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St. Peter's Basilica Tickets

Experience the best of St Peter's Basilica

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Visiting St. Peter’s Basilica

  • Ways to visit: Entry to the basilica and Papal Tombs is free. You can add an audio guide or guidebook, reserve timed entry for faster access, climb the dome, or join a guided tour.
  • Worship hours: St. Peter's is an active church with daily Mass. Visitors are welcome during services but should remain quiet, and some chapels may be reserved for prayer.
  • Queues & security: Everyone passes through airport-style security. Public queues can exceed an hour during peak times, while reserved timed entry uses a dedicated queue to reduce waiting.
  • When to book: Dome climbs and guided tours sell out quickly in spring and fall. Book 1–3 weeks ahead, especially for morning slots.
  • Dress code: Cover your shoulders and knees. Sleeveless tops, short skirts, and shorts above the knee aren't permitted.
  • Best upgrade: A guided tour with early entry and dome access helps beat crowds and adds meaning to what you see.

Which St. Peter's Basilica ticket is best for you

Ticket typeEntrance used Lines skipped Security Includes Guide Why pick this Cancellation policyPrice from

Free Entry + Digital Guide

Main basilica door

None

Mandatory

Regular Basilica entry, digital audio guide or guidebook

Digital guide

• Pay only for context • Explore at your own pace

Free cancel up to 24h

€5

Reserved Entry + Digital Guide

Main basilica door

Public entry queue

Mandatory

Reserved Basilica entry, audio guide & guidebook

Digital guide

• Less waiting, faster timed entry • Self-paced audio tour

Free cancel up to 24h

€10

Guided Tour

Main basilica door

Public entry queue

Mandatory

Expert-led tour of Basilica and tombs with reserved entry

Live guide

• Expert insights throughout • Structured and engaging visit

Free cancel up to 48h

€15

Dome Climb Ticket

Main basilica door

Public entry queue

Mandatory

Dome access by stairs or elevator, reserved entry to Basilica, audio guide

Digital or Live guide (varies by tour)

• Climb Michelangelo's dome • Panoramic Vatican city views

Free cancel up to 24h

€23

Papal Audience Experience

St. Peter's Square

N/A

Mandatory

Papal Audience assistance and reserved seating

Live guide

• See the Pope in person • Hassle-free experience led by a local

Free cancel up to 24h

€19

Vatican Museums + Basilica Combo

Secret passage via Chapel

Public entry queue

Mandatory

Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and Basilica guided tour with reserved entry

Live guide

• Cover three must-see Vatican icons in 2-3 hours • Basilica entry via secret passage

Free cancel up to 72h

€56

What to expect at St. Peter’s Basilica

St. Peter's Basilica viewed from a bustling street in Vatican City.
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Approaching across St. Peter’s Square

Walk up Via della Conciliazione and the dome of St. Peter's gradually comes into view. Bernini's colonnades frame the square, with fountains flanking the 25.5-meter Egyptian obelisk at its center.

Choose your queue

Entry to St. Peter's Basilica is free, which is why the general admission line often stretches 45–60 minutes or more. If you've booked reserved timed entry, head to the white-canopy queue on the right side of the main entrance. You'll still go through security, but you'll usually spend less time waiting and more time inside.

First step inside the nave

Step through the bronze doors into a cool, dim nave stretching over 180 meters. Look up at Michelangelo's dome, stop at Michelangelo's Pietà, then make your way to Bernini’s 28.5-meter bronze baldachin, the bronze canopy above the main altar.

Learn the details most visitors miss

With a digital audio guide or guidebook, you'll understand the stories behind the chapels, mosaics, and monuments as you explore at your own pace. Or join a live guided tour for expert insights at key stops, bringing centuries of history into focus in about an hour.

Climbing into Michelangelo’s dome

Choose dome access (separate ticket) for panoramic views over Rome. Ride the elevator and climb the final 251 steps, or take the full 551-step staircase to the top. The last section passes through narrow stairways inside Michelangelo's dome before opening onto the lantern balcony overlooking St. Peter's Square, Vatican Gardens, and the city beyond.

