"Our tour guide Federico was the best!!! He made this once in a lifetime experience super easy and stress free plus he helped with the line. Thank you FEDERICO"
Vatican City · St Peter's Basilica · Tickets
St Peter's Basilica Tickets
Walking into St Peter's costs nothing. What you can buy is the dome, a reserved time slot, the Scavi under the Grottoes, or a guide who explains the nave and takes you down to the papal tombs. Here is what each one costs and which to book.
From
$33
per person
on promotion, usually $37
Free cancellation
The short answer
Entry to St Peter’s Basilica is free. There is no entrance ticket to buy, at the door or online. The Fabbrica di San Pietro, which runs the Basilica, lets everyone in after the security check in St Peter’s Square, every day from 7:00 to 19:00 between 26 October 2026 and 28 March 2027. The Vatican Grottoes under the floor, where the popes are buried, are free too (both checked November 2026).
So what is sold as “St Peter’s Basilica tickets” is one of four things: the dome (17 EUR by the stairs, 22 EUR with the lift, on the Fabbrica’s own booking site), a reserved time slot (7 EUR, with the digital audio guide), the Scavi necropolis under the Grottoes (20 EUR; a separate visit booked in advance by request on the Fabbrica’s own site, with limited capacity), or a guide.
If what you want is someone who explains the nave and takes you down to the papal tombs, the guided tour by KK TOUR SRLS is the one to book: 4.7 out of 5 from 6,451 reviews, US$37 for the 1.5-hour tour without the dome and US$48 with the dome climb, the same price at every start time on 12 and 24 November 2026 (9:00 and 12:30, plus 11:00 on the 24th; checked November 2026).
The guided Basilica tour
Pick a date for the guided Basilica and papal tombs tour
Pick a date on the calendar; the cancellation terms are shown before you pay.
Three St Peter's Basilica Tickets, Side by Side
Entry is free, so each of these sells something else: a guide, the dome, or the Museums. Prices for one adult in English on 12 and 24 November 2026, checked November 2026.
| Feature | OUR PICK Guided Basilica + Papal Tombs (KK TOUR SRLS) | Dome + Papal Tombs, Audio Guide (ROMEX TOURS SRLS) | Museums, Sistine Chapel & Basilica (Crown Tours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you pay for | A licensed guide for the Basilica and the papal tombs | The dome ticket, a host at the start and an audio guide | A guide for the Museums and the Sistine Chapel, then the Basilica |
| Starting Price | US$37 (no dome), US$48 with the dome climb, 12 and 24 Nov | US$22 stairs, US$31 with the lift, on 12 Nov, on promotion, usually US$27 and US$38 | 3-site option: US$106 for a 14:30 start on 12 Nov, on promotion, usually US$176; the cheaper 2-site option leaves out the Basilica |
| Dome | Only in the dome option: lift to the first terrace, then about 320 steps | Included: 551 steps, or the lift option | Only in the 3-site + Dome option, self-guided |
| Live guide | Yes, with radio headsets | No: audio guide and a host | Yes, with headsets |
| Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel | Not included | Not included | Included |
| Duration | 1.5 hours; 2.5 hours with the dome | 2 hours | 3 hours (3 sites); about 4 hours with the dome |
| Starts | Piazza della Citta Leonina 2, by St Peter's Square | Piazza della Citta Leonina 1 | Via Mocenigo 15, near the Museums |
| Rating | 4.7 (6,451 reviews) | 4.5 (1,702 reviews) | 4.7 (19,456 reviews) |
| Check dates | See the dome ticket | See the 3-site tour |
Before you pay for anything
What a St Peter's Basilica Ticket Actually Buys
The Fabbrica di San Pietro's own fees and hours, checked November 2026, next to what the tours sell.
