St. Peter’s Dome Climb with Guided Tour of the Basilica & Papal Crypts

Overview

Enjoy a day exploring one of Rome's most iconic tourist attractions with the help of an expert guide. Climb the iconic Dome of St. Peter's for spectacular panoramas over the city, enjoy a guided tour of the Basilica itself and visit the tombs of the most important Popes. You'll see it all!Start your day early to beat the crowds and be among the first to climb up the Dome. With commentary from your expert English-speaking Vatican guide, you’ll take a short walk along the St. Peter’s Square before arriving at the lift that will take you up to the base of the Dome. Here you will be able to admire its beautiful interior, then continue climbing 320 steps to get to the very top. You will be rewarded with the most magnificent views over the Eternal City – no view in Rome is comparable to this. Snap some incredible shots and enjoy the panorama, before meeting your guide again for a guided tour of the Basilica. After, you will take advantage of the access already gained in the morning, to visit St. Peter’s Basilica with our expert guide, without having to join the long lines to enter it. Here the guide will take you through the main highlights. You will discover the incredible Papal Altar under Bernini’s Baldachin and marvel at Michelangelo’s other timeless masterpiece, La Pietà, as you explore the most important church in the Christian world. Your tour ends with a visit to the subterranean crypts of the Basilica, where many famous Pope’s have their monumental tombs. Once outside again, you can admire Bernini’s clever optical illusion in St. Peter’s Square, spot the balcony from which the Pope delivers his public addresses and snap photos of the basilica’s heavenly façade, having covered the Vatican and St. Peter’s from top to bottom!

What's included

Headsets when appropriate

What's Not included

Food and drinks

Where

Rome, Italy

Meeting point:

Your meeting point is at Piazza della Città Leonina, near the arches, where the square meets via di Porta Angelica. Facing the Arches, our meeting point is located at the corner of the square, on the left-hand side, next to the kiosk.Arriving from Ottaviano - Musei Vaticani metro A station:Exit the turnstiles – take the St. Peter’s Basilica exit. Once you exit the metro station walk down Via Ottaviano until you reach Piazza Risorgimento. Continue walking straight across the Risorgimento square and you will see the Vatican walls – follow Via di Porta Angelica until you arrive at the arches bordering Piazza della Città Leonina. Facing the arches, the meeting point is located to the left side, at the corner, next to the newspaper stand.

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What To Expect

Climb the iconic Dome of St. Peter’s for magnificent panoramas over Rome and the Vatican City
Enjoy a guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica, the famous Baldachin and the tomb of St. John Paul II
Visit the tombs of the most important Popes in a special crypt beneath St. Peter’s Basilica
Hear enlightening commentary from a local Vatican expert guide throughout the tour

Availability and prices