St Peter's Basilica Tours & Tickets

Yes — entry to st peter's basilica is entirely free of charge, with no ticket or advance booking required for the main nave and Vatican Grottoes. The only paid element is the dome climb, which costs €8 for the full 551 steps by stairs or €10 with elevator access to the roof terrace (leaving 320 steps to the top).

St. Peter's Basilica is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 07:00 to 18:00. On Wednesdays, tourist access is suspended from 07:00 until approximately 12:30 due to the Papal General Audience, after which the basilica opens at 12:30 and remains open until 18:00.

The basilica closes to tourists on Wednesday mornings (07:00–12:30) for the weekly Papal General Audience. Restricted tourist access also applies during Christmas Masses (around 24–26 December), Easter Holy Week liturgies, and any papal ceremonies or canonisations — check basilicasanpietro.va before visiting.

The dome of st peter's basilica involves a total of 551 steps to reach the lantern at the very top. An elevator can bypass the first 231 steps to the roof terrace level; from there, 320 further steps wind through an increasingly narrow spiral staircase to Michelangelo's cupola. The average climb takes about one hour.

Both men and women must cover their shoulders and knees to enter the Vatican basilica — sleeveless tops, shorts, short skirts, and ripped clothing exposing the knees are not permitted. Guards enforce this rule at the colonnade entry point before the security queue; bring a scarf or light layer in your bag as a precaution, especially in summer.

Large backpacks, oversized luggage, selfie sticks, tripods, weapons, sharp objects, and alcoholic beverages are all prohibited inside st peter's basilica. There is no left-luggage facility on site, so leave bulky bags at your hotel or at a paid storage near Ottaviano metro before visiting.

The main nave and Vatican Grottoes are accessible by wheelchair via ramps and level ground. The dome elevator covers the first 231 steps to the roof terrace, but the remaining 320-step spiral to the lantern is not wheelchair accessible. A dedicated accessible entrance is located on the left side of the colonnade.

Personal photography for non-commercial purposes is allowed throughout the nave and side chapels of the papal basilica, including near the Pietà. Flash photography, tripods, and any photography during Mass are not permitted. Photography is also prohibited inside the Vatican Grottoes.

The best time to visit st peter's basilica is at opening between 07:00 and 08:30, when security queues are shortest and crowds are minimal. By 09:30, queues can stretch 30–45 minutes across the square. Tuesday and Thursday mornings tend to be the quietest weekdays; Wednesdays should be avoided in the morning due to the Papal Audience closure.

Children of all ages are welcome and admission is free for everyone. The main basilica interior is pram-friendly on level ground, though the security checkpoint requires buggies to be folded. The dome's upper 320-step spiral can feel very narrow and warm — parents should consider this before buying dome tickets for young children.

Take Metro Line A to Ottaviano–San Pietro station, from where it is roughly a 10-minute walk to St. Peter's Square. Alternatively, Bus 64 stops at S. Pietro just a 4-minute walk away. A single Rome transit ticket costs €1.50. Taxis from central Rome take 15–20 minutes and cost approximately €10–15 on the meter.

Castel Sant'Angelo — a 12-minute walk east along Via della Conciliazione — pairs naturally with a st peter's basilica tour and can be reached before or after your visit. The Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel (separate ticket required) are a 15-minute walk around the Vatican walls. Ponte Sant'Angelo and the Prati neighbourhood are both within a 5–14 minute walk.