Rome Guided Tour of St. Peter's Dome Climb, Basilica & Vatacombs
by ItaliaTours
Choose from 1 available option
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$138Overview
Starting early to avoid the crowds, this guided walking tour begins at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City. Guests meet their Vatican expert and enter St. Peter’s Basilica as it opens. From there, the tour includes a climb of St. Peter’s Dome. Visitors take an elevator partway up, then climb the remaining 380 steps to reach the summit. At the top, the guide points out landmarks across Vatican City, Rome, and beyond while guests enjoy wide views. After descending from the dome, the tour continues with a full guided visit inside St. Peter’s Basilica. The guide highlights the artistic and architectural features of this large historic church. The final part of the tour leads to the Vatacombs below the basilica, a set of grottoes containing papal crypts and sculpted effigies created by renowned artists over centuries. This 2.5-hour cultural tour covers the climb, the basilica visit, and the underground crypts. It includes entrance to St. Peter’s Basilica and the dome climb with an expert Vatican guide. Visitors should be prepared for moderate exertion during the climb and dress with shoulders and knees covered. Water is recommended for the ascent. The tour does not provide hotel pickup and excludes gratuities and entrance to the Necropolis (Scavi). Wheelchair or scooter access is not possible due to the dome climb and route taken.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
St. Peter's Square
Guests meet the Vatican guide at St. Peter's Square and proceed across the marble paving to the dome’s staircase. The dome has 551 steps in total, but the tour uses an elevator to skip 171 steps, leaving 380 for the climb.
30 min
St. Peter's Basilica
From the square, visitors enter the basilica and ascend the passageways to the top of Michelangelo's dome, where views of Vatican City and Rome can be seen.
60 min
St. Peter's Basilica
Following the dome climb, the guide leads a full tour inside St. Peter's Basilica, highlighting its architectural and artistic elements.
60 min
Meeting point
Meet at 7:45 AM for 8:00 AM departure by the Tiare fountain (Fontana delle Tiare), just beneath Largo del Colonnato and in front of the pillars which run around Saint Peter's Square. Your guide will be holding an ItaliaTours signboard. Google maps link: https://goo.gl/maps/vZvCNgmmozFLnzT3A
End point
The tour concludes on St. Peter's Square beside St. Peter's Basilica.
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.
Additional info
Rome Guided Tour of St. Peter's Dome Climb, Basilica & Vatacombs
by ItaliaTours
Choose from 1 available option
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$138Overview
Starting early to avoid the crowds, this guided walking tour begins at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City. Guests meet their Vatican expert and enter St. Peter’s Basilica as it opens. From there, the tour includes a climb of St. Peter’s Dome. Visitors take an elevator partway up, then climb the remaining 380 steps to reach the summit. At the top, the guide points out landmarks across Vatican City, Rome, and beyond while guests enjoy wide views. After descending from the dome, the tour continues with a full guided visit inside St. Peter’s Basilica. The guide highlights the artistic and architectural features of this large historic church. The final part of the tour leads to the Vatacombs below the basilica, a set of grottoes containing papal crypts and sculpted effigies created by renowned artists over centuries. This 2.5-hour cultural tour covers the climb, the basilica visit, and the underground crypts. It includes entrance to St. Peter’s Basilica and the dome climb with an expert Vatican guide. Visitors should be prepared for moderate exertion during the climb and dress with shoulders and knees covered. Water is recommended for the ascent. The tour does not provide hotel pickup and excludes gratuities and entrance to the Necropolis (Scavi). Wheelchair or scooter access is not possible due to the dome climb and route taken.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
St. Peter's Square
Guests meet the Vatican guide at St. Peter's Square and proceed across the marble paving to the dome’s staircase. The dome has 551 steps in total, but the tour uses an elevator to skip 171 steps, leaving 380 for the climb.
30 min
St. Peter's Basilica
From the square, visitors enter the basilica and ascend the passageways to the top of Michelangelo's dome, where views of Vatican City and Rome can be seen.
60 min
St. Peter's Basilica
Following the dome climb, the guide leads a full tour inside St. Peter's Basilica, highlighting its architectural and artistic elements.
60 min
Meeting point
Meet at 7:45 AM for 8:00 AM departure by the Tiare fountain (Fontana delle Tiare), just beneath Largo del Colonnato and in front of the pillars which run around Saint Peter's Square. Your guide will be holding an ItaliaTours signboard. Google maps link: https://goo.gl/maps/vZvCNgmmozFLnzT3A
End point
The tour concludes on St. Peter's Square beside St. Peter's Basilica.
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.