St. Peter’s Basilica from Top to Bottom with Dome Climb & Crypt

Get to grips with Christianity's most important church on this complete St. Peter's Basilica tour.

Explore St. Peter's Basilica from top to bottom with an expert guide and small group of 20 people or fewer. This is the most intimate and extensive St. Peter’s Basilica tour on the market, designed for lovers of great architecture and jaw-dropping churches. We’ll help you to understand the history of the building and point out the details that make the Basilica such a masterpiece. You'll go from the dome to the crypts, from the Pietà to the Baldachin—and everywhere in between.

Climb St. Peter's Basilica Dome for incredible views over all of Rome.

Your St. Peter's Basilica tour starts early in the morning with a stroll around St. Peter’s Square and an introduction to the Swiss Guard. Then it's up to the dome. You’ll arrive before the crowds gather and use your pre-reserved St. Peter’s Basilica dome tickets, which include an elevator ride to the first level. Here you’ll get an up-close look at the stunning mosaics and stucco embellishments inside the dome. These mosaics are beautiful even when seen from below at ground level, but up close, you’ll understand just how impressive they really are.

From there, it’s 281 steps up to the top of the dome. Before you head up at your own pace, your guide will give you some tips on what to look out for so you can better appreciate the view. From the top of the dome, you’ll see the most incredible panorama over St. Peter’s Square, along the straight avenue bulldozed by Mussolini and across the Tiber to the ancient heart of the city. There’s no competition—this is the #1 view in Rome.

Enjoy a 60-minute tour inside St. Peter's Basilica and venture down to the papal crypts.

Back on solid ground, your guide will take you on a full St. Peter’s Basilica tour. Explore the side chapels and the hidden crypts, see Michelangelo’s "Pietà" and hear why this is the only work he ever signed, understand the mastery in Bernini’s Baldachin, and learn how Michelangelo triumphed as the only person who could crown St. Peter’s Basilica with the perfect dome.

Your final stop is the Papal Crypt. This is where many of the Popes have been interred and is an important pilgrimage point for Catholics. Although your guide can’t lead the group here due to site rules, they’ll give you full details on the most important Popes to look out for.

For anyone who loves art, architecture, and amazing churches, this St. Peter's Basilica tour is a unique experience that will give you a different perspective on one of the most sacred sites in the world.

Please note that this description is an example and your experience may vary depending on the season, day of the week, and group size. Regardless of where your tour goes, you always have an excellent experience.