St. Peter’s Basilica: visit, tours and dome climb
St. Peter’s Basilica is the great church of Vatican City and is free to enter. Here are the ways to visit, what each adds and what to know first.
Photo: Alvesgaspar, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Ticket options compared
What each kind of ticket lets you see, and how the options differ in price and cancellation terms.
| Option | What’s included | Good for | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free entry | Walk in through the security line on St. Peter’s Square. No ticket is needed for the basilica itself. | A flexible visit on a budget | Book now |
| Entry with audio guide | An audio guide for the basilica that explains the main chapels and works of art. | Context without joining a group | Book now |
| Guided tour | A guide leads you through the basilica and explains the Pietà, the bronze canopy and the papal tombs. | Understanding what you are looking at | Book now |
| Dome climb | A paid ticket to the top of the dome, by lift part of the way and then on foot, or by stairs all the way. | The view over Rome and the square | Book now |
Check live prices
Open each option to see the price and the cancellation terms for your date.
About St. Peter’s Basilica
The present basilica was built between 1506 and 1626 over the site where, by tradition, Saint Peter is buried. Bramante, Michelangelo, Maderno and Bernini all worked on it.
Inside, the works most visitors look for are Michelangelo’s Pietà, just to the right of the entrance, and Bernini’s bronze canopy over the main altar. Below the floor, the grottoes hold the tombs of many popes.
Michelangelo designed the dome. The climb ends on a narrow outdoor gallery with a view straight down onto St. Peter’s Square and across the city.
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Skip-the-Line Group Tour of the Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica
★ 4.6 (15,951) · 3 h
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Good to know
Opening hoursOpen daily from early morning. On Wednesday mornings the basilica can stay closed until around midday when the papal audience is held in the square.
How long to allowAbout an hour for the basilica, and another hour or more if you climb the dome.
Dress codeShoulders and knees must be covered, for men and women. Visitors who are not dressed this way can be refused entry.
Security and bagsEveryone passes airport-style security on the square, and the line is longest in the late morning. Large bags are not allowed inside.
Nearby
Vatican Museums
The papal art collections and the Sistine Chapel, with a separate entrance on Viale Vaticano.
St. Peter’s Square
Bernini’s vast colonnaded square in front of the basilica. Free to enter.
Castel Sant’Angelo
The round fortress on the Tiber that began as the tomb of Emperor Hadrian.
Prati
Quieter, residential and close to the Vatican, with good metro access.
Also in Rome
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Frequently asked questions
Is St. Peter’s Basilica free?
Yes. Entry to the basilica is free. You pay only for extras such as the dome climb, an audio guide or a guided tour.
Do I need to book ahead?
Not for the basilica itself. Tours and audio guides are booked ahead, and they are worth it mainly for the explanation.
How hard is the dome climb?
The lift covers the first part, and more than 300 steps remain after it. Without the lift it is about 550 steps in total.
Can I visit the Vatican Museums on the same day?
Yes, and many visitors do. Allow a full day, and remember the two entrances are about fifteen minutes apart on foot.