There are two official ways to visit St Peter’s Basilica: queue at the security check in St Peter’s Square, or book a time slot online with an audio guide (€7) or the dome climb with the basilica included (€17 by the stairs, €22 with the lift). In every case, dress suitable for a place of worship is required. On the official website of the Fabbrica di San Pietro we recorded the opening hours of the basilica and the dome, the dress rules and the booking conditions, and calculated the distance to the Vatican Museums entrance.
The basilica is in Vatican City, west of the historic centre. For the rest of your stay, see our Rome travel guide.
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St Peter’s Basilica: key facts
- Basilica hours: 7 am–8 pm (hours shown “from June 1”); hours may change for services — checked on 16 October 2026 on basilicasanpietro.va
- Dome: summer (March 29–October 25, 2026) 7 am–6 pm; winter 7:30 am–5 pm — checked on 16 October 2026 on basilicasanpietro.va
- Online prices (per person): basilica with audio guide €7; dome by the stairs (551 steps) €17; dome with lift to the terrace then 320 steps €22 — recorded on 16 October 2026, subject to change — checked on 16 October 2026 on booking.basilicasanpietro.va
- Booking: named, non-refundable, non-changeable; without a booking, access is through the security check queue (right-hand colonnade of the square)
- Dress code: no overly short clothing, tank tops or hats
- Time needed: about 1 hour for the basilica, about 2 hours 30 minutes with the dome (durations stated by the official ticket office)
Tickets: official vs resellers
The basilica’s official website (basilicasanpietro.va) links to its ticket office (booking.basilicasanpietro.va). Offers recorded on 16 October 2026:
| Official offer | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| The Basilica | €7 | Chosen time slot, self-guided visit with a digital audio guide, about 1 hour |
| Dome by the stairs (basilica included) | €17 | 231 steps to the terrace, then 320 to the top (551 in total); about 2 hours 30 minutes |
| Dome with lift (basilica included) | €22 | Lift to the terrace, then 320 steps; about 2 hours 30 minutes |
With a dome ticket, entry to the basilica is automatically assigned one hour before or one hour after the dome time, depending on expected crowds: read the confirmation email carefully, which says which visit to do first. Access QR codes arrive in a second email; without it, write to the ticket office with your booking number. Bookings are named and cannot be transferred. Other official products exist: the Vatican Necropolis (St Peter’s tomb), the Treasury Museum, the digital exhibition “Petros Eni” and guided tours.
The official website publishes no price for entry without a booking; it only describes access for “other visitors”, who queue at the security checks. Beware of resellers selling a “skip-the-line ticket for the basilica”: the only guaranteed priority is the official ticket office’s time slot. The website also notes that there is no Vatican tax on public transport around the basilica.
Opening hours, services and the Jubilee
| Place | Hours shown on 16 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Basilica | 7 am–8 pm (“dal 1° giugno”) |
| Dome, summer (29/03–25/10/2026) | 7 am–6 pm |
| Dome, winter (from 26/10 to end of March) | 7:30 am–5 pm |
| Guided tours, Monday–Saturday | 9:30 am–5:30 pm (last check-in 5 pm) |
| Guided tours, Sundays and Vatican holidays | 1:30–3:30 pm (last check-in 3 pm) |
Services change access: the website publishes their times and occasional notices (for example a delayed opening of the basilica on June 26 and 27). A separate route exists for worshippers who come to pray or attend Mass; they can then come back through the ordinary entrance to visit. The 2025 Holy Year (Jubilee) has ended: there is no specific Jubilee route in 2026.
Best time to visit
The security queue is outdoors, in the square. The table gives sunrise and sunset at the basilica and the Rome normals; the last column shows whether the sun is up at the 7 am opening.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length | Mean max | Rain | Daylight at 7 am opening? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 07:35 | 17:03 | 9 h 28 | 12.0 °C (54 °F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | no, sunrise at 07:35 |
| February | 07:06 | 17:42 | 10 h 36 | 13.0 °C (55 °F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | no, sunrise at 07:06 |
| March | 06:22 | 18:16 | 11 h 54 | 15.8 °C (60 °F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | yes |
| April | 06:30 | 19:50 | 13 h 20 | 18.8 °C (66 °F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | yes |
| May | 05:50 | 20:23 | 14 h 33 | 22.3 °C (72 °F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | yes |
| June | 05:34 | 20:47 | 15 h 13 | 28.1 °C (83 °F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | yes |
| July | 05:47 | 20:44 | 14 h 56 | 31.0 °C (88 °F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | yes |
| August | 06:17 | 20:10 | 13 h 53 | 31.6 °C (89 °F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | yes |
| September | 06:49 | 19:20 | 12 h 30 | 26.7 °C (80 °F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | yes |
| October | 07:22 | 18:29 | 11 h 07 | 22.2 °C (72 °F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) | no, sunrise at 07:22 |
| November | 06:59 | 16:49 | 9 h 50 | 16.9 °C (62 °F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | yes |
| December | 07:30 | 16:39 | 9 h 09 | 12.7 °C (55 °F) | 98 mm (3.9 in) | no, sunrise at 07:30 |
Destination de Voyage calculation: from April to August it is already light at the 7 am opening, and an early-morning visit avoids the July–August heat (mean maximum above 31 °C, or 88 °F). In winter, the dome closes at 5 pm, around sunset time in December and January: for the view over Rome at sunset, book the last slot. The official website publishes no attendance figures. Detailed climate: the best time to visit Rome.
