Tour of St Peter's Basilica with Dome Climb and Grottoes in a Small Group
Overview
Combine e thorough guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica with a climb to the top of the dome for the best panoramic view of Rome.
Discover marvels of art and architecture created by world-famous masters of the Renaissance. Join either a semi-private group of a maximum of 10 participants or a small group of a maximum of 20 participants.
Discover marvels of art and architecture created by world-famous masters of the Renaissance. Join either a semi-private group of a maximum of 10 participants or a small group of a maximum of 20 participants.
Inclusions
- Professional art-historian guide
- Entry fees to the top of the Dome
- Guided tour of St. Peter Dome
- Thorough guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica
- Sterilized headsets to hear clearly your guide
- Full on-site assistance
- Entry/Admission - Cupola di San Pietro
What to expect
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: St. Peter's Square, Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Vatican City Italy
Start your tour in St. Peters Square and perceive the all-embracing character of its majestic architecture. Understand the game of visual effects as were thought by its designer, Bernini, and find the two "special" spots in the square.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: St. Peter's Basilica, Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Vatican City Italy
Then head towards the Basilica to be amazed by its magnificence. See why it took 150 years to rebuild and marvel at the golden ceilings and the impressive mosaics all around you.
Let your art-historian guide lead you through renowned masterpieces of Renaissance and Neoclassic art. Be impressed by the harmonious 30-meters-high canopy and appreciate the expressive power and delicate beauty of Michelangelo's "Pietà".
Duration: 40 minutes
Stop At: Vatican Grottoes, Piazza San Pietro, Vatican City Italy
Descend into the underground grottoes and visit St. Peter's tomb. Touch the ancient walls of the original 4th-century basilica and admire the beautiful frescoes.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Cupola di San Pietro, Piazza san Pietro, 00120 Vatican City Italy
Then climb your way up to the top of the Dome. Enjoy a bird's-eye view over the marble floors and take an exclusive and close-up look at the mosaics of the dome.
Go even higher to find yourself at the top balcony and be amazed by the spectacular panorama over Rome and beyond. Spot the Colosseum, the Pantheon, Castel Sant'Angelo, and other iconic monuments from the height of 136 meters. Enjoy a breathtaking view of St. Peters Square and the Vatican gardens.
Duration: 40 minutes
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: St. Peter's Square, Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Vatican City Italy
Start your tour in St. Peters Square and perceive the all-embracing character of its majestic architecture. Understand the game of visual effects as were thought by its designer, Bernini, and find the two "special" spots in the square.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: St. Peter's Basilica, Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Vatican City Italy
Then head towards the Basilica to be amazed by its magnificence. See why it took 150 years to rebuild and marvel at the golden ceilings and the impressive mosaics all around you.
Let your art-historian guide lead you through renowned masterpieces of Renaissance and Neoclassic art. Be impressed by the harmonious 30-meters-high canopy and appreciate the expressive power and delicate beauty of Michelangelo's "Pietà".
Duration: 40 minutes
Stop At: Vatican Grottoes, Piazza San Pietro, Vatican City Italy
Descend into the underground grottoes and visit St. Peter's tomb. Touch the ancient walls of the original 4th-century basilica and admire the beautiful frescoes.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Cupola di San Pietro, Piazza san Pietro, 00120 Vatican City Italy
Then climb your way up to the top of the Dome. Enjoy a bird's-eye view over the marble floors and take an exclusive and close-up look at the mosaics of the dome.
Go even higher to find yourself at the top balcony and be amazed by the spectacular panorama over Rome and beyond. Spot the Colosseum, the Pantheon, Castel Sant'Angelo, and other iconic monuments from the height of 136 meters. Enjoy a breathtaking view of St. Peters Square and the Vatican gardens.
Duration: 40 minutes
Additional information
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- The dome's terrace might not be accessible during bad weather conditions. In that case, you can either ask for a partial refund and visit the Basilica and the grottoes or decide to cancel the tour for a full refund
- An appropriate dress-code is required in order to enter the churches: knees and shoulders should be covered
- Please take into consideration that the lines to clear security checks at the entrance of the square might take 15-120 minutes
- We recommend to wear comfortable walking shoes
- Please note that you will be required to pass through metal detectors at the entrance of the square
- The meeting point is outside the Basilica before entering St. Peter's square and the security checks
- The Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel are not part of this tour
- The Vatican Necropoli is not part of this tour
- We might not be able to accommodate, refund or reschedule late arrivals
- Strollers are not allowed in the Basilica. There is a luggage deposit at the entrance of the basilica where you can leave the stroller
- Please note that this is not a skip-the-line tour
- Not recommended for travellers with claustrophobia
- Not recommended for travellers with vertigo
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Ticket delivery
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.
BMW-WFO
May 2022
Our morning tour was a perfect choice. Fewer crowds. Our guide, Edoardo was knowledgeable and entertaining. Spoke very good English. The tour is as presented. Small group, skip the lines, dome to grottoes.
Our morning tour was a perfect choice. Fewer crowds. Our guide, Edoardo was knowledgeable and entertaining. Spoke very good English. The tour is as presented. Small group, skip the lines, dome to grottoes.Trip11434721248
May 2022
Fantastic morning with our small group of five with guide, Chiara. She was knowledgeable about the cathedral and gave us lots of time to take photos. We were able to stay inside the Basilica after the tour was over for as long as we liked. I highly recommend opting for the Dome climb as it’s a...
Fantastic morning with our small group of five with guide, Chiara. She was knowledgeable about the cathedral and gave us lots of time to take photos. We were able to stay inside the Basilica after the tour was over for as long as we liked. I highly recommend opting for the Dome climb as it’s an amazing perspective to see the dome up close as well as the exterior view of St Peter’s Square.nicholas_m
May 2022
Learning the history of the entire square and basilica seeing the dome up close by walking on the dome catwalk, not scary at all
Learning the history of the entire square and basilica seeing the dome up close by walking on the dome catwalk, not scary at allPatti_B
April 2022
Andre was our guide and did a great job of presenting the highlights of the Basilica and getting us to the Dome climb. He was knowledgeable, and easy to understand. He was patient with all members of the group.
Andre was our guide and did a great job of presenting the highlights of the Basilica and getting us to the Dome climb. He was knowledgeable, and easy to understand. He was patient with all members of the group.Roving30889024801
April 2022
Giovanni was patient, helpful, and very enthusiastic about his topic. When the rain came, he found a way to keep us dry and moving forward with no worries. He knew more about St Peter’s Basilica than we could have ever absorbed, but he made it easy to understand and fun to experience. When one in...
Giovanni was patient, helpful, and very enthusiastic about his topic. When the rain came, he found a way to keep us dry and moving forward with no worries. He knew more about St Peter’s Basilica than we could have ever absorbed, but he made it easy to understand and fun to experience. When one in our party stayed down from the hike to the top of the dome, he stayed, too, as a kind host would. Grazie mille to Giovanni!val_riec51
April 2022
Everything is interesting, do not hesitate to visit the dome. It is very nice to be with a small group.
Everything is interesting, do not hesitate to visit the dome. It is very nice to be with a small group.