Highlights
- See three levels of St. Peter's: the papal tombs, the nave and the dome
- Start underground in the Vatican Grottoes, where popes are buried
- Lift and stair climb to the cupola terrace above St. Peter's Square
- Michelangelo's Pieta and Bernini's Baldachin explained inside the nave
- Live guide throughout, in a group of no more than 15 travellers
Description
Most visitors see one St. Peter's Basilica. On this guided tour you see three levels of it.
You start below ground in the Vatican Grottoes, where popes have been laid to rest for centuries beneath the church above. Your local guide explains who lies here, and how a quiet Roman hillside cemetery became the heart of the Catholic world.
Back at floor level, the scale changes completely. Your guide leads you through the nave, past Michelangelo's Pietà and Bernini's bronze Baldachin, connecting the gold and marble above to the tombs you have just seen below.
Then you go up. A lift takes you to the interior gallery, where mosaics that look small from the floor turn out to be metres wide and the whole basilica opens beneath you. The staircase then narrows with the curve of the dome until it releases you onto the cupola terrace — St. Peter's Square directly below, the Vatican gardens on one side and the rooftops of Rome on the other.
Your guide meets you at Piazza della Città Leonina holding a white flag, helps you through the mandatory security check, and keeps the group to no more than 30 so there is room for questions. The tour ends on the terrace, where you can stay as long as you like before making your own way down.
Below, inside and above — one route, one building, three worlds.
Includes
professional live guide in English, Italian, Spanish, French or German
Entry to St. Peter's Basilica
Dome Ticket
Access to the Vatican Grottoes (papal tombs)
A device to listen clearly
Excludes
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Food and drinks
Gratuities
Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
Vatican Necropolis / Scavi (separate booking with the Vatican required)
Important Information
- Dress code enforced: shoulders and knees covered for all visitors. Shorts, short skirts and sleeveless tops are not admitted.
Airport-style security. Large bags, backpacks, tripods and glass bottles are not permitted; no cloakroom before security.
After the lift, around 320 steps lead to the top of the dome through a narrow, sloping passage. Not suitable for guests with reduced mobility, heart or breathing conditions, or claustrophobia.
The Basilica, Grottoes and Dome are an active place of worship and may close at short notice for papal audiences, services or security. If an included area cannot be visited, you are guaranteed a full refund of your booking.
Photography permitted; no flash or tripods.
The guided portion ends on the dome terrace; guests descend at their own pace.
Easy cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
