St. Peter's Basilica Dome and Necropolis Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore St. Peter's Basilica's stunning architecture
- Ascend the dome for breathtaking city views
- Discover the ancient Vatican Necropolis
- Learn about Vatican history from an expert guide
- Enjoy a personalized, skip-the-line experience
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Private guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica
- Climb to the dome for panoramic views of Rome
- Visit to the Vatican Necropolis beneath the basilica
- Meals and beverages
Meeting point
Start Location
Unknown location
Important information
Know before you book
- Tour availability may vary; check the schedule in advance
- Photography may be restricted in certain areas; follow guide instructions
- Respect local customs and dress codes when visiting religious sites
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes suitable for climbing stairs
- Bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated during the tour
- Be prepared for security checks at the entrance
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Easy Public Transport
Good to know
- Meeting Point: Largo del Colonnato, 5, in front of the Galleria San Pietro Shop (near St. Peter's Square). Your guide and our staff will be there to welcome you. Please arrive at least 30 minutes before departure to ensure a smooth check-in. For assistance, please call +39 328 001 0018.
- Children must be accompanied by an adult. Not suitable for children under 10 years old.
- All participants must carry a valid identification document (passport or ID) to enter the sites. Entry may be denied without a valid document, with no refund.
- A dress code is required to enter places of worship and selected museums. No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements
- There is no refund on reservation fees and tickets of monuments that are closed due to event that is out of our control.
- If this is not possible, we will operate the tour and will include other sites to compensate for the site/s being closed. No refund is given on unused tickets due to events that are out of our control.
- Customers have a mandatory meeting time stated 30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time due to managing and organizational reasons.If you arrive late for the meeting time, it will not be possible to join the group or reschedule, unless you pay for the activity again. As per "No Show" rules you will not be entitled to a refund.
- Cancellations, changes or issues due, security and events held by the monument are beyond our control and are directly decided by their administration team. These issues will be reviewed by us and dealt with on an individual basis but are the responsibility of the monument.
- Please note that St. Peter’s Basilica may close without prior notice. Refunds are only available for options that include a guided tour of the Basilica.
- The Necropolis is managed directly by the Fabbrica di San Pietro; timing variations are beyond our control. The tour start time may vary even more than30 minutes.
Traveler reviews
Fantastic
Excellent tour but very long. Our guide to the Vatican was absolutely excellent. We have been to the Vatican numerous times, but never had suchan extensive tour with such a knowledgeable guide.
Both guides were very...
Both guides were very informative and we could see their enthusiasm. Saint Peters was absolutely amazing and as catholics an experience we won’t forget
Roman Cemetery containing St Peter and 1st Century Romans
Fascinating tour beneath St Peter's - back to the times of Peter's martyrdom in Rome. Opportunity to learn and see history from the early church and what life (and death) was like in the 1st century in Rome. Guided by an archeologist, with knowledge and enthusiasm, makes this a must do experience. Our only hiccup, the guide that started our tour didn't alert a member of our group about the strictness of dress code - we needed to cover up some 70 year old knees (a nearby vendor sold a wrap that rectified naked knees).
Read the exclusions carefully (VIP part)
Though Sabrina did a great job of giving us a tour of the tomb of St. Peter the tickets we bought stated that it included a VIP to the Basilica. BUT all that really means is it covers the entrance not the guided tour part. So you are left on your own for the rest of tour which was fine with us but based on the description we thought the guided tour was for both activities listed on the ticket. In the fine print it did say entry to the Basilica. And that’s exactly what we got. Not sure worth the $249.
Scavi Tour
When we planned our trip to Rome, my husband tried for iver 6 months We to try amd secure spots for us on the Scavi tour directly through The Vatican, with no luck. He stumbled upon this tour and we jumped on the chance. We met our guide outside a store across from St Peter's. It was very easy to find her. She was so positive and cheerful. She gave us some history and explained somethings about the Vatican, then we left her and were escorted to the area when we met the guide who took us through the Scavi tour, which was fascinating. Highly recommend!