Vatican St. Peter’s Basilica and Grottoes Tour 2 hr 30 min - Image 1
Vatican St. Peter’s Basilica and Grottoes Tour 2 hr 30 min - Image 2
Vatican St. Peter’s Basilica and Grottoes Tour 2 hr 30 min - Image 3
Vatican St. Peter’s Basilica and Grottoes Tour 2 hr 30 min - Image 4
Vatican St. Peter’s Basilica and Grottoes Tour 2 hr 30 min - Image 5
Vatican St. Peter’s Basilica and Grottoes Tour 2 hr 30 min - Image 6

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Vatican St. Peter’s Basilica and Grottoes Tour 2 hr 30 min

TourTruth score 8.1 out of 10

Very goodTop 12% in Rome

31 reviews · Rated on 1 provider · How we score

  • Rome, Italy
  • 2 hrs 30 min
  • Updated November 2, 2026

Explore St. Peter’s Square, the Vatican Grottoes, and St. Peter’s Basilica on a guided tour with skip-the-line tickets included.

About this tour

Explore Vatican City’s most celebrated church and its underground burial chambers on a guided St. Peter’s Basilica and Grottoes tour. Your guide handles the timing and included skip-the-line tickets, leaving you free to take in the scale and history of this remarkable setting.

Begin in St. Peter’s Square, where your guide introduces the site’s long history. Continue into the Vatican Grottoes to see the tombs of 92 popes and St. Peter’s Tomb, then head upstairs for a detailed tour of the modern basilica. The experience lasts 150 minutes and includes travel insurance for the duration of the tour.

A visit to the Dome is optional and must be requested in advance. The climb involves 551 steps, including a very narrow final staircase, so consider your comfort and mobility before choosing it. Meet by the entrance to Ristorante Mancini dal 1967, where a taxi can drop you nearby. Discover the stories beneath and within St. Peter’s Basilica with an English-speaking guide.

Highlights

  • Uncover the history of St. Peter’s Square with a guide
  • Visit the Vatican Grottoes and St. Peter’s Tomb
  • Explore the grand interior of St. Peter’s Basilica
  • Skip the ticket line with included entry

What's included

Included

  • Licensed tour guide
  • Travel insurance for the duration of the tour
  • Skip-the-line tickets

Not included

  • Optional St. Peter’s Dome visit; request in advance and cover the guide’s ticket
  • Access to some chapels may be limited during ceremonies

Ratings on each provider

The ratings and review counts each booking site shows for this tour.

Important information

  • The tour is wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a stroller
  • Public transportation is available nearby
  • The optional Dome climb involves 551 steps; the final staircase is very narrow and has no place to rest
  • The Dome climb is not recommended for pregnant or elderly visitors, people with claustrophobia, or anyone with difficulty climbing steps
  • Meet by the entrance to Ristorante Mancini dal 1967; the taxi can drop you beside it

Frequently asked questions

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts 150 minutes.

Is the tour guided in english?

Yes, the tour includes a live English-speaking guide.

Are tickets included?

Skip-the-line tickets are included.

Can I visit the Dome?

The Dome visit is optional. Request it in advance; the guide’s ticket must also be covered.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the tour is wheelchair accessible.

How this score is calculated

This score is based on one provider. Viator rates it 4.97 from 31 reviews. We place that rating among all Viator ratings and weight it by its review count. If the tour is found on another provider later, both ratings are combined.

How the score works and rating distribution in Rome
  • Each provider rating is turned into a percentile: the share of that provider's ratings it beats, weighted by review counts.
  • Listings on different providers are combined in proportion to their review counts.
  • Tours with few reviews are pulled toward the average until more reviews come in, so a handful of perfect reviews can't top the list.
  • The result is shown from 0 to 10: this tour scores 8.1. Top 12% in Rome means it ranks in the top 12% of tours in Rome by this score.

Provider rating distribution in Rome

How many tours in Rome have a provider rating at or below each value. The dashed line is this tour.

  • Viator

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