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Offered languages
- English
Beat the heat and the crowds - Early Entrance Dome Access
Explore a stunning basilica on a small-group guided tour for a more personal experience. Discover its history, admire breathtaking art and architecture, and climb to the top of the dome for unforgettable panoramic views of the city.
This comprehensive St. Peter’s Basilica tour takes you there with skip-the-line entry, showing you everything from top to bottom, including the awe-inspiring view from the top of the dome, its hidden treasures, Papal tombs, and the embrace of its world-famous piazza.
A passionate Vatican expert will guide you through this magnificent church from top to bottom to point out Rome’s most important sights, explain the centuries-long history of St.Peter’s Basilica, and give you an intro to the Popes buried here.
This is an intimate experience with tour groups capped at just 12 people or fewer. This means that there won’t be a mass of people between you and your tour guide.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
The meeting point is the coffee shop in Borgo Pio 136, near St. Peter's Square. The closest Metro Station is Ottaviano. If you do need assistance with how to reach the meeting point, please don't hesitate to contact us.
The tour ends inside the Basilica, where you can spend more time on your own.
Itinerary
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1Vatican / Borgo
We do start from the historical district of Rome, called Borgo. The guide will make an introduction to the Vatican City and show you secret passages of the Pope.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2St. Peter's Square
St. Peter’s Square in is one of the most famous (and certainly one of the most holy!) sights in the world. It was designed in the 17th century by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, who was known as the most accomplished architect in Rome at the time. Pope Alexander VIII, who commissioned the piazza, asked Bernini to emphasize St. Peter’s importance as “the gateway to Heaven” and the architect implemented the request beautifully. He divided the square into a smaller trapezoidal area adjoining the Basilica and an oval main part, which together create a ground plan in the shape of a giant keyhole.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
3St. Peter's Basilica
The view from the top of St. Peter's Dome is hailed far and wide as the best panorama of Rome. From these heights you will also be able to gaze over the whole of Vatican City, with its splendid gardens. This is 360° of pure magic as the Eternal City stretches to the hills beyond, and your guide will help you spot many a famous roof and dome, from the Pantheon, to Castel Sant'Angelo and more.
2 hours • Admission ticket included -
4The Vatican Grottoes
Known by a number of names, Vatican Crypts, Vatican Grottoes, or the catchy 'Vatacombs', this is the enormous underground cemetery below St. Peter's that houses the hallowed tombs of various popes, martyrs, kings and other faithful that the central church in Catholicism has collected over its millennia of history. You can even see a few columns of the original St. Peter's Basilica built by Emperor Constantine in the 4th century AD.
15 minutes • Admission ticket included -
Vatican City (Pass by)
Pass by the smallest of the world, the Vatican City, through the Colonnade of Bernini.
Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Additional info
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- St. Peter's Basilica is an active parish and therefore subject to last-minute closures due to mass or other religious events. In these cases, the tour will be canceled and fully refunded.
- The tour operator purchases priority tickets for all guests. Please note that the skip-the-line entrance must pass through security, which can also take 20 minutes. Regular line takes hours to go inside.
- All participants MUST cover their knees and shoulders during visits to religious sites. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements.
- All participants (including under 18s) must bring valid ID.
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Rating
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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