Vatican City St. Peter's Basilica Guided Tour

Make the most of your time at visit St Peter’s Basilica, climb its dome, and see the papal crypt on this all-access tour complete with priority entry. Starting early, you’ll see St. Peter’s Square without the large daytime crowds, then head to the top of the dome for panoramic vistas over the capital. Tour the basilica to admire Michelangelo’s ‘La Pietà’ among other highlights, then finish with a visit to the papal crypt — a site normally missed by other tour groups. Numbers are limited to 20 for a small-group experience.

Meeting Point

Piazza della Città Leonina

Piazza della Città Leonina, 00193 Roma RM, Italy

Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of your tour, your guide will be holding a green Walks sign. This tour meets at Caffè Leonina, Piazza della Città Leonina, 5. The closest metro stop is Ottaviano.

What's included:

• Pre-reserved tickets to climb St Peter’s Basilica Dome with elevator access
• Groups of max 20 people
• Expert English local guide

Not included:

• Gratuities
• Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off

What to expect:

Duration: 2 hours, 45 minutes

St. Peter's Square

Borgo Santo Spirito, Piazza Papa Pio XII, Vatican City, 00120

Meet your guide just outside the entrance to St. Peter's Square and head past the crowds, straight into the grand Renaissance-era elegance of the basilica. An elevator carries you to the dome's first terrace, where you're surrounded by its beautiful artwork, and then 231 steps lead you up to one of the best views you can get of the city of Rome—from the square below you all the way across the Tiber.

1 hour, 45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

St. Peter's Basilica

Piazza San Pietro, Vatican City, 00120

Next, it's time for a journey through the basilica itself as your guide shows you the grandeur that defines one of the holiest sites in the Catholic world. Admire the exquisite detail of the baldachin designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, standing amid the space designed by Michelangelo, and then visit the famous bronze statue of St. Peter with the keys to heaven in his hand. Another special experience is waiting for you beneath the basilica as your guide gives you a rare look at the crypts of the Vatican grotto. With more than 100 tombs holding popes, Catholic monarchs, and famous figures, the crypts let you look back through almost 2,000 years of the church's history before you part ways with your guide at the tour's end.

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included