Every St Peter’s ticket, and what it opens
| What you pay for | Price (checked November 2026) | What you get | Where it is sold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basilica entry | Free | The nave, Michelangelo’s Pietà, Bernini’s baldachin | No ticket: security check in St Peter’s Square |
| Vatican Grottoes | Free | The papal tombs under the floor, when open | No ticket |
| Reserved time slot | 7 EUR | Entry at a set time, digital audio guide (about 1 hour) | Fabbrica di San Pietro booking site |
| Dome by the stairs | 17 EUR | 551 steps to the top, Basilica included | Fabbrica booking site, or on site if available |
| Dome with the lift | 22 EUR | Lift to the terrace, then 320 steps | Fabbrica booking site, or on site if available |
| Scavi necropolis | 20 EUR (14 EUR ages 10 to 17) | The 1st-century necropolis, groups of about 12 | Booked in advance by request on the Fabbrica’s own site; capacity is limited |
| Guided Basilica and papal tombs (KK TOUR SRLS) | US$37; US$48 with the dome | Licensed guide, headsets, 1.5 or 2.5 hours | GetYourGuide |
| Dome Experience, Papal Tombs and Audio Tour (ROMEX TOURS SRLS) | US$22 stairs, US$31 lift on 12 Nov, on promotion, usually US$27 and US$38 (US$27 and US$38 on 24 Nov) | Dome ticket, host at the start, audio guide | GetYourGuide |
| Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & Basilica Tour (Crown Tours) | 3-site option: US$106 for a 14:30 start on 12 Nov (on promotion, usually US$176) | Museums and Sistine Chapel with a guide, then the Basilica | GetYourGuide |
The first six rows are the fees set by the Fabbrica di San Pietro (basilicasanpietro.va) and the Excavations Office; the tour prices are for one adult in English.
The dome is the one ticket St Peter’s charges for
Everything at floor level is free; the climb is not. The Fabbrica’s own dome ticket is 17 EUR by the stairs (551 steps) or 22 EUR with the lift, which stops at the terrace and leaves 320 steps on foot; both include the Basilica; the dome visit itself takes about an hour. In the winter period, 26 October 2026 to 28 March 2027, the dome is open 7:30 to 17:00, shorter than the Basilica. Online tickets are for a set time and cannot be refunded or changed; the dome is recommended from age 6 and is not wheelchair accessible.
The dome products on GetYourGuide cost more than the Fabbrica’s ticket and add a service. ROMEX TOURS SRLS’ Dome Experience was US$22 by the stairs and US$31 with the lift on 12 November, on promotion, usually US$27 and US$38, at starts from 8:00 to 14:00: you get the dome entry, a host at the meeting point and an audio guide, and you still queue for the security check, which it does not skip. The guided tour’s dome option adds the dome ticket and an hour to the tour for US$11 more.
Which ticket fits you
Book whichever fits your visit:
A guide for the Basilica
Basilica, Dome Climb and Underground Tour
For a first visit: a licensed guide for the nave, the Pietà and the papal tombs, with the dome as an option. KK TOUR SRLS, from Piazza della Città Leonina 2.
Check dates →The dome at your own pace
Dome Experience, Papal Tombs and Audio Tour
For the view without a group: dome entry, a host at the start and an audio guide; no live guide, and the security queue is not skipped. ROMEX TOURS SRLS.
See the dome ticket →Museums and Basilica in one go
Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & Basilica Tour
For seeing the Museums too: book an "All 3 Sites" option, since the cheapest option leaves out the Basilica, and start before 15:00 to keep the guide inside St Peter's. Crown Tours.
See the 3-site tour →Prices, ratings and review counts checked November 2026; operators use seasonal pricing, so treat them as the shape of the market, not a quote.
The papal tombs and the Scavi are two different visits
The Vatican Grottoes sit just under the Basilica floor and hold the tombs of many popes; the Fabbrica says the visit is free and the Grottoes are open to the public. A guided tour does not unlock them, it explains them.