What to see and route
- Michelangelo’s Pietà, in the first chapel on the right as you enter.
- Bernini’s baldachin, above the papal altar and St Peter’s tomb.
- Michelangelo’s dome: the inner ring lets you see the mosaics up close, then the outer ring gives the view over the square and the rooftops of Rome.
- The Vatican Necropolis (separate booking) beneath the nave, with Roman and early Christian burials.
- The Treasury Museum (separate booking): liturgical objects and works of sacred art.
Suggested 2 hours 30 minutes route (the duration given by the official ticket office): security check, climb to the dome (terrace, rings), then down into the basilica for the Pietà and the baldachin, then St Peter’s Square. The ticket office advises against the dome for children under 6; minors must be accompanied by an adult.
Getting there
The security checks, run by the Italian police, are in the right-hand colonnade of St Peter’s Square as you face the basilica. The entrance to the Vatican Museums is about 470 m (0.3 mi) as the crow flies, or about 8 minutes on foot around the Vatican walls (Destination de Voyage calculation, as-the-crow-flies distance between Wikidata coordinates, walking time estimated with a detour factor of 1.3 and a walking speed of 4.5 km/h). From the Pantheon, allow about 2.0 km (1 mi) as the crow flies, or about 34 minutes on foot.
Accessibility
A priority entrance, with a ramp to the security checks and the basilica entrance, is provided for visitors with disabilities and pregnant women. The dome is not wheelchair-accessible (steps, even with the lift). Strollers can be left under the portico; there is no cloakroom for the moment: come with a small bag. Suitcases and bulky luggage are best avoided. A first-aid service is present in the basilica.
Common mistakes (official rules)
- Coming in short shorts or a tank top, or keeping your hat on: entry may be refused.
- Taking photos during services: the website asks visitors not to, and bulky equipment is prohibited without authorization.
- Eating, drinking or smoking in the basilica: prohibited. Animals are not admitted.
- Arriving at your dome time without reading the email: the basilica entry time may be an hour earlier.
- Buying a ticket in someone else’s name: the booking is named and non-transferable.
What to see nearby
The Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel are next door (separate ticket). Across the Tiber, the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain; farther on, the Colosseum. Our guide to visiting Rome gathers the other sights.
A short history of St Peter’s Basilica
The current basilica replaces the basilica built under Emperor Constantine, on the spot where pilgrims came to venerate St Peter. Pope Julius II laid the first stone on April 18, 1506.
More than a century of construction followed. Its main architects were Bramante (first plan), Michelangelo (dome), Carlo Maderno (extended nave) and Bernini. Pope Urban VIII consecrated the basilica on November 18, 1626.
Frequently asked questions
Is St Peter’s Basilica free?
The official website publishes no price for entry without a booking: visitors without a ticket queue at the security check. Online booking with an audio guide costs €7 (recorded on 16 October 2026 on the official ticket office).
How much does it cost to climb St Peter’s dome?
€17 by the stairs (551 steps) and €22 with the lift to the terrace then 320 steps, basilica included (prices recorded on 16 October 2026).
What should you wear to enter St Peter’s Basilica?
Dress suitable for a place of worship: no overly short clothing, no tank tops, no hat inside, according to the official rules.
What are the opening hours of St Peter’s dome?
7 am–6 pm in summer (March 29–October 25, 2026) and 7:30 am–5 pm in winter, according to the official website.
Can you visit the basilica and the Vatican Museums on the same day?
Yes: the two entrances are less than a kilometre apart, but the tickets are separate and you need at least half a day for the museums.
Who built St Peter’s Basilica?
Several architects succeeded one another between 1506 and 1626, mainly Bramante, Michelangelo (dome), Carlo Maderno (nave) and Bernini. The project was launched by Pope Julius II, and the basilica was consecrated by Urban VIII in 1626.
Our sources
- Fabbrica di San Pietro, official website basilicasanpietro.va: Info e Orari, Regole per il bene di tutti, Entra in Basilica, Nuova area accoglienza, La Cupola pages, consulted on 16 October 2026
- Official ticket office booking.basilicasanpietro.va: Basilica, Cupola con scale, Cupola con ascensore offers (prices, durations, accessibility, conditions), consulted on 16 October 2026
- NOAA / WMO: 1991–2020 normals for Rome-Ciampino, taken from our page on the best time to visit Rome
- Astronomical calculations: NOAA solar algorithm, IANA Europe/Rome time zone, Wikidata coordinates (Q12512)
- Wikipedia (fr), article “Basilique Saint-Pierre” (first stone on 18/04/1506, architects, consecration on 18/11/1626), consulted on 16 October 2026
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026.