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Last updated: 26 June, 2023
Expert travel writer: Rebecca Winke

Commissioned by the wildly ambitious Pope Julius II, and completed in 1626, few buildings are as recognisable as this enormous, late-Renaissance basilica, majestically situated on St Peter’s Square.

As the burial site of Saint Peter, one of Jesus’ twelve apostles and, according to tradition, also the first Bishop of Rome and therefore the first pope – it is considered one of the holiest Catholic sites.

Bernini’s baldacchino

This large Baroque bronze canopy rises imperiously above the high altar beneath Michelangelo’s dome. It was commissioned by Pope Urban VIII and finished in 1634 to radiantly mark the tomb of St Peter below.

Michelangelo's Pieta

Michelangelo’s Pieta (first chapel to the right) was completed when he around 24 years old, and was so beautiful and mature that many people believed he couldn’t have done it – which is why it’s the only sculpture he ever signed.

Clementine Chapel

The tiny Clementine Chapel, located in the necropolis underneath the basilica’s grottoes, is believed to be the site where St Peter was crucified in the time of Emperor Nero. His remains are held in a marble chest encased into an opulent, gilded altar.

Tradition has it that St Peter was crucified upside down at his own request, because he considered himself unworthy to be crucified in the same way as Jesus.

You can now take a fascinating tour of the underground necropolis, which includes the Clementine Chapel, to see St Peter’s bones. Book well ahead (as places are strictly limited to 250/day) with Ufficio Scavi.

Treasury and Grottoes

St Peter’s Treasury has a number of rare gems, including the Colonna Santa and 6th-century Vatican Cross; the Grottoes, just below the basilica, contain the tombs of popes past along with works of art.

Michelangelo’s dome

In 1546, age 71, Michelangelo was asked by Pope Paul III to take over the construction of St Peter’s Basilica – at project that had been beset by technical and design challenges, not least the construction of a dome. Painter and sculpture turned architect designed Michelangelo stepped in, and although it was unfinished when he died, he is recognised as the primary architect and installed the foundations for what is still the biggest dome in the world.

Climb the Cupola

For around €10 you can climb the 320 steps to the roof of St Peter’s, and even to the very top of the Cupola (dome) for those postcard-perfect views of St Peter’s Square and Rome’s skyline. If you don’t want to climb steps, there is an elevator. You can’t buy tickets online, and there are always hefty queues – which you can only skip if on a guided tour with Vox Mundi. From St Peter’s Square, follow the pillars anticlockwise until you see the signs for the Cupola.

Descend to the grottoes

One level below the Basilica are grottoes housing the tombs of several popes and a few royals. You can reach them by stairs below the St Andrew statue near the papal altar. Another level down, below the grottoes, is an ancient Necropolis, a former Roman cemetery with tombs and mausolea dating from the 1st to 4th centuries AD. It also includes the tomb of St Peter, and (allegedly) his bones.

Price: Free
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 18+
When: All year around

Getting there & doing it

The closest metro stop, Ottaviano-San Pietro, is nine blocks away.

The famous Swiss Guards enforce a strict dress code: no shorts, no skirts above the knee and no bare shoulders. There’s a dress code on this website.

If you want a guide, Vox Mundi run the official guided tours (daily, except Wednesday and Sunday). They also offer audio guides, available from their desk inside the basilica. Access to the Necropolis is limited to 250 visitors a day. If you want to see it, book a spot in advance online on the official tour website. https://book.thevaticantickets.com/book/10479/select/

If you do head up to the Cupola, by elevator or stairs, there’s a café on the roof with gorgeous views over Piazza San Pietro through the gigantic gesticulating statues of saints.

 

When to do it

It’s open all year round, seven days a week. July and August are unpleasantly heaving, but there are always crowds. Go at around 1pm when most people are eating lunch, or late in the afternoon.

Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

Saint Peter Basilica Digital Audioguide

Rome

Saint Peter Basilica Digital Audioguide
Experience the rich history and art of the Vatican with a visit to the iconic Saint Peter's Basilica. See all the priceless works from the Papal collections, including masterpieces by renowned artists like Michelangelo, Bernini, and many others. Discover the magnificent works of art and architecture that adorn the walls and ceilings of the Basilica, including Michelangelo's Pieta and Bernini's Baldacchino. Learn about the fascinating history of the Basilica and the various popes who have left their mark on this incredible building. Our audio guided tour offers a personal and convenient way to explore the landmark, with insider knowledge and fascinating stories about the Basilica and its art and architecture. You'll be able to move at your own pace, pausing and rewinding the audio as needed to fully absorb the information.

Price: €6

Min age: 0

Rating 4.01 / 5 [297 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Complete St Peters Basilica Tour with Dome Climb and Crypt

Rome

 Complete St Peters Basilica Tour with Dome Climb and Crypt
Immerse yourself in the history, architecture, and lore of St. Peter’s Basilica with this all-access tour. Not only will you enjoy a full guided tour of the Basilica and Papal Crypt (not usually included Basilica and Vatican tours) with an expert guide, you’ll avoid long lines to climb up into the titanic dome early in the morning, and gape at the amazing views of Rome.

Price: €40

Min age: 0

Rating 4.65 / 5 [213 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Tour of St Peter's Basilica with Dome Climb and Grottoes in a Small Group

Rome

Tour of St Peter's Basilica with Dome Climb and Grottoes in a Small Group
Combine e thorough guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica with a climb to the top of the dome for the best panoramic view of Rome. Discover marvels of art and architecture created by world-famous masters of the Renaissance. Join either a semi-private group of a maximum of 10 participants or a small group of a maximum of 20 participants.

