Things to do in St. Peter’s Basilica
The magnificent St. Peter’s Basilica, located in Vatican City in Rome, is one of the largest Catholic churches in the world and is considered an iconic symbol of the city and the heart of Christianity. The combined work of Bramante, Michelangelo, Maderno and Bernini among others, the church overflows with Renaissance beauty and is a must-see for anyone visiting Rome.
Built on the tomb of Saint Peter and the remains of a 4th century church, Pope Julius II commissioned Bramante to build a new basilica in 1506. After Bramante died in 1514, construction stalled and he was succeeded by a number of different architects, all of whom made changes to the design. Most notably was Michelangelo, who took over in 1547 at the age of 72; he didn’t live to see its completion. It fell to Giacomo Della Porta and Domenico Fontana to oversee the dome’s construction and Carlo Maderno to finish the project who completed the main facade in 1615.
Beyond its imposing architecture, it is also well worth a visit for its stunning interior features and masterpieces of Renaissance and Baroque art. Don’t miss Bernini’s enormous Baldachin (canopy), which hangs over the main altar and is one of the heaviest bronze objects in the world. The cathedral is also home to Michelangelo’s famed Pieta, sculpted when the artist was just twenty-four.
Visit the Vatican Grottos, a necropolis below the nave where you will find the graves of more than one hundred popes. You can also climb to the top of the dome for an additional fee and experience magnificent views over Rome from the viewing platform.
One of the most popular tourist attractions in Rome, Saint Peter’s Basilica receives thousands of visitors and pilgrims per day, so it is advisable to book ahead with a guided tour. Saint Peter’s Basilica is within walking distance to many of the other popular tourist attractions in Vatican City such as the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums, so a combined tour is a popular option.
The dress code for entry into St. Peter’s Basilica is strict and is reinforced by security so don’t be caught out when visiting. Men must wear long trousers and cover their shoulders and women must not have either bare shoulders or skirts shorter than knee length.
Saint Peters Basilica is open daily from 7 am to 7 pm April to September and 7 am to 6 pm October to March. It is advisable to visit early in the morning before the crowds arrive or book skip the line tickets as the line for security can be long. It is accessible by foot from many points in the city or via public transport. The nearest subway stop is Ottaviano-S. Pietro station and all hop on hop off buses stop at Vatican City.
Our recommendations in St. Peter’s Basilica

Skip-the-line entrance to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
Benefit from the skip-the-line access to admire the Vatican Museums and visit the Sistine Chapel, one of the greatest attraction in Rome.

Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel small-group tour with basilica visit
Book your small group tour of the Vatican Museums, and the Sistine Chapel. Take advantage of a expert local guide and skip-the-line entrance.
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Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Small Group Tour
Book a small group tour through Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica. Enjoy an exploration without the distractions of a larger group.
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Vatican: Basilica, Dome and underground early bird tour
Admire the stunning frescoes, statues and mosaics of the Basilica and its square, set foot on the summit of the famous Michelangelo's Dome.
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Skip-the-line entrance to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
Benefit from the skip-the-line access to admire the Vatican Museums and visit the Sistine Chapel, one of the greatest attraction in Rome.

Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel small-group tour with basilica visit
Book your small group tour of the Vatican Museums, and the Sistine Chapel. Take advantage of a expert local guide and skip-the-line entrance.
en

Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Small Group Tour
Book a small group tour through Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica. Enjoy an exploration without the distractions of a larger group.
en

Vatican: Basilica, Dome and underground early bird tour
Admire the stunning frescoes, statues and mosaics of the Basilica and its square, set foot on the summit of the famous Michelangelo's Dome.
en

Reserved entrance and guided tour of Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
Benefit from reserved access to admire the beautiful Vatican Museums and visit the greatest attractions in Rome, the Sistine Chapel.
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VIP St. Peter's Basilica tour with Dome climb and Papal Crypt
Enjoy a VIP tour of St Peter's Basilica and climb the dome to admire Rome. Descend into the Papal Crypt for a rare guided tour with a small group.
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Vatican Museums, St. Peter's Basilica and Sistine Chapel Guided Tour
Explore Rome's iconic landmarks with a guided tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica.
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Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel Guided Tour with St. Peter's Basilica
Explore the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel with a guide and skip-the-line tickets. After the tour, visit St. Peter's Basilica at your own pace!
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St. Peter's Basilica and Dome Guided Tour with Breakfast
Enjoy a delicious Italian breakfast before starting at the meeting point, learn everything about St. Peter's Basilica with an art historian guide.
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OMNIA Vatican and Roma Pass 72 hours with transport
Visit Rome and its monuments without queuing with the OMNIA Vatican and Roma Pass and move around easily on Rome's public transport system. It will be three unforgettable days!

St. Peter's Basilica with reserved entry and Rome's panoramic bus tour
Enjoy reserved entry to St. Peter's Basilica with an audio guide, then explore Rome's landmarks on a 3-hour panoramic bus tour.
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St. Peter's Basilica with reserved entry and lift to the Dome
Explore St Peter's Basilica with a reserved entry and an audio guide. Discover Michelangelo's masterpieces then ascend to the Dome for panoramic views.
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St. Peter’s Basilica
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Reviews St. Peter’s Basilica
“It's a beautiful site to walk around but with a small child in a pushchair it's not recommended as there are a lots of stairs in the Vatican and the Sistine chapel and you aren't permitted to take a pushchair into the basilica. When we went into the basilica, we needed to change our son and our tour group, rushed off without us and so we just left to go home.”
“It wasn't worth us paying for skip the line as our electronic tickets were not accepted when we presented them and we were directed to a tourist office to get them printed. The new tickets were a different format as the tourist office were simply not allowed to print them. A favour by providing new tickets for us free of charge but they were not skip the line. It would be helpful to know which tours need paper tickets and which can use electronic.”
“The Vatican museum was a lovely place. However, we did not see the Sistine chapel nor the basilica. Originally there was confusion to whether I was apart of the tour or not, and I was left alone by the host while he went and found out. The tour guide basically gave up towards the end, leaving us to finish the tour ourselves.”
“Skipped the queues which was good, but the Vatican was very busy so be prepared to be shoulder to shoulder. This is not a visit for small children in my opinion.”
