Ultimate St. Peter's Basilica Dome Climb and Tour with Papal Crypts
Free CancellationSkip the Line
See Michelangelo's La Pietà up close and climb the dome for stunning views of Rome and the Vatican
4.93
(152)
2.5h
Max 25 Guests
Visiting St. Peter’s Basilica and its dome on your own can mean dealing with crowds and waiting in line for hours. Our early-morning tour, led by a captivating local guide, ensures you skip the hassle with privileged access and insider knowledge, including the best times to climb for awe-inspiring views. Explore the stunning Basilica, take in breathtaking panoramas, and descend into the sacred Papal Crypts for a truly immersive experience.
You’ll meet your friendly local guide and group in front of St. Peter’s Basilica soon after it opens and begin your dome climb. After taking the elevator to the first level to admire the elaborate mosaics, you can ascend the narrow, ancient stairway to the very top, where you’ll have an unbeatable view of Rome and the Vatican.
Afterwards, your guide will give you an in-depth tour inside the basilica itself, where you’ll learn its history and see the artistic masterpieces of Michelangelo...
Select participants and date
Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance!
Travelers
Passionate English-speaking guide
Climb St. Peter's Dome
St. Peter's Basilica
La Pieta
Papal Crypts
Group size of 25
Tour guide gratuities
Hotel pick-up
Wheelchair accessible
Meet your guide at Largo Del Colonnato
Your tour begins with a warm welcome from your guide at Largo Del Colonnato Square, conveniently located in the heart of the Vatican City.
1st level of St. Peter's Dome
Step out of the elevator on the dome’s lower level to witness elaborate mosaics and architectural details, as dreamed up by Michelangelo.
Top of the St. Peter's Dome
Climb 320 steps to the very top of the dome, where you’ll be rewarded with a view of the Vatican that has inspired pilgrims and poets alike.
St. Peter's Basilica
Return to the ground level to discover its opulent decorations, stunning marble statues, and gold accents that reflect its sacred status.
La Pietá
Carved from a single block of Carrara marble, this masterpiece showcases Michelangelo's skill in capturing human emotion and divine beauty.
For Reference Only. Itineraries are subject to change
Meet your guide at Largo Del Colonnato. This is the area just outside of the St. Peters Square colonnades, on the right side if you’re looking at St. Peter’s Basilica. You’ll see a friendly representative holding a “The Tour Guy” sign standing between the fountain and the green kiosk.
Comfortable shoes, a bottle of water, and a great camera!
4.93
152 Ratings
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Christine Seifert
Verified Review
April 02, 2025
Highly informative
Ethan Salleh
Verified Review
April 01, 2025
Loved this tour ... loads of historical facts and information. Highly recommended.
Pamela - George Stenger
Verified Review
March 25, 2025
Our first time to Rome, and our experience with Julius as our tour guide was amazing. He was very patient, knowledgeable and so accommodating. We recommend The Tour Guy for your tours in Rome! And early appointments are your best option, will beat the large crowds!
Joshua Young
Verified Review
March 25, 2025
Ross Daniels
Verified Review
March 22, 2025
Amazing views!
michele burke
Verified Review
March 22, 2025
Worth the climb for the views. If you’re claustrophobic, suffer from vertigo or are not in good health, you may want to pick another tour. If you think you’re in great shape…trust me…this climb will make you rethink your physical assessments. Get cleared by the cardiologist before trying. Another fantastic tour with the company. We took 9. They were all excellent
Ultimate St. Peter's Basilica Tour
DAMIAN O'MAHONY
Verified Review
March 20, 2025
We enjoyed an excellent tour and appreciated the guidance received ! Full Marks !
Cynthia Smith
Verified Review
March 15, 2025
Great tour
Amanda DeMarni
Verified Review
March 11, 2025
We thoroughly enjoyed this tour with Alba. She had lots of great information to share and lots of recommendations of other places to visit.
Wonderful experience!
iwan gunawan
Verified Review
March 03, 2025
We had a wonderful experience with this tour. Our tour guide, Patricia, was very engaging and eager to share her wealth of knowledge about St Peter's Basilica, its history, and lots of tidbits information. We climbed up to the dome, it was quite a workout, but we were rewarded with the 360 degree view from the top. It was an awesome experience.
Highly tecommended
Alice Evans
Verified Review
February 20, 2025
This is the first time I have been to the dome and crypt, although I have been to St Peter’s before. The views are spectacular, inside and outside. I got so much more out of it with a guide and with time to appreciate the beauty of the Dome.
Monti Favero
Verified Review
February 10, 2025
George Sellers
Verified Review
January 15, 2025
Jason Howe
Verified Review
January 11, 2025
Tracy Gough
Verified Review
January 05, 2025
Amit Joshi
Verified Review
January 04, 2025
The guide was very knowledgeable.
What a View
Michael Collins
Verified Review
December 30, 2024
The dome climb and crypt tour along with the visit to the Basilica itself were great. Glad we added this tour to our list.
Dennis Gee
Verified Review
December 29, 2024
Great view
Kathy Jaing
Verified Review
December 11, 2024
The view from the dome was definitely worth the climb. The tour guy was very energetic and he let us take some short breaks during the climb. He gave us plenty of time at the top of the dome to take in the view and pictures before we had to start the climb down. His commentary inside the basilica was also very informative.
Farhad Khan
Verified Review
December 08, 2024
Enjoyed the tour and Marco!
Christopher B Brown
Verified Review
December 02, 2024
Marco was very informative about all of the sites on the tour. He offered the right amount of insight without going down a "rabbit hole" with too much detail. I highly recommend the tour and Marco as a guide.
Timothy Stannard
Verified Review
December 01, 2024
Great experience with Marco
Ronny Hanafi
Verified Review
November 26, 2024
Marco is our tour leader. It has been a great experience and he is a good guy. He gives us a lot information about the tour inside the Vatican city.