St Peter's Basilica with a guide, the Vatican Grottoes and, if you like, the dome climb. From $33, free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
- Free cancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours before, with a full refund
- Duration1.5–2.5 hours
- Starting timesThe listing shows the times for each option; meet 15 minutes before
- LanguagesSpanish, English, Italian, French, German, Polish, Portuguese, Arabic, Russian, Chinese, Turkish
You don't need St Peter's Basilica tickets to get in: entry is free, after the security check on St Peter's Square. What you pay for is the dome, 17 € on foot or 22 € by lift on the official website, or a guided tour like the one on this page. From $33, a guide explains the Basilica and takes you into the Vatican Grottoes; with the dome option, you add the ticket to climb to the top. It lasts 1.5 to 2.5 hours, with a guide in Spanish among other languages. It is rated 4.8 out of 5 from 6,363 reviews on GetYourGuide and cancels free up to 24 hours before.
Book Vatican ticketsKey facts
Basílica y cúpula- Duration
- 1.5–2.5 hours
- Starts
- The listing shows the times for each option; meet 15 minutes before
- Meeting point
- Piazza della Città Leonina, 2
- Price
- $33 per person
- Languages
- Spanish, English, Italian, French, German, Polish, Portuguese, Arabic, Russian, Chinese, Turkish
- Group size
- There is a private option, just for your family or group
- Accessibility
- The dome climb is not suitable for children under 6, pregnant women or people with heart problems, vertigo or claustrophobia: about 320 narrow steps remain after the lift.
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before, with a full refund
Included
- ✓ Guided tour of St Peter's Basilica
- ✓ Guided tour of the papal tombs in the Vatican Grottoes
- ✓ Licensed professional guide
- ✓ Ticket to climb to the top of the dome (if you choose the dome option)
- ✓ Radio and headphones to hear the guide clearly
Not included
- ✗ Entry to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
Meeting point
Piazza della Città Leonina, 2, 00193 Rome — Staff wait for you with a red “KAY KAY TOURS” sign. Arrive 15 minutes early to check in and collect the radio and headphones; if you are late, you may miss the tour and changing the time is not always possible.
Do you need a ticket for St Peter's Basilica?
No. Entering St Peter's Basilica is free: you only go through the Italian police security check under the right-hand colonnade of St Peter's Square. From October 26, 2026 to March 28, 2027 it opens every day from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. The official website also sells timed visits and a digital audio guide. What has a price is the dome, guided tours like this one and the Vatican Necropolis, which can only be visited on request through the official website. If you are torn between the two big visits, read Sistine Chapel or St Peter's Basilica.
What the ticket adds: guide, grottoes and dome
It adds a licensed guide, with radio and headphones, who explains the marble, the ceilings and the mosaics of the Basilica, home to Michelangelo's Pietà and Bernini's baldachin. Then you go down into the Vatican Grottoes, with the tombs of the popes. According to the listing, there you pass by St Peter's tomb and the walls of the first, 4th-century basilica; the excavated Necropolis is a separate visit. There are three options: standard tour (Basilica and grottoes), tour with the dome climb, and private tour. The listing stresses choosing the right option before paying.
Climbing the dome: steps and lift
With the dome option, the lift only takes you up to the first terrace; from there about 320 steps remain to the very top, up narrow spiral staircases. The climb is not suitable for children under 6, pregnant women or people with heart problems, vertigo or claustrophobia. From October 26, 2026 to March 28, 2027, the dome opens from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm. The listing's review summary asks for more information on dome access and waiting times, so ask your guide when and where to go up. More details in the St Peter's dome guide.
Price compared with going on your own
This tour costs from $33 per person; the dome option costs more and the listing shows the price when you select it. On your own, the Basilica is free and the dome costs 17 € by the stairs or 22 € by lift to the terrace, both with a visit to the Basilica, at booking.basilicasanpietro.va; there is a reduced rate for ages 7 to 17. With this tour you pay for the guide, the headphones and the explanation of the grottoes. If you also want the Vatican Museums, the guided tour with the Sistine Chapel and Basilica costs from $71.
