The Scavi tour at a glance
"Scavi" is Italian for excavations. The Scavi tour takes small groups into the Vatican Necropolis, an ancient Roman burial ground several metres below the floor of St. Peter's Basilica. It was excavated from the 1940s onwards and leads to the site that tradition identifies as the tomb of the Apostle Peter, directly beneath the papal altar.
The tour is run by the Fabbrica di San Pietro, the office that manages the basilica, with its own specialised guides. Because of the fragile site, the number of visitors is strictly limited.
What you see on the Scavi tour
The tour follows a narrow path along a street of Roman mausoleums from the 2nd and 3rd centuries. Many still have their original stucco, frescoes, mosaics and inscriptions, and they show how pagan and early Christian families buried their dead side by side on the slope of the Vatican Hill.
The route climbs towards the heart of the site: the area beneath the papal altar where, according to tradition, St. Peter was buried after his martyrdom in the nearby Circus of Nero. Here the guide explains the small monument built over the grave in the 2nd century, the wall covered in ancient graffiti and the bones that Pope Paul VI announced in 1968 as having been identified as Peter's.
The visit ends in the Vatican Grottoes, close to the Clementine Chapel, which lies as near as possible to the tomb. From there you can continue past the papal tombs.
Scavi tour tickets and booking
The official rules as published by the basilica in 2026.
Price
€20 full price and €14 reduced for young people aged 10 to 17, both including a specialised guide. Payment by credit card only.
How to book
Booking is mandatory. Send a request through the Necropolis booking form on the official site of the basilica. Request well in advance and offer several possible dates.
Hours
Monday to Friday from 9:00 am, last visits around 4:15 pm, and Saturday mornings. Closed on Sundays and Vatican holidays.
Groups
About 12 people per group, divided by language. The visit lasts about one hour. