St Peter’s Basilica Tour with Dome Climb & Papal Tombs | Semi-Private

Important Notice: Jubilee Year 2025
As part of the 2025 Jubilee celebrations, St. Peter’s Basilica may experience unexpected partial or complete closures. In the rare event that the Basilica cannot be visited, rest assured that your tour experience will remain exceptional. Your guide will seamlessly adapt the itinerary to include alternative highlights, ensuring the full duration and quality of your tour.

Explore the world’s largest church with a small group of up to 6 people on LivTours’ St. Peter’s Basilica Tour. You’ll skip long entrance lines with reserved entry, tour the Papal Crypts, and ascend Michelangelo’s Dome with priority elevator access. Led by your local, top-rated guide, get wide-eyed at the basilica’s majestic interior, complete with renowned masterworks like Michelangelo’s Pietà and Bernini’s Baldachin. This is an intimate tour offering unforgettable insights into centuries of art, history, and spiritual significance.

• Get reserved entry to St Peter's Basilica on a semi-private tour of 6 people max
• Enjoy a comprehensive tour of St. Peter's including crypts, dome climb, & more
• Reach the top of Michelangelo's Dome to enjoy the breathtaking Rome views
• Discover the tombs of Popes from past centuries including John Paul II's
• Marvel at masterpieces by Michelangelo, Bernini & more with your expert local guide

LivTours’ St. Peter’s Basilica Tour with Michelangelo’s Dome and Papal Tombs is a semi-private experience designed to unlock the spiritual and artistic grandeur of one of the world’s most iconic churches.

Begin your tour with reserved access into the awe-inspiring interior of St. Peter’s Basilica, where your expert LivTours guide will lead you through its most breathtaking highlights. Admire Michelangelo’s Pietà, sculpted when he was only 24 years old from a single block of Carrara marble, and hear why it remains the only artwork he ever signed. Gaze up at Bernini’s monumental bronze Baldacchino, rising nearly 100 feet above the High Altar, marking the heart of Catholicism and the resting place of St. Peter himself.

You’ll also discover lesser-known treasures like the Statue of St. Peter in Bronze, worn smooth by centuries of pilgrims, and the elegant Chapel of the Baptistery by Carlo Fontana. Learn about Bernini’s Memorial of Alexander VII, a hauntingly beautiful work symbolizing the Pope’s humility in the face of death.

Next, it’s time to ascend Michelangelo’s Dome. Your guide will lead you to the base, where you’ll have priority access to ride an elevator part of the way up, followed by a short climb to the interior gallery. From this unique vantage point, enjoy a close connection with the exquisite mosaics and a dramatic aerial view of the Basilica’s interior and Bernini’s canopy below—all with context from your expert guide.

From here, you may choose to climb the 281 steps to reach the dome’s panoramic outdoor terrace. At the top, take in breathtaking views of St. Peter’s Square and the entire city of Rome – a once-in-a-lifetime panorama from the tallest point in the Vatican.

After descending, your tour concludes with a visit to the Papal Tombs beneath the Basilica. This sacred crypt is the final resting place of many Popes, including John Paul II, and is believed to house the tomb of St. Peter, located directly below the High Altar. It’s a moving and powerful finale to a tour that takes you through the heart, heights, and history of the Catholic Church.

With a maximum of six guests, this semi-private tour provides a relaxed pace, personalized attention, and unparalleled insight into the heart of the Vatican.

• Semi-private group (max 6 guests)
• Local English Speaking Tour Guide
• Reserved Entry to St. Peter's Basilica
• Priority Access to the Dome Elevator
• Michelangelo's Dome Climb
• St. Peter's Square
• Access to the Papal Crypts
• Bernini's Baldachin
• Michelangelo's Pietá
• Panoramic view over Rome

• Comfortable walking shoes recommended.
• Places of worship have strict dress code requirements for entry. All participants are required to have shoulders and knees covered (no tank tops or short dresses) to enter.
• Important Notice Jubilee Year 2025: As part of the 2025 Jubilee celebrations, from December 24th, 2024 to January 6th, 2026, St. Peter’s Basilica may experience unexpected partial or complete closures. In the rare event that the Basilica cannot be visited, rest assured that your tour experience will remain exceptional. Your guide will seamlessly adapt the itinerary to include alternative highlights, ensuring the full duration and quality of your tour. Please note that, in accordance with our Terms & Conditions agreed upon at the time of booking, partial or full refunds cannot be issued due to Basilica closures.
• IMPORTANT: Please advise our team if you believe that a disability qualifies you for complimentary access to the Vatican.

All LivTours Semi-Private Group Tours are limited to 6 guests per tour guide. Our commitment to maintaining our uniquely tiny group sizes can sometimes be a little tricky, mathematically speaking. For example, we want to ensure that traveling families and friends can tour together so on rare occasions we may add one or two guests in order to not split groups. On that same note, you may also find yourself on tour with less than six people! We thank you for your understanding and flexibility.

 

 

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By selecting Choose Dates Later / Buy as Gift at booking, any tour can be purchased without fixed dates. This is the perfect option if you want to purchase your tour as a gift for a loved one, or if you are in the pre-planning phase of your vacation. After booking, you will receive a Travel Voucher Code and full instructions on how to schedule your tours when ready. Once your travel plans are confirmed, you can easily use the Travel Voucher Code on the LivTours website to formally schedule your tours. You can find out more here.