The Original St. Peter's Dome Climb, Basilica & Vatacombs

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Instant Confirmation

2 hours -

Vatican City

Basic Information

Magpie ID: NDGMAR

Category: Tours & Sightseeing

Trip difficultly: Moderate

Currency: USD

Language: English

TimeZone: (GMT+01:00) Rome

Booking Cutoff: 0 hours before start time

Highlights

Tour St. Peter’s Basilica literally from top to bottom with this exclusive guided tour 
 Experience a view of Rome like no other from Michaelangelo’s majestic dome—the tallest on earth! 
Visit the “Vatacombs,” the eerie resting place of former popes beneath St. Peter’s Basilica

Included

Unique experience at the summit of the world's tallest dome with an expert Vatican tour guide
Incredible views of Rome and far beyond which most visitors to the Vatican never see
Beat the crowds by getting an early start inside St. Peter's
Marvel at astonishing works of art and architecture

Excluded

Food and drink
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Gratuities
Necropolis (scavi)

Commentary

Guide: English, Spanish, French

Summary Description

Begin your day at the Vatican with an ascent to the top of St. Peter's Dome where you’ll take in the most unforgettable view of Rome before entering the Basilica to marvel at masterpieces by Michelangelo and Bernini.

Description

Beat the crowds at St. Peter's Basilica as it opens for the day. Take the lift partway up and make the final ascent on foot—the reward at the top is worth it. Feast your eyes on Vatican City and greater Rome from the tallest dome in the world! Back on terra firma we enter the majestic St. Peter's Basilica. Fully experience this triumph of art and architecture that's unmatched anywhere else on earth, where Bernini's brilliance and Michelangelo's genius rise above papal tombs and the necropolis of St. Peter himself.

Meet your expert Vatican guide by St. Peter's Square and leave Rome behind you as you cross into Vatican City and enter St. Peter’s Basilica just as it opens to the public. Once inside, get ready to take in the most spectacular views of Rome as the elevator carries you up to the terrace level of the basilica (or walk if you prefer and earn yourself a gelato later)!

At the terrace level you can decide whether to relax and take in the view or climb the remaining 320 steps up to the summit, where the breathtaking view of Rome and beyond is simply unforgettable. Your guide will point out all the most interesting historical landmarks in every direction, be they in Vatican City, the wider city of Rome, or further afield. At this point, take as many photographs as you can; you’re a very long way up and it’s a once-in-a-lifetime climb, so don’t hold back!

As what goes up must come down, join us on a descent into the lower level of the basilica to experience the “Vatacombs,” a series of grottoes containing papal crypts and effigies crafted by the most celebrated artists of the centuries. Next on this adventure will be an in-depth tour of St. Peter’s Basilica—an absolute triumph of art and architecture unmatched anywhere else on earth. This is where Bernini’s brilliance and Michelangelo’s genius rise above holy papal tombs and the necropolis of St. Peter himself.

Start / End Location

Start Location: 1 Largo del Colonnato, Largo del Colonnato, RM

Start Location Notes:

Start Location Direction:

End Location: 1 Piazza Papa Pio XII, Piazza Papa Pio XII, Roma

End Location Notes:

End Location Direction:

Points of interest

Know before you book

The final ascent by foot to the dome summit requires climbing 320 somewhat steep steps in a confined area. People suffering from claustrophobia or any other health conditions that could pose a problem should strongly consider remaining at the terrace level.
Due to the route covered and/or the means of transportation used, it is not possible to participate in this tour using a wheelchair, scooter, or other aid. Please contact us to inquire about customized tour options for guests with mobility challenges.
Prefer to book a private tour instead? Contact us for details.

Know before you go

Check-in on site at St. Peter’s (full details will be sent with your tour confirmation)
Shoulders and knees must be covered for both men and women
Due to the special events and ceremonies associated with the Vatican's Jubilee Year 2025, access to St. Peter's Basilica might be restricted. These closures are decided by the Vatican and are outside our control.
Powerbanks are not allowed inside the Vatican museums. Please leave them at the cloakroom or at our office before the visit.

Cancellation

Cancellation Policy: standard
Cancellation Cut-off: 72 hours
Cancellation Notes: Tours depart rain or shine unless otherwise specified. All cancellations must be received in writing to [email protected]. The cancellation policy for this item is as follows: Cancellation with 72+ hours notice: full refund Cancellation with less than 72 hours notice: no refunds or exceptions will be made Failure to reach the meeting point on time (no-show) is equivalent to cancellation with less than 72 hours notice. *If you've chosen the Hassle-Free Cancellation policy during checkout, cancel your tour anytime up to midnight of the day before it begins for a full refund, excluding the Trip Protection fee. Remember to notify us of your cancellation in writing before midnight (Rome time) on the night before your tour.

Terms and Conditions

Terms and Conditions:

Tours depart promptly at the scheduled time, while public transport throughout Italy can be unreliable. Allow plenty of time to get from your accommodation to the meeting point, or contact us to arrange for a private transfer. No refunds will be granted for failure to arrive at the meeting point on time.

Tours depart rain or shine unless otherwise specified.

CROWDING/PARTIAL CLOSINGS: During peak season and on the days surrounding national and/or religious holidays, extreme crowding can be expected at the Vatican, leading to increased wait times to pass through security checks despite our priority access as a tour operator. While this is beyond our control, we do our best to minimize any inconvenience.
St. Peter’s Basilica requires a (usually brief) security check to enter, and this cannot be avoided. While we do our best to inform guests beforehand if there are any planned disruptions to the basilica's opening hours, this is not always possible. In these cases, we are unable to provide refunds or discounts.

Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by at least 1 adult to join a tour or an activity.

View complete terms and conditions at www.italiatours.com/terms.

Additional Information

Not wheelchair accessible Shoulders and knees must be covered for both men and women
On days immediately surrounding religious holidays at the Vatican, the tour may be modified due to partial closings of normally included areas
If the papal tombs beneath St. Peter's Basilica are closed, the tour of the basilica itself will be extended and no refunds made
Bring a small bottle of water with you for dome climb
Maximum 20 travelers on this tour
Tour departs rain or shine

Dress Code: Shoulders and knees must be covered for both women and men