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Top 8 St Peter's Basilica Tours (2026)

We compared all 18 St Peter's Basilica tours on Viator, then filtered by reviews, ratings and what is included. Our selection: 8, each priced by the option we would book.

St Peter's Basilica is free to enter, and its official 1-hour guided tour costs €18. Add a guide if you want the church explained, or use free entry if you prefer to explore alone.

Updated Tours listings read ; official tickets and rules from the Vatican Museums and St Peter's Basilica

St Peter's Basilica tours compared

Tour and optionFromTimeGroupGuideRating
Skip the Line St Peters Basilica, Papal Tombs & Dome Guided TourENG - BASILICA TOUR - NO DOME€251 h 30 minUp to 20English, licensed4.8 (288)
St. Peter's Basilica and Papal Grottoes Guided TourENGLISH TOUR€201 h 10 minUp to 25English4.7 (161)
St. Peter’s Basilica Group Guided TourExplore Vatican City with St. Peter's Basilica Walk€221 h 30 minUp to 15English, licensed4.7 (54)
Vatican City St Peter's Basilica Fun Tour (small group)Vatican City St Peter's Basilica Fun Tour (small group)€511 h 30 minUp to 20English4.9 (98)
Private Saint Peter’s Basilica Tour + Optional Dome & TombsSt. Peter’s Basilica Private Tour + Optional Dome & Tombs€781 h 30 minPrivateEnglish5.0 (118)
St. Peter’s Basilica Priority Access Tour with Dome & CryptSt. Peter’s Group Tour€502 h + domeUp to 20English4.7 (333)
St Peter’s Basilica Tour, Dome Climb & Papal Tombs I Max 6 PeopleSt. Peter's Semi Private Tour€1692 h 30 minUp to 6English5.0 (210)
Vatican & St Peter’s Basilica: Must-Sees in 3 Hrs15 Guests Group€993 hUp to 15English4.9 (246)

Prices in euro per adult for a party of two, the usual lowest price of the named option, read . The booking page shows the price for your date. We add no fee.

01 · Basilica and papal tombs

Skip the Line St Peters Basilica, Papal Tombs & Dome Guided Tour

A licensed English guide takes up to 20 people through the Basilica and papal tombs in 90 minutes. You have a choice of 9:00 or 14:00 departures. It fits a first visit if you want the church without a climb.

From €25, against €18 for the official 1-hour tour, this includes headsets and faster Basilica entry. Ordinary entry is free.

The catch: This option excludes the dome and Scavi. A late arrival loses the booking without a refund.

1 h 30 minUp to 20Guide: English, licensed★ 4.8 (288)

from €25 per adult · ENG - BASILICA TOUR - NO DOME

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02 · Lower cost English tour

St. Peter's Basilica and Papal Grottoes Guided Tour

The shorter route starts in the square and continues through the Basilica to the Papal Grottoes. Up to 25 people join an English guide for about 70 minutes.

Headsets come with the English guided visit, from €20.

The catch: There is no faster entry, and security queues can extend the visit. Dome admission costs extra.

1 h 10 minUp to 25Guide: English★ 4.7 (161)

from €20 per adult · ENGLISH TOUR

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03 · Fifteen people without the dome

St. Peter’s Basilica Group Guided Tour

A cap of 15 makes this a smaller group at a similar price to the basic tours. The 90-minute English route covers the square, Basilica and Papal Grottoes.

The price from €22 includes a licensed guide and headsets.

The catch: You join the normal security queue, and dome access is excluded. If the Grottoes close, the visit spends more time in the Basilica and square.

1 h 30 minUp to 15Guide: English, licensed★ 4.7 (54)

from €22 per adult · Explore Vatican City with St. Peter's Basilica Walk

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04 · Basilica visit after lunch

Vatican City St Peter's Basilica Fun Tour (small group)

The 14:30 start keeps your morning free. An English guide leads a group of up to 20 people through the Basilica's art and architecture over 90 minutes.

Live guiding costs from €51 for this afternoon visit. The Museums and Sistine Chapel are excluded.

The catch: No faster entry is included. The Holy Door was sealed on 16 January 2026, so you cannot pass through it.

