3 hours
Guided in English
Mobile ticket

Highlights

Pre-tour introduction covering the history of the Vatican and the highlights of St. Peter’s Basilica, helping you better understand the significance of the sites you’ll visit. The exclusive Scavi Tour beneath St. Peter’s Basilica, where you’ll explore ancient burial sites and visit the traditional tomb of Saint Peter — one of the Vatican’s most unique areas, normally closed to the public. Skip-the-line access to St. Peter’s Basilica, allowing you to enter the world-famous church without the long wait. Inside, admire masterpieces by Michelangelo and Bernini, including the iconic Pietà. Optional Dome climb for panoramic views over Vatican City and Rome, plus a closer look at the basilica’s mosaics and architecture.

Inclusions

What's included

reservation of Scavi tour
45-minute pre-tour introduction
St. Peter's Basilica Tour ( self guided with pre recorded information)
Tombs of Popes under St. Peter's Basilica

What's not

Necropoli Di San Pietro pre-bookd by us at Euro 25

Itinerary

Meet our staff at St. Peter's Square within splendid Bernini's Colonnade and stop for a photo by the Bronze Doors, the ceremonial Vatican entrance, guarded by the Swiss Guards
10 min
Re-enter St. Peter's Basilica to continue with the guided tour. See the highlights of the church including Bernini's “Baldacchino” and Michelangelo's “Pietà” Your guided tour will end inside St. Peter's and you may stay on for your further private exploration
40 min
Enter St. Peter's Basilica with skip line pass and walk through the lower level of St. Peter's Basilica lined with tombs of Pope's
10 min
Visit ancient Roman cemetery with tombs and preserved decorations from the 1st century AD. Learn why St. Peter was martyred at Nero's Circus in 64 AD and why he was buried at the Roman cemetery on the slope of the Vatican hill, later covered by the construction of the first Vatican basilica at the time of emperor Constantine. Pay respect at St. Peter's Tomb excavated together with the necropolis over 80 years ago under Pope Pius XII. This is the most exclusive Vatican tour with fewer than 100 permits granted per day.
1.5 h

Cancellation

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

Reviews

3.9

5114
419
316
214
131

Ratings come from 194 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Know before you go

Meeting point: The meeting place is OUTSIDE hotl Palazzo Cardinal Cesi, few steps from St. Peter's Square. You must arrive 30 minuts before scheduled starting time, the time necessary to get through Vatican security, and Swiss Guards check point. There is way to reconnct with guide nce past scurity
Pickup: Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
Tickets: Tickets are redeemed at a different location from the meeting point.
Ticket type: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group size: Up to 12 travellers
Operated by: vaticancitytoursandtickets

Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tour is no available for children under 15

How it compares in Rome

Its from-price is 33% below the median of the 8352 experiences we list in Rome.
Its length is typical for the group.
By number of reviews it ranks 464 of 8352.

About Rome

Rome layers nearly three thousand years of history into one walkable city, from the Colosseum and Forum to Baroque piazzas and Vatican art.

Ancient Rome is still in plain sight. The Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill sit together at the city's heart, the Pantheon still stands with its open oculus, and fragments of temples and aqueducts turn up between apartment blocks. Across the Tiber, Vatican City holds St Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums and Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling.

Top-ranked sights in Rome: Colosseum, Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel.

See all 8352 experiences in Rome