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Guided Tours

Papal Audience Guided Tour

Tourists gathered at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, Rome, Italy.
Pope Leo XIV waving during Papal Audience in Vatican City.
Crowd gathered at St. Peter's Square, Vatican City, for a mass event.
Statue of Saint Peter in front of St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City.

Duration

2 hr 30 min - 5 hr

Open today

Free cancellation

Free cancellation up to 48 hours before the start of your experience

Book now, pay later

Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.

Guided tour

See Pope LEO XIV up close at the Wednesday Papal Audience with a guide who handles your tickets, secures your spot, and explains the ceremony—upgrade to include a tour of St. Peter’s Basilica.

4.0/5

(797)

Alejandra Covarrubias Monjaras

Alejandra

Aug 2025
Verified booking
4/5
I liked that they were very punctual, that they organized the beginning well and that they explained to us the details of the place and what the experience will be like inside the audience. What I did not know and what surprised me a little, was that we do not have the assigned places, I sincerely thought that we would give them to you, but I understand that this is no longer part of the guide and management. What I would recommend is that we should be quicker at the entrance because we were almost at the end of the audience.
Enrique Garcia

Enrique

Aug 2025
Verified booking
4/5
I loved being able to be in the papal audience but all the agency does is accompany you to the entrance, when in the Vatican they DO NOT CHARGE. The entrance is to arrive early and line up to enter, if you talk about some history of the Vatican but in the end what you want is to get there and enter.
Stacy Schweiger

Stacy

May 2025
Verified booking
5/5
Initially we weren't on "the list" perhaps due to booking a day prior to the event. We were told to wait until everyone was checked in and was escorted over to a guide. She was amazing. I wish I knew her name to give her an A++ review she deserved. She got us to the front of the line and the best aisle seats to view Pope Leo. Memories to last a lifetime!!

    • Attend the Wednesday Papal Audience and witness Pope Leo XIV address pilgrims from around the world.

    • Enjoy a guided introduction to papal traditions, ceremony structure, and the history of the Vatican.

    • Relax knowing your free ticket is pre-reserved and collected for you—no need to navigate the booking process.

    • Arrive early with your guide to secure a prime spot in St. Peter’s Square or the Paul VI Audience Hall.

    • Upgrade to include a guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica and explore its sacred interiors with expert insight.

    • Guided tour of the Papal Audience experience

    • Pre-arranged Papal Audience ticket

    • Guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica (as per option selected)

    • Expert English or Spanish-speaking guide (as per option selected)

    • Headsets

  • You can cancel these tickets up to 48 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

  • 4
    797 ratings

    How do we collect reviews?

    These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.

    448
    177
    27
    28
    117
    Guests from United States, Mexico, United Kingdom and over 10 countries have loved this experience

    What our guests say

    Anita Yanna-Schulze

    Anita

    Jul 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    We got to see the Pope! Our guide Rudy led us through the security checks quickly and showed us where to take a seat to have a good view.
    Janet Maldonado

    Janet

    Sep 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    What an amazing and moving experience to see the Pope so close. Our tour guide was absolutely wonderful and full of information. I'm sorry I forgot her name, she's was great.
    Alejandra Covarrubias Monjaras

    Alejandra

    Aug 2025
    Verified booking
    4/5
    I liked that they were very punctual, that they organized the beginning well and that they explained to us the details of the place and what the experience will be like inside the audience. What I did not know and what surprised me a little, was that we do not have the assigned places, I sincerely thought that we would give them to you, but I understand that this is no longer part of the guide and management. What I would recommend is that we should be quicker at the entrance because we were almost at the end of the audience.
    Enrique Garcia

    Enrique

    Aug 2025
    Verified booking
    4/5
    I loved being able to be in the papal audience but all the agency does is accompany you to the entrance, when in the Vatican they DO NOT CHARGE. The entrance is to arrive early and line up to enter, if you talk about some history of the Vatican but in the end what you want is to get there and enter.
    Jaime Lambert

    Jaime

    Jun 2025
    Verified booking
    3/5
    I thought there would be more provided than the free papal audience ticket and the guide walking us into vatican city. The guides were wonderful, and the information he provided was great, but there was really only 15 minutes worth of information. I think I would prefer to save money next time that I want to participate the Papal Audience. We turned in our whisper devices as soon as we arrived at the seats, so there was really very limited amount of description of the papal audience.

  • See the Pope in person during the Wednesday Papal Audience—one of the Vatican’s most spiritual and moving public events.

    Getting started

    Meet your guide near St. Peter’s Square early in the morning. Your guide will collect the pre-booked audience tickets and escort you through the entrance to secure a good viewing spot. A headset will be provided so you can clearly hear commentary throughout the experience.

    What to expect

    St. Peter’s Square

    Held in the iconic square or in the Paul VI Audience Hall, the Papal Audience is a unique opportunity to see Pope Leo XIV address pilgrims from around the world.

    Papal Audience Ceremony

    Witness a blend of prayers, blessings, readings, and hymns as the Pope offers his weekly address. Depending on the schedule, you may see him greet visitors from his Popemobile.

    Guided Context

    Before the event, your expert English or Spanish-speaking guide will explain papal traditions, audience protocol, and what to expect during the ceremony—giving deeper meaning to every moment.

    Extras

    • Upgrade your experience with a guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica after the audience, and explore its chapels, tombs, and masterpieces with your guide.

  • St Peter's Basilica

    Monday07:00am - 07:10pm
    Tuesday07:00am - 07:10pm
    Wednesday07:00am - 07:10pm
    Thursday07:00am - 07:10pm
    Friday07:00am - 07:10pm
    Saturday07:00am - 07:10pm
    Sunday07:00am - 07:10pm

    St Peters Square

    Monday07:00am - 07:10pm
    Tuesday07:00am - 07:10pm
    Wednesday07:00am - 07:10pm
    Thursday07:00am - 07:10pm
    Friday07:00am - 07:10pm
    Saturday07:00am - 07:10pm
    Sunday07:00am - 07:10pm

  • What to bring

    • Papal Audience voucher or booking confirmation (digital or printed)

    • Valid photo ID matching the name on your reservation

    What’s not allowed

    • Large bags, backpacks, suitcases, or bulky items (no storage facilities onsite)

    • Animals, glass objects

    • Flash photography or video recording during the audience

    Accessibility

    • Stroller and wheelchair-accessible routes available

    • Ramp access provided on the right semicircle of St. Peter’s Square

    • Seating is unassigned and first-come, first-served

    Additional information

    • Mandatory airport-style security screening is required; allow 30–60 minutes for entry, especially in peak season

    • Dress code: Knees and shoulders must be covered for all attendees

    • Aisle seats offer the best chance of a close-up view of the Pope as he moves through the audience

    • Audience tickets are free but must be reserved in advance—we handle that for you

    • The event is subject to the Pope’s schedule and may change; check the Vatican’s official calendar for updates

    • Held only on Wednesdays; your guide will accompany you early to help secure a better viewing spot

    • Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.

    • Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the meeting point.

    • Please arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes before the scheduled time of your tour to avoid any delays.

    Meeting point

    • Please check your final voucher for the meeting point details and specific instructions.
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