Rome: St. Peter’s Basilica and Papal Tombs Tour
Description
Begin an extraordinary journey through the Vatican's treasures with our exclusive "St. Peter's Basilica & Papal Tombs" tour. Availability is limited, so we recommend securing your reservation promptly. Start in the historic St. Peter's Square, where your expert guide will share fascinating stories behind its design and significance. Then, step inside the awe-inspiring St. Peter's Basilica, adorned with Baroque and Renaissance masterpieces by Michelangelo and Bernini. Descend to the sacred Papal tombs and uncover the rich history of the Popes interred there. Throughout the tour, your guide will provide profound insights into these iconic landmarks. At the end of the tour, your guide will show you where to purchase tickets for the elevator to climb the dome. Don't miss this unique opportunity—secure your spot without delay!
Tour Options
Itinerary
On this tour, you'll have the chance to admire Michelangelo's stunning masterpiece, *La Pietà*, a remarkable sculpture that captures the sorrow and grace of the Virgin Mary holding the body of Christ.
Next, enter the Basilica and witness its grandeur. Admire the golden ceilings and impressive mosaics that took 150 years to rebuild. Follow your expert guide through the renowned masterpieces of Renaissance and Neoclassic art, including Michelangelo's "Pietà". Stand in awe of the harmonious 30-meter-high canopy and appreciate the expressive power and delicate beauty of this iconic artwork.
Descend into the underground grottoes and discover the final resting place of St. Peter. Trace the ancient walls of the original 4th-century basilica with your fingertips and imagine the history that surrounds you. Marvel at the beautiful frescoes that adorn the underground chambers and gain a deeper understanding of the significance of this holy site. Your expert guide will share fascinating insights into the history and spirituality of this sacred place, making this a truly unforgettable experience.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- "Due to the Jubilee, some monuments may be under restoration. Please pay attention to any messages we may send regarding potential changes.
- Kindly note that the security checks at the entrance of the square may require a waiting time of 5-45 minutes.
- Not recommended for travellers with claustrophobia
- This tour is not recommended for those who experience vertigo.
- We recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes as this tour involves a moderate amount of walking.
- The meeting point is outside the Basilica before entering St. Peter's square and the security checks
- The Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel are not part of this tour
- The Vatican Necropoli is not part of this tour
- We might not be able to accommodate, refund or reschedule late arrivals
- Not recommended for travellers with claustrophobia
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
Reviews(16)
Did the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel on a visit to Rome with my wife back in 2007-ish, and in 2025 we were across for her birthday and thought we would do St Peter's Basilica. We could have done it ourselves, but thought I would do it via a guide to get a better understanding and the history. Day we did the tour was the 1st of November, and was a massive celebration day at the Vatican, so lines were all 3 times larger than they usually were, so this made taking an official guided tour much more logical. Showed up at the meeting point and was shown to my guide who gave us a headset so we could listen to him, and then he took us to the line to get into the Basilica. We were probably in line 30-40 minutes, but the guide took us through the history and the time passed by very quickly. Once inside we were shown around and some really great things were shown to us that we may have missed and just ignored not thinking anything of. Tour includes all your admission fee's and just the right length. All in all, you could do the same visit by yourself, but I feel a guide is a must for such a visit.
Thank you for sharing your experience! We're glad you chose to explore St. Peter’s Basilica with us on such a special day. Despite the large crowds, it’s great to hear our guide helped make the wait
Do this tour in the dead of winter! We went mid-October and the crowds were so crushing, rude, and overwhelming. We got very little appreciative enjoyment from the tour.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. October is indeed one of the busiest months, especially during Jubilee events, which can make the experience feel crowded. We appreciate your feedback and hope you’ll visit again during a quieter season to enjoy the Basilica in a more peaceful setting.
A very interesting tour of St. Peter's Basilica and the Popes' Tombs. Contentful and pleasant to listen to. Eslam was very knowledgeable, kept the group together in a commendable way.
