More about: St. Peter's Basilica Tours in Rome
Given that visiting St. Peter's Basilica is free, I recommend joining a guided tour, which will give you a more complete overview of the site. These tours include a tour of the temple with explanations from an expert art guide. Some include a climb to the dome, and for a little extra money, you can also get admission to the Vatican Museums. Find out more below:
Guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica with access to the dome
Step inside St. Peter's Basilica and don't miss a thing with this comprehensive guided tour.
Contemplate the imposing St. Peter's Basilica and learn about the artistic importance of the works housed inside with this guided tour. You will also have the exclusive opportunity to discover the dome.
There is a lot to see in the Vatican, and one of the must-see attractions is the interior of St. Peter's Basilica. With this guided tour with access to the dome, you can discover everything inside first-hand with explanations from an expert guide who will help you better understand the historical and artistic context of the largest Christian church in the world.
In a small group, you will tour the Basilica and see works such as Michelangelo's Pietà and Bernini's altar, until you reach the dome terrace, where you will have an exclusive view of St. Peter's Square, the Vatican and Rome in general.
Recommended if... You don't want to miss the imposing St. Peter's Basilica, ensuring you can climb the dome, an essential part of your visit to the Vatican.
Guided tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica
Get to know the Vatican in depth with this pack for the Museums and the Basilica.
Save on your Vatican experience and get tickets with a guided tour of its three monumental gems: the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica. Does not include the climb to the dome.
The Vatican Museums are another must-see in Rome, located next to St. Peter's Basilica. That's why most travellers choose to visit both places on the same day, although the huge queues that can often be seen in the square to enter the church sometimes discourage more than a few.
To avoid these queues, it's best to book the package that includes a guided tour of the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and the Basilica. After touring the numerous works of art in the Museums and admiring Michelangelo's impressive work in the Sistine Chapel, you will enter the Basilica with priority access and without queuing. Please note that this tour does not include the climb to the dome.
Recommended if... You also plan to visit the Vatican Museums and prefer to combine the visit in one day without wasting time in the queues at St. Peter's Square.
Enter St. Peter's Basilica without queuing with a guided tour
One of the best recommendations I can give you when organising your visit to the Basilica, and one that practically no one knows about, is that if you prefer to avoid the long queues and gain priority access to the Basilica, you should join this guided tour by El Vaticano. In addition to touring the interior of the temple with a professional guide, you can skip the long queues at the square, which is undoubtedly an added bonus of this option.
From ₹2,981, you can first visit the Vatican Museums and then tour the Basilica, enjoy its main works and understand its structure. In addition, after the tour you will have time to stroll around the interior at your leisure, continue admiring its beauty and even take advantage of being there to climb the dome of St. Peter's or go down to see the tombs of the Popes.
Visit St. Peter's Basilica for free
St. Peter's Basilica is free and does not require a ticket. To access it, you will have to cross the famous colonnade of St. Peter's Square (one of the best squares in Rome) and, unfortunately, queue up. Once you get closer to the temple, you will have to go through a routine security check (metal detector) and then you will be able to enter the Basilica.
If you visit Rome in summer, you should know that there is no shade in St. Peter's Square and you will have to queue for a long time in the sun, so I recommend that you wear a cap or hat, bring fresh water and even sunscreen.
What to see in St. Peter's Basilica?
Of all the wonders to see in the Vatican, St. Peter's Basilica is a must-see. To enjoy it to the fullest and see all the works of art, chapels and reliquaries, and read all the inscriptions on the walls of the Basilica without having to spend too many hours there, I recommend that you focus on the following:
The Nave of the Basilica
Upon entering St. Peter's Basilica, the first thing that strikes you is the impressiveness of its naves, the enormity of its interior and the exquisite decoration that covers its walls.
Michelangelo's Pietà
This is one of Michelangelo's most important sculptures, along with David, although for my taste it is the more sublime of the two. It is a moving representation of Mary holding the body of Christ in mourning. You will find Michelangelo's Pietà as soon as you enter the basilica in the first chapel on the right.
Bronze statue of Saint Peter
On the right side of the central nave of the basilica, you will find a bronze statue from the Middle Ages, one of the few remaining from this period. Many people who visit St. Peter's Basilica do not notice this small figure, but the faithful who make pilgrimages to the Holy See rub and even kiss its foot upon arrival, worn down after centuries.
The Baldacchino
This structure, supported by four columns, is the work of Gian Lorenzo Bernini, the most important architect and sculptor of the Baroque period, and serves as a canopy for the basilica's high altar, reserved solely for papal masses. The altar is built over the tomb of St. Peter and is the symbolic and spiritual heart of St. Peter's Basilica.
The Dome
Begun by Michelangelo and continued by Giacomo Della Porta, St. Peter's Dome was conceived as the ultimate representation of Christianity. Inside, you will find two inscriptions in Latin, one that reads: "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church. To you I will give the keys of the kingdom of heaven." and another dedicated to Pope Sixtus V.
Regarding the climb to the dome: you can ascend both the interior and exterior domes, from where you will find one of the best panoramic views of Rome. You will also be able to see Michelangelo's frescoes and inscriptions up close. The entrance fee to the dome is €10 to go up by lift or €8 if you walk up the more than 500 steps to the top.
