved dome ticket; you climb the dome on your own.
from €50 per adult
See the tourBasilica, papal tombs and dome
From €55 for an English Basilica and tombs tour with headsets, followed by dome access. Official dome entry costs €17 by stairs or €22 with the lift if you do not need a live guide.
from €55 per adult
See the tourBasilica, papal tombs and dome
From €169 for 2.5 hours with a guide, starting with the dome before the Basilica and tombs. Compare €17 by stairs or €22 with the lift direct if you prefer to visit independently.
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.
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