HelloMondo / Holy See / Vatican City / St. Peter’s Basilica
Find the best tickets, tours, and activities for the St. Peter’s Basilica, and compare prices from different tour operators.
We suggest to plan a 5 days trip to Vatican City to enjoy St. Peter’s Basilica
The "Baldacchino", by Gian Lorenzo Bernini
The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican (or simply St. Peter’s Basilica) is a Reinassance-style church located in Vatican City, the papal enclave that is within the city of Rome, Italy. St. Peter’s Basilica can accomodate 20,000 people. It measures 190 m (624 ft) long and the central nave is 46 m (150 ft) tall. The dome stands 136 m (447ft) tall. The dome design was started by Michelangelo and continued by Giacomo Della Porta. Carlo Maderno finished the dome in 1614.
To visit the Sistine Chapel you will need a ticket to the Vatican Museums, as it’s a separate set of buildings. Some tours of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel also include a guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica. The best time for your visit to the St. Peter’s Basilica is early in the morning as it opens. A visit to St. Peter’s Basilica is free of charge, but you should expect long queues of two hours: the only way to skip the line is to take a guided tour of the Vatican Museums.
St. Peter’s Basilica is a place of worship so it requires an appropriate dress code: your shoulders must be covered and skirts and shorts should reach below the knee. If you want to visit the Basilica, the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, with a local guide and skipping lines that can sometimes last 4 hours – we recommend reserving a guided tour of the Vatican. You will see all the essential sights, and save time which you can use to enjoy the city.
Compare best tickets and activities offered by:
Tour one of Rome's most important religious buildings with a guide
As low as
€27
on Tiqets.com
Climb Rome's famous dome with a guide and get optional time in the crypts
As low as
€39.00
on Tiqets.com
Enjoy a guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica and gaze over Rome from the dome
As low as
€49.18
on Tiqets.com
Skip the ticket lines to explore the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. See masterpieces by Michelangelo, Raphael, and Bernini, before visiting St Peter's Basilica with your guide.
As low as
€75
on GetYourGuide.com
Enjoy your St. Peter's Basilica visit at your own pace using the official audio-guides of the Basilica. You can start you visit at any point of the stunning church.
As low as
€5
on GetYourGuide.com
St. Peter’s is famous as a place of pilgrimage and for its liturgical functions. St. Peter’s Basilica is one of the four churches in the world that hold the rank of Major papal basilica, all four of which are in Rome, and is also one of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome. Contrary to popular misconception, it is not a cathedral because it is not the seat of a bishop; the cathedra of the pope as bishop of Rome is at Saint John Lateran.
Construction of the present basilica began on 18 April 1506 and was completed on 18 November 1626. It was designed principally by Bramante, Michelangelo, Carlo Maderno and Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
Inside, visitors will find extremely impressive pieces of art, including St. Peter’s Baldachin, a large bronze baldachin designed by Bernini, The Pietà, a sculpture by Michelangelo and the statue of St Peter on his throne. St Peter has his right foot worn down due to the touches of the devoted.
Useful information for your visit to the St. Peter’s Basilica.
It is located in Vatican City, Piazza San Pietro.
To visit the St. Peter’s Basilica the times are as follows:
To reach the St. Peter’s Basilica:
Metro station: Ottaviano, line A (red)
