The one that starts on the roof: St Peter's dome first for the view to the sea, then the whole Basilica and the papal tombs beneath it, then the Museums and a panel by panel Sistine Chapel. Priority tickets, dome climb and guide are included at €159 per person. The final ascent is a steep, narrow staircase.
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.
This tour runs Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat, departing at 08:00. It runs year-round. These are the operator’s scheduled departures, not a live seat count: availability is confirmed at checkout. Schedule last checked September 12, 2026.
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
The tour concludes on St. Peter's Square beside St. Peter's Basilica.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
| 1+ days | Full refund |
| 0-1 days | No refund |