Located in the Vatican City, Saint Peter's Basilica is arguably one of the finest churches in the entire world. Saint Peter's Basilica is considered as one of the Catholic Church’s holiest temples and also an important pilgrimage site.

Immerse yourself in the Saint Peter's Basilica impressive art and admire the product of Italy's greatest Renaissance's architects, such as Raphael, Bramante and Michelangelo among others.

Every day between 40,000 and 50,000 people visit the church, making it one of the most visited places in Rome. Book your St. Peter's Basilica tickets to understand why it's worth to visit.

Here's everything you need to know about St. Peter's Basilica, one of the most captivating attractions in Rome.

How much do St. Peter’s Basilica tickets cost?

General admission to St. Peter’s Basilica is free.

If you wish to climb St Peter’s Dome, you can either use the stairs, it costs €6, or take the elevator half way to the top and climb the remaining stairs for €8.

St. Peter's Dome guided tours are also available.

How do you skip the line?

St. Peter's Basilica is free, however you may have to wait in line up to two hours.

Don't panic, there are several options to skip the line at St Peter’s Basilica, such as renting an audio-guide, booking a guided tour or a city pass.

There are many providers selling online those services. Use our search engine and compare all the different deals available for your preferred date.

Rent an audio-guide

Enter with a skip the line ticket and visit the St Peter’s Basilica at your ease following the explanations of your audio-guide.

Book a guided tour

With a tour guide by your side, skip the line and learn more about the history and art of the St Peter’s Basilica.

Purchase a city pass

Booking a Rome pass is a great option to save time and money.

Are there any combined tickets including St. Peter’s Basilica and other attractions?

There are many exciting ways to combine St. Peter’s Basilica tickets with other attractions of the Vatican Museums, or nearby destinations:

• St. Peter’s Basilica + Sistine Chapel + Vatican Museums: The two most popular landmarks of the Vatican Museums are offered through the same guided tour.
  
• St. Peter’s Basilica + Dome Climb: Includes the standard St. Peter’s Basilica admission along with a free climb to the top of the dome.
  
• St. Peter’s Basilica + Necropolis: Visit the legendary Catholic church than take part in a special visit to the reserved entrance of Vatican Necropolis.
  
• St. Peter’s Basilica + Sistine Chapel + Vatican Gardens: The complete Vatican Museums tour where you venture into the three prized landmarks of the museums, including the Vatican Gardens.
  
• St. Peter’s Basilica + Dome Climb + Papal Crypt: The VIP experience takes you all the sights of St. Peter’s Basilica, along with a rare descension into the Papal Crypt.

Are St. Peter’s Basilica guided tours worth it?

Yes, guided tours to St. Peter’s Basilica are the preferred way for visitors to see the historical monument since you will get a more personal experience. Some of the advantages of guided tours include:

• Your tickets are bought in advance so you don’t have to worry about gaining admission.
• You get to skip the traditional lines and receive a more VIP experience.
• Access on guided tours often takes you to places not open to the general public.
• You receive more information thanks to the knowledgeable guides hired by Vatican City.

What are the highlights?

St. Peter’s Basilica is arguably the most impressive Renaissance-era building ever created. The iconic church dates back to the 16th century. It is largely considered one of the holiest shrines in Catholicism. The religious site is erected around the tomb of St. Peter.

St. Peter’s Basilica offers incredible views of Renaissance architecture and art. It is one of the largest churches in the world. The impressive St. Peter’s Dome is worth the extra cost to climb to its top. The sights from on-top of the dome offer unparalleled views of Vatican City and Rome.

Make sure you reserve plenty of time to witness the spectacular St. Peter’s Basilica along with other Vatican Museums like the Sistine Chapel. St. Peter’s Basilica contains many levels, including an underground portion with the Vatican Grottoes and Necropolis.

Are St. Peter’s Basilica tickets included in any attractions city passes?

Yes, there are several ways to visit the Vatican Museums (including St. Peter’s Basilica) as part of a Rome city pass:

• Rome Pass: A very popular type of pass that grants you permission to countless tourist attractions, including the Vatican Museums.
• Omnia Pass: Very comparable to the Rome Pass, it includes skip the line admission to Rome’s main attractions like the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Vatican Museums.

What is the best time to visit the St. Peter’s Basilica? How to avoid the crowd?

Visit St. Peter’s Basilica in the early morning or late afternoon to beat most of the rush. Just make sure you take into account the final permitted entry of the day.

St. Peter’s Basilica is exceptionally busy during the peak seasons of April to May, and July to October. It also gets very popular during important Christian holidays.

Weekends, especially the final Sunday of the month, receive higher volumes of visitors.

What are the St. Peter’s Basilica opening hours?

The Vatican Museums are open every day of the year. Standard Monday-Saturday hours are 9 AM to 6 PM. The final entry of the day is at 4 PM (Monday-Saturday). The Vatican Museums are open on Sundays from 9 AM to 2 PM (final entry at 12:30 PM).

Please make yourself aware of special events. For example, most Wednesday mornings St. Peter’s Basilica is closed to the public until 12 PM. It is the time where the Pope holds a Papal Audience when he is in town.

What are the other attractions in Rome?

• Colosseum & Roman Forum
• Catacombs of Rome
• Pantheon
• Castel Sant'Angelo
• Capuchin Crypt

Travel Tips

• Book in advance, as guided tours and other special opportunities to visit St. Peter’s Basilica sell out fast. You can also save a lot of time by not only purchasing tickets in advance but also considering skip-the-line and fast track options.
• Dress appropriately for the religious site. Men and women are expected to have appropriate clothing with coverage from the shoulders down to the knees. Visitors are not allowed inside St. Peter’s Basilica otherwise.
• Avoid prominent Christian holidays. St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel receive a particularly high volume of visitors during sacred holidays like Easter and Christmas. The last Sunday of the month is also exceptionally busy because free admission is available for all the Vatican Museums.
• Make sure you are prepared for the dome climb. It costs money to access St. Peter’s Dome. Furthermore, even if you purchase the elevator ticket it only reaches halfway up the dome. You will need to be able to climb stairs regardless.