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
Itinerary
Meet your tour guide and learn about St. Peter’s Square. This square, surrounded by a majestic quadruple colonnade, displays the largest church of the Christian world: St. Peter’s Basilica (Basilica di San Pietro). It is also the heart of Vatican City, the smallest state in the world, which was in antiquity occupied by Nero’s circus and gardens, where many Christians, including St. Peter, were martyred. In the centre of this 320 meter-wide piazza stands an Egyptian obelisk brought to Rome by Caligula in 37 AD. In 1656 Bernini began building the quadruple colonnade of 284 columns in 88 rows, which according to the artist symbolize the “gathering of Christendom.” From two points in the square which are marked on the ground by a stone, the four concentric rings of columns visually merge into one. The balustrade supported by the columns is decorated with 140 statues of saints. The huge door of the basilica is framed by statues of Saint Peter and Saint Paul.
We will explore the remains of the vast Roman Necropolis that developed between the 1st and 4th centuries along the Via Cornelia, on Vatican Hill, near the Circus of Nero and Caligula, where Saint Peter was martyred in 67 AD. Nearby, early Christians buried the Apostle’s remains in the bare earth, later gathering them around 150 AD beneath a small marble shrine known as the Trophy of Gaius. When Emperor Constantine built the first Basilica over Peter’s tomb in 319, he preserved the existing Necropolis and honored the burial site with a monumental memorial. Sealed beneath successive basilicas for over 16 centuries, the Necropolis remained hidden until excavations ordered by Pope Pius XII in 1939 brought it back to light, revealing both the ancient burial ground and the Tomb of Saint Peter, whose relics can be venerated during the visit.
After the necropolis visit, enter St. Peter’s Basilica with priority access. Few places in the world can match St. Peter’s Basilica in both size and significance. Step inside the historic walls of Vatican City, the residence of the Pope, and discover one of the most important destinations of religious and historical pilgrimage. St. Peter, one of the apostles and the first Pope, was crucified in Rome in 64 AD. There is strong evidence suggesting that his body is buried beneath the basilica’s main altar. If you love architecture, St. Peter’s is a breathtaking masterpiece. And even if you are not particularly interested in the spiritual side, it is hard not to be moved by such a magnificent building. Although St. Peter’s is often thought of as a cathedral, it is not the official seat of the Bishop of Rome (that title belongs to St. John Lateran), making it technically a basilica rather than a cathedral.
At the end of the tour of the Basilica, if you have selected the Dome visit included OPTION, you will be personally escorted to the elevator to begin your ascent. From the top, you will enjoy a spectacular 360-degree panoramic view: St. Peter’s Square perfectly framed below, the Vatican Gardens, and the rooftops of Rome stretching all the way to the horizon. It is a breathtaking and unforgettable perspective of the Eternal City — the perfect grand finale to your experience.
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
Excellent tour, Beware of cancellations
The tour was informative and the guide was top-notch — he was an expert in the history of the catacombs and Vatican. The rescheduling was an issue; we received an email confirming our tour one day before and unbeknownst to us, a WhatsApp message was sent later with a cancellation. We didn’t see the message until we were on our way to the tour. We were rescheduled for the same day but it was stressful to change plans while sitting in a taxi. We understand tours are cancelled by the Vatican but the agency should use the TripAdvisor contact method for consistency and to avoid confusion.
A must
Absolute must. One of the best experiences in Italy.
The actual Scavi Tour of...
The actual Scavi Tour of the Necropolis was unbelievable and amazing. The two parts ahead of that were a little confusing. First, the tour guide from Tour in Rome picks you up and hands you off to a worker and this worker brings you to the Scavi Office where you wait around 25 minutes for a Scavi tour guide to take you into the Necropolis. The Scavi guide, Patrick, was incredibly knowledgeable, passionate and clear. The site itself is incredible. It is only that the situation before the proper tour starts is a little confusing and unclear. I suppose this is because they are buying extremely difficult to obtain tickets on our behalf that the process is a bit convoluted and odd. It was not clearly explained and a bit confusing when it began. But, ultimately, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Outstanding!
Probably the single best Rome guided tour that I have ever been on! Taras is a historian and an expert in his field and was able to explain the history in a manner that I was able to understand. I would definitely take this tour again the next time I am back in Rome.
Disappointment
Unpleasant experience second time in 3 days with Viator. We are all shocked and disappointed because ToursByLocals was consistently positive and thorough tours. The humidity underground was intentional and unbearable. The tour guide was informative but took a long time. We were separately advised by two out of three of the guides on the tour that Saint Peter’s Basilica was closed and we couldn’t access that part of the tour. We left the square and walked about 7 minutes to get a large taxi, and other folks told us they just came from St. Peter’s Basilica!!! The inability to see The Blue Grotto 3 days before was bad enough. We never want to book with Viator.