Tomb of Alexander VII
This triangular structure, so typical of the Baroque period, is a magnificent ensemble of allegorical figures accompanying an image of Pope Alexander VII, who prays kneeling and humbly on the shroud of death, which is represented holding an empty hourglass. Something that particularly impressed me about this tomb, apart from its magnificent theatricality, is the sculptural treatment of the shroud.
Treasury Museum
If you have some time to spare and are particularly interested in Vatican iconography, I recommend visiting the Sacristy and the Treasury Museum, where you can see crosses, papal vestments, jewels and reliquaries. Admission is €5 for adults and €3 for children up to 12 years old.
Vatican Grottoes
At the end of your visit to the Basilica, look for the signs to the Vatican Grottoes, underground galleries where the remains of several popes, including John Paul II, are laid to rest. You can see a golden altar over St. Peter's tomb, just below the high altar and the Baldacchino. Here's how to visit the Vatican Catacombs, crypts and Necropolis.
How much time do you need to visit St. Peter's Basilica?
If you join a tour of St. Peter's Basilica and the dome, you will tour the Basilica in approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. If you go on your own, you can adjust the time of the visit as you wish, but expect to need about 60 minutes to tour the entire Basilica and stop at its main works, such as the Baldacchino or Moses.
If you want to visit the Necropolis, you may need an extra hour, and if you also plan to climb the dome, expect to extend your visit by a couple of hours to allow enough time to climb up, admire the views and then descend.
How to climb to the dome of St. Peter's?
You can climb to the dome of St. Peter's on foot or by combining a section on foot with a section by lift. The climb is not suitable for everyone (there are moments when the staircase narrows and can feel a little claustrophobic), but I can assure you that the views are worth it.
Regarding how to get tickets for the dome, keep in mind that you cannot buy them online. You will have to purchase them inside the temple itself for €8 (to climb on foot) or €10 if you prefer to use the lift for the available section. Either way, go for it, because now that you've come this far, you can enjoy the best views of the city from one of Rome's finest monuments, and it will be one of your lasting memories of Rome.
How to see the tombs of the Popes in St. Peter's Basilica?
You can also book a guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica and the tombs of the popes, which are located in the basement of St. Peter's Basilica. They are divided into two levels: the first gallery, on level -1, consists of several mausoleums and tombs of different popes. This visit is free of charge and you can access this gallery from inside the Basilica.
If you prefer to enter the Necropolis and visit, among others, St. Peter's Crypt, you should bear in mind that capacity is very limited (to a maximum of 250 people per day) and you will have to make a request in advance by sending an email with the details of the visitors who wish to participate.
I'll leave you with all the details in my guide to the Vatican Catacombs, the crypts of the Popes and the Necropolis of St. Peter.
What are the opening hours of St. Peter's Basilica?
When booking your visit to the Vatican, please note that St. Peter's Basilica is open every day, Monday to Friday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. During winter, from October to March, it closes one hour earlier, at 6 p.m.
Please note that during religious holidays or special worship events, opening hours may be subject to change, so I recommend that you check carefully before planning your visit if you are travelling during Christmas or Easter.
Can I attend Mass in St. Peter's Basilica?
Yes, you can, although Holy Mass is not celebrated by the Pope except on very special occasions, such as Christmas or Easter.
- During the week, Mass times are as follows: 9:00 a.m. / 10:00 a.m. / 11:00 a.m. / 12:00 p.m. / 5:00 p.m.
- On public holidays, Mass times are as follows: 9:00 / 10:30 / 11:30 / 12:15 / 13:00 / 16:00 / 17:30.
Will I see the Pope in St. Peter's Basilica?
It is quite difficult to bump into the Pope by chance in the Basilica. His Mass and public audience schedules are quite strict, and he is never spontaneously in the Basilica unless there is a special Mass, such as Midnight Mass or Easter Mass.
However, if you would like to see the Pope in person, you can always book tickets for the papal audience, the Angelus, or the Wednesday blessing. These events always take place in St. Peter's Square and are usually open to everyone, although you will normally have to pass through certain security checks to access the square.
How should you dress to visit St. Peter's Basilica?
When booking your visit to St. Peter's Basilica, keep in mind that as it is a religious temple, the Church requires that both men and women cover their knees and shoulders. Forget about short shorts, tank tops or crop tops, and in the case of women, it will also be necessary to cover your neckline. If you wish, you can read some tips for preparing your visit to the Vatican in this article.
What else is there to see in the Vatican?
One of the things to see and do in Rome is to visit the Vatican. Here's everything you need to see and do in the Vatican. Let's start with the essentials. You can't leave without visiting the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums.
- Visit the Sistine Chapel: Crowned with the world's most famous frescoes by Michelangelo, it is one of the great attractions of Vatican City. You can visit it on your own or get the most out of it by joining a guided tour with an expert and professional guide. You will need at least two hours to tour the rest of the Vatican Museums and contemplate their beauty. Here's how to get tickets for the Sistine Chapel.
- Visit the Vatican Museums: In addition to St. Peter's Basilica, a visit to the Vatican Museums, where the Sistine Chapel is located, is highly recommended. There are different options for visiting them. You can buy tickets for the Vatican and tour the museums on your own by booking an audio guide, or you can book a guided tour of the Vatican in English to get the most out of your tour of the most popular galleries in the art world.