A visit to St Peter’s Basilica and climbing to the top of the dome (cupola) should be a must do on any trip to Rome. Here is all you need to know about how to climb to the top for spectacular views over city.
The hour or so I spent at St Peter’s Basilica was one of the highlights of my trip to Rome. I didn’t even know it was possible to climb to the top of the dome until I read about it on a travel blog. So I’m glad I did some research beforehand. It really is an experience not to be missed in Rome.
Visiting St Peter’s Basilica
Like most visitors to Rome, seeing the Sistine Chapel was high on my wish list of things to do. Having heard lots of horror stories about the crowds and shuffling through as though you were on London Underground’s Central Line in rush hour I knew I wanted to avoid that.
So I booked the earliest ‘early access/skip the line’ tour I could find. As well as being able to access the Sistine Chapel before the Vatican ‘officially’ opened it meant by the time the tour finished I could visit St Peter’s Basilica while it was still relatively early.
When my 5.30am alarm jolted me awake I began to wonder if such an early tour was a good idea. However, if you want to see Rome without the crowds an early start is a must.
As the taxi wound its way through the empty streets, Rome was just beginning to wake for the day. Cafe’s were starting to open for the breakfast rush, early commuters were heading to work and the odd tourist was enjoying the calm before the crowds descended.
After finding our guide in the organised chaos of numerous tour groups all seeming to have the same meeting point outside the Vatican we headed to the doors ready for opening.
Our group came runner up in the rush to get in and navigate security. After a whistle stop tour of some of the highlights of the Vatican Museum we arrived at the Sistine Chapel. Probably best left as a topic for another blog post but safe to say it was worth every euro of the early access tour price.
The tour finished with a brief look around St Peter’s Basilica and a suggestion that we head straight to the ticket office if we wanted to climb the dome.
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How to climb the St Peter’s dome
Entry into St Peter’s Basilica itself is free however there is a small fee if you wish to climb the dome. Tickets can be purchased from a ticket office by the side of the basilica, near the short cut exit from the Sistine chapel.
With two ways to reach the top, there are two ticket options. The full climb, which is 551 steps so not for the fainthearted. Or a half climb where you can take a lift up the first part and then climb the rest, this leaves around 320 steps to tackle.
After such an early start there was only one option. The lift takes just a few minutes to get to the roof level at the base of the dome. Well worth the extra small fee.
Upon leaving the lift you reach an interior balcony inside the basilica that looks down over the alter. Up here you get a real feel for the scale and grandeur of the basilica. You are also almost within touching distance of the magnificent mosaics. They look spectacular from the ground but up close you can really see the detail.
If you are lucky enough to be up there while a service is taking place you will heard the sound soar up to the roof. It really is quite something to be overlooking the nave and hearing the sound reverberate around the basilica. A really magical experience.
Leaving the gallery takes you to an outside terrace at the base of the dome. Here you can look out past the Jesus and the Apostles, the huge statues at the front of the facade, over St Peter’s Square.
There is cafe on the terrace serving drinks, ice creams and snacks. A welcome break on the climb up or the descent. Or you can pick up a memento of your climb in the small gift shop.
As I was trying to get to the top before the crowds, I headed straight up to the next part of the climb, the dome itself.
This stage involved a narrow staircase with sloping walls indicating you were winding your way to the top of the dome. The higher you climb the more narrower they seem to become.
It was easy to get quite dizzy walking up the stairs, the walls felt like they were closing in at times. If you get claustrophobic easily you might want to think twice about the climb as it could get pretty uncomfortable.
View from St Peter’s Basilica Dome
The stairs seem never ending but eventually you reach the top. Walking out in the fresh air, bright sunlight you are greeted with a spectacular panoramic view over Rome. The Vatican’s private gardens, St Peter’s Square and many of Rome’s famous landmarks sweep out in front of you.
The top is fully enclosed with a fairly narrow space to move round. You wouldn’t want to be up there when it’s too crowded, it would probably get uncomfortable quite quickly. However, if you go first thing in the morning (or maybe towards the end of the day) you should find it not too crowded – by Rome standards anyway!
I was there around 9.30am in the peak summer season and it was still fairly quiet with plenty of space. However, when leaving around half hour later it was beginning to get busy. So timing is everything.
Heading back down to the ground is via a different set of stairs, starting with a tight spiral staircase. Using a different route means there is no congestion with people heading up to the top. The descent down ends inside the middle of the basilica. So if you haven’t had a look around now is your chance.
How to buy St Peter’s Basilica Dome tickets
Tickets are not available to buy online. You will need to buy them in person at the kiosk just outside the basilica.
There are two options (prices correct as of June 2019)
- The full climb (551 steps) – €8
- Half climb (lift and 320 steps) €10
For the experience and the views over Rome this is a steal and worth every euro!
Tips for climbing St Peter’s Dome
- Pick the time you visit carefully. I would recommend going early or late in the day to try avoid the crowds. You don’t want to spend hours queuing for a ticket and to get in. Or to have the experience spoilt by it being overcrowded and uncomfortable. However, keep in mind Rome can be very busy particularly in the summer season so it will be impossible to avoid crowds completely.
- Take cash to buy your ticket. The ticket office doesn’t take cash.
- Wear your comfortable shoes. Whether you climb 320 or 551 steps it can be quite hard going at times. So think of your feet in advance and make sure you wear the right footwear. Your feet will thank you.
- Carry a water bottle with you. The climb can be a bit hard going even if you are reasonable fit. Particularly with the narrow spiral stairs. Plus it can get quite hot and even a little claustrophobic so have some water on hand just in case.
- Spend a little time at the top. After going to all that effort to climb then you want to make the most of being at the top. Not least to get your breath back. Take in the panoramic view of Rome, it’s likely a once in a lifetime experience.
The last word
Climbing the dome of St Peter’s Basilica is one of many highlights of a trip to the Vatican. While you do need a reasonable level of fitness to climb all the steps the reward of the view over Rome is well worth the effort.
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