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Religious Tours · Cultural Tours

Tour of St Peter's Basilica with Dome Climb and Grottoes

4.6(2,593)4.6 out of 5, from 2593 reviews·1h 45m·Shared tour
What you pay forEach travellerChildren are priced in their own age band.
Group sizeUp to 15Per booking.
Minimum ageAll agesinfant 0–3, child 4–16, adult 17–99

Will this work for your group?

Checked against the limits the operator publishes. Nothing here is a booking guarantee — availability and prices live on Viator.

  • All 5 of you can be booked together.
  • Open to all ages, including your youngest.
  • 5 fares — children priced separately

About this experience

Start in St. Peter's Square, where the architectural brilliance of Bernini unfolds. Then enter St. Peter's Basilica, a realm adorned with golden ceilings, vibrant marbles, and masterpieces like Michelangelo's Pietà. Delve into the Papal grottoes underground, touching ancient walls and visiting St. Peter's tomb for a profound historical encounter. The grand crescendo awaits as you ascend to the dome's summit, offering both close encounters with intricate mosaics and panoramic views of Rome's iconic landmarks. From this lofty perch at 136 meters, immerse yourself in breathtaking vistas, spotting the Colosseum, Pantheon, and beyond. PLEASE NOTE: In the event that the grottoes or certain areas of St. Peter’s Basilica are closed, your guide will adapt the itinerary by highlighting alternative sites and artworks within the basilica.

Description supplied by the operator via Viator Partner API.

What you actually do

Of 5 listed stops, you get out at 4 and see 1 from the vehicle.

  1. 1

    St. Peter's Square

    Start your tour in St. Peters Square and perceive the all-embracing character of its majestic architecture. Understand the game of visual effects as were thought by its designer, Bernini, and find the two "special" spots in the square.

    You get out here10 min

  2. 2

    St. Peter's Basilica

    Then head towards the Basilica to be amazed by its magnificence. See why it took 150 years to rebuild and marvel at the golden ceilings and the impressive mosaics all around you. Let your art-historian guide lead you through renowned masterpieces of Renaissance and Neoclassic art.

    You get out here40 min

  3. 3

    The Vatican Grottoes

    Descend into the underground grottoes and visit St. Peter's tomb. Touch the ancient walls of the original 4th-century basilica and admire the beautiful frescoes.

    You get out here15 min

  4. 4

    St. Peter's Basilica

    Then climb your way up to the top of the Dome (by stairs). Enjoy a bird's-eye view over the marble floors and take an exclusive and close-up look at the mosaics of the dome. Climb even higher to find yourself at the top balcony and be amazed by the spectacular panorama over Rome and beyond.

    You get out here40 minAdmission included

  5. 5

    Vatican City

    All the visited areas are part of the Vatican city.

    Seen from the vehicle

Where the day happens

≈ 1.7 km from the city centre. 5 stops shown in visit order.

What is and is not included

The advertised price does not cover other — budget for those separately.

  • Other
  • Other

Before you book

The operator’s own practical notes — the things people usually discover at checkout.

Good to know (14)
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • The dome's terrace might not be accessible during bad weather conditions. In that case, you can either ask for a partial refund and visit the Basilica and the grottoes or decide to cancel the tour for a full refund
  • An appropriate dress-code is required in order to enter the churches: knees and shoulders should be covered
  • Please take into consideration that the lines to clear security checks at the entrance of the square might take 15-120 minutes
  • We recommend to wear comfortable walking shoes
  • Please note that you will be required to pass through metal detectors at the entrance of the square
  • The meeting point is outside the Basilica before entering St. Peter's square and the security checks
  • The Vatican Necropoli is not part of this tour
  • We might not be able to accommodate, refund or reschedule late arrivals
  • Strollers are not allowed in the Basilica. There is a luggage deposit at the entrance of the basilica where you can leave the stroller
  • Please note that this is not a skip-the-line tour
  • Please provide the full names of all travellers when booking. The tickets are nominative, therefore, failure to present a voucher with all travellers' full names may result in denied entry
Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Where this sits

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Where does everyone sleep?

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Details retrieved from the Viator Partner API on 2026-10-09. We publish no availability, and every price is the operator’s advertised from-price with its check date — the exact total is on the operator’s page. How we research this.