Visiting St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City during your stay in Rome
Here you’ll find all the latest practical information for visiting St. Peter’s Basilica during your weekend in Rome—including tips, opening hours, ticket prices, days to avoid, and of course, a bit of history!
A Brief History of St. Peter’s Basilica
We owe the greatest religious monument in Catholicism to Emperor Constantine. The story of St. Peter’s Basilica, located in Vatican City, begins in the 4th century, when Emperor Constantine ordered its construction. He chose the exact site where the apostle Saint Peter was said to have been buried. By 329 AD, the basilica was completed. At the time, it was a place of pilgrimage and served various purposes: religious ceremonies, funerary banquets, and even as a cemetery.
In 1506, under the direction of architect Donato Bramante, construction of the current basilica began. It was completed in 1626 with contributions from several great architects, including Michelangelo and Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
St. Peter’s Basilica is an architectural masterpiece—218 metres long and 136 metres high, with a dome that spans 23,000 m². It can hold up to 20,000 people. Inside, you’ll find some of the most iconic works in art history, such as Bernini’s Baldachin, Michelangelo’s Pietà, and the famous statue of Saint Peter on his throne.
Every year, visitors from around the world come to admire these timeless creations, made over the course of many centuries.
Fascinating Facts About St. Peter’s Basilica
1 : Over one million cubic metres of earth had to be moved to complete the foundations of St. Peter’s Basilica.
2 : After Constantine in 319, it was Pope Julius II (1503–1513) who commissioned the current basilica.
3 : The original ideal site for the basilica was Nero’s Circus, but Constantine insisted it be built where Saint Peter was buried.
4 : Michelangelo was just 24 years old (between 1498 and 1499) when he sculpted the Pietà. It took him only a short time to create the work that would make him world-famous.
Climb to the top of St. Peter’s Basilica and take in one of the most breathtaking views of Rome.
Why visit St Peter’s Basilica ?
St Peter’s Basilica is also its square, built by Bernini between 1656 and 1667, and its dimensions are spectacular: 240 metres wide and 320 metres long. Every Sunday, 150,000 Catholics gather for the Papal Angelus. During the most important events, it can accommodate more than 300,000 people. In addition to its grandeur, St Peter’s Square is surrounded by 284 columns, crowned by a balustrade adorned with 140 statues. In the middle of the square are two fountains and an obelisk standing 25 metres high. This majestic 350-tonne piece arrived from Egypt in 1586. As well as being the universal home of the Catholic Church and the Pope, it is now possible to visit the tombs of the popes located in the first basement in the Vatican grottoes and see the tomb of St Peter and his successors. The Vatican necropolis, located in the second basement at a depth of between 5 and 12 metres, is a burial ground where pagan and Christian tombs stand side by side.
How to visit St Peter’s Basilica
Important information : admission to the Basilica is free.
And don’t forget that the Basilica is a sacred place, and even though temperatures can be hot in Rome, you’ll need to keep your shoulders and knees covered.
So to avoid queuing for nothing, don’t forget this precaution.
Another tip : given the large number of visitors, it’s advisable to book a guided tour to avoid queuing and to be able to take the passage from the Sistine Chapel.
You can also book one of the private guided tours of the basilica to visit it in combination with other attractions.
To avoid too many crowds, you should arrive either early in the morning – before 9am or after 4pm. Please note that if you plan to climb to the top of the dome, access to the ticket offices is from 8am to 5pm.
We also advise you to avoid visiting on Wednesday mornings, as this is the day of the papal audience, and if it takes place in the basilica, it will be inaccessible until midday.
You should also be aware that the Pope can use the Basilica at any time, so visits may not be possible. So avoid this visit on your last day.
See the website basilicasanpietro.va
How do I get to St Peter’s Basilica ?
he best way to see the Basilica is to arrive at Castel Sant’angelo and take Via della Conciliazione. Vatican City is just a short walk from the historic centre. It is possible to take public transport and the nearest station is ‘Ottaviano’ on line B. It will take you less than 10 minutes to walk to the Basilica. If you want to get to St Peter’s Basilica by bus, there are 2 possible stops : Risorgimento’ station : with bus no. 23, 49, 492, 982, 32, 81 or 590 and Largo di Porta Cavalleggeri’ station : with buses 34, 46, 64, 98, 881 or 916.
Timetable for visiting the St Peter’s Basilica :
From 1 October to 31 March, the Basilica is open every day from 7.00 am to 6.30 pm.
From 1 April to 30 September, the Basilica is open daily from 7.00 am to 7.00 pm.
For religious reasons, admission is permitted after 1.00 pm on Wednesdays, Sundays and public holidays.
Please note that these opening times may vary depending on events scheduled by the Vatican, sometimes at short notice. Please consult the Vatican website on the day. https://www.vatican.va/. Closed on 1 and 6 January.
The different rates for the Basilica :
Admission to the Basilica is free. It is not possible to can Museums beforehand.
The Cupola
There are two ways to access the dome :
10 € by taking the lift (320 steps) or 8 € for the more athletic (551 steps)
The necropolis 13 €, the Treasury 6 €, Vatican Caves : Free.
