St Peter's Basilica is free to enter without a ticket or reservation. An optional €7 booking adds a time slot and audio guide. Dome entry costs €17 by stairs or €22 with the lift.
Updated Prices and rules St Peter's Basilica official site, read ; tour prices read
Everyone passes security in St Peter's Square, including visitors with a paid booking.
Official prices
| Ticket | Adult price |
|---|---|
| Basilica entry without bookingFree, with no reservation; the Grottoes are free too | Free |
| Basilica with a time slot1 hour with a dedicated entrance route and the Digital Audio Guide | |
| Dome by stairs551 steps; online ticket includes the Basilica and its audio guide | |
| Basilica guided tour1 hour with an accredited guide; reduced €12 | |
| Vatican NecropolisBy request, 1 hour with a guide; reduced €14 | |
| Dome by lift320 steps remain; online ticket includes the Basilica and its audio guide |
Official adult prices, read
Basilica entry is free and needs no reservation. The optional €7 booking lasts 1 hour. You get a time slot with a dedicated entrance route and the Digital Audio Guide.
Online dome tickets cost €17 by stairs or €22 with the lift. Both include the Basilica and its audio guide. A separate €7 slot would duplicate that access.
The official guided Basilica tour costs €18, or €12 at the reduced rate. It lasts 1 hour with an accredited guide. Dome access is a separate purchase if you want to climb.
The Grottoes are free. The separate Necropolis visit costs €20, or €14 at the reduced rate. You request a guided visit in advance, and the minimum age is 10.
Official booked tickets carry your name and cannot be transferred. You cannot change the date or get a refund. A full refund applies if a liturgy or Holy See event cancels your visit.
Free entry
No ticket is needed for a free Basilica visit during opening hours. You only need a booking if you want a set time. The optional slot costs €7 with an audio guide.
Security checks are on the right of St Peter's Square as you face the Basilica. Every visitor passes through them. Wednesday and Sunday are busy because of the Papal Audience and Sunday Angelus at 12:00.
Your shoulders must be covered. St Peter's requires long trousers or skirts below the knee, and hats are not allowed. There is no cloakroom, so plan where to leave your luggage before visiting.
What to do: Walk in free if you can keep your timing flexible. Pay €7 if you need a set time and want the audio guide; security checks still apply.
Where to buy
The official shop is booking.basilicasanpietro.va. It sells the €7 time slot and both dome tickets. Your entry QR code arrives by email after the voucher and is required for your booked visit.
Necropolis visits use a separate request form. A request is not an instant booking. Dome tickets are also sold at the Portico Desk and souvenir-shop ticket offices while places remain.
Opening times
St Peter's Basilica7:00 to 19:00. Every day, current season
St Peter's dome7:30 to 17:00. Every day, current season
Current winter hours are 7:00 to 19:00 for the Basilica. The dome opens from 7:30 to 17:00. Its earlier closing time matters if you want to climb as well.
A Basilica visit usually takes 1 to 2 hours, with about 1 hour for the dome itself. Security adds time before entry. Major services can limit access on your chosen day.
Yes, entry is free without a reservation. The optional €7 time slot includes an audio guide. Dome entry costs €17 by stairs or €22 with the lift.
No, you can visit free without booking. A €7 booking suits you if you need a set time; free entry suits a flexible day.
The official shop is booking.basilicasanpietro.va for a reserved slot or dome ticket. You need no ticket for free Basilica entry.
No, every visitor must pass the security checks. The official €7 booking gives you a time slot and dedicated entrance route, with an audio guide.
The wait varies with the security queue. Wednesday and Sunday are busy days, so leave room in your plans even if you have a booking.
Official online tickets cost €17 by stairs or €22 with the lift. Both include the Basilica and its audio guide. The lift still leaves 320 steps.
Tours
The Basilica and Grottoes are free to enter. An official guided Basilica visit costs €18 for 1 hour. Dome admission is separate, so a tour with a climb needs a different price comparison.
What to do: If you want the Basilica explained, compare your date with the official €18 tour first. A tour company may suit you if its time or dome option fits better; entry alone is free.
Basilica and Papal Grottoes
A licensed guide and headsets cost from €22 for 60 to 90 minutes, against €18 for the official 1-hour tour. You visit the Basilica and Grottoes; dome access and faster entry are excluded.
from €22 per adult
See the tourBasilica, papal tombs and dome
The English tour with dome access starts from €55. Official dome entry alone costs €17 by stairs or €22 with the lift, including a Basilica visit.
from €55 per adult
See the tourBasilica and Vatican Grottoes
This entry ticket starts from €15, against €7 for the official slot with audio guide. There is no guide or audio guide on this option, and dome entry is excluded.
from €15 per adult
See the tourPrices in euro per adult, read : the usual lowest price of each option, without short sales. The booking page shows the price for your date. We add no fee.
Read next
What to see inside and how long to allow
Stairs or lift, and the 320 steps left after it
Guided visits and what each option includes
