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St. Peter's Basilica and Papal Grottoes Guided Tour

★ 4.7 (161 reviews, Viator and Tripadvisor) · Operator: Best In Rome Tour

St. Peter's Basilica and Papal Grottoes Guided TourSt. Peter's Basilica and Papal Grottoes Guided TourSt. Peter's Basilica and Papal Grottoes Guided TourAll 11 photos
  • 1 h 10 min on the listing; the time can vary by option
  • Up to 25 people, up to 25 per booking
  • Live guide: English
  • Mobile or paper ticket accepted
  • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Editor's take

This short walk joins St Peter's Square to the Basilica and Papal Grottoes. The English Tour option takes about 70 minutes with up to 25 people. Headsets let you hear the guide.

The Basilica visit includes the Pietà and the Papal Altar. You join the normal security queue before going inside. Long waits can extend the tour, so leave space before your next booking. The dome needs a separate ticket.

Which language can you book for the Basilica tour?

5 options. Prices are per adult for a party of two, the usual lowest price of each option. The booking page shows the price for your date.

OptionWhenGuideFrom
ENGLISH TOURDaily 08:30, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 13:45 and moreEnglish€20
PORTUGUESE TOURDaily 08:30, 13:00Portuguese€32
SPANISH TOURDaily 08:30, 13:00, 13:45Spanish€39
FRENCH TOURDaily 08:30, 13:00French€39
GERMAN TOURDaily 08:30, 13:00, 13:45, 15:30German€39

What's included

Included

  • Headsets to hear the guide
  • All Fees and Taxes
  • Official Guide

Not included

  • This tour doesn't skip the line
  • Transportation not included
  • Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
  • Dome access at St. Peter's Basilica is available for an additional 10 euros at the entrance

Tour or official ticket?

Best In Rome Tour costs from €20, against €18 for the Basilica's official guided visit. You pay for commentary and headsets on a route through the square and Basilica to the Grottoes. Choose free entry to the Basilica and Grottoes if you want to look around without a guide.

Meeting point

Meet your guide 15 minutes before, outside the activity provider's office in Via del Mascherino 88. The meeting point is just a 2-minute walk from St. Peter's Basilica.

Itinerary

From the operator: Best In Rome Tour's own description of the route.

  1. St Peter's Basilica

    1 h

    Start your tour in St. Peter's Square and experience the all-embracing character of its majestic architecture. Understand the game of visual effects as conceived by its designer, Bernini, and find the two "special" spots in the square. Also, see a 2500-year-old Obelisk from Egypt.

    Read more

    Then, step inside the Basilica and discover the beautiful artworks that adorn it. While walking on the colorful marble, be mesmerized by the enormous dimension of the building and the ceilings entirely covered in gold. Follow your through the main highlights. See the Papal Altar under Bernini's Baldachin, and marvel at Michelangelo's timeless masterpiece, La Pietà, as you explore the most important church in the Christian world. Finally, visit the Papal Grottoes, the vast crypt under St. Peter's Basilica. Built 3 meters below the level of the Basilica, they are located just under the great altar in the middle of the central nave. See where hundreds of popes and members .

  2. St Peter's Basilica

    10 min

    explore St. Peter's Basilica in Rome on a tour with a local guide and visit the Papal Grottoes, revealing centuries of burials. Discover a place where religion, art, history, and beauty come together.

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Know before you go

From the operator: Best In Rome Tour's own notes for this tour.

Access and children

  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Good to know

  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • The tour duration depends on the security check line. If it takes a long time, the tour will last longer.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 from 161 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor together. 95% gave 4 or 5 stars.

Viator

4.5
50 reviews
  • 5 stars72%36
  • 4 stars18%9
  • 3 stars2%1
  • 2 stars2%1
  • 1 star6%3

Tripadvisor

4.9
111 reviews
  • 5 stars92%102
  • 4 stars5%6
  • 3 stars1%1
  • 2 stars1%1
  • 1 star1%1

As shown on Viator, read . The rating is for the whole listing, not for one option, and we do not have the review texts.

Photos

From the Best In Rome Tour listing, 11 photos in all.

St. Peter's Basilica and Papal Grottoes Guided TourSt. Peter's Basilica and Papal Grottoes Guided TourSt. Peter's Basilica and Papal Grottoes Guided TourSt. Peter's Basilica and Papal Grottoes Guided TourSt. Peter's Basilica and Papal Grottoes Guided TourSt. Peter's Basilica and Papal Grottoes Guided TourSt. Peter's Basilica and Papal Grottoes Guided TourSt. Peter's Basilica and Papal Grottoes Guided Tour

From the operator

From the operator: Best In Rome Tour's own description of the tour.

Step into the grandeur of our magnificent basilica, where towering spires kiss the heavens and intricate arches weave tales of antiquity. Let our exceptional guides whisk you away on a journey through time, regaling you with captivating stories that echo through the hallowed halls. But this is not merely a tour; it's an immersive experience where you'll uncover the rich tapestry of history that adorns every stone, every stained glass window, and every whispered prayer.

Read more

Prepare to be enraptured by the grandeur of the basilica's unique history, where every corner holds secrets waiting to be unveiled.

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