Rome
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Private Tour of St Peter's Basilica with Dome Climb and Grottoes

Badge of ExcellenceRome, Italy
Private Tour of St Peters Basilica from Top of Dome to Underground Grottoes
Likely to Sell Out

From $218.28

Price varies by group size

Select Date and Travelers

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

  • 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Offered in: English

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Overview

Most Vatican tours speed through St. Peter’s Basilica, which is surprising given that it’s one of the world’s largest churches. However, this private tour gives the basilica the attention it deserves, dedicating a full itinerary to the site’s history and works of art. After exploring the basilica, you’ll visit the grottoes, and then ascend the dome for sweeping views over St. Peter’s Square and the Vatican Gardens.
  • Skip the rush and the crowds with your own private guide
  • Hear the history behind works like Michelangelo’s "La Pietà"
  • Catch all the commentary clearly with provided headsets
  • See the basilica highlights with a private guide and chat freely

What's Included

  • Private art-historian guide
  • Entry fees to the top of the Dome
  • Guided tour of St. Peter Dome
  • Thorough guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica
  • Sterilized headsets to hear clearly your guide
  • Full on-site assistance
  • The Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel are not part of this tour
  • This tour does not skip the line (both the security check one and the dome elevator one)

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

  • Largo del Colonnato, 5, 00193 Roma RM, Italy

    Meet your guide at Largo del Colonnato, 5, by the first columns of the Colonnade. Look for a yellow label with TOURIKS written on it. Please be at the meeting point 5 minutes before the starting time. The meeting point is outside the Basilica before entering St. Peter's square.

End point

  • Saint Peter's Square
    Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Città del Vaticano, Vatican City

What To Expect

St. Peter's Square

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

St. Peter's Basilica

40 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Vatican Grottoes

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Cupola di San Pietro

25 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not recommended for travelers with back problems
  • Near public transportation
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • Please note that you will be required to pass through metal detectors at the entrance of the square
  • Wear comfortable walking shoes: a moderate amount of walking is involved
  • Please be aware that the lines to clear security checks at the entrance of the square might take 15-120 minutes
  • The dome's terrace might not be accessible during bad weather conditions. In that case, you can either ask for a partial refund and visit the Basilica and the grottoes or decide to cancel the tour for a full refund
  • An appropriate dress-code is required in order to enter the churches: knees and shoulders should be covered
  • The meeting point is outside the Basilica before entering St. Peter's square and the security checks
  • Please note that this is not a skip-the-line tour
  • St. Peter Basilica or its dome can be subject to partial unforeseen closures due to Vatican Administration
  • Not recommended for travellers with claustrophobia
  • Not recommended for travellers with vertigo
  • This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

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Reviews

4.5
34 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
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Showing 1-7 of 34 reviews
Great Tour
Michel_L, Oct 2023
It was great. The private tour is the way to go when visiting the Basilica. We would recommend to anyone.
Response from Host, Oct 2023
Thank you so much for your feedback! We hope to see you again on one of our other tours in Rome :)
Excellent, immersive , no hassle
Robert_K, Oct 2023
A fabulous experience with a friendly and extremely knowledgeable guide that made the dome, basilica and grotto come alive. As someone who has toured the basilica with guides before I was delighted to find a guide that enhanced the experience more than any previous visit had done.
Response from Host, Oct 2023
Thank you so much for your feedback! We hope to see you again on one of our other tours in Rome :)
Awesome tour of St Peters
Rick_M, Sep 2023
Our tour of St. Peter's Basilica with Sonia was nothing short of enlightening. The climb to the dome offered breathtaking views, making the effort completely worth it. Sonia's knowledge was immense. We especially liked the captivating tales of St. Peter and the significance of those buried within the catacombs. Learning about the history of the land and its deep connection to St. Peter was the highlight. Sonia is a wealth of knowledge and conveys it with passion. A must-experience tour!
Incredible and knowledgable tour guide! Thumbs up!
Genevieve_H, Jun 2023
Lorenzo was amazing! He brought to life St. Peter's Basilica! He shared SO MANY details I would have missed if I went on my own. He has lived in Rome his whole life and I loved hearing all of his reflections on this incredible monument. I highly recommend his tours!!!! Thank you Lorenzo for an unforgettable experience :)
Last minute booking went smoothly
Stefanie_K, Aug 2022
We booked this tour the night before because other plans had fallen out. I was so happy that everything went smoothly the next day. Our guide was so knowledgeable about the basilica and gave us a lot of history on the building and on the Catholic Church in Italy. We loved going down into the grottoes and then up into the dome. The views were spectacular from the top. It was a wonderful tour.
St. Peter’s Basilica Tour
Margaret_M, Jul 2022
Extraordinary guide, extraordinary experience! Views from the Dome were breathtaking!l The story” of the building of the Basilica were inspiring
Private cant go wrong
Francisco_P, Jul 2022
Great time with a private guide you cant go wrong your own pace and visiting early morning is a plus to avoid crowds very profesional

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