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Rome...climbing Dome in St. Peter's Basilica

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One of my must do's is climb up to the top of the Dome in St. Peter's Basilica. I don't know if there will be time to do this while on V/F/R tour with Rick Steve's at the Vatican so I am so seeing which is better option:

  1. Return on a separate day after tour ends and pay the 5 euros
  2. Book another tour of st Peter's basilica which gain access to this
  3. Take a chance we will be able to fit in the climb

My worry is that without a skip the line type of tour we will waste time in line. I understand cost difference but I wonder if they give us enough time to fit this kind of experience in...

Any other options I am not thinking of...please feel free to share...thanks!

Posted by
567 posts

Which tour will you be in Rome?
This May the VFR (Venice-Florence-Rome) tour allowed the remainder of the day and evening to do what we wanted at the Vatican.
This speciifc tour takes you to Vatican Musuem first, then a tour of the Vatican, then you're free to ROME!

My best suggestion is do it the day you go with the tour. Why? The queue to get a ticket, the wait time to go up to the Dome, the added cost, and maximizing your time are practical reasons why you should do it the same day the tour takes you there.

You don't say what month you'll be there. I've been in late October and early May. More and more people are traveling today.
I think it will be crowded no matter when you go, perhaps January & February have least amount of tourists.

Posted by
567 posts

Correction. After the Vatican Museum I mean the next tour was St.Peter's Basilica.

Posted by
37 posts

Hi there...here is some more info...

V/F/R July 17-26

Does this mean when they give us our own time we can go ahead and make our way to climb the dome? I suspect we will need to line up and pay our way...I understand paying but I don't quite understand if we will need to line up to do so? Either way...it is what it is!

Posted by
4152 posts

Yes, you will line up to pay and line up to make the climb. If you take the elevator you'll line up for that as well.

Donna

Posted by
12112 posts

You do not specify which tour you are on, but a quick check of an itinerary that includes Rome and personal experience, is that the RS tour at the Vatican ends around noon and the rest of the day is your free time. This give you plenty of time to do the dome.

We paid the fee for the elevator. Definitely worth it.

I do not recall seeing a skip the line alternative for the dome. You just get in line , pay the fee then wait your turn for the elevator.

When we went the lines moved at a reasonable pace and did not feel like we wasted an inordinate amount of time for our turn.

Posted by
490 posts

I would decide on the spot, given how you are feeling...it will be very HOT and The Vatican is a demanding amount of walking.

Enjoy!

Posted by
490 posts

I would decide on the spot, given how you are feeling...it will be very HOT and The Vatican is a demanding amount of walking.

Enjoy!

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