1 h 30 minUp to 20Guide: English★ 4.9 (98)

from €51 per adult · Vatican City St Peter's Basilica Fun Tour (small group)

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05 · Your own Basilica guide

Private Saint Peter’s Basilica Tour + Optional Dome & Tombs

A private English guide covers the Pietà and papal monuments over 90 minutes. Radios are included. Choose this if you want to ask questions within your own party.

From €78 per person, you pay for private guiding.

The catch: Your guide points you towards the papal tombs after the tour. The dome is also a separate visit and costs extra.

1 h 30 minPrivateGuide: English★ 5.0 (118)

from €78 per adult · St. Peter’s Basilica Private Tour + Optional Dome & Tombs

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06 · Basilica guide then dome climb

St. Peter’s Basilica Priority Access Tour with Dome & Crypt

Spend 2 hours with an English guide in the Basilica and papal crypt before climbing the dome independently. Up to 20 people share the guided visit.

The tour costs from €50 with guiding and dome admission in the same booking.

The catch: The guide stops before the climb. Lift access is optional, so check any extra charge before paying.

2 h + domeUp to 20Guide: English★ 4.7 (333)

from €50 per adult · St. Peter’s Group Tour

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07 · Six people with the dome

St Peter’s Basilica Tour, Dome Climb & Papal Tombs I Max 6 People

Only 6 people share this 2.5-hour English tour. You start at the dome by lift and stairs before continuing to the Basilica and papal tombs.

About an hour is spent inside the Basilica. Live guiding is included from €169.

The catch: It costs much more than the larger groups. The papal tombs can be closed to visitors on the day.

2 h 30 minUp to 6Guide: English★ 5.0 (210)

from €169 per adult · St. Peter's Semi Private Tour

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08 · Museums and Basilica together

Vatican & St Peter’s Basilica: Must-Sees in 3 Hrs

The Museums and Sistine Chapel come before St Peter's on this 3-hour English tour for up to 15 people. About 30 minutes go to the Basilica.

Museums admission and guiding come with faster Basilica entry from €99. The official Museums ticket costs €25, and ordinary Basilica entry is free.

The catch: The Raphael Rooms are left out. Most of your time goes to the Museums, so choose a Basilica-only tour if that is your priority.

3 hUp to 15Guide: English★ 4.9 (246)

from €99 per adult · 15 Guests Group

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Know before you go

St Peter's Basilica entry

Ordinary entry is free and needs no reservation. The official €7 booking adds a time slot and a digital audio guide.

St Peter's Basilica official tour

The official guided visit costs €18, or €12 at the reduced rate. An accredited guide leads about 20 people for 1 hour.

St Peter's Basilica opening hours

Winter opening is 7:00 to 19:00, until 28 March. Religious events can change access, so leave some room in your plans.

St Peter's Basilica busy days

Wednesday and Sunday are among the busiest days. The Papal Audience usually falls on Wednesday, and the Sunday Angelus is at 12:00.

St Peter's Basilica security checks

Security is on the right of St Peter's Square as you face the Basilica. Everyone passes the checks, including visitors on a tour.

St Peter's Basilica dress and bags

Cover your shoulders and wear long trousers or a skirt below the knee. Bring a small bag, because the Basilica has no cloakroom.

People also ask

Do I need tickets to get into St Peter's Basilica?

No, ordinary entry is free and needs no booking. The optional €7 reservation adds a time slot and digital audio guide.

How do I skip the line at St Peter's Basilica?

Some tours include faster entry, and the official €7 reservation lets you book a time slot. Everyone still passes security. Choose a reservation if timing matters, but allow room for the checks.

How long does it take to tour St Peter's Basilica?

Allow 1 to 2 hours for the Basilica itself. The official guided visit lasts 1 hour; dome and Museums combinations need extra time.

Is a guided tour of St Peter's Basilica worth it?

Yes, if you want the art and church explained as you walk. The official tour costs €18, and the selected third-party tours start from €20. Free entry suits you if you are happy to explore alone.

Is there a St Peter's Basilica Scavi tour?

Yes, the separate guided Necropolis visit costs €20 and needs a booking request. The papal tombs and Grottoes on these selected tours do not include that visit.

Is there a virtual tour of St Peter's Basilica?

Yes, the official Basilica website links to its Basilica Virtual Tour. You can explore online before deciding what to see during your visit.

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