The Scavi are one level deeper: the 1st-century necropolis and the place identified as St Peter’s tomb. They are a separate, paid visit run by the Excavations Office: 20 EUR, or 14 EUR for ages 10 to 17, no one under 10, about 12 people a group, and advance booking is mandatory, by request on the Fabbrica’s own site, and capacity is limited. None of the tours on this page include it. Our guide to the Scavi and the Grottoes sets the two side by side.
Hours, closures and ceremonies in November and December 2026
- Basilica: every day 7:00 to 19:00, 26 October 2026 to 28 March 2027.
- Dome: 7:30 to 17:00 in the same period.
- Ceremonies: the Holy See’s calendar lists a papal Mass in the Basilica on Wednesday 18 November 2026 at 17:00, for the 400th anniversary of its dedication; what it does to visitor access is not stated. The Fabbrica’s terms allow it to cancel paid visits for Holy See celebrations, with a full refund.
- Busiest days: Wednesday (the papal audience) and Sunday (the Angelus at noon), in the Fabbrica’s own words.
For the quiet hours and the season, see the best time to visit St Peter’s Basilica.
Dress code and the security check
Shoulders covered, and trousers or skirts below the knee: no shorts or miniskirts, and the Fabbrica’s rules page adds sleeveless tops and hats. It applies to everyone, tour groups included. The security checkpoints stand in the right-hand curve of the colonnade as you face the Basilica, and every visitor passes them, with a ticket or without. More in our dress code and rules guide, and the climb itself in the dome climb guide.
If you are comparing guided tours
This page is about tickets. For the guided tours, st-peters-basilica-tour.com compares the Basilica tours option by option, including which Vatican Museums tours actually reach the Basilica and at which start times.
Guest Reviews
What Guests Say About the Guided Basilica and Papal Tombs Tour
4.7/5
from 6451 verified GetYourGuide guests
"This was one of the best things we did on our trip to Rome! Our guide Frederico was absolutely fabulous- informative, funny, entertaining while also totally reverent, and very thoughtful of us with our two younger kids - I would truly take any tour anywhere with him! Highly recommend this as the best way to see St Peter’s."
"Valerio our tour guide was a wonderful tour, accommodating and thoughtful and weary of those who tried to skip our line. He also shared a wealth of knowledge. He was genuine and truly knowledgeable of the history of St Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican in general. His explanations while in the line made the long line outside in the hot sun very bearable. Thank you Valerio!"
"Tour was excellent, Federico gave a very insightful and fun tour! Grazie for making this experience amazing!"
"Everything was perfect, the guide was the best of the best!🙂 thank you Sofia!🙂"
"We had Sophia as our tour guide and she was fantastic! Really made the experience enjoyable and knew so much information! She had a great way of explaining things and made it enjoyable for our teenage daughter too :) we had to queue for about half an hour for the metal detectors to get into the Vatican City but she filled the time talking about history of the city, the Swiss guards, how to become a citizen of the Vatican (very interesting!) and also knew about other areas of the Vatican when asked. The tour of the basilica was utterly breathtaking and the dome climb was a wonderful experience. Wouldn’t recommend if you are claustrophobic but my family and I had a great time - the views at the top are so worth it! The only thing that would have made it perfect would be for the tour company to have made themselves more visible at the meeting point. We worked it out but there was no flag or distinguishing features to advertise who they were. But all in all a fabulous tour - thank you!"
"It was amazing. thank you to Franceszo for creating a fun atmospehre and sharing a lot of knowledge and interesting facts"
"The tour was great. Our guide, Sofia was engaging and very knowledgeable and made it a fun experience whilst waiting in line. Well worth the cost."
"The BEST tour i have ever taken! KayKay Tours gas a star in Federico. He is tall; fluent; focused; an excellent shepard in moving us around w sensitivity to key sights. He connects well. Only focused relavent storytelling. He is passionate, knowledgable, He DEFINITELY knows how and when to get around. His tour of St Peter’s done/tombs was respectful. This a talented man who speaks from his Heart. DEC"
"Frederico was very knowledgeable and was a wonderful guide."
