Guided tour

Vatican: St. Peter's Basilica Access & Early Bird Dome Tour

4.3  / 51091 reviews
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Guided tour
Vatican: St. Peter's Basilica Access & Early Bird Dome Tour
4.3  / 51091 reviews

Discover the beauty and history of St. Peter’s Basilica at your own pace on this basilica access and guided dome tour. Climb to the top of the dome and take in panoramic views of Rome with your guide.

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
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Keep your travel plans flexible — book your spot and pay nothing today.
Duration 1 - 2 hours
Check availability to see starting times.
Skip the ticket line
Live tour guide
English

Experience

Highlights

  • Be transported back to history as you witness the beauty of St Peter’s Basilica
  • Get immersed in the atmosphere of St. Peter's Square before the crowds arrive
  • Climb to the top of the dome of St. Peter's Basilica to see the stunning views
  • Explore the Basilica and listen to the stories about the famous Pietà sculpture
  • Learn the history, interesting stories, and facts from your experienced guide

Full description

Explore the beautiful surroundings of St Peter’s Square and the Vatican City on an extraordinary tour with a local guide. Climb the dome and visit the basilica in the early morning before the crowds arrive.

You will see the first viewing point through the elevator of the dome. Start climbing the remaining steps toward the summit while hearing fascinating facts and stories from your guide.

Witness a breathtaking view of Vatican City and its iconic seven hills. Keep your camera ready to click photographs of the beautiful panoramic views from the top of the famous Vatican summit. 

After admiring the splendid views, come down from the dome to enter the basilica. Stroll through the area at your own pace.

Marvel at the magnificent creation of St. Peter's Baldachin and Michelangelo’s Pietá. Discover every tiny detail of the historic building and admire the masterpieces adorning the space.  

Includes

  • Entrance ticket to the St Peter's Dome
  • Access to the St Peter's Basilica and Square (no skip-the-line for the Basilica)
  • Guide
  • Headsets when needed
  • Skip-the-line access to Basilica and Dome
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Food and drinks
  • Gratuities

Not suitable for

  • People with claustrophobia
  • People with heart problems
  • Wheelchair users
  • People with vertigo

Select participants and date

Participants

Date

Meeting point

• Please arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes before the activity starts • Late arrivals will not be accommodated & not be refunded. • Our staff will be meeting you holding a “Loving Rome” flag and will be stationed at the “black tables” of Caffè Leonina (front row), situated beyond the white tables of the kiosk. • The meeting point is at Piazza Della Città Leonina 00193 near the arches, where the square meets via di Porta Angelica. It is located at the corner of the square, on the left-hand side.

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Important information

What to bring

  • Comfortable shoes
  • FFP2 mask

Not allowed

  • Shorts
  • Weapons or sharp objects
  • Luggage or large bags
  • Short skirts
  • Sleeveless shirts

Know before you go

  • The elevator of the Dome only takes you to the first balcony, to climb up to the main Dome you will have to use the stairs (320 steps) which require 20 extra minutes
  • The St. Peter's Basilica Dome might not be accessible during bad weather conditions
  • All visitors must pass through airport-style security check before entering the Basilica, during high season the waiting time may be up to 2 hours
  • The Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and Vatican Necropoli are not part of this tour
  • Please take note that this service exclusively offers an entry ticket to the Dome & not skip-the-line access to the Basilica.

Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.3 /5

based on 1091 reviews

Review summary

  • Guide
    4.5/5
  • Value for money
    4.1/5

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L
Lisa – ItalySeptember 29, 2024  – Verified booking
St. Peter’s Basilica was gorgeous. The guide was very knowledgeable. The view from the top of the dome was amazing. Love the early am tour without all the people.
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h
holly July 24, 2024  – Verified booking
This was a great tour. The guide got us to where we needed to go and then we had free time to explore and exit when we wanted to
Helpful?
J
Jessica – United StatesJuly 22, 2024  – Verified booking
Federico, our guide, was amazing and went above and beyond. He did a beautiful job of keeping us engaged even while waiting in line. What a wonderful experience for our family of 6 including 3 teenagers.
Helpful?

Product ID: 415631

Activity provider:Loving Rome

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