Tack så mycket för din fina recension! Vi är glada att höra att du uppskattade turen och Eslam’s kunnighet och engagemang.
Islam was very knowledgeable and personable. Learned a lot and he also gave us time to take pictures. Good tour!
Thank you for your feedback! We're glad you enjoyed the tour with Islam and had time to learn and capture memories along the way.
The tour guide, in our case Eduardo, was flush with knowledge about the Vatican that you wouldn’t otherwise learn. Very informative and superbly narrated throughout!
Thank you for your feedback! We’re delighted to hear that Eduardo’s knowledge and narration made your tour so informative and enjoyable.
Very busy and crowded early afternoon in September. But, the experience was still very good thanks to our guide, Max. I would recommend a guided tour as there's so much to take in and I wouldn't have had a clue what is was looking at had it not been for Max,'s knowledge and delivery style.
Thank you for your feedback! Even with the crowds, we’re glad Max’s knowledge and engaging style made your visit enjoyable and informative. A guided tour really does make all the difference—thanks for recommending us!
Very nice visit with our guide Kathia who is excellent. Very good explanation and she showed us around the basilica. The ideal is really to visit the basilica in the morning because there are fewer people inside.
Merci beaucoup pour votre retour ! Nous sommes ravis que Kathia ait rendu la visite agréable et instructive. Merci également pour votre conseil sur la visite le matin, c’est en effet idéal pour profiter pleinement de la basilique.
It was so busy crushing with other tours at peters was lovely but again to many in there couldn’t understand guide and other tour guides speaking it was not a pleasant experience
Thank you for sharing your honest feedback. We’re glad you found St. Peter’s Basilica beautiful, but we’re sorry the large crowds and overlapping tours made it hard to enjoy the experience and hear your guide clearly. Unfortunately, the basilica can become very busy at peak times, but we’ll review how we can better support our guides and guests in these situations. Your comments are valuable and will help us improve for future visitors.
This was a very informative tour, and our guide, Islam, did a fantastic job — even when a few curve balls were thrown his way. His English was clear and easy to understand, and he was well-informed about the history of St. Peter’s Basilica and the surrounding structures. Despite some guests who challenged his knowledge and were a bit overbearing at times, Islam handled the situation respectfully and professionally, making sure the rest of us stayed engaged and informed. There were some unexpected hiccups — like the tombs being temporarily closed upon our arrival, which led to a significant backup of visitors. Still, Islam remained calm and ensured we saw each crypt, and reassured us that we could return at the end to revisit anything we missed due to the crowds. Inside St. Peter’s, he guided us to several key areas and shared thoughtful insights throughout. I truly appreciated his patience, knowledge, and professionalism. I would definitely recommend this tour and would request Islam again for future visits. Well done!
Thank you for your detailed and thoughtful review! We’re so pleased to hear how much you appreciated Islam’s knowledge, clear communication, and professionalism, especially when things didn’t go perfectly. Managing unexpected closures and busy crowds can be tricky, and we’re glad Islam’s patience and calm approach kept the tour enjoyable and informative for everyone. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we’d be delighted to welcome you back for another visit in the future!
On our recent trip to Rome, I had the joy and opportunity to visit the Vatican for the second time, but on this occasion we made arrangements in advance to visit St. Peter's Basilica inside and it really is a unique and exciting experience. We went down to the papal tombs and after seeing and admiring its interior, we made the climb to the dome to admire the spectacular views; it is very exhausting the climb but it was worth it, thank God!
¡Qué maravilloso escuchar sobre tu experiencia! Nos alegra saber que tu visita al Vaticano y la Basílica de San Pedro fue tan memorable. La subida a la cúpula es ciertamente un desafío, pero como bien dices, ¡las vistas espectaculares hacen que todo valga la pena! Gracias por compartir tu emoción con nosotros, y nos sentimos agradecidos de haber sido parte de tu increíble aventura en Roma. Esperamos que nos acompañes nuevamente en el futuro. Atentamente, Tix & Tours