Book St. Peter's Basilica Tickets
Get a chance to witness classic art and architecture, learn about the history of Christianity and soak in some of the most magnificent structures by availing St. Peter’s Basilica Tickets. In addition to being one of the most religiously significant places of Christianity in the world, the place has been an iconic structure and major representation symbol of Vatican city.
Indulge in a St Peter's Basilica guided tour and witness the tallest dome in the world, along with a myriad of Renaissance and Baroque artworks when you visit this church.
With your St. Peter's Basilica Tickets, pay a visit to the burial ground of St. Peter, while also admiring the tombs of many monarchs, popes and other dignitaries. Don’t forget to marvel at the stunned dome here, which was designed and constructed by noted architects. Or head up all the way to the Dome of the Basilica, from where you can enjoy some of the most breath-taking views of Rome as well as the Vatican City.
St. Peter's Basilica Tickets Variations
Avail the St Peter's Basilica skip the line tickets with audio guide if you wish to indulge in a relaxing and hassle-free tour of this architectural wonder. Offering you a chance to enter the Basilica quicker than others, while also avoiding the long queues at the entry gates. The audio guide will also help you to learn about the different sections inside the church, while also providing you with detailed information about the different tombs in the grottoes, the altars, as well as the paintings and sculptures that the church is famous for.
One of the best ways to enjoy a visit to this impressive structure in Rome is to avail a St Peter's Basilica guided tour. Not only does this tour allow you access to most of the impressive sections inside the Basilica, such as the necropolis, grottoes and tombs, it also includes a knowledgeable guide. Additionally, with the guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica Tickets, you can also enjoy a priority entry to the church, which has a shorter waiting time and queue.
Amongst the best ways to explore the Basilica is to book a St Peter's Basilica skip the line combo tour, which will also allow you a quicker and hassle-free access to the Vatican Museums. This combo tour typically takes three hours, and includes a guide, who will help you learn new things about the artworks not just in St.Peter’s Basilica, but also in the Vatican Museums, including the famous Sistine Chapel. The tour is also a great value for money option, and helps to save your time and energy.
Explore St. Peter’s Basilica
With your St. Peter's Basilica Tickets, some of the best attractions that you can see inside the church is The Baldachin of Bernini. Gian Lorenzo Bernini was an Italian sculptor who helped to design the Basilica, including its famous baldachin, the large bronze canopy located directly under the dome of the church.
Amongst the many magnificent works of art, you can also find the Body of Pope John XXIII inside a decorated glass coffin in St. Peter’s Basilica. The body of the Pope was taken out of his tomb 38 years after he passed away and was then exhibited in the Basilica. It is surely one of the more unique attractions inside the church.
When availing the St. Peter's Basilica Tickets, you can also head over to see the tombs here. The basilica is home to over 100 tombs, including 91 tombs of former Popes. Other tombs here also belong to church dignitaries, monarchs as well as queens. You can also see the relics of St. Peter in the crypt here.
When visiting this attraction, get your hands on the St Peter's Basilica dome tickets, and get a chance to visit all the way to the top of the stunning dome, which is the tallest in the world. Lying right above the tomb of St. Peter, the dome is supported by four majestic columns, and offers some amazing city views.
Brief History of St. Peter’s Basilica
The original church was commissioned by Emperor Constantine around 349 AD, on the site of St. Peter’s tomb. However, owing to natural and manmade phenomena, the church eventually began to crumble. It was in 1506 when the construction of the new Basilica was started, which finally ended in the early 1600s. Notable architects and designers worked on the structure of the church, including the famous artist Michelangelo, with the design being based on a Greek-cross plan, consisting of four equal columns and a huge central dome.
It was in 1547 that Michelangelo took over this role and simplified the original designs, to come up with the dome, which would later be known as his greatest architectural achievement. Then, in 1605, the magnificent façade and the nave was designed for the basilica, along with the upper attic. In 1626, St. Peter’s Basilica was finally completed after 120 years of construction, thereby becoming the greatest structures of its time.
Amazing Facts About St. Peter's Basilica
- The dome of St. Peter’s Basilica is famous all across the globe for being the tallest dome in the world, and was built by Michelangelo.
- The Basilica has the shape of a cross, and spreads across an expanse of more than 15,000 square metres, and can accommodate up to 60,000 visitors at once.
- While many claim that the remains of St. Peter is located inside the Basilica, it is said that his remains actually lie inside a cave in Jerusalem.
