Vatican City is the smallest country in the world, and if you find yourself there, it’s really impossible to miss the massive St. Peter’s Basilica towering at the heart of it. This iconic structure is gorgeous inside and out, making not only popular among those who visit for spiritual reasons, but also for many other travelers who want to admire its intricate interior and climb the dome. Like many of the attractions in Rome and Vatican City, St. Peter’s Basilica is very popular, so a bit of planning is needed for a smooth visit.

A Bit of History on St. Peter’s Basilica

The place where St. Peter’s Basilica sits was once a burial place during Roman times. A church was built on top of the necropolis in the 4th century. The old basilica suffered damage over many years, so Pope Julius ordered the construction of a new one. Construction began in 1506, and the basilica wasn’t completed until the 1620s. Many infamous individuals contributed to this massive project, including Raphael, Michelangelo, and Bernini.

The grottoes and necropolis still sit intact under the basilica. These are the resting places of various individuals, including Saint Peter himself. There are also several chapels down there that were built ranging between the early 1600s and 1990s, as well as paintings, statues, and other relics from the old church.

Today, the basilica remains the headquarters of the Roman Catholic church. This draws many travelers who visit for spiritual reasons. But, its architectural beauty and historical significance also draw many other tourists into its doors as well. Around 10 million people visit every year!

Getting to St. Peter’s Basilica

The Vatican can be reached on foot from the heart of Rome. However, it sits a bit outside of the city center, so visitors commonly travel there via public transport.

There are a few metro stations around Vatican City – Ottaviano, Cipro, and Valle Aurelia. These are all served by Line A. There are also various buses that stop at points all around the Vatican, including 23, 40, 62, 64, 81, and more. Lastly, Tram 19 stops at the Risorgimento hub just outside the Vatican. Check routes and timetables here.

If coming from outside Rome into the city, you can take a train to Stazione San Pietro or Valle Aurelia. See tickets and routes on Tren Italia.

Despite being its own little country and governing entity, the Vatican has an open-border policy with Italy, so there is no customs or passport/visa control to pass through when entering. You may have to go through basic security checks at individual sites though.

Once in the Vatican, you’ll find St. Peter’s Basilica at the southern side of this little country. Visitors can enter the basilica from the front where the que forms along Piazza San Pietro.

Tickets & Hours

Basilica:

• Cost: Free. A reservation is not required, but recommended. If you book a time slot online in advance, it costs €7. Reserving in advance includes an audio guide and allows you to skip the general entry line. These basilica visits include access to the main basilica floor and the Vatican Grottoes.
• Hours: open daily from 7am – 7:10pm.

Grottoes:

• Cost: Free or included with whatever dome or basilica reservation ticket you purchase. The grottoes can be accessed from inside the basilica.
• Hours: open daily from 9am – 6pm.

Dome:

• Cost: €10 (when purchasing onsite) or €17 (when reserving a time slot online) for access to the terrace and top of the dome via the stairs. €15 (when purchasing onsite) or €22 (when reserving a time slot online) for access to the first terrace via the elevator – to reach the top, you must walk up 320 steps. If you buy tickets onsite, they are only valid for the immediate next slot for the dome. Entry is also not guaranteed as spots are limited. When we visited, tickets onsite were also only payable by cash. The dome tickets include access to the basilica.
• Hours: 7:30am – 6pm from April through September and 7:30am – 5pm from October through March.

Whether you have a reserved time slot or not, you may have to wait in line. If you didn’t reserve a time slot, be prepared to wait in line for an hour or two just to get past the security checkpoint.

Note that the hours for these sites are subject to change based on holidays and events, so check the website before your visit.

Regulations

This is a sacred place, so visitors must wear pants or a dress or skirt that go below the knees and tops that cover shoulders and aren’t too revealing. You may be denied entry if your outfit isn’t deemed appropriate.

Before entering the basilica, visitors go through a security check. Large purses, backpacks, other bulky items, and food or drink are not permitted. While we’ve heard of some people having their water bottles confiscated, we were able to bring a small, clear water bottle into the basilica. But note that drinking inside is not allowed.

Photography is allowed in the main basilica and dome areas, but do not use flash. Visitors cannot take pictures in the grottoes.

There are people who have come here for spiritual reasons, so be respectful and keep your voice down when inside.

Visiting St. Peter’s Basilica

Our morning started early, as we left our hotel and took the metro with the goal of reaching St. Peter’s Basilica around 7am. We entered the Vatican gates and strolled into Plaza San Pietro. It was quiet and mostly empty with the lit St. Peter’s Basilica standing tall at one end. We snapped some photos as the sky just began to lighten, then noticed a line beginning to form, so we entered the que.

It was early on a February weekday morning, so it definitely wasn’t as busy as it would be midday during the peak summer months. This place still does get busy outside of peak season and we didn’t buy tickets online in advance, so we wanted to make sure to arrive before the crowds. Luckily, the line didn’t take too long – soon enough, we passed through security and walked up the basilica steps.

Inside St. Peter’s Basilica

As soon as we entered St. Peter’s Basilica, we were in awe. This is the largest church in the world by interior measure, and every inch of it is covered in intricate details and lavish adornments. It really was nice to be there before many of the crowds. We found it to be quite peaceful inside.

As you walk around the inside of St. Peter’s Basilica, some notable details include the massive wooden altar, the Chair of Saint Peter, the La Pietá piece by Michelangelo, and the Vatican Grottoes.

The audio guide is useful, but if you’re interested in a more in-depth look into the history and elements of the basilica, there are tours available through those who manage it and independent tour companies as well. For a tour provided by the basilica, book one upon arrival or contact the Visits Office via email (visiteguidate@fsp.va) for more info and to make a reservation.

Climbing the Dome

After our time wandering through the basilica, we headed back outside and to the right to buy our dome tickets. We decided to take the stairs all the way up just to see more of the inside of the basilica.

Upon entering, we began our ascent. Some sections do get pretty narrow and steep! There are 501 steps to reach the top broken up by an outdoor terrace and the walkway on the inside of the dome. Looking down to the basilica floor from up in the dome was really cool and the artwork up there was beautiful.

With the exception of one other guy, we were the only ones up there, which really was an amazing experience! Not only were we free to walk around without the crowds, but the morning light glowing over the surrounding city made the early wake-up 100% worth it.

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