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Rome Tickets St Peters Basilica

St. Peter’s Basilica: Tickets and Tours

This website offers official tickets for this venue. Please note, however, that it is not the official website of the venue.

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St. Peter's Basilica, Square and Papal Grottoes: Afternoon guided tour

Highlights

Explore the grandeur of St. Peter’s Square and understand the optical illusions designed by Bernini.

Marvel at the magnificent mosaics inside the iconic Basilica.

Admire Renaissance and Neoclassic artworks, including Michelangelo’s Pietà and the large canopy.

Visit the underground grottoes, including St. Peter’s tomb and ancient basilica walls.

Enjoy the commentary of a live guide available in multiple languages.

Guided tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica

Highlights

Skip long queues with fast-track entry.

Explore the extensive Vatican Museums and marvel at the Sistine Chapel.

Enjoy VIP access to the magnificent St. Peter’s Basilica.

Benefit from a knowledgeable live English-speaking guide.

Hear the commentary clearly using a provided headset.

Small groups with a maximum of 20 participants ensure a personal experience.

Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel + St. Peter's Square

Highlights

Avoid long queues with fast-track entry.

Join a tour limited to 20 participants.

Explore iconic sites like Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel and the Last Judgement.

Includes guided visits to Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica.

Listen clearly to commentary through modern headsets in English.

Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel: Skip Ticket

Highlights

Skip the usual long queues with fast-track access.

Enjoy a self-paced visit through the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel.

Listen to detailed commentary available in English and seven additional languages.

Discover masterpieces by renowned artists like Michelangelo, Bernini, Raphael, and Caravaggio.

Use a downloadable audio guide app that can be accessed offline.

St. Peter’s Basilica stands over the traditional tomb of Saint Peter, and it’s one of the largest churches in the world. Inside are Michelangelo’s Pietà, Bernini’s bronze Baldacchino and the Vatican Grottoes, with Michelangelo’s Dome rising above it all. Book your tickets online in advance, whether you want a guided tour of the Basilica or a combined visit with the Vatican Museums.

About St. Peter's Basilica

St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City

Work on the current Basilica began on April 18, 1506, under Pope Julius II, and finished in 1626. It replaced the church Emperor Constantine built over Saint Peter's tomb in the 4th century.

Several architects shaped it over those 120 years, including Bramante, Raphael, Michelangelo and Bernini. The result mixes Renaissance and Baroque styles.

Built: 1506 to 1626
Size: about 187 meters long and 136 meters high to the top of the Dome
Key architects: Bramante, Raphael, Michelangelo and Bernini

What to See Inside St. Peter's Basilica

Interior of St. Peter's Basilica

Saint Peter's Tomb and the Confessio

Saint Peter's tomb lies directly beneath the main altar. In front of the altar, the Confessio opens downward so the tomb area can be seen from above.

This is the reason the Basilica is one of the holiest places in the Catholic Church.

Dome of St. Peter's Basilica

Michelangelo's Dome

Michelangelo designed the Dome and built it as far as the drum. It was finished after his death, raised in just 22 months between 1588 and 1590.

From the top you look down into the Basilica on one side and out over the rooftops of Rome on the other.

Interior of St. Peter's Basilica

Michelangelo's Pietà

Michelangelo carved the Pietà in 1498 from a single block of Carrara marble, finishing it in about nine months. It shows Mary holding the body of Christ, and it's the only work he ever signed.

Interior of St. Peter's Basilica

Bernini's Baldacchino

Bernini's bronze Baldacchino rises over the main altar, directly under the Dome and above Saint Peter's tomb.

Its four twisting columns make it one of the easiest sights in the Basilica to pick out from the nave.

Facade of St. Peter's Basilica

The Holy Door

The Holy Door is one of the Basilica's entrance doors, and it only opens during Holy Years, or Jubilees. For pilgrims, walking through it is an act of penance.

Which St. Peter's Basilica Ticket Should You Choose?

