St. Peter's Basilica Tickets
To book St. Peter’s Basilica tickets online allows travelers to organize their visit in advance. This system guarantees access to this historic Roman monument at the desired dates and times, avoiding the usual crowds.
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Discover ity’s most famous palace and step into centuries of imperial history.
Book your ticket
Visitors ensure an efficient management of their time in the city when they buy their entry tickets in advance. Admission through this system usually includes additional benefits that free access does not possess, such as the possibility of taking a guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica with expert staff.
These tickets for the Basilica integrate access to the main area of the Vatican church, where the staff guards relics and highly valuable works of art. Additionally, the ticket facilitates logistics for those seeking St. Peter’s Basilica dome tickets, allowing a more complete and educational experience in one of the primary places of worship of the Catholic Church.
Free entry vs Entry ticket
The main advantage of buying tickets for St. Peter’s Basilica is the saving of time and the additional offered benefits, although the entrance is free. The lines for free entry can exceed three hours. Visitors access through fast lanes when they make a reservation for St. Peter’s Basilica. Furthermore, these tickets usually include audio guides or facilitate access to exclusive paid areas, such as the Treasury Museum, the climb to the dome, or the Necropolis, which require access control and a specific ticket.
What can you visit with your Saint Peter's Basilica ticket?
Visitors can see the following points of interest with tickets for the St. Peter’s Basilica visit:
The Central Nave and Artistic Heritage
The tour through the central nave allows visitors to admire the vastness of the temple and iconic works like Michelangelo’s Pieta during the visit to St. Peter’s Basilica. The tickets for St. Peter’s give access to a space of 23,000 square meters where papal funerary monuments and Bernini’s spectacular Baldacchino stand. This solid bronze structure rises above the high altar.
St. Peter's Dome
The entrance for St. Peter’s Basilica with access to the dome allows the climb to the highest point of the city. Visitors with this ticket can contemplate the interior mosaics from a circular gallery and then go outside to enjoy a panoramic view of the Vatican State and all of Rome.
Photo: “Cuppolas Saint Peter’s basilica, Vatican City” by Jebulon.
The Vatican Grottoes
Any walking guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica usually includes the descent to the Vatican Grottoes. This underground level houses the tombs of historic popes, such as Benedict XV and John Paul II. This area possesses great spiritual and archaeological value and connects the current basilica with the remains of the original Constantinian structure.
Photo: “Saint Peter’s Basilica 2020 P07 Grotte vaticane Tomb of Benedictus XV” by Fallaner.
What should you know before visiting the St. Peter's Basilica?
It is necessary to know specific regulations to avoid inconveniences at the Vatican security controls before visiting St. Peter’s Basilica. These are some recommendations:
- Access points and security: Visitors must pass through a scanner control in St. Peter’s Square to visit the interior. We recommend that you do not carry large backpacks or sharp metal objects.
- Dress code: The staff does not allow entry to St. Peter’s Basilica with uncovered shoulders, short skirts, or pants above the knee.
- Ticket availability: It is advisable to search for St. Peter’s Basilica tickets online to ensure fast access. Completing your booking in advance guarantees the previously mentioned benefits.
- Reservation management: Making a reservation for St. Peter’s Basilica allows the choice of low-occupancy time slots.
- Languages: Audio guides and guided tours of St. Peter’s Basilica are available in different languages. Spanish is one of the most requested.
- Photography: The administration allows photos without flash, but the use of cameras is restricted in areas like the Vatican Grottoes or during masses.
- Audience days: The visits to St. Peter’s Basilica become difficult on Wednesdays due to the Papal Audience. The basilica usually reopens in the afternoon.
Plan your visit in advance
Opening hours
The Basilica opens every day from 07:00 to 19:10. It is important to manage reservations for St. Peter’s Basilica considering that the last entry occurs half an hour before closing.
Closing days and special hours
St. Peter’s Basilica does not have fixed closing days and remains open 365 days a year. However, public access stops in the following situations:
- Papal audiences (Wednesdays): The basilica is usually closed from the morning until approximately 12:30 or 13:00 hours, while the audience takes place in St. Peter’s Square.
- Solemn liturgical celebrations: Access is restricted during masses presided over by the Pope, such as Christmas (December 25), New Year (January 1), Epiphany (January 6), and Holy Week.
- Extraordinary events: Events such as world days can alter the normal flow of visits.
In any case, we recommend consulting the official St. Peter’s Basilica website before visiting to foresee partial closures.
Where is St. Peter's Basilica
St. Peter’s Basilica is located in Vatican City. Specifically in Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Città del Vaticano, the epicenter of the Vatican state.
How to get there
There are several transportation options to reach St. Peter’s Basilica:
- Metro: This is the most efficient option. Take Line A toward Battistini and get off at the Ottaviano station; from there, it is about a 10-minute walk along Via di Porta Angelica to the entrance.
- Tram: Ideal from areas like Trastevere. Line 19 terminates at Piazza del Risorgimento, located just a 5-minute walk from the Basilica.
- Bus: Several lines, such as the 40, 62, and 64, connect Termini Station and the historic center with strategic stops (like Largo di Porta Cavalleggeri) very close to St. Peter’s Square.
- Car: This is the least recommended option due to Limited Traffic Zones (ZTL).
How to get to the St. Peter’s Basilica Entrance >
Accessibility
The temple features ramps and elevators to facilitate the visit to the Rome Basilica for people with reduced mobility.
A Facebook user commented: “Security can help you through the checks (you don’t have to line up with everyone else) and, after, there’s an elevator on the right (before the toilets) to enter the basilica.”
Regarding reservations for groups with special needs, staff can manage them directly at the service points.
FAQs about St. Peter’s Basilica
It is not mandatory to pay to enter the temple. However, it is necessary to acquire tickets for St. Peter’s Vatican to avoid massive lines or to access restricted areas like the dome.
Undoubtedly, the visit to St. Peter’s Basilica is one of the most important cultural experiences in Europe, even for non-Catholic people. According to a Reddit user: “the basilica is incredible!”. The combination of Renaissance architecture and artistic treasures fully justifies the visit.
Yes, and it is very strict. Entry to St. Peter’s Basilica is only allowed to those who dress with covered shoulders and covered knees, regardless of the outside temperature.
Yes. When you buy St. Peter’s Basilica tickets online, the access occurs through a specific control for groups or reservations. This reduces the waiting time compared to the free general line in the square.
Yes. Basic tickets for St. Peter’s do not include the dome. Therefore, it is necessary to buy specific tickets to visit it.