Basilica rules: clothing, security and bags
To get in, cover your shoulders and knees: long trousers or below the knee, a skirt below the knee, no tank tops and no hat. Everyone goes through the security check. The Basilica has no cloakroom: don't bring suitcases, large bags or glass objects, which the listing does not allow. Inside, no phone calls or eating, and you are asked not to take photos. On Wednesday mornings the Basilica closes for the general audience, and it can close without notice for celebrations. More on the Vatican dress code page, and all the options under Vatican tickets.
| Compared | This tour | On your own (official website) | Guided tour with Museums and Basilica |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per person | From $33 | Basilica free; dome 17 € on foot or 22 € by lift | From $71 |
| Guide | Yes, in 11 languages, Spanish among them | No | Yes, in 6 languages, Spanish among them |
| Dome | With the dome option | 17 € or 22 € | Optional, on your own |
| Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel | Not included | Separate ticket: 20 € + 5 € online | Included |
| GetYourGuide rating | 4.8 (6,363 reviews) | Not sold there | 4.7 (19,233 reviews) |
What reviewers consistently say
- All 10 reviews we read (August 28 to October 20, 2026) give 5 stars
- All 10 praise the guide; 5 name the same guide
- 1 of 10 highlights that the guide speaks perfect Spanish
- 1 of 10 had to take the tour in English because the time of another visit was changed
- The listing's review summary asks for clearer information on dome access and waiting times
Who should not book this
- Anyone who wants to see the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel: they are not included
- Anyone who only wants to enter the Basilica: it is free
- Children under 6, pregnant women and people with vertigo or claustrophobia, if they choose the dome
- Anyone carrying suitcases or large bags: the Basilica has no cloakroom
-
Guided tour with the Sistine Chapel and Basilica
$714.7 19,233 reviews
Adds the Museums and the Sistine Chapel with a guide (Spanish-speaking option), with direct access to the Basilica and an optional dome on your own.
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Vatican Museums and St Peter's with dome climb
$158Museums, Sistine Chapel, Basilica with a guide, dome and catacombs in 5 hours, with an English-speaking guide. 4.8 from 2,091 reviews.
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Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica with dome climb
$133Early entry to the Basilica, the dome by lift and stairs, and a guided tour of the Museums in 5 hours, in English. 4.6 from 626 reviews.
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4.8(6,363 · GetYourGuide)
Check prices & dates
Book your tickets in advance: popular time slots sell out.
St Peter's Basilica Tickets with Dome and Grottoes: from $33
From$33per person
Check availabilityHow to book
Press the booking button to open the listing on GetYourGuide and choose the option: standard tour, tour with the dome or private tour; then the language and the time. Arrive at Piazza della Città Leonina, 2 fifteen minutes early. You can reserve now and pay later, and cancel free up to 24 hours before. This site may earn a commission on bookings, at no extra cost to you.
This site may earn a commission on bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
Is entry to St Peter's Basilica free?
Yes. Entering the Basilica costs nothing; you only go through the security check under the right-hand colonnade of St Peter's Square. You pay for the dome (17 € on foot or 22 € by lift) and for guided tours.
Where is the entrance to St Peter's Basilica?
On St Peter's Square, after the Italian police security check under the right-hand colonnade. Some guided tours of the Museums go straight in from the Sistine Chapel.
What is the official St Peter's Basilica website?
basilicasanpietro.va, which has a Spanish version. It has the hours, the rules, dome booking at booking.basilicasanpietro.va and requests for the Necropolis.
How many steps does the dome have?
By lift you reach the terrace; from there about 320 steps remain to the very top, up narrow spiral staircases. Without the lift, the whole climb is on foot.
How do you get from the Vatican Museums to the Basilica?
Guided tours that include the Basilica go straight from the Sistine Chapel into the Basilica. If you go on your own, you enter the Basilica from St Peter's Square, after its security check.
What happens on Wednesdays?
The Basilica closes on Wednesday mornings for the Pope's general audience, and it can close without notice for celebrations. If you book a Wednesday, choose an afternoon time.
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