"Claudio gave a very nice tour and entertained is very well durven the queuse"
"Valerio was very informative and made the tour entertaining despite the long queue. Had a good sense of humor and answered all my asinine questions. Would definitely recommend. Fair warning: booking may run concurrent to your other tours so be sure to space them out at least 4 hours apart, especially during the busy season."
"Sophia was just amazing!!! The best tour guide I've ever had and belive me, I traveled a lot and had many activities across the globe! The way she tells the history and fund facts behind it is just fantastic and memorable. Please give her a raise, she totally deserves it! Thank you! ❤️"
"Volodymyr was an excellent tour guide and incredibly knowledgeable. He provided lots of interesting facts with a brilliant sense of humour. Could not fault him, very personable and just a lovely man."
"Our tour guide was Sophia. She was perfect. Very kind and explains very good. 100% recommend !"
"Excelente el guía, información muy clara y súper pendiente de nosotros."
"Super visite avec la monté du Dôme et un guide super merci encore à Frédérico pour les explications sa bienveillance les temps d’attentes était particulièrement long mais grâce à ces explications cela est passé très vite à ne pas louper si vous allez à Rome"
"Claudio was de reisgids. Helaas was het wat druk en dus was er een lange wachtrij. Claudio vertelde alle feiten en weetjes, dus wachten was niet erg. Door drukte en lange wachtrij helaas niet de Dome kunnen beklimmen. Dan hadden we waarschijnlijk onze vlucht gemist."
Read all 6451 verified reviews
See All ReviewsSee St Peter's with a Guide, Papal Tombs Included
A licensed guide, radio headsets, the nave and the papal tombs in the Grottoes; add the dome climb if you want the view. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Starting from $33 per person on promotion, usually $37, checked November 2026.
Check dates on GetYourGuideEntry is free; the rest of the day is not
Other Vatican Tickets and Tours
The Museums, the Sistine Chapel, the papal audience: what GetYourGuide sells around St Peter's. Dates and cancellation terms are on each listing.
St Peter's Basilica Tickets: Questions Visitors Ask
Entry, the dome, the papal tombs and the Scavi. Fees and hours from the Fabbrica di San Pietro, checked November 2026.
Yes. Entry to St Peter's Basilica is free and needs no ticket: you queue for the security check in St Peter's Square and walk in. The Fabbrica di San Pietro, which runs the Basilica, opens it every day from 7:00 to 19:00 between 26 October 2026 and 28 March 2027 (checked November 2026). The only thing you can pay for at the door is the dome. A paid time slot (7 EUR, with the digital audio guide) only guarantees an entry time; it does not open anything the free entry does not.
It depends on which part. St Peter's Basilica, St Peter's Square and the Vatican Grottoes under the Basilica are free. The dome (17 EUR by the stairs, 22 EUR with the lift), the Scavi necropolis (20 EUR) and the Vatican Museums with the Sistine Chapel each need their own ticket. The Museums and the Basilica are separate visits with separate entrances; only a tour whose option includes both takes you from one to the other.
Walk into St Peter's Square and join the security checkpoints in the right-hand curve of the colonnade as you face the Basilica; after the scanners you climb the steps to the portico and go in through the bronze doors. Everyone passes the same check, with or without a ticket or a tour. Dome ticket holders who booked online are assigned a route (Sobieski or Lambertini) on their ticket. Pilgrims who come to pray can use the Prayer Route entrance on Via di Porta Angelica.
From 26 October 2026 to 28 March 2027 the Basilica is open every day from 7:00 to 19:00. The dome keeps shorter hours: 7:30 to 17:00 in the same winter period. Hours change for papal celebrations, and the Fabbrica posts one-off early closures on its notices page (Avvisi). Checked at basilicasanpietro.va, November 2026.
