A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984, St. Peter's Basilica is one of the most popular monuments in the world and is regarded as one of the largest churches, with the tallest dome. This Catholic Shrine invites thousands of pilgrims and tourists throughout the year, making it a must-visit when in Rome. Loaded with history, culture and intrigue, if you don't know too much about the attraction, your best bet is to book a St. Peter's Basilica tour. Explore this magnificent building and learn about its story with an expert guide by your side.
Here’s everything you need to know about St. Peter’s Basilica guided tours.
Advantages of a St. Peter's Basilica Tour
- Expert Knowledge: Get easy access to the famed St. Peter's Basilica, with an expert leading the way, while sharing fascinating tidbits about the attraction along the way. With an insider’s knowledge about Roman culture and history, you’ll guaranteed a much more exciting visit.
- Skip-the-Line Access: With St. Peter's Basilica tickets, you no longer have to wait in line- skip to the front of the line and head right in! A guided tour with a skip-the-line feature has double the advantage, giving you an altogether hassle-free experience.
- Smaller Groups: This lets you stay close to your local guide, ask questions, and have your questions answered right away. You can also make friends and talk with other tourists comfortably.
- Flexible Timings: With your guided tour ticket, you have the flexibility to choose the time slot that suits you. Morning person? Book the first time slot at the basilica. Not an eary riser? Don't worry, there are slots later in the day.
- Detailed Explanations: Gain a deeper understanding of the castle's architecture, artwork, and historical significance through detailed explanations provided by the guides.
- Guided Itinerary: Follow a well-structured itinerary that ensures you don't miss any significant highlights or must-see areas of the castle.
The Best St. Peter's Basilica Tours
There are a number of St. Peter's Basilica tickets available for online booking. Here is a list of our recommended St.Peter's Basilica tours we think you'll enjoy.
Guided Tours
Combo Guided Tours
Choosing the Best St. Peter's Basilica Tour
Depending on your preferences, there are certain ways to choose the right St. Peter's Basilica guided tour for you:
1On A Time Crunch?
Who wants to wait in long lines when you’re on a holiday? With thousands of tourists visiting the attraction every day, the Basilica is without a doubt a hotspot. Enjoy priority access into the building without having to wait in line.
2Traveling With Family?
If the whole family is traveling together, you can avail yourself of a special family tour. The family package includes services of a professional tour guide, admission to the museum and St. Peter’s Cupola, a fun learning worksheet for children, and a basket of organic snacks and beverages.
3Basilica Dome + Papal Tombs
Fancy climbing to the highest point of Rome’s iconic St. Peter’s Basilica? Consider a tour that includes a dome climb. The view from up here is simply undisputable- it is one of the best vantage points to take in the city. Before leaving, you'll also get to see the Papal Sarcophagi of the Basilica.
4Small Tour Group
Enjoy a fun and educational tour through the Basilica with a cozy, small tour group. This ensures your guide has enough one-on-one time with you. As you tour one of the world's most important temples of Christendom, make sure to direct all your curiosities toward your guide and have them answered right away!
5Bonus Vatican City Tour?
When in the Vatican city, why stop at just St. Peter's Basilica? Take to the streets (with the help of an expert tour guide) and tour the ins and outs of the city- after all, there is much to see! Tour the Vatican City Museums, the Sistine Chapel, and more- all while picking up interesting facts about each attraction.
6Rome's Best in a Day: Beyond St. Peter's Basilica
If your agenda is sightseeing, opt for a combination ticket and see more than one attraction: Make the most of your day and visit all the attractions in the area including St. Peter’s Basilica, St. Peter’s Square, the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Museum, and tour of the Colosseum as well! Plus, as a guided tour, you get an in-depth historical perspective from your knowledgeable guide.
7Handy Audio Guide
This guided tour begins at the Vatican Gardens, then through the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, ending at St. Peter's Basilica. With options of a multi-lingual audio guide, just soak in the information and the stunning interiors of the dome with this one.
