Climbing St. Peter's Basilica Dome

You can buy tickets here: (English version)

https://operaduomofirenze.skiperformance.com/en/store#/en/buy

You will need to schedule a date and time to climb the dome. The tickets are also good for 3 days and include the Baptistry and the really good Duomo museum (just behind the dome) but again - you need to schedule the dome climb and the rest is included to be used whenever.

The information on the website and tickets is very informative.

Enjoy!
=Tod

Adding on - what you want is the BRUNELLESCHI PASS which includes the Duomo climb.
https://operaduomofirenze.skiperformance.com/en/store#/en/buy

The Giotto Pass includes access only to climb Giotto's Tower (which I've done) which is not scheduled.

=Tod

Hiredman, the question is about St. Peter's Dome in Rome, not the Duomo in Florence.

I climbed the dome when I was there in September and just bought tickets on site. It was a spur of the moment decision to do it so I'm not sure if tickets can be bought online or not. But it was simple enough to stand in line and get them on the day we were there. If you're facing the main entrance to St. Peters the ticket booth is around to your right. The booth seemed to be intermittently closed when we were there and we weren't sure why, but it was worth the wait. The view was awesome! The ticket line continued to form even during the times when the booth was closed.

For St. Peters Dome, as you are facing St. Peters from the big square, the lines to get in are to the right. There will be a security checkpoint for the Basilica, the grotto/crypt, and the Dome. Once past security, keep to the right and follow the signs to the ticket window.

There are two different tickets, one is steps all the way up, the other gets you use of an elevator to essentially the roof of the basilica.

You do get to go on a balcony inside, below the dome, looking onto the floor of the basilica...it is then you really get an appreciation for the massive size of the basilica.

Then you can walk, climb, nearly crawl, up the dome steps. The view is great. You can then easily get into the Basilica afterwards.

It's a good idea to plan to be there early. I went in February 10 years ago. I was one of the first - no line. When i left, there was a long line. There are limited places at the top and it seemed to me that people were being let in at about the rate other people were leaving. There is one security line for both the dome and the church, you can access either after visiting one of them as long as you don't leave the secure area.

There is a short video on this site that might be helpful; covers how to enter the basilica, and where to go for dome tickets once inside.

https://theromanguy.com/italy-travel-blog/vatican-city/st-peters-basilica/st-peters-dome/

While the Roman Guy provides a variety of tours for the Eternal City, you really don't need one for the dome. :O)

Dome climb: Husband and I climbed the Basilica Dome the end of August. I had been advised on this forum to get in line "early," so after walking from our hotel, we were in line by 9:00 a.m., to the right of the Basilica as mentioned above. There is only one line; when you get to "security checkpoint," you are directed to the line for the Basilica Dome climb; others are in line to enter the Basilica. At that hour, those climbing the Dome were in the minority.
When we got to the ticket booth, we bought tickets for the combo "elevator + stairs."
One thing I regret. When we exited the elevator, on the way up we were at the base of the dome...looking down into the Basilica, as well as up to the center of the dome. We didn't spend much time looking because I thought we'd look when we came down...NOT. The stairs down by-passed the interior of the church on the way down.
I'm not sure how busy it is this time of year, but at the end of August, the line extended all the way to the left of the Basilica by the time we exited.
Also, we were there on a Sunday. And so after climbing the Dome, we entered the Basilica where Mass had just started. I'm not Catholic, but I appreciated attending Mass in the Basilica. I think it was "high Mass," as there were a lot of Cardinals (green robe) as well as other people participating, as well as lots of singing.
Gelato: I had taken notes before our trip to Rome of gelato places, and one place "walkable from the Vatican" is the Frigidarium, where we went a couple of times. Great Gelato. Prices were lower there than some of the other gelato places we passed. Always a long line.