What to do · Rome
Climbing St Peter's Dome
Information
- Duration
- 1 h 15
- Season
- All year; in winter 7:30 to 17:00
- Who it's for
- No claustrophobia
You climb on foot or by lift to the basilica's terrace and continue by stairs between the two shells of Michelangelo's dome to the outer gallery, more than a hundred metres above the square. You book a time on the basilica's website, and the booking includes entry to the church.
What you see and why it matters
The dome was designed by Michelangelo, who began the work in 1546 and died in 1564 without seeing it closed. Giacomo della Porta and Domenico Fontana finished it in 22 months, from 1588, with about 800 workmen. It measures 133.30 m from the street to the cross and 41.50 m in diameter inside.
The climb has two viewpoints. The first is the inner ring, a gallery at the foot of the drum from which you look down at Bernini's baldacchino and the basilica floor, with the dome's mosaics an arm's length away. The second is the outer gallery, at the top: the square and Bernini's colonnade at your feet, Via della Conciliazione towards the Tiber and, on clear days, the Castelli Romani and the sea.
What the climb is like
There are two options: with a lift up to the terrace or all by stairs. The lift only saves you the first stretch. From the terrace, where the base of the dome is, a staircase of more than 300 steps continues, narrowing and tilting along the curve between the two vaults, and ends in a spiral staircase. There is no turning back halfway and no lift in the upper part. If you have vertigo or claustrophobia, or knee or heart problems, do not do it.
Allow between an hour and an hour and a half for the climb, the two galleries and the descent. From the terrace you go back down into the basilica.
Opening hours
- Dome: from 26 October 2026 to 28 March 2027, 7:30 to 17:00. In the summer timetable, 7:00 to 18:00.
- Basilica: 7:00 to 19:00 in winter and until 20:00 in summer.
The dome may close earlier when it is crowded or for ceremonies, and there are occasional closures on days of major papal events. Check the basilica's opening times page before going.
Tickets and booking
You book on the basilica's official website (basilicasanpietro.va), on the dome's page, with one of the two options. The booking includes the dome time, access to both rings and the visit to the basilica with a digital audio guide. Your entry to the church is given an hour before or after your dome time, depending on expected crowds: it is in the confirmation email. The website shows the price when you choose the option; there is also a package with the digital exhibition Pétros ení. Be wary of street sellers.
Getting there
The basilica is in St Peter's Square. The nearest metro station is Ottaviano, on line A, about ten minutes' walk along Via di Porta Angelica. By car it makes no sense: there is nowhere to leave it nearby. You pass a security check under the colonnade before entering.
It is a church: keep shoulders and knees covered and bring a small bag, because on the narrow stairs any bulk is a nuisance. If on the same trip you are going to the Vatican Museums, leave them for another day or go up the dome first thing: together they make a very long day.
Tips
- Go up first thing The dome opens at 7:30 in winter. Before nine the staircase is clear and the morning light comes straight into the square.
- Take the lift even if you are fit It saves you the least interesting stretch and you reach the narrow part, which is the one that counts, with fresh legs.
- Look at the baldacchino from the inner ring It is the only time you will see the basilica from above: stop there before going further up.
Frequently asked questions
Do you have to book the dome?
Yes, on the basilica's website, with a time. The booking also includes the visit to the church with a digital audio guide.
Does the lift go all the way to the top?
No. It only goes up to the terrace. From there more than 300 steps remain on foot, some narrow and sloping.
Can children go up?
They can, but the climb is long and narrow and does not allow pushchairs or large baby carriers. Think it over with small children or anyone who feels uneasy in enclosed spaces.
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