St. Peter’s Basilica Priority Access Tour with Dome & Crypt
- 2 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Make the most of your time at visit St Peter’s Basilica, see the papal crypt on this all-access tour complete with priority entry and climb its dome. Starting early, you’ll see St. Peter’s Square without the large daytime crowds. Tour the basilica to admire Michelangelo’s ‘La Pietà’ among other highlights, and pay a visit to the papal crypt — a site normally missed by other tour groups. Numbers are limited to 20 for a small-group experience. End your tour at the top of the dome for panoramic vistas over the capital. Walks Tours is proud to be an Accredited Tour Operator with an official ticketing agreement with the Vatican Museums.
Inclusions
What's included
- Entry to the Papal Crypt of St Peter's Basilica
- Viewing of the Swiss Guard at St Peter's
- Private guide (if option selected)
- Pre-reserved tickets to St. Peter’s Basilica Dome (with optional elevator access)
- St Peter's Square
- Skip the Line Access to St Peter's Basilica
What's not
- Gratuities
- Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off
Itinerary
Meet your guide just outside the entrance to St. Peter's Square and head past the crowds, straight into the grand Renaissance-era elegance of the basilica.
Next, it's time for a journey through the basilica itself as your guide shows you the grandeur that defines one of the holiest sites in the Catholic world. Admire the exquisite detail of the baldachin designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, standing amid the space designed by Michelangelo, and then visit the famous bronze statue of St. Peter with the keys to heaven in his hand. Another special experience is waiting for you beneath the basilica as your guide gives you a rare look at the crypts of the Vatican grotto. With more than 100 tombs holding popes, Catholic monarchs, and famous figures, the crypts let you look back through almost 2,000 years of the church's history. Before you part ways with your guide, they'll lead you to an elevator that carries you to the dome's first terrace. From there, you'll be able to climb St. Peter's dome at your own pace. 320 steps lead you up to one of the best views you can get of the city of Rome—from the square below you all the way across the Tiber.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
4.7
- 5284
- 423
- 37
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- 112
Ratings come from 331 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
- Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of your tour, your guide will be holding a yellow WalksDevour sign. This tour meets at Caffè Leonina, Piazza della Città Leonina, 5. The closest metro stop is Ottaviano.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 20 travellers
- Operated by
- Walks - Italy & Spain
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- This is a walking tour. Guests should be able to walk at a moderate pace without difficulty.
- After the terrace where the elevator stops, there are still 320 steps to climb to reach the very top.
- Unfortunately due to the nature of this tour it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments or with wheelchairs, or strollers.
- All guests (including children) must bring ID on the day of their tour.
- Due to the religious nature of the Vatican, all individuals regardless of gender must cover their shoulders and knees. Walks cannot be held responsible for those denied entry.
- The full names of all participants must be provided at the time of booking and must match the names on the ID/Passport. Name changes are not permitted.
How it compares in Rome
- Its from-price is 70% below the median of the 8352 experiences we list in Rome.
- It is shorter than most of them.
- By number of reviews it ranks 297 of 8352.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
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.
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