Religious Sites

St. Peter's Basilica Entry with Audio Guide

Name: St. Peter's Basilica Entry with Audio Guide
Start: 2025-09-23T12:30:00
End: 2025-09-23T13:30:00
Location: Rome

St. Peter's Basilica and Square with obelisk, Vatican City, crowded with visitors.

St. Peter's Basilica interior with tourists exploring ornate architecture and sculptures.

View of St. Peter's Basilica interior from the dome, showcasing ornate architecture and altar.

Visitors overlooking St. Peter’s Square from the Basilica Dome Terrace in Vatican City.

Open today

Explore at your pace

Choose your entry time, stay as long as you like

Audio guide

Enhance your experience with multilingual audio guide

Discover St. Peter’s Basilica with an immersive audio guide. Upgrade for skip-the-line entry and optional Dome access by stairs or elevator.

3.3/5

(619)

Nunes

Sep 2025

Verified booking

4/5

Perfect service, well oriented, we were able to get through quickly thanks to the ticket-cutter. We arrived 1 hour and 15 minutes early and... we got in straight away, incredible. Visiting the dome via the staircase is a real challenge, with more than 500 steps, and the corridors are very narrow almost to the top. Don't venture to the top if you're overweight or suffer from chlostrophobia.

Dru

Sep 2025

Verified booking

5/5

Perfect experience! At first I thought that 1h30 between the basilica and the ascent to the dome was too much, but it wasn't! Entrance to the basilica in a few minutes thanks to reserved tickets, then the grotto with the tombs of the popes, then the basilica with audioguide! Perfect! We enjoyed the stairway up to the dome, which was easier than we thought 🤩! In short, it was perfect!

Dennis

Aug 2025

Verified booking

5/5

The inside of the Basilica is so beautiful and outstanding. And climbing to the top of the Dome gives amazing views and is totally worth it. However, I would recommend to purchase the skip the line tickets to make your visit hustle free. And oh you really wanna pay for the ticket with elevator because the steps are many.

Explore St. Peter’s Basilica at your own pace with a multilingual audio guide and digital map covering 27 highlights.

Learn the stories behind masterpieces like Michelangelo’s Pietà and Bernini’s Papal Altar.

Visit the crypt of the Papal Tombs and uncover centuries of papal history and devotion.

Enhance a free-entry experience with rich, expert-led commentary for deeper context.

Upgrade to reserved entry to skip the long lines—or add Dome access for sweeping Vatican views.

Access to Basilica and Papal Tombs

Digital audio guide

Reserved entry to St. Peter's Basilica (as per option selected)

Access to the Dome by lift or staircase (as per option selected)

Live tour guide

Food and drinks

These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

3.3
619 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.
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Guests from Germany, France, United Kingdom and over 10 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Claudia
Sep 2025
Verified booking
4/5
There is generally a bit of confusion at the entrances and you are sent back and forth. However, if you stand in the right queue, everything is very easy and relatively quick. We really enjoyed it and will book the tour again as soon as we are back in Rome.
Debra
Sep 2025
Verified booking
3/5
I just loved being there. The only thing that would have made it better would have been a more coordinated use of the audio guide and the exhibits. Like the other historical sites in Rome, a number designated to the audio explanation so that you can more easily match what you are seeing with the history.
Nunes
Sep 2025
Verified booking
4/5
Perfect service, well oriented, we were able to get through quickly thanks to the ticket-cutter. We arrived 1 hour and 15 minutes early and... we got in straight away, incredible. Visiting the dome via the staircase is a real challenge, with more than 500 steps, and the corridors are very narrow almost to the top. Don't venture to the top if you're overweight or suffer from chlostrophobia.
Jeffrey
Sep 2025
Verified booking
4/5
Everything worked out fine once we found a way to download the app. We did that the evening before in the hotel. Had to use my laptop to take a picture of the app with my iPhone 16. Best if you give instructions on how to download the app. It doesn't download by clicking on the pdf you send.
Hiltrud
Sep 2025
Verified booking
3/5
It all worked out, but I thought it was a shame that I couldn't always find the artwork that went with it! Time was short and then we were already sent out! Also, there was nowhere to sit and take it all in! All the chairs were blocked off.

