St. Peter's Basilica Dome, Basilica & Underground Grottoes Tour

based on 144 reviews

Duration:3 hours (approx.)
Location: Rome, Italy

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Climb to the top of the highest point in the Vatican City, the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica, and get panoramic views over historic Rome and the Vatican state from this Renaissance masterpiece. Along with getting fast access inside the basilica after your ascent, you can experience and explore the basilica treasures and the Vatican Crypts with your expert English-speaking guide.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

WHAT TO EXPECT

1. Vatican City
Climb to the top of the highest point in the Vatican City, the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica, and get panoramic views over historic Rome and the Vatican state from this Renaissance masterpiece.
2. St. Peter's Square
The welcoming arms of St. Peter’s Square is just near where you’ll meet your expert English-speaking guide for the climb to the highest point in the Vatican. To get started, they will take you by elevator up to the balcony viewing platform inside the majestic dome. Once there, they will show you Michelangelo’s windows that circle you, Bernini’s bronze canopy that was built to protect the altar and the mosaics which give the dome it’s signature blue and gold colors. Your guide will leave you at the spiral staircase where you start your approach to the top viewing platform on the dome. From here, you climb at your own pace up the 320 steps. When you reach the top, you’ll be standing on the highest point in Vatican City.
3. Cupola di San Pietro
You will start your visit of the Basilica by climb your way up to the top of the Dome. Enjoy a 360 degrees view over the marble floors and take an exclusive and close-up look at the mosaics of the dome, designed by Michelangelo. Go even higher to be at the top balcony and be amazed by the incredible scenery over Rome. You will be able to see the Colosseum, the Pantheon, Castel Sant'Angelo, and more from 136 meters above ground.
4. St. Peter's Basilica
One of the advantages of climbing inside the dome is that it allows you to descend right into the basilica. You can ignore all those lines that are waiting to get inside the basilica. You can go straight in by following the stairs down. Here the guide will take you through the main highlights. You will discover the incredible Papal Altar under Bernini’s Baldachin, and marvel at Michelangelo’s other timeless masterpiece, La Pietà, as you explore the most important church in the Christian world.
5. Vatican Grottoes
Your tour ends with a visit to the subterranean crypts of the Basilica, where many famous Pope’s have their monumental tombs. Once outside again, you can admire Bernini’s clever optical illusion in St. Peter’s Square, spot the balcony from which the Pope delivers his public addresses and snap photos of the basilica’s heavenly façade, having covered the Vatican and St. Peter’s from top to bottom!

ADDITIONAL INFO

CANCELLATION POLICY

Posted By : 485abheekb
Everyone can forgive the occasional factual leap. But it’s hard to have patience for a Vatican tour guide who doesn’t know where the grottos are and leads the tour the wrong way, can’t answer basic questions about the architecture, doesn’t realize Cardinal Ratzinger and Benedict XVI are the same, and even invents a Pope John Paul III. We’d all have been better off with automated audio guides or even someone reading off Wikipedia.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-07-02 11:54:08

Posted By : A3780FMjoshuas
Not worth a cent.
For a start, skip the queue is not a thing. Had to line up with everyone else even pre purchasing the ticket.

Our Tour guide was completely useless, she didn’t know where to go, what to do, or even what was included in the tour.
Words cannot describe how terrible she was. I still can’t believe her incompetence. Our group of 25 were thoroughly disappointed. Honestly, we would’ve been better off doing it ourselves and not having the guide. Which we then did. We went back by ourselves and learnt more from the signs and had a far better experience.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-28 13:24:51

Posted By : Ryan_D
It was a great tour. Our tour guide, Maria, was very knowledgeable and great a directing us to manage the crowds. We enjoyed the beautiful views after climbing the steps to the top of the dome. It does narrow quite a bit so would not recommend if claustrophobic.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-28 09:00:20

Posted By : Maheshwar_B
The trip was cancelled and I came to know about it on the day of tour post my arrival at meeting time well in advance. When I called customer support they informed me about cancellation. I have not received any formal comms. Now waiting for refund
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-27 14:30:01

Posted By : Safari12005762708
Federico was an amazing guide. He provided a wonderful tour with knowledge of the history of Rome and always pointed out best places to stand and take pics. Highly recommended.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-09 16:47:22

Posted By : Stephanie_W
Going to the dome was an amazing experience, however, it was very disorganized. We were in line for about 30 minutes to go through security, then at the entrance of St Peter’s for another 45 minutes while two tour guides waited to get tickets. It seems we could have spent that time exploring the church rather than waiting in very crowded entrance only to have 5 minutes guide there. Guides spent significant time speaking to each other in Italian coordinating verses guiding.
The Vatican is beautiful and the tour was worth the money of only to secure space to visit in advance during busy tourist season (which did sell out very early), but set your expectations.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-07 05:51:52

Posted By : Sarah_D
Tour cancelled justca day before. I booked tour days before, we were a group of four. I will never use Viator again.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-02 15:04:06

Posted By : Chantal_G
Our guide Eddy was fantastic, very knowledgeable and pleasant. We did not feel rushed, he explained every thing before we saw it so we know what to expect. He even gave us recommendations for a meal afterwards. Wonderful tour, thank you!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-04-25 03:12:11

Posted By : Dudley3186
Entertaining, patient and informed guide. Professionally managed the group through frustrating queues and crowds ensuring we were engaged in the commentary. Would highly recommend Eddy the guide. But just note that we met the guide at 7:15am and got through the security queue 90 minutes later. So be prepared!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-04-22 11:45:21

Posted By : Ronda_H
Our tour guide was very helpful and very knowledgeable. My husband and I visited back in 2007 and were able to get in line and do it all ourself. I think you can still do this, but if you are on a time crunch this is a great alternative. It was nice having someone providing great information especially for our two teenagers now. They really enjoyed the Dome hike and the view is breathtaking.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-04-14 21:37:53