Quiet time by the papal tombs

From the main altar, ramps and stairs lead down into the Vatican Grottoes, where popes rest beneath marble slabs and simple markers. On many guided routes this quiet level is Included, adding a reflective final chapter before you re-emerge into the bright nave.

Make it a full Vatican day

Some tickets bundle the basilica with Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. Start early to see it all, from the dome’s peak to Michelangelo’s ceiling, it’s a spiritual and artistic arc centuries in the making.

Things to know before booking your St. Peter’s Basilica tickets

What’s included

  • Entry to St. Peter's Basilica and the Papal Tombs is free. Paid tickets add reserved timed entry, an audio guide or guidebook, guided tours, or dome access (via stairs or lift). Entry to the Vatican Necropolis (Scavi) is only available on dedicated guided tours.

Booking window

  • Free basilica entry needs no reservation, but reserved entry, dome climbs, and guided tours rely on fixed slots. These often sell out 1–3 weeks in advance during summer, on weekends, and around major religious events, especially morning slots.

Entry & access

  • All visitors pass through the same airport-style security in St. Peter's Square. Timed entry ticket holders use a dedicated reserved entry queue, but everyone must complete the same security screening. During peak hours, the public queue can take 45–60 minutes or longer.

Ways to explore

  • Free self-guided visits suit independent travelers. Add an audio guide or guidebook for context as you explore, but expect to join the public queue. Reserved timed entry cuts waiting time, while hosted entry offers a smoother arrival. Live guided tours include expert insights, often covering the Papal Grottoes and, on selected tours, an elevator-assisted dome climb.

Special access & combos

  • Dome access lets you climb Michelangelo's masterpiece via 551 steps or 251 steps with the elevator option. Visiting on a Wednesday? A Papal Audience experience offers reserved audience arrangements before or after your basilica visit. For a full-day itinerary, choose a combo with the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, or bundle your visit with Castel Sant'Angelo or the Colosseum.

Policies

  • Many audio guide and dome experiences are non-refundable and tied to fixed dates and time slots. Late arrivals may not be admitted, and certain dome climbs have age and health restrictions. The dome includes steep, narrow staircases and isn't wheelchair accessible.
  • A modest dress code (covered shoulders and knees), small-bag policy, and airport-style security apply to all visitors. Temporary route changes or area closures may occur during liturgies and special religious events.

Explore St. Peter's Basilica

Main Basilica

The world's largest church, home to Michelangelo's Pietà, Bernini's Baldachin, and centuries of Renaissance art.
Access: Included (free entry)

Inside the Basilica

Papal Tombs

Underground chapels and the resting place of more than 90 popes, located beneath the basilica's main floor.
Access: Included (free entry)

Visit the Grottoes

Michelangelo's Dome

Climb Michelangelo's iconic dome for panoramic views of Vatican City and Rome. Choose the full staircase or elevator-assisted climb.
Access: Separate ticket required; via elevator or stairs

Climb the Dome

Vatican Necropolis (Scavi)

An archaeological site beneath the basilica, believed to contain the tomb of St. Peter. Visits are limited and guided only.
Access: Separate guided tour required

Enter the Scavi

Highlights of St. Peter’s Basilica

St. Peter's Baldachin inside St. Peter's Basilica, ornate altar and columns.
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Main Nave

Location: Main Nave

The vast central space sets the scale of the world’s largest church. Notice the coffered ceiling, giant pilasters, and side niches filled with monumental saint statues guiding your eye toward the high altar.

Michelangelo’s Pietà

Location: First Chapel on the Right

Michelangelo’s marble Pietà shows Mary cradling Christ with striking serenity. Look closely at the delicate folds of her robes, Christ’s relaxed limbs, and Michelangelo’s discreet signature on Mary’s sash, visible despite the protective glass.

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Bernini’s Baldachin and Papal Altar

Location: Central Crossing under the Dome

This towering bronze canopy marks the basilica’s liturgical heart above St. Peter’s tomb. Observe the twisting Solomonic columns, gilded vines, and small Barberini bees decorating the structure as it draws your gaze upward into the dome.

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Confessio and Shrine of St. Peter

Location: Sunken Area before the Papal Altar

A semicircular, lowered space marks the traditional burial site of the Apostle Peter. Notice the marble balustrade, constantly burning lamps around the shrine, and stairways leading down, symbolically connecting the altar to the apostle’s tomb below.

