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Tour Of St Peter’s Basilica With Dome Climb And Grottoes In A Small Group
Rome
Description
Embark on an extraordinary journey commencing at St. Peter's Square, where the architectural brilliance of Bernini unfolds.
Then enter the awe-inspiring St. Peter's Basilica, a realm adorned with golden ceilings, vibrant marbles, and masterpieces like Michelangelo's Pietà. Delve into the Papal grottoes underground, touching ancient walls and visiting St. Peter's tomb for a profound historical encounter.
The grand crescendo awaits as you ascend to the dome's summit, offering both close encounters with intricate mosaics and panoramic views of Rome's iconic landmarks. From this lofty perch at 136 meters, immerse yourself in breathtaking vistas, spotting the Colosseum, Pantheon, and beyond.
Immerse yourself in a blend of art, history, and mesmerizing panoramas, ensuring a "wow-ing" experience in the heart of Vatican City. Enjoy a unique adventure, where architectural marvels intertwine with iconic heritage landmarks, promising an unforgettable exploration.
What's Included
- Professional art-historian guide
- Thorough guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica
- Sterilized headsets to hear clearly your guide
- Guided tour of St. Peter Dome
- Entry fees to the top of the Dome
- Full on-site assistance
Additional Info
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- The dome's terrace might not be accessible during bad weather conditions. In that case, you can either ask for a partial refund and visit the Basilica and the grottoes or decide to cancel the tour for a full refund
- An appropriate dress-code is required in order to enter the churches: knees and shoulders should be covered
- Please take into consideration that the lines to clear security checks at the entrance of the square might take 15-120 minutes
- We recommend to wear comfortable walking shoes
- Please note that you will be required to pass through metal detectors at the entrance of the square
- The meeting point is outside the Basilica before entering St. Peter's square and the security checks
- The Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel are not part of this tour
- The Vatican Necropoli is not part of this tour
- We might not be able to accommodate, refund or reschedule late arrivals
- Strollers are not allowed in the Basilica. There is a luggage deposit at the entrance of the basilica where you can leave the stroller
- Please note that this is not a skip-the-line tour
- Not recommended for travellers with claustrophobia
- Not recommended for travellers with vertigo
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews for Tour Of St Peter’s Basilica With Dome Climb And Grottoes In A Small Group
Allow a lot of time
Peter_D
Our guide was lovely and very knowledgeable.
The tour is only of the Basilica and, depending on the line to get in, can take hours - don't have anything booked that you have to get to.
We arrived at the meeting place 15 mins early. Waited for the guide and others to arrive. Got the headsets then headed to join the line. It took over an hour and a half in the line to get in.
Our guide gave us interesting facts about the Vatican while we waited.
After the Basilica you line up again for tickets to the dome climb.
The guide leaves and the tour ends at the dome climb elevator.
The elevator takes you to the roof of the Basilica. You can either catch the elevator back down or climb 350 steps to the very top, above the Dome.
The stairs & elevator back down come out the other side of the Basilica and you have to walk back to the other side, near the Dome elevator, to line up for the grotto entrance.
While the tour guide was...
Nancy_D
While the tour guide was knowledgeable, it was cut short. We were advised upon entrance that the grottos were closed. Therefore, the tour was not complete as per its description. The tour company, in good conscience, should reimburse the guests who booked this tour.
Different from our expectation
V2060KGjamesh
The tour was scheduled for either 2 or 2.5 hours. We were surprised that 1 hour consisted of standing in line outside of St Peter’s waiting to get in and listening to a history of it. The tour guide was good. The earphones we were provided were mediocre at best. We probably wouldn’t have taken the tour had we known how it was conducted.
Great
ANA_R
Great trip! We really enjoy it ! Our guide was very enthusiastic, this was our first trip in the Vatican and we want to see more …
Missed the Tour
speesh
Our most memorable part was that it did not happen. We arrived at the Basillica 15 minutes before the tour time. The description of the meeting place was to go to the first column and look for a yellow sign. There are probably 30 or more columns in front of the Basilica. We could not find our group. Tried to ask other guides for help but no luck. I messaged the tour guide twice but got no response. So we missed the tour and the line to get new tickets was probably a couple hours long. In the rain. Granted, we were supposed to be at the meeting place 20 minutes before the tour began and we got there 15 minutes before. I requested a refund and was told we would get $22 refunded of the $110 we actually paid. We were only in Rome for a day and a half and were so very disappointed about missing the Basilica. My advice is to make sure you know exactly where to meet before going to the Basilica. I showed our taxi driver the directions we received from Viator so I feel that we were in the correct place. Good luck! There are thousands of people there waiting to go inside.
Page last updated on October 8, 2024