- The Baldachin of Bernini is almost 10 storeys tall and around 100,000 pounds of bronze were used to build it.
- You need to climb 551 stairs to get to the top of the dome at St. Peter’s Basilica.
- The Egyptian obelisk located in the middle of St. Peter’s Square was originally brought to Rome by Emperor Caligula. And was then ordered by Pope Sixtus V to be moved to the Vatican City, which required the strength of 800 men.
Attending Mass at St. Peter's Basilica
You can also attend the mass when you book your St. Peter's Basilica tickets. While attending the mass is free, you will be required to wait in line and clear the security checkpoint before actually getting to the service. Mass is held at least five times from Monday to Friday, and more during the weekends. However, since St. Peter’s Basilica is an active parish for local Romans, most of the Masses here are held in Italian, with at least one Mass held in Latin every day.
Since there are many altars inside St. Peter’s Basilica, the Masses are conducted across them all, with the most common sites for the Mass being the Altar of St. Joseph, the Altar of the Chair of St. Peter and the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. The weekday Mass timings are 08:30 a.m., 09:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 05:00 p.m.
Know Before You Book St. Peter’s Basilica Tickets
Timing:
- Opening Hours: 07:00 a.m. to 07:00 p.m. (April to September) 07:00 a.m. to 06:00 p.m. (October to March)
Best Time to Visit: The best time to avail St. Peter's Basilica tickets and visit to the Basilica is between 07:00 a.m. and 09:00 a.m., when the church opens its doors for visitors and the line for security is still manageable. You can also visit the Basilica after 04:00 p.m. in the evening, when the crowds here are relatively less.
How to Get Here:
- By Metro: You can avail a ride in the Line A metro directions from the Battistini, Ottaviano or Cipro Stations and get off at the Ottaviano-S. Pietro Station, located just outside the Vatican. From there, the basilica is located a short walk away.
- By Bus: You can also avail a bus ride to get to the basilica from different parts of Rome. You can take Bus 49, 32, 81, 982, 492 or 990 and get off in the square in front of the Vatican Museums and then walk to the church.
St. Peter’s Basilica Tickets FAQs
Where can I buy St Peter's Basilica Tickets?
You can buy your St. Peter's Basilica tickets online as well as at the entry point of the Basilica. We recommend you to buy tickets online, which will help to save your time, energy as well as money when visiting the church.
Are St. Peter’s Basilica tickets available online?
Yes, St. Peter's Basilica tickets are available online. In fact, you can choose from a plethora of different ticket options online according to your liking and enjoy exploring the Basilica and the other attractions around it from our website. You can also avail the St Peter's Basilica dome tickets for exclusive access to the top of the dome, which is one of the major attractions of the Basilica.
Where is the St. Peter’s Basilica entrance?
The main entrance of St. Peter’s Basilica is at St. Peter’s Square. Another entry to the Basilica is located through a door in the Sistine Chapel.
What is St. Peter's Basilica?
St. Peter’s Basilica is one of the largest churches in the world, built in the Renaissance style of architecture. Located in the Vatican City, it houses the tallest dome in the world, along with a myriad of some of the most magnificent works of art ever created. It is also the most important building in Christendom.
How do I get to St. Peter’s Basilica?
St. Peter’s Basilica is easily accessible by different modes of public transport in Rome. However, the best way to reach the basilica is by taking a metro to the Ottaviano Station near the Vatican Walls. After reaching this station, you can easily take a walk to the Basilica.
What is included in a St. Peter’s Basilica tour?
A St. Peter’s Basilica tour typically includes a guided walk through the major areas and attractions of the Basilica, including the St. Peter’s Square, the magnificent altars, art works and more. You can also avail other tours, which offer exclusive access to the papal tombs, necropolis and the dome of the Basilica.
Is a guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica worth it?
Yes, a guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica is definitely worth it, especially if you wish to get easy access and an in-depth understanding of the history, art, architecture, facts as well as other interesting trivia about the Basilica, its art works and different sections.
How can I book a guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica?
The best way to book a guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica is to do it online.
Is there a dress code to enter St. Peter’s Basilica?
Yes, there is a strict dress code that one must maintain to enter St. Peter’s Basilica. Since it is a place of worship, you must avoid wearing sleeveless clothes, shorts or miniskirts or any other outfit that shows your midriff, knees and shoulders.