St. Peter’s Basilica Tickets and Tours

Top Tickets for St. Peter’s Basilica

St. Peter’s Basilica and Dome Entry Ticket

• Ascend 136 meters above the Vatican City by elevator to enjoy the view from the Dome! See the mosaics painted on the dome up close and discover its history from the audio guide. 
• Follow the professional audio guide and discover the backstories of 27 St. Peter’s Basilica highlights, including La Pieta and Bernini’s unique Baldacchino.
• Explore the Basilica at your own pace and discover all its hidden treasures and secrets, even the stories behind the mosaics and pavements!

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St. Peter’s Basilica Guided Tour with Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel

• Skip all entry queues to discover Rome’s artistic history at the Vatican Museum and explore all famous rooms, including the Belvedere Courtyard and Pio Clementino Museum.
• Admire the marvels of the Sistine Chapel ceiling by Michelangelo, and discover the biblical stories of the Last Judgement altar wall.
• Discover St. Peter’s Basilica’s most famous highlights and dive into the religious and artistic history with a guide by your side at all times.

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St. Peter’s Basilica Guided Tour with Papal Tombs and Dome Access

• Admire St. Peter’s Basilica’s most stunning highlights, like the La Pieta and the marvelous dome’s architecture from the inside designed by Michelangelo.
• Ascend to the dome and enjoy a closer look at the overlooked ceiling mosaics before climbing to the top balcony to spot Rome’s other famous attractions.
• Follow your guide’s lead and descend to the Vatican Grottoes under the Basilica to reverence St. Peter’s tomb and see the 4th-century ancient frescos. 

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About St. Peter’s Basilica

St. Peter’s Basilica is known as the biggest church in the world, built over the burial site of St. Peter, the main Apostle of Jesus, from where it gets its name.

Over 10 million people have visited the Basilica annually since 1615 to see its stunning architectural dome and interior Baroque art designed by famous Renaissance architects.

Pilgrims flock to the church to get blessings from the Pope and attend high mass during the Christmas and Easter festive seasons.

Below the Basilica also lay the tombs of 91 Popes in Vatican Grottoes from the 4th century and the Vatican Necropolis.

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Plan Your Visit

Opening Hours

St. Peter’s Basilica opens from 7 am to 7 pm on all days, from April to September.

You can visit the Basilica from 7 am to 6.30 pm from October to February. 

St. Peter’s Basilica Opening Hours

How To Reach

St. Peter’s Basilica, located in Piazza San Pietro, has the highest dome, making it easy to spot from all over the city. 

There are no public transportation services in the Vatican City, but Rome has some excellent services that will get you within walking distance from the Basilica.

Metro Accessibility:

• Ottaviano S. Pietro Metro Station is the closest stop, at a 12-minute walk away.

Bus Services:

• Bus lines 64, 116, 40, 46, 62, 70, 81, 87, 492, and 982 will get you close to the Basilica.

Dress Code

Following St. Peter’s Basilica’s dress code, visitors must wear modest clothes that cover their shoulders, knees and midriff, irrespective of gender. 

Clothes that expose your shoulders and knees are not allowed in the Basilica.

Avoid wearing hats, caps, or sunglasses when entering this sacred space. 

St. Peter’s Basilica Dress Code

Entrances

The Basilica has one main entrance on the front, which is used by most visitors.

You can easily spot this entrance from St. Peter’s Square.

If you want to get to this entrance quickly, we recommend entering the Vatican City through the Via della Concillazione entrance.

Apart from the main entrance, you can also find another small hidden entrance door on the Sistine Chapel’s right side that leads to the Basilica directly.

However, visitors are prohibited from using this entrance. 

Entry to other parts of the Basilica is from: 

• To the top of the Dome: On the right side of the Basilica near the Ticket Office.
• To the Sacristy and Treasury Museum: Under Pope Pius VIII’s Monument on the left of the Basilica.  
• To the Vatican Necropolis: Guided underground entrance. 
• Vatican Grotto entrance: Near the statue of Saints Helen and Andrew. 
• Bronze Door entrance: This northernmost entrance is only open on the first day of the Jubilee year. 
• Guided Tour entry: On the Basilica’s south side. 

Rules:

• No selfies or professional photography is allowed in the Basilica. 
• Food items and beverages are not allowed inside the space.
• Every visitor must go through the security checks.
• Pets cannot enter the Basilica.
• Large bags and suitcases are not allowed in the Basilica and can be left behind in the Vatican Museum cloakroom.
• Maintain silence. 
• Do not carry sharp items, weapons, or one-fold umbrellas to the Basilica.
• Smoking and alcoholic beverages must be left behind. 

• You can visit the Tourist Information desk if you want to book a free last-minute tour but cannot find tickets online for your day of visit. The tour lasts for 90 minutes. 
• Don’t leave Vatican City if you finish in the evening, as you can see the entire Basilica and square lit up after sunset. 
• Visitors with claustrophobia should avoid the Necropolis, which must always be humid to prevent soil disintegration.
• Don’t forget to look at the Basilica left mosaic to see the actual spot where St. Peter was crucified in Nero’s Circus! 
• The Basilica might be closed on random days with no advance information, so be prepared for this possibility. 
• You will see many lines leading to the entrance of the Basilica. Try to avoid the main line, as it takes longer to move since it keeps absorbing the crowd from the other sidelines. 
• Bring a zoom camera lens to capture scenic photos from the dome. A wide-angle lens will only capture the surrounding wire fence, which is too high to avoid capturing.
• Wear comfortable shoes to cover enough distance and stand comfortably in long entrance queues. 
• If your tour ends early, you can still continue to explore the Basilica afterward.

Highlights

The Dome

The oculus dome, inspired by the Roman Pantheon, is the world’s tallest dome, standing at a height of 449 feet from the floor, designed by famous architect Michelangelo Buonarotti.

St. Peter’s Altar

Standing at the center of the Basilica is a circular altar constructed by Lorenzo Bernini, having the relic chair of St. Peter and the famous Baldacchino. It is only used for mass by the Pope.  

Vatican Grottoes

The resting place of 91 Popes and other royalties is decorated with artifacts and is divided into many chapel areas. You can also see St. Peter’s Tomb here. 

Michelangelo’s La Pieta

It is an intricately carved life-like sculpture of Mother Mary holding the body of a crucified Jesus in her lap by Michelangelo between 1499 and 1500, inspiring millions of artists worldwide.

Bernini’s Baldacchino 

Standing over the main altar, the Baldacchino is a massive 95-foot tall gold and bronze canopy-like structure with the house of Bernini’s coat of arms and other delicate carvings.

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Featured image: Nick Fewings on Unsplash