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Rome: The Original Entire Vatican Tour & St. Peter's Dome Climb

4.81,823 reviewsVatican Museums

  • 4h 30m
  • Skip the line
  • Free cancellation up to 24h before
  • Guided in English

Highlights

Less than 1% of Vatican visitors ascend St. Peter's Dome, this is a remarkable statistic so for this reason we have decided to take it from the top! Meet your expert Vatican guide by St. Peter's Square. Sacred stairs (and an elevator) will carry you up to St. Peter's Terrace from where you will see all of Rome and even the Tyrrhenian Sea! Back on terra firma you will tour the entirety of St. Peter's Basilica too. Take a break before making the short walk to our Vatican meeting point for your second tour of the Vatican City and Sistine Chapel! Get fast track access to the masterpieces which make the Vatican Museums absolutely must-see when in Rome.

Inclusions

What's included

  • Full tour of entire St. Peter's Basilica covering all the major works of art and sculpture therein
  • Get into the Vatican Museums fast with our no-line priority access ticket and a local expert guide
  • St. Peter's Dome Climb to the top of Michelangelo's Cupola for truly amazing views of Rome!
  • Immersive Sistine Chapel inside experience and a panel-by-panel tour of Michelangelo's ceiling
  • Tour of little-known Papal Sarcophagi beneath St. Peter's Basilica which we call "Vatacombs"
  • Catch all the classic and ancient sculptures inside world famous chambers, halls and galleries

What's not

  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Gratuities

Itinerary

  1. Meet your expert Vatican tour guide on the threshold of St. Peter's Square and make your way across marble paving to the steps which wind up and around the dome. There are 551 in total so of course this is too much exertion for most. We take the elevator part of the way which cuts the step count by a sizable 171, leaving 380.

    30 min

  2. From St. Peter's Square, enter the passageways which lead up to the top of Michelangelo's magnificent dome for superb views of the Vatican City and Rome.

    1 hAdmission included

  3. A fully guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica follows your dome climb. It's one of the most beautiful buildings in the world and it will leave a profound impression upon your soul.

    1 hAdmission included

  4. Vast museums inside the Vatican City which house many thousands of ancient works of art and sculpture. The most important museum complex in the world!

    1.5 hAdmission included

  5. Take in Michelangelo's masterpieces including the Creation of Adam and the Last Judgement.

    20 minAdmission included

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

4.8

  • 51,590
  • 4131
  • 361
  • 221
  • 115

Ratings come from 1,818 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Know before you go

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
Pickup
Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
Ticket type
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group size
Up to 20 travellers
Operated by
ItaliaTours
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Specialized infant seats are available
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • Dress comfortably, shoulders and knees must be covered for both men and women.
  • On days immediately surrounding religious holidays at the Vatican, alterations to tours may become necessary due to partial closings of areas normally included in this tour. In the event that the Papal tombs beneath St. Peter's Basilica are closed, the tour of the Basilica itself will be extended and no refunds made
  • Due to the route covered and/or transportation used, it is not possible to participate in this tour using a wheelchair, scooter, or other aid.
  • The final ascent by foot requires climbing 320 somewhat steep steps in a confined area. People suffering from claustrophobia or any other health conditions are advised to remain on the terrace level.
  • Please note: This description is provided as a general example. Actual experiences may vary slightly depending on the season, local conditions, and other factors beyond our control.

How it compares in Rome

  • Its from-price is 29% below the median of the 610 city tours we list in Rome.
  • It is longer than most of them.
  • By number of reviews it ranks 6 of 610.
  • The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Rome

Rome layers nearly three thousand years of history into one walkable city, from the Colosseum and Forum to Baroque piazzas and Vatican art.

Ancient Rome is still in plain sight. The Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill sit together at the city's heart, the Pantheon still stands with its open oculus, and fragments of temples and aqueducts turn up between apartment blocks. Across the Tiber, Vatican City holds St Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums and Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling.

Top-ranked sights in Rome: Colosseum, Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel.

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