St Peter’s Basilica: Recommended tours & tickets

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.

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.

Embark on an extraordinary journey commencing at St. Peter's Square, where the architectural brilliance of Bernini unfolds. Then enter the awe-inspiring St. Peter's Basilica, a realm adorned with golden ceilings, vibrant marbles, and masterpieces like Michelangelo's Pietà. Delve into the Papal grottoes underground, touching ancient walls and visiting St. Peter's tomb for a profound historical encounter. The grand crescendo awaits as you ascend to the dome's summit, offering both close encounters with intricate mosaics and panoramic views of Rome's iconic landmarks. From this lofty perch at 136 meters, immerse yourself in breathtaking vistas, spotting the Colosseum, Pantheon, and beyond. Immerse yourself in a blend of art, history, and mesmerizing panoramas, ensuring a "wow-ing" experience in the heart of Vatican City. Enjoy a unique adventure, where architectural marvels intertwine with iconic heritage landmarks, promising an unforgettable exploration.

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.

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.

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.

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

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!

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.