St. Peter's Basilica Tickets: Skip-the-Line, Guided Tours & Admission to Dome
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A visit to St. Peter’s Basilica is an unforgettable experience you should not miss out on during your stay in Rome. The majestic church is an awe-inspiring architectural masterpiece and a religious site of enormous significance.
Admission to St. Peter’s Basilica is, of course, free of charge. However, the huge basilica is visited by millions of tourists every year, so there can be huge queues at the entrance.
Our tip: Some St. Peter’s Basilica tickets allow you to skip the lines! These tickets include direct entry via a separate entrance on-site, which is only open to ticket holders.
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This article contains all the relevant information to make your visit as smooth as possible. It also provides further information on the dress code, various guided tours, and other exciting activities around St. Peter’s Basilica, such as the ascent to the dome!
Rome tickets, including guided tours of St. Peter’s Basilica, skip-the-line entry, and much more, are available directly from our website.
Autor
Welcome!
Welcome to Rome Tourist!
My name is Sebastian.
For me, Italy’s capital is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe!
I love the city’s amazing architecture and am particularly interested in its fascinating history!
Basti
Guided Tour: St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
Our tip: Take part in a guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica and gain direct entry without waiting in line. During your tour, you will also discover the Vatican Museums with their Sistine Chapel.
- Guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica
- Guided tour of the Vatican Museums
- Guided tour of the Sistine Chapel
St. Peter's Basilica Entrance with Audio-Guide:
The audio guide for St. Peter’s Basilica is a good alternative to guided tours of the gigantic church. The flexible audio guide is a particularly suitable option for those who want to experience St. Peter’s Basilica at their own pace.
If you want to delve deeper into the basilica’s special art and architecture and learn a few fascinating anecdotes, you can explore the majestic St. Peter’s Basilica at your own pace.
The official audio guide lasts just under an hour and can be downloaded directly to your smartphone. The following languages are available: German, English, Spanish, French, Italian and Chinese.
Our hotel recommendations near Vatican City:
Have you already found a suitable hotel?
We have researched the best hotels nearby! -> Rome Hotels near Vatican
Guided Tour of St. Peter's Basilica & Dome Climb:
A very worthwhile activity in the Vatican is the ascent to the world-famous dome of St. Peter’s Basilica. Here are some things you should know before you book this ticket:
- Panoramic view: The admittedly quite strenuous climb to the dome is rewarded! A unique view of the Vatican awaits you, including St. Peter’s Square and the surrounding Rome. You can take some fantastic souvenir photos from up there.
- Physically demanding: The ascent to the dome is not suitable for everyone. It is adventurous in parts, involving a narrow spiral staircase with 320 steps. This has been an eternal nightmare for many visitors to the Eternal City. Therefore, being in good physical condition and wearing comfortable shoes is crucial.
- Two options: There are two options for the ascent to the dome – take the elevator for the first part, which will take you to the base of the dome, and then walk the rest of the way (another 320 steps). Or you can make the entire ascent on foot.
Overall, the climb to the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica is worthwhile if you are prepared to put up with the physical effort.
The view from up there is especially worthwhile in good weather and with a clear view. You can find even more detailed information on this topic in our article on the subject: St. Peter’s Basilica dome tickets!
Tickets & Tours
How much does Admission to St. Peter's Basilica cost?
Many tourists in Rome ask themselves the question: Can I enter St. Peter’s Basilica for free? Yes, admission to St. Peter’s Basilica is free!
You can visit the church without paying an entrance fee. However, please note that there may be long queues at the entrance, especially in high season and at certain times of the day, particularly in the morning.
Many visitors do not want to spend their precious vacation time waiting for hours in one of the admission queues at the Vatican.
If you want to minimize the waiting time (up to 2 hours), you can buy a skip-the-line ticket for a fee or book a guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica, which gives you priority access.
This is, of course, particularly practical if you want to make the most of your time in Rome, as St. Peter’s Basilica is one of the city’s most popular tourist destinations and is therefore frequently visited.
Welcome!
We are Allie & Sebastian. Rome is one of our absolute favorite cities!
After our fifth trip there, we decided to share our insider tips and experiences with other travel enthusiasts!
Our recommendations: This travel blog contains referral links. If you book something through one of our partner links, you will not incur any additional costs! We receive a small commission, which helps us to continue providing our readers with free information and experiences.
Entrance to St. Peter's Basilica: Long Waiting Times on Site
Entering St. Peter’s Basilica can sometimes take quite a long time. This is mainly due to the following reasons:
- Security checks
- High number of visitors
- Church services
Thousands of tourists flock to St. Peter’s Basilica every day. During the high season and at certain peak times (usually in the morning), there can be long queues at the entrance. Church services, papal audiences, and other religious ceremonies can temporarily restrict access for tourists, which can also lead to longer waiting times.
Admission controls also ensure the safety of tourists. Anyone wishing to enter St. Peter’s Basilica must, therefore, pass through the security check beforehand. Bags, rucksacks, etc., are checked for potentially dangerous objects.
Also check out:
St. Peter's Basilica Skip The Line
The separate entrance for skip-the-line ticket holders is usually located on the right-hand side of St. Peter’s Square as you face the façade of the basilica. You can easily walk past the queue and enter the church directly here.
Tickets & Tours
St. Peter's Dome Tickets without a Tour-Guide:
The dome of St. Peter’s Basilica can be visited with or without a tour guide. Vatican tickets are available both online and on-site. The price at the entrance is usually around 8 – 10 euros per person.
