Skip the Line St Peters Basilica, Papal Tombs & Dome Guided Tour
Description
Begin your exploration inside the Basilica, marveling at masterpieces such as Michelangelo’s renowned sculpture La Pietà, Bernini's majestic Baldacchino, and the elaborate altar. Your knowledgeable guide will bring to life the remarkable history, intricate art, and architectural wonders of this iconic landmark, considered the heart of the Catholic faith. Enter the Vatican Grottoes, to visit the papal tombs, chapels and corridors, paying respects at the final resting places of popes, royals, and revered dignitaries from centuries past. This unique tour ensures you fully appreciate the unparalleled artistry, spiritual significance, and historic magnificence of St. Peter’s Basilica. After the tour, if you have selected the Dome option, please allow an extra 30 minutes minimum after the tour has finished as you'll take the elevator to St. Peter’s Dome. Here, you will be rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views of the city, offering an unforgettable experience high above Rome.
Tour Options
Itinerary
St. Peter's Square (Piazza San Pietro), located in Vatican City in front of St. Peter's Basilica, is a massive, iconic Baroque plaza designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini between 1656 and 1667. Featuring an elliptical design with massive colonnades representing the "embrace" of the Church, it holds over 300,000 people and features a central Egyptian obelisk.
The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican City, or simply Saint Peter's Basilica, is a church of the Italian High Renaissance located in Vatican City, an independent microstate enclaved within the city of Rome, Italy. St. Peter's is famous as a place of pilgrimage and for its liturgical functions. The pope presides at a number of liturgies throughout the year both within the basilica or the adjoining St. Peter's Square; these liturgies draw audiences numbering from 15,000 to over 80,000 people.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not suitable for those with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair.
- If you arrive late for the meeting time, it will not be possible to join the group or reschedule, unless you pay for the activity again. As per "No Show" rules you will not be entitled to a refund.
- Knees & Shoulders MUST be covered for both men & women.
- All visitors must pass through the monument/attraction security check please allow at least 20 minutes to clear security.
- Children must be accompanied by an adult.
- Some monuments or areas may be under restoration and subject to last minute closures. Please pay attention to any messages we may send regarding potential changes.
- Please be aware that large bags/backpacks/suitcases are not permitted in the monument/ attraction. Only very small bags are allowed. Please do not bring these items with you on the day of your tour as there are no cloakrooms at the monument.
- Cancellations, changes or issues due to weather, security and events held by the monument are beyond our control and are directly decided by their administration team. These issues will be reviewed by us and dealt with on an individual basis but are the responsibility of the monument.
- The exact timings and reservations can vary, dependent on the monument/attraction’s administration offices availability and decisions on the booking day and can be subject to last minute changes. Departure time can differ up to 20 minutes from your selected time.
- Please note that on the day of your visit certain areas of the monument/attraction can be closed due to either religious events or national holidays.
- Please be advised capacity regulations and security may delay the tour departure this could also influence the smooth running of the tour especially on national holidays and events.
Reviews(255)
This was an exceptional tour and Mariana was an exceptional guide. She was very professional and did a very good job at explaining the history of St. Peter’s. I was very pleased with Mariana’s enthusiasm and joy that she carried with her self throughout the whole tour.
Our guide was amazing. She was very detailed and explained everything very well. I wish they would refund us some part of our money when they cancel part of the tour without notice. Not Viator, but the Vatican closed part of the church that would cancel the Papal Tombs part of the tour.
Very nice tour with knowledgeable guide. Worth skipping the lines
Great guide Maria, good tout.
Worth it! Mariana gave us a great tour. Do the dome climb if you can do stairs easily and not claustrophobic or afraid of heights- it’s beautiful!
The entire experience was brilliant and our guide Maria was really nice and very knowledgeable. It was one of the best guided tours that I have ever had.
Marianna wa an excellent guide. She is extremely knowledgeable about all of the Vatican history. She was extremely courteous, was able to maneuver and navigate through the large crowds and paid astute attention to her group’s needs and made sure we were all together and nobody missed seeing anything. I would definitely recommend a tour with Marianna. Be mindful that knees and shoulders need to be covered to enter all Italian churches.
Good guide. Clear information. Group in good size. Not too long tour Recommended. Good English guide
Great tour with all the best component of a great visit to the Vatican. All done at a good and manageable pace.
It was an amazing experience,our tour guide Mariana was amazing,we find out so many things about St Basilica.
