Religious Sites

St. Peter's Basilica Dome Tickets with Audio Guide

Dome and ornate ceiling of St. Peter’s Basilica with sunlight streaming through windows.

Ceiling fresco inside St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, depicting religious figures and ornate details.

Visitor admiring the ornate interior of St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City.

St. Peter's Basilica altar with ornate columns and golden artwork, Vatican City.

Duration

3 hr

Open today

Audio guide

Enhance your experience with multilingual audio guide

Discover St. Peter's Basilica with an engaging audio guide and access to Rome's best vantage point—Cupola’s Peak.

The freedom to discover all of St. Peter's Basilica with an insightful multilingual audio guide and tickets to scale its iconic dome.

No need to sweat those 171 steps to the Cupola. Your ticket includes an elevator ride to get you to the Dome’s base with ease.

Climb to the top for exclusive vistas of the Vatican Gardens, Sistine Chapel roof, Papal election chimney, and more at 136 meters above the city.

To get insights into the symbolism of every artwork in the world’s largest Church and its Dome, tune into the audio guide available in 6 languages.

Did you know? St. Peter’s Basilica is home to over 100 tombs, of which 91 belong to popes, royalties, and noblemen.

Entry to St. Peter's Basilica Dome

Access by elevator to the base and stairs to the top

Audio guide in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish & Chinese

Digital map of the Vatican area

Assistance at the meeting point

Smartphone and earphones

Skip-the-line access

Live guide

These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

3.6
345 ratings
How do we collect reviews?
These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.
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Guests from Germany, France, United States and over 10 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Karen
Apr 2025
Verified booking
3/5
The Basilica was fabulous but spoilt by troubles with audio guide. The audio guide voxcity, which you in your blurb said down load. The guide said this wasn't good so downloaded pop guide. When using it was going on items I hadn't chosen moving up and down in the end we gave up with it.
Yvonne
Apr 2025
Verified booking
4/5
It was great to get breakfast "to go". Admission was quick and uncomplicated. It wasn't so nice that we booked an audio guide and didn't get it. When asked, we were told: you'll get it later. Later you suddenly had to leave and didn't see anyone from the organization...
Caitriona
Apr 2025
Verified booking
3/5
The Vatican was stunning of course, you couldn't go to Rome and not visit it at least once in your lifetime. But, we didn't expect to spend an hour and a half queueing before we got in. Queueing to get a sticker at the meeting place, queueing across the road, queueing outside the Vatican, queueing for security, queueing to get elevator. I dread to think what it's like in peak season.
Marcellus
Apr 2025
Verified booking
5/5
To look above everything else ip a very historic place!
Patrick
Apr 2025
Verified booking
5/5
Breathtaking view and staircase

Prepare yourself for a journey through the heart of Papal history, Roman architecture, and Christian symbolism at St. Peter's Basilica and its Dome! With a digital audio guide and map included, you’ll go at your own pace and explore the Basilica and the Cupola from the convenience of your phone.

Best of Basilica from the Dome

Your adventure begins with an elevator ride to Cupola's base. The frescos, Corinthian pillars, cornices, and frieze, all set the stage for an extraordinary ascend to the base. The base gives you the best views of the sacred spaces of the Basilica—the 95-ft bronze baldachin covering the Papal Altar or St. Peter’s tomb. Be captivated by the craftsmanship of Ambrogio Buonvicino's bronze statues of the Apostles Peter and Paul, standing as guardians of this sacred space. Don’t miss Bernini's stained-glass window, casting an ethereal glow over the gilded Apse. But the real highlight? Pope Clement VIII's meticulously adorned dome. From the outstretched hand of Christ to the busts of Popes and apostles, every detail narrates Michelangelo's vision and Rome's spiritual and artistic heritage.

Views from Rome’s highest peak

Ascend to Cupola's peak, called "La Lanterna," for panoramic views of the Eternal City. From the Vatican Gardens to the Tiber River, view Rome's iconic landmarks from a whole new perspective. Catch a glimpse of the formidable Castel Sant'Angelo, Victor Emmanuel II Monument, and the Pantheon’s dome.

Our audio guide, available in seven languages, will be your trusted companion as you start this artistic and spiritual exploration of St. Peter's Basilica and Dome.

Vatican Museums

Monday	08:00am - 08:00pm	last entry 06:00pm
Tuesday	08:00am - 08:00pm	last entry 06:00pm
Wednesday	08:00am - 08:00pm	last entry 06:00pm
Thursday	08:00am - 08:00pm	last entry 06:00pm
Friday	08:00am - 08:00pm	last entry 06:00pm
Saturday	08:00am - 08:00pm	last entry 06:00pm
Sunday	Closed

St Peter's Basilica

Monday	07:00am - 07:10pm
Tuesday	07:00am - 07:10pm
Wednesday	07:00am - 07:10pm
Thursday	07:00am - 07:10pm
Friday	07:00am - 07:10pm
Saturday	07:00am - 07:10pm
Sunday	07:00am - 07:10pm

What to bring

Scan the QR code on your voucher to download the sightseeing app and audio guide prior to arrival.

Don’t forget your trusty earphones for an immersive audio guide experience.

What's not allowed

Entry to the Vatican adheres to a strict dress code: shoulders and knees must be covered, low-cut or sleeveless tops and shorts are not permitted for both men and women. Visitors that do not adhere to the dress code could be denied entry to the Vatican.

Mobile phones must remain on silent mode inside the Basilica.

Accessibility

This experience is not accessible by wheelchair and pram/strollers.

Please note that the elevator will take you to the first level of the Dome, but reaching the top involves a 300-step climb. For this reason, this experience is not recommended for children under 7 years and adults over 75 years, or those who have claustrophobia, vertigo or difficulty walking.

Additional information

Expect a long wait at security, especially during peak times. Patience is key, it could take over 2 hours! Tune into your audio guide to pass the time.

While the main entrance to the Basilica is free, a few attractions inside like the Dome require tickets.

At the time you have booked, meet a staff member at Borgo Santo Spirito, 17 (Al San Michele), who can help you download the app, and will escort you to the Vatican security line.

Entry to the Vatican requires a security check. During high seasons, queues for security checks may take up to 150 minutes

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.

Please arrive at the redemption point 15 mins before the scheduled time of your visit to avoid any delays.

Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the redemption point.

Ticket redemption point

Please check your final voucher for the meeting point details and specific instructions.