Price: €49

Min age: 0

Rating 4.62 / 5 [1585 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

Viator Logo

The Original St. Peter's Dome Climb, Basilica & Vatacombs

Rome

The Original St. Peter's Dome Climb, Basilica & Vatacombs
Beat the crowds at St. Peter’s Basilica as it opens for the day. Take the lift partway up and make the final ascent on foot—the reward at the top is worth it. Meet your expert Vatican guide by St. Peter’s Square and leave Rome behind you as you cross into Vatican City and enter St. Peter’s Basilica just as it opens to the public. At the terrace level you can decide whether to relax and take in the view or climb the remaining 320 steps up to the summit, where the breathtaking view of Rome and beyond is simply unforgettable. Your guide will point out all the most interesting historical landmarks in every direction, be they in Vatican City, the wider city of Rome, or further afield. As what goes up must come down, join us on a descent into the lower level of the basilica to experience the “Vatacombs,” a series of grottoes containing papal crypts and effigies crafted by the most celebrated artists of the centuries.

Price: $55

Min age: 0

Rating 4.77 / 5 [146 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

Viator Logo

Skip-the-Line Tour of the Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's | Small Group

Rome

Skip-the-Line Tour of the Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's | Small Group
Why book this tour? You visit the Vatican once in a lifetime! Skip-the-line access means you’ll have more time to explore millennia of art and history within these hallowed walls without waiting in the long general admission lines. Explore the highlights of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica in a small group. Get straight inside with skip-the-line access to see a host of treasures of the Vatican City, all with enlightening storytelling from a passionate guide. Dive into the Vatican’s must-see attractions with the highlights you absolutely can't leave Rome without. This tour has been specifically designed to get you inside as quickly as possible with skip-the-line entry. This is hands down the perfect tour for families traveling with small children or teens, people who "don't do" museum tours, or those who have limited time and want to see the Eternal City in less than an eternity.

Price: €79

Min age: 0

Rating 4.87 / 5 [2746 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Scavi Tour to the Tomb of St. Peter's & Tour of St. Peter's Basilica

Rome

Scavi Tour to the Tomb of St. Peter's & Tour of St. Peter's Basilica
The most exclusive Vatican tour to a restricted area of Vatican City with fewer than 100 permits granted per day. Vatican necropolis with the tomb of St. Peter's is the best-preserved ancient cemetery in Rome with artefacts, frescoes and bas-reliefs taking the visitor back to times of imperial Rome and early Christian persecutions. Tour includes guided visit of the excavations area as well as St. Peter's Basilica. Important note: (1) You need to be at least 16 years old to be granted access to the excavations area. (2) We reserve the right to change the order of sights visited due to religious functions in St. Peters ( Scavi tour and St. Peter's Basiica tour or vice versa). (3) Due to extremly high demand and very limitd availability we accept maximum 2 guests per booking

Price: €105

Min age: 16

Rating 4.21 / 5 [103 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Skip the Line Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Tour | Small Group & Private

Rome

Skip the Line Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Tour | Small Group & Private
Experience a truly semi-private tour of max 6 people and embark on an incredible journey through the highlights of the Vatican. Accompanied by your local expert guide, enter with skip-the-line tickets and explore of one of the world's most famous museums. Along the way you'll enjoy unique sculptures, beautiful courtyards, and much more while learning all about the history of the Church, the Popes and the impressive works that adorn the museums. Be amazed while admiring the incredible beauty of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel. Stroll through the Gallery of Maps and view the incredible tapestries, wonder at frescoes of the Raphael Rooms, and visit the breathtaking St Peter's Basilica - the final resting place of Saint Peter, and one of the holiest temples of the Roman Catholic Church. This tour provides you with a perfect overview of the Vatican in an intimate small group tour of max 6 people. A fully private tour option is available for an even more personalized experience.

Price: €109

Min age: 0

Rating 4.86 / 5 [2072 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

Viator Logo

St Peter’s Basilica Tour, Dome Climb & Papal Tombs I Max 6 People

Rome

St Peter’s Basilica Tour, Dome Climb & Papal Tombs I Max 6 People
Explore the world's largest church to it's full potential - from the very top with views of the entire city, to the tombs below. In your small group of 6 people and your expert guide, you can truly experience the breathtaking basilica as you climb to the top of the dome to explore Michelangelo's masterpiece, and then to the ground level to enjoy the basilica itself with Baroque and Renaissance art from masters like Bernini, Michelangelo and more. Your tour will also include a visit below to the Papal tombs, where the tombs of Pope's from the centuries past lay to rest. This tour is limited to just 6 people to enhance your overall experience and providing a friendly environment with your guide.

Price: €109

Min age: 0

Rating 4.90 / 5 [41 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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The Original Entire Vatican Tour & St. Peter's Dome Climb

Rome

The Original Entire Vatican Tour & St. Peter's Dome Climb
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.

Price: $110

Min age: 0

Rating 4.79 / 5 [1414 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Exclusive Private Tour: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica

Rome

Exclusive Private Tour: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica
Private entry at the Vatican is always a special experience. Even our seasoned guides who have seen it countless times appreciate the opportunity to admire art in this setting. You may be surprised to learn that the Vatican oversees over 6 million visitors each year, so entering alone can soon prove to be an overwhelming and painful ordeal. - We recommend reserving this private tour with us to customize your experience for you and you family. We promise that this family/child-friendly setting will satisfy ever member of your group (our guides are known to keep the little ones intrigued!) Should we also mention Michelangelo’s frescoed ceilings of the Sistine Chapel?? This beautiful masterpiece needs no introduction. No line = no stress! (not to mention that you get to steer clear of the sun and unbearable heat during the summer months!) - We offer two time slots for this private tour experience (morning or afternoon). Have your pick!

Price: €250

Min age: 0

Rating 4.98 / 5 [70 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Rome

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