St. Peter's Basilica, Square and Papal Grottoes guided tour

If you want a guided visit of the Basilica only

We recommend: St. Peter's Basilica, Square and Papal Grottoes: Afternoon Guided Tour

  • A guided visit of the Basilica, St. Peter's Square and the Papal Grottoes
  • Starts in the early afternoon and lasts about 3 hours
  • Headsets included, so you can hear your guide throughout
See This Ticket
Guided tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica

If you want the Vatican Museums and the Basilica together

We recommend: Guided Tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica

  • Skip the ticket line at the Vatican Museums
  • One guided visit covering the Museums, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica
  • About 3 hours, with tours in English and four other languages
See This Ticket
Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Square tour

If you want a longer guided tour of the Vatican Museums

We recommend: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel + St. Peter's Square

  • Skip the long lines at the Vatican Museums
  • Guided route through the Sistine Chapel and the Raphael Rooms
  • Includes St. Peter's Square and lasts about 3.5 hours
See This Ticket
Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel skip-the-line ticket

If you only want the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel

We recommend: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel: Skip the Line Ticket

  • Skip-the-line entry to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel
  • Does not include St. Peter's Basilica; choose one of the tours above for that
  • Explore at your own pace, with an optional audio guide
See This Ticket

Plan Your Visit at a Glance

Timings

The Basilica is open daily from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM. The Dome keeps shorter, seasonal hours. See the full St. Peter's Basilica opening hours.

Location

Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Vatican City. The nearest metro stop is Ottaviano-San Pietro on Line A, about a 10-minute walk away. See the full directions to St. Peter's Basilica for bus, tram, train and taxi options.

Good to Know: Dress Code, Bags & Facilities

Cover your shoulders and knees, and travel light: everyone goes through security and there's no luggage storage. See Plan Your Visit for accessibility, facilities and the rules inside.

Interesting Facts about St. Peter's Basilica

Michelangelo was only 23 when he finished the Pietà.

About 91 popes are buried in the Basilica and the Vatican Grottoes, including John Paul II and Pius XII.

Bernini designed the colonnade around St. Peter's Square to represent the "maternal arms" of the Church welcoming the faithful.

The square took eleven years to build and was finished in 1667.

The Vatican Grottoes, the vaulted level below the main floor, were built between 1590 and 1591.

Countess Matilda was the first woman buried in St. Peter's Basilica. Read more about Matilda of Canossa and the other women of St. Peter's.

Frequently Asked Questions about St. Peter's Basilica

Is St. Peter's Basilica the cathedral of Rome?

No. The cathedral of Rome is the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran. St. Peter's is a papal basilica, built over the tomb of Saint Peter.

Which tickets include St. Peter's Basilica?

The afternoon guided tour of the Basilica, Square and Papal Grottoes, and the guided tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica. The Vatican Museums skip-the-line ticket doesn't include the Basilica.

Is the Dome climb included in any of these tickets?

No. Climbing the Dome is a separate visit with its own hours.

How long does a visit take?

Plan on 1 to 2 hours for the Basilica on your own. Guided tours that add the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel take about 3 to 3.5 hours.

Can I see the Pope during my visit?

Possibly. The Papal Audience usually takes place on Wednesdays, and on Sundays the Pope recites the Angelus at noon. Both draw big crowds, so expect longer lines on those days.

Is St. Peter's Basilica wheelchair accessible?

Yes. There's a reserved entrance with a ramp, and ramps and elevators inside. The Dome is only partly reachable by elevator, and the afternoon guided tour isn't wheelchair accessible.

Should I book my ticket in advance?

Yes, especially in summer and on Wednesdays and Sundays. Booking online ahead of time saves you the longest waits.

This website sells official tickets for this venue. Please note, however, that it is not the official website of the venue.

The images and videos on this website may contain visual elements that have been created or enhanced using AI technology. They are provided for illustrative purposes only.