St. Peter’s Dome interior

Location: Base of the Dome, Above the Crossing

From the floor, look up to see the dome’s concentric ring of golden Latin text beginning “Tu es Petrus…”. With binoculars or camera zoom, you can discern intricate mosaic figures filling each ribbed segment.

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Dome Terrace and views

Location: Dome Terrace and Lantern

After climbing or taking the lift, you reach terraces encircling the dome. From the summit platform, trace the perfect oval of St. Peter’s Square below, Vatican Gardens behind, and Rome’s landmarks stretching to the horizon.

Cathedra Petri and Alabaster Window

Location: Apse (Far End of the Nave)

Bernini’s monumental “Chair of St. Peter” frames a relic throne within swirling bronze figures. Look for the glowing oval window above, its creamy alabaster depicting a dove, sending warm light across the gilded clouds.

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Vatican Grottoes and Papal Tombs

Location: Underground Grotto Level

Beneath the main floor lies a quieter zone of chapels and papal tombs. Observe modest marble sarcophagi, inscriptions in Latin, and the contrast between simple burial spaces and the elaborate church directly overhead.

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Vatican Necropolis / Scavi

Location: Ancient Necropolis beneath the Grottoes

On special pre-booked tours, you descend into a 1st–4th century burial street. Notice brick mausoleums, faded frescoes, and small niches, culminating near the simple memorial traditionally associated with St. Peter’s grave.

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Statue of St. Peter Enthroned

Location: Right Side of the Nave near the Crossing

This bronze figure of St. Peter seated in blessing is a long-standing devotional focus. Look at the right foot: centuries of pilgrims touching it have worn the metal smooth and shiny.

Basilica Façade and Loggia of the Blessings

Location: Front Façade

The massive façade features towering Corinthian columns and statues of Christ and apostles. Look up to the central balcony—the Loggia of the Blessings—used for announcing new popes and delivering the “Urbi et Orbi” blessing.

Nave Floor Markers and Mosaics

Location: Nave Floor and Side Chapels

Embedded markers along the floor compare St. Peter’s length to other major churches worldwide. As you wander, notice that apparent “paintings” above side altars are actually detailed mosaics made of countless tiny colored tesserae.

Read more

Plan your visit to the St. Peter’s Basilica

Timings

  • Basilica: Open daily 7am–8pm (from June onwards).
  • Last general entry is at 7:15pm, roughly 45 minutes before closing time.
  • Dome: 7am–6pm (summer: late March–late October) | 7:30am–5pm (winter: late October–late March).
  • Best time to visit: Arrive before 9am on weekdays or after 4pm for shorter queues and a quieter experience.
Full hours & calendar

Mass

  • Daily Mass: Mass is celebrated every day inside St. Peter's Basilica.
  • Visitors welcome: People of all faiths may attend respectfully. Sightseeing pauses during services, and quiet behavior is expected.
  • Dedicated worshipper entrance: Worshippers and celebrants use a separate entrance and are escorted to the reserved prayer area.
  • Confession: The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available Monday–Saturday, 7am–12:30pm & 4pm–7pm, and Sunday, 7am–1pm & 4pm–7pm.
  • Eucharistic Adoration: Held Monday–Saturday in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel after the 8:30am Mass, continuing throughout the day.
Complete guide to St. Peter's Basilica Mass

St. Peter’s Basilica stands inside Vatican City, at the western edge of central Rome.
Address: Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Città del Vaticano | Find on maps

Getting there

  • Metro: Take Line A to Ottaviano–San Pietro station, then walk 8–10 minutes to St. Peter's Square.
  • Bus: Routes 40 and 64 stop near the basilica. Get off at Cavalleggeri/S. Pietro (4–5 min walk).
  • Train: Roma San Pietro station is about a 10–15 minute walk away.
  • Parking: Car parking around Vatican City is limited. Garage San Pietro is the closest option (5-minute walk), while Parking Risorgimento, a covered garage, is about a 10-minute walk from St. Peter's Square.
Directions and transport details

Entrances

  • General entrance (St. Peter's Square): Free entry to the basilica. Join the public security queue, which can take 45–60 minutes or longer during busy hours.