Best Ways To Skip The Lines at St. Peter’s Basilica
St. Peter's Basilica Tour Deconstructed - A Typical Guided Tour Experience
Before You Enter
Right outside the Basilica is St. Peter’s Square, where you will find two stunning fountains on either side. There is also a 40-meter high Egyptian obelisk in the centre of the square and 140 saints sculpted on top of the pillars surrounding the area. Don’t miss the large statues of St. Peter and his Baldachin St. Paul in front of the square.
Mesmerizing Artworks
Inside the Basilica you will find the iconic dome stretching over its roof and the 29-meter high bronze canopy right under. The Baldachin designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini is situated atop the Papal Altar which is right above St. Peter’s tomb.
Throughout the Basilica you will find sculptures and works by renowned artists like Michelangelo, Bernini, and Raphael.
Main Statues
One of the most-visited parts of the Basilica is the bronze statue of St. Peter which was brought there in 1605. You will notice that the right foot is faded because of the tradition of touching or kissing the foot of the statue.
The Dome
Finally, you will take the lift or stairs to the top of St. Peter's Basilica- at its dome! This is one of the main highlights of the basilica, not only for its stunning architecture, but for the striking views of Vatican City. That's right, it is one of the best vantage points to drink in the iconic city from!
For Combo Guided Tours Only:
Vatican Museums
Choose a combo tour with the Vatican Museums and explore this additional landmark in the Vatican City. Walk past classical sculptures, tapestries, and paintings by Renaissance maestros like Raphael, Caravaggio, Michelangelo, Bernini, and Leonardo da Vinci! Your tour will include a visit to the Raphael Rooms, the Gallery of Maps, the Sala Rotunda and the Gallery of Statues and the Hall of Busts. Peruse your Vatican Ticket options here.
Colosseum
Pair up your visit to the St. Peter's Basilica with one of Rome's most frequented landmarks, the Colosseum. Once a grand outdoor amphitheater that served as an epicenter for entertainment, the Colosseum holds a bloody past. Walk through this landmark on your guided tour, which also includes a visit to the Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum. Check out Colosseum tickets if you wish to explore this attraction further.
Sistine Chapel
Located at the end of the Vatican Museums and a stone's throw away from St. Peter's Basilica is the ever-glorious Sistine Chapel. This is one of the most common combo attractions that fits well with St. Peter's Basilica. Perhaps the most revered highlight about the Sistine Chapel is, of course, the ceiling painted by Michelangelo over the course of 4 years. Look for your Vatican tickets which will include access to the Sistine Chapel here and book them in advance!
St. Peter's Basilica Practical Information
Opening Hours
Oct-Mar: 7 AM - 6:30 PM
Apr-Sept: 7 AM - 7 PM
Getting to St.Peter's Basilica
- By Bus: Bus routes 40 and 64 will take you close to Vatican City, from where you can walk to St. Peter’s Basilica. The walk should take you between 5 - 10 minutes.
- By Car: Although there is no onsite parking, there are a few paid car parks close to St. Peter’s including Terminal Vaticano Roma, Parking San Pietro di Pecchia Maurizio, and Garage Stazione San Pietro. You can walk to St. Peter’s Basilica from all three parking lots.
- By Metro: Take Metro Line A and get off at Ottaviano station which is right outside Vatican City.
- By Taxi: You can take a taxi from wherever you are and get off right outside St. Peter’s Basilica.
Insider Tips
Here are some handy tips to keep in mind while booking your St. Peter's Basilica tour:
- If this is your first visit to St. Peter’s Basilica, opt for a guided tour. This way you’ll get so much more out of your visit and learn about the history of this architectural marvel.
- Make sure you follow the dress code because you could be denied entry otherwise. Both men and women need to cover their shoulders and knees.
- Combine your visit with other nearby attractions like the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Square, Vatican Necropolis, and more.
- St. Peter’s Basilica is usually crowded throughout the year so book skip-the-line tickets to avoid waiting in long lines.
- Avoid visiting the attraction on holidays or on any important religious dates to avoid larger crowds than normal days.
