Guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica and the Papal Tombs

4.8

(2.082 Reviews)

About this activity

Smartphone tickets accepted

Duration: 2 hours

This activity has EXCEPTIONAL reviews

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Guide: English

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Experience Highlights

Discover one of the world’s most important churches with this guided tour of St Peter’s Basilica, right in the heart of the Vatican. Accompanied by a professional guide, you’ll learn about its history, its impressive architecture and some of the works of art and spaces that illustrate centuries of Christian art and tradition.

The tour also includes access to the Vatican Grottoes, where numerous popes are laid to rest and where, according to tradition, the tomb of St Peter is located. Furthermore, you can choose the option including entry to St Peter’s Dome to round off the experience with exceptional panoramic views of the Vatican and Rome.

Explore St Peter’s Basilica with a professional guide.
Visit the Vatican Grottoes and the tombs of the popes.
Add the climb to the dome if you’d like to enjoy one of the best panoramic views of Rome.

What’s included

Access to St Peter’s Basilica.
Expert guide.
Access to the popes’ tombs.
Climb to the dome of St Peter’s (if you select this option)

Select date and time

Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before your start time to ensure everything runs smoothly

Step by Step

This guided tour of St Peter’s Basilica allows you to access the interior of the complex. During the tour, you will be assisted by an expert guide who will take you around every corner of the basilica for approximately two hours.

St Peter’s Basilica is regarded as the heart of the Catholic Church. Given its size, exploring it unaided carries the risk of missing some of its most important features – something that won’t happen with the help of your guide. The explanations will give you a much more comprehensive understanding of this monument.

Before entering the Basilica, it’s worth stopping to admire St Peter’s Square, where it is situated. There you can see Bernini’s colonnade, an Egyptian obelisk brought to Rome by Caligula, and a number of fountains. The square also offers a superb view of both the basilica’s façade and its dome.

Once inside, your guide will explain the history of the main highlights. Among the most interesting are:

Sculptures: St Peter’s Basilica is home to some of Rome’s most famous sculptures. These include Michelangelo’s celebrated Pietà, the statue of St Peter and Bernini’s Baldachin.
St Peter’s Chair: this wooden throne is said to have been used by the first pope, St Peter
Papal tombs: the guided tour includes admission to the papal tombs located beneath the basilica, one of the most fascinating parts of your visit here. It is believed that St Peter’s tomb is located there
Treasure Museum: this part of the basilica houses a display of various religious artefacts, some of which are of great historical and artistic interest.
St Peter’s Dome: situated above the High Altar; you can include admission to it by selecting the relevant option.

Reviews

4.8

· 2.082 Reviews

J
J. G.
4
The guided tour of the basilica was enriching, but would benefit from smaller groups for a more personalised experience.
E
E. S.
4
The guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica was impressive, the guide made history come alive. Highly recommended.
N
N. G.
5
I loved this tour, I felt very close to history. The guide was very knowledgeable and that made the experience unforgettable.
Q
Q. O.
5
The visit was amazing, we saw all the beauty of the basilica. Very friendly guides who know a lot.

Meeting point

Via di Porta Angelica, 69, 00193 Rome. Look for the guide wearing a purple shirt or jacket with the Crown Tours logo and show your digital voucher.

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Other Things You Should Know

Not wheelchair accessible
Prams are permitted
Shoulders and legs must be covered in order to enter the basilica
There’s no need to queue at the ticket office, but you must keep in the safety queue at the entrance
You must arrive at least 30 minutes before the start time
Entry to St Peter’s Basilica is free, but this activity includes a guide service and the organisation of the visit. It is compulsory to go through security checks and there is no priority access to bypass them, so queues may form, particularly during peak season
The meeting point may change for operational reasons. Always check the voucher you will receive when making your booking for the latest information