  • Reserved entry (right side of St. Peter's Square): For timed entry, hosted entry, audio guide, and guided tour tickets. Head to the white canopy/Online Booking Entrance, scan your QR code or e-ticket, then proceed through the mandatory security check. Arrive 30 minutes before your selected time.
  • Prayer entrance (Via di Porta Angelica): Reserved for worshippers attending Mass or other liturgical celebrations. After identification, staff escort visitors to the dedicated prayer area.
  • Accessible entrance (right colonnade): Step-free entrance with ramp access for wheelchair users and visitors with reduced mobility. Security screening applies to all visitors.
Entrances & access guide

Facilities

  • Restrooms: Available near St. Peter's Square, the dome entrance, and the visitor services area.
  • Water fountains: Free drinking water fountains are available around St. Peter's Square, carry a reusable bottle, especially in summer.
  • Luggage storage: No cloakroom or lockers are available. Travel with small bags only, as large luggage isn't permitted.
  • Gift shops: Find official stores selling rosaries, medals, books, and religious souvenirs near the Treasury Museum, the dome ticket office, and on the dome terrace.
  • Food & drinks: A café is located on the dome terrace, offering drinks and light snacks after your climb.
  • Baby changing: Baby-changing facilities are available in the Welcome Area for visitors with infants.
Plan your Basiica visit

Accessibility

  • Wheelchairs: Step-free entrances make the basilica accessible for wheelchair users. The dome isn't fully accessible and still requires climbing 251 steps, even with the elevator.
  • Strollers: Strollers aren't permitted inside the basilica and must be left under the portico before entry.
  • Hearing support: Guided tours in Italian Sign Language (LIS) are available with advance booking.
  • Medical assistance: Emergency medical support is available on-site if needed.
  • Service animals: Only registered assistance animals are permitted. Pets aren't allowed inside the basilica.

Rules

  • Keep conversations low and phones on silent, as the basilica remains an active place of worship.
  • Flash photography and bulky camera equipment aren't permitted. Personal photography without flash is allowed if it doesn't disturb worshippers or services.
  • Food, drinks, and smoking are prohibited inside the basilica.
  • Follow staff instructions, as visitor routes may change during Masses, papal events, or special liturgical celebrations.
St. Peter's Basilica
  • Wear clothing appropriate for a place of worship. Shoulders and knees must be covered for all visitors.
  • Men should wear long trousers, while women should wear trousers or skirts below the knee.
  • Sleeveless tops, short shorts, miniskirts, hats, and revealing clothing aren't permitted inside the basilica.

Note: Visitors who don't meet the dress code may be denied entry. Carrying a light scarf or shawl is recommended during warmer months.

Tips & guidelines

  • Aim to reach St. Peter’s Square just before 7am opening; early arrivals usually clear security much faster and enjoy a noticeably calmer nave for the Pietà and main altar.

  • Inside, start with Michelangelo’s Pietà in the first chapel on the right, then walk straight to Bernini’s baldachin under the dome before exploring side chapels; this keeps you oriented.

  • If you’re climbing the dome, try for a morning slot before 10am; stairwells are cooler, lines shorter, and you can explore the basilica at an easier pace afterward.

  • For classic façade photos, stand near the central obelisk; for more dramatic shots of the dome and colonnades, move to the square’s edges under the right-hand colonnade.

  • Pair the basilica with the Vatican Museums only if you can start museums around 8:30am; finish by early afternoon, then enter the basilica when museum tour crowds have begun thinning.

  • After your visit, walk 10 minutes down Via della Conciliazione to Castel Sant’Angelo; its terrace gives excellent late-afternoon views back toward St. Peter’s dome and the Tiber.

  • On Wednesdays with Papal Audience, expect morning congestion in the square; plan basilica sightseeing after 12 noon, using earlier hours for nearby sights or a coffee break on Borgo Pio.

Frequently asked questions about St. Peter’s Basilica tickets

Access to the main basilica floor is free; no basic ticket is required. Tickets are only needed for reserved timed entry, audio guides, dome access, guided tours, or Papal Audience experiences.

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