Step into St. Peter’s Basilica—the world’s most visited church—and explore its art, architecture, and history at your own pace with a multilingual audio guide on your phone (approx. 2 hours).

Getting started

Start your visit by joining the free-entry line outside St. Peter’s Basilica. After clearing the security check at the entrance, open the link sent to your email and activate your digital audio guide through your phone. You’ll need your own earphones—no QR code or app download is required for this base variant.

Note: QR codes for reserved entry and dome access are only applicable for upgrade variants with reserved access.

What to expect

Inside St. Peter’s Basilica

Once inside, go at your own pace through this architectural wonder—home to centuries of Christian history and priceless Renaissance art. The audio guide points out key highlights, bringing the sacred and artistic details to life with expert commentary.

Highlights:

Michelangelo’s Pietà: Hear the story behind this delicate yet powerful marble sculpture, created when Michelangelo was just 24 years old.

Bernini’s Baldachin: Learn how this monumental bronze canopy marks St. Peter’s tomb and reflects the Baroque drama of the space.

Chapel of the Sacrament & Nave: Discover intricate details often missed on unguided visits, from mosaic floors to overlooked altars.

Self-Guided Access to Papal Tombs (reserved entry & dome variants only): Upgrade for access to the underground crypt housing past popes.

St Peter's Basilica

Monday	07:00am - 07:10pm
Tuesday	07:00am - 07:10pm
Wednesday	07:00am - 07:10pm
Thursday	07:00am - 07:10pm
Friday	07:00am - 07:10pm
Saturday	07:00am - 07:10pm
Sunday	07:00am - 07:10pm

St Peters Basilica Dome

Monday	07:30am - 06:00pm	last entry 05:30pm
Tuesday	07:30am - 06:00pm	last entry 05:30pm
Wednesday	07:30am - 06:00pm	last entry 05:30pm
Thursday	07:30am - 06:00pm	last entry 05:30pm
Friday	07:30am - 06:00pm	last entry 05:30pm
Saturday	07:30am - 06:00pm	last entry 05:30pm
Sunday	07:30am - 06:00pm	last entry 05:30pm

St Peters Square

Monday	07:00am - 07:10pm
Tuesday	07:00am - 07:10pm
Wednesday	07:00am - 07:10pm
Thursday	07:00am - 07:10pm
Friday	07:00am - 07:10pm
Saturday	07:00am - 07:10pm
Sunday	07:00am - 07:10pm

What to bring

Personal earphones to use with the audio guide on your smartphone.

A valid photo ID matching the name on your booking (may be checked at entry).

For Reserved Entry or Dome variants: Make sure you’ve received your QR codes for both entry and audio guide activation (check spam or retrieve them online if needed).

What’s not allowed

Large bags, luggage, or suitcases. Only small backpacks or personal bags allowed (no cloakroom on-site).

Food, drinks, smoking, and pets.

Infants and animals are not permitted.

Flash photography, tripods, and filming gear. (Non-flash photography is allowed.)

Accessibility

The Dome involves a steep climb of up to 551 steps and isn’t recommended for infants, pregnant visitors, or those with mobility issues, heart conditions, claustrophobia, or vertigo.

Not wheelchair accessible.

All visitors must pass airport-style security.

Additional information

There are two queues at the main entrance — a free entry queue and a reserved entry queue. Only if you've selected the reserved entry option at checkout are you eligible to skip the free entry line.

Modest dress is required: no shorts, mini skirts, or sleeveless tops.

If you’ve reserved entry, arrive at least 45 minutes early to clear security—especially during busy times.

The audio guide is smartphone-only; bring earphones and ensure your device is charged.

Minimum age: 6 years. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

This experience is non-refundable.

Closures & exceptions

Papal Tombs are not accessible for 6pm entries—only the Basilica will be open.

The Basilica and/or Dome may close without notice due to religious ceremonies. If access is restricted, alternatives will be provided.

Special access from the Sistine Chapel to the Basilica is unavailable on Wednesdays and during major celebrations like Easter.

Your ticket will be emailed to you shortly.

Please arrive at the redemption point 15 mins before the scheduled time of your visit to avoid any delays.

Display the ticket on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the redemption point.

Ticket redemption point

Please check your final ticket for the redemption point details and specific instructions.