However, you should allow for some waiting time, as the number of visitors on site is enormous.
If you want to avoid the long queues at the entrance, it is better to reserve your ticket online in advance. Tickets online cost a few euros more but save a lot of time. In our experience, you can expect waiting times of 1-2 hours in high season.
What visitors say...
Tickets: Necropolis of St. Peter's Basilica
If you want to delve deeper into the history of the Vatican, you should take a closer look at our next insider tip! Many visitors to the Eternal City don’t know that a great visitor attraction awaits them directly beneath the Vatican Grottoes.
A visit to the necropolis of St. Peter’s Basilica is an absolute must for history and archaeology enthusiasts. This burial site contains ancient tombs, relics, and fascinating insights into the remains of early Christian sites.
A particular highlight is the view of the tomb of the Apostle Peter, which is believed to be located here. Admission prices vary depending on age and guided tour but are generally between 13 and 15 euros.
However, it is important to note that access to the necropolis is severely restricted and must be booked in advance. The number of visitors is limited to 250 per day to preserve the archaeological excavations.
Therefore, anyone wishing to visit the Vatican Necropolis can only take part in a guided tour. You can register for a guided tour by writing to this address.
In addition to the number of people taking part, please let us know your preferred language for the tour, the date of the tour, your name, and your postal address. A guided tour lasts approximately 1.5 hours.
Admission to the Treasury of St. Peter's Basilica:
A surprisingly little-visited attraction in the Vatican is the Treasury of St. Peter’s Basilica, which you can experience for an entrance fee of 5 – 10 euros (depending on age and nationality).
The treasury is located in a side wing of the church. Here, you can gain an exciting insight into an impressive collection of religious and historical treasures, including liturgical artifacts, magnificent vestments, and many interesting relics, statues, and more!
The majority of the valuable gold and silver objects—including papal crosses and other reliquaries—were presented to the Vatican as gifts. For history and art lovers, a visit to the Treasury of St. Peter’s Basilica is undoubtedly worthwhile.
Visitor Information
Address:
Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Vatican City
Transportation:
Metro station: Ottaviano, Line A (red)
Information about tickets:
Admission to St. Peter’s Basilica is free of charge.
Waiting times vary depending on the time of year. 2-3 hours are not uncommon in high season.
Most guided tours of St. Peter’s Basilica offer the advantage that you can skip the lines!
Opening hours:
St. Peter’s Basilica
April 01 – September 30: 07:00 – 19:00
October 01 – March 31: 07:00 – 18:30
Closed on 01.01 | 06.01 | Easter
Dome
April 01 – September 30: 08:00 – 18:00
October 01 – March 31: 08:00 – 18:00
Crypt
April 01 – September 30: 08:00 – 18:00
October 01 – March 31: 08:00 – 17:30
closed on Sundays & public holidays
Recommended exploration time:
approx. 1 hour (+ possibly long admission time)
Dress code: cover shoulders & knees
Nearby:
St. Peter’s Basilica Dome (0.0 km)
Vatican Museums (0.5 km)
Castel Sant’Angelo (0.7 km)
St. Peter's Basilica Opening hours:
The opening hours of St. Peter’s Basilica can vary depending on the time of year and events such as trade fairs. As a rule, however, it is open from Monday to Sunday.
From October to March, the basilica is accessible from 7 am to 6:30 pm, and from April to September inclusive, you can visit St. Peter’s Basilica from 7 am to 7 pm.
St. Peter’s Basilica is particularly busy on Saturdays and Sundays, as many tourists choose these days to visit. To avoid the biggest crowds, visit early in the morning or late afternoon when many visitors have already left.
Opening hours of St. Peter's Dome:
The dome of St. Peter’s Basilica is open from 8 am to 5 pm from the beginning of October to the end of March. Between April and September, visiting hours are extended by one hour, so the dome is open from 8 am to 6 pm.
Dress code in St. Peter's Basilica:
If you wish to visit St. Peter’s Basilica, you should adhere to the following dress code: this is a religious place. It is particularly important to wear appropriate clothing that covers your shoulders and knees.
This means avoiding wearing sleeveless tops, shorts, or miniskirts. Women are often advised to bring a scarf or jacket to cover themselves if necessary. Head coverings such as caps, beanies, and hats should also be removed before entering the church.
History of St. Peter's Basilica:
The 120-year construction period of St. Peter’s Basilica began in 1506 on the orders of Pope Julius II, who commissioned the renowned Italian architect and painter Donato Bramante with the gigantic task of turning this monumental project into reality.
Bramante’s challenging mission was to build the current church in place of an old basilica dating back to the era of Emperor Constantine the Great (in 324).
This basilica was built over the supposed tomb of the apostle Peter, who, according to tradition, was crucified upside down during Emperor Nero’s reign.
The architects of St. Peter's Basilica:
In addition to Donato Bramante, who was in charge of the major project, many other important figures contributed to the design of St. Peter’s Basilica.
These include Raphael Santi, Giovanni Giocondo, Giuliano da Sangallo, and Gian Lorenzo Bernini, whose impressive tomb can be found in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.
This impressive assembly of artists and master builders contributed significantly to the beauty and importance of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Sebastian
Welcome to Rome Tourist!
My name is Sebastian.
For me, Italy’s capital is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe! I love the city’s amazing architecture and am particularly interested in its fascinating history!
Allie
Hello everyone!
I’m Allie and I love the great food and relaxed atmosphere in Rome! My favorite thing to do is stroll through the streets of the Eternal City with a coffee to go.
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