Basilica opening hours:

Summer period (1 April – 30 September) 7h – 19h

Winter period (1 October – 31 March) 7h – 18h30

Dome opening hours:

Summer period  7h30 – 18h 

Winter period 7h30 – 17h

St. Peter’s Basilica is located at Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Città del Vaticano, Vatican City, just a few kilometers from the heart of Rome and can be reached using a variety of transport options.

By Car – It will take around 11-17 min from center of Rome

By Foot – It will take around 18 min (1.5 km from Piazza Navona)

By Metro – It will take around 22 min using the red line of the metro from Roma Termini until Ottaviano-S. Pietro Station (900 m/10 min walking distance from St. Peter’s Basilica)

By Bus – It will take around 30 min using either Bus 40 or 64 from Roma Termini. Bus 40 stops at Traspontina/Conciliazione (6 min walking distance from St. Peter’s Basilica). Bus 64 stops at Cavalleggeri/S. Pietro (4 min walking distance from St. Peter’s Basilica).

By Train – It will take around 30 min using either RE 12524 or REG 12514 towards Civitavecchia. They all stop at Vatican City’s own train station: St. Pietro, at 11 min walking distance from St. Peter’s Basilica.

Yes, St. Peter’s Basilica is open every day of the year, however, there are some restrictions on the masses on Christmas Day and Eve.

These are open throughout the holidays but are restricted during Christmas day and eve.

You need to arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes before the starting time, in order to guarantee your visit.

If you want to have great panoramic views over Rome, we suggest you to climb the St. Peter’s Basilica Dome plus audio tour with this ticket. However, to have a more complete visit, we suggest you to climb the Dome, visit the Papal Grottoes and have an expert Guide that will tell you all about the thrilling history of Rome, the Vatican, the Emperors and the Popes!

Please bear in mind that this tour takes around 3h, so you should take this into consideration when booking other visits afterwards, to avoid overlapping your experiences.

To have a full experience of the Vatican wonder, you cannot miss the visit to the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel. You can combine a Guided Tour of the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel with St. Peter Basilica by choosing this ticket.

Yes. There are several options to explore the St. Peter’s with an expert Guide that will tell you all about the thrilling history of Rome, the Vatican, the Emperors and the Popes!

If you want to have a complete visit, we suggest you the St. Peter’s Basilica, Dome & Papal Grottoes: Small-Group Guided Tour Ticket where you can enjoy a thorough tour of the basilica from your guide in a small group, where you will climb to the top of the Dome to admire a bird’s-eye view of Rome and get an exclusive look at the dome mosaics, experience the mystic atmosphere of the underground grottoes and visit St. Peter’s tomb.

However, we suggest the St. Peter’s Basilica with Dome Climb: Skip-the line Ticket + Guided Tour if you prefer to avoid the crowds and skip the line to the top of St. Peter’s Basilica’s Dome. With a seasoned local guide, you will discover the Basilica’s marvels and historical stories with a professional guide, marvel at St. Peter’s Baldachin and Michelangelo’s Pietá, and pay homage to the Basilica’s masterpieces.

Notwithstanding, to have a full experience of the Vatican wonder, you cannot miss the visit to the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel. You can combine a Guided Tour of the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel with St. Peter Basilica by choosing this ticket.

Yes, we suggest the St. Peter’s Basilica with Dome Climb: Skip-the line Ticket + Guided Tour if you prefer to avoid the crowds and skip the line to the top of St. Peter’s Basilica’s Dome. With a seasoned local guide, you will discover the Basilica’s marvels and historical stories with a professional guide, marvel at St. Peter’s Baldachin and Michelangelo’s Pietá, and pay homage to the Basilica’s masterpieces.

Yes.

Each ticket has a different refund policy, which you are able to see during the booking process.

The best time to visit St. Peter’s Basilica is during Spring (April to June) and Autumn (September to November), when the weather is mild and the crowds are smaller.

When you want to enjoy the beauty of the church and avoid the crowds, the best time to visit St. Peter’s Basilica is early in the morning between 7h to 9h or late in the evening, after 16h.

Yes, there is a reserved entrance to the Basilica for people with disabilities, in the right semicircle of Saint Peter’s Square, equipped with a ramp for access to the checks and entry into the Church.

Unfortunately, the Dome is not accessible for people in wheelchairs.

No, St. Peter’s Basilica strictly adheres to a no-pet policy, which includes trained assistance animals.

In St. Peter’s Basilica, the basic code is for men and women, since both need to cover their knees and upper arms. It is prohibited to wear shorts or skirts above the knee, sleeveless tops, and low-cut shirts. Also, men must take their hats off before entering.

To avoid any disagreements with the staff, please make sure that you are following the dress code policy.