The Fabbrica di San Pietro names Wednesday (the papal audience) and Sunday (the Angelus at noon) as the busiest days, so a weekday morning other than Wednesday is the easiest plan. The doors open at 7:00, and the dome at 7:30 in winter. If you want a guide, the KK TOUR SRLS tour starts at 9:00 or 12:30 (and also at 11:00 on some dates), read for 12 and 24 November 2026.
For St Peter's itself: nothing for the Basilica and the Grottoes; 7 EUR for an optional reserved time slot with the digital audio guide; 17 EUR for the dome by the stairs and 22 EUR with the lift; 20 EUR for the Scavi necropolis (14 EUR for ages 10 to 17). These are the Fabbrica di San Pietro's own prices, checked November 2026. The Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel are a separate ticket, sold officially only at tickets.museivaticani.va.
The Sistine Chapel is part of the Vatican Museums ticket, not of anything sold at St Peter's: a dome ticket or a Basilica tour does not include it. A combined tour covers both only in the option that says so. Crown Tours' Museums tour, for example, reaches the Basilica only in its 3-site options; its cheapest option is the Museums and the Sistine Chapel without the Basilica.
Only with a group whose option includes the Basilica: those tours go from the Sistine Chapel straight into St Peter's. On your own you leave the Museums and walk round the Vatican walls: about 915 m, 12 minutes on foot from the Museums entrance on Viale Vaticano to the middle of St Peter's Square (routed walking distance), then the security check. Allow for the queue at the checkpoints as well.
For the Basilica, Wednesday and Sunday are the busiest days (the papal audience and the Angelus), and the Fabbrica can cancel paid visits for Holy See celebrations, with a full refund. The Holy See's calendar lists a papal Mass in the Basilica on Wednesday 18 November 2026 at 17:00. For the Museums, Sundays are closed except the last Sunday of the month (29 November 2026, free entry, 9:00 to 14:00), and they close on 8, 25 and 26 December.
The Fabbrica di San Pietro puts the dome visit at about one hour. There are 551 steps from the bottom; the lift takes you to the terrace level and leaves 320 steps on foot, the last of them on narrow stairs. The dome is recommended from age 6, is not wheelchair accessible, and is not advised for heart or breathing conditions, vertigo or claustrophobia.
The dome sits over the papal altar of St Peter's Basilica, and you reach it from inside the Basilica complex after the security check in St Peter's Square. Online dome tickets carry an assigned route: Sobieski (Basilica first, then the stairs) or Lambertini (dome first, through the Welcome Area). Dome tickets are also sold on site, subject to availability, at the Portico desk and the shops by the Treasury Museum and the Cortilone.
Yes, long jeans are fine. The rule at St Peter's is shoulders covered and trousers or skirts that reach below the knee; shorts and miniskirts are not allowed, and the Fabbrica's rules page also lists sleeveless tops and hats. The rule applies to tour groups too, so in summer a light scarf over the shoulders is the easy fix.
Yes. The Fabbrica di San Pietro says the Vatican Grottoes are open to the public and the visit is free; they hold the tombs of many popes, about 91 between the Basilica and the Grottoes. No opening hours are printed for them, so treat them as open when accessible. What a guided tour adds is a guide who explains them; the Scavi necropolis, one level deeper, is a separate paid visit.
The KK TOUR SRLS tour includes a licensed guide with radio headsets for the Basilica and the papal tombs in the Grottoes: 1.5 hours, US$37 on 12 and 24 November 2026. The dome option adds the dome ticket (lift to the first terrace, then about 320 steps) and makes it 2.5 hours, US$48 on the same dates. It does not include the Vatican Museums or the Sistine Chapel. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Yes, for what the Basilica sells: the Fabbrica di San Pietro's booking site sells the 7 EUR time slot with audio guide and the dome tickets (17 or 22 EUR), each for a set time and non-refundable. Scavi visits are requested from the Excavations Office. Entry itself has no ticket to buy, so any site selling plain entry is selling a service around it: a host, an audio guide or a guide.
Still have questions? Email us at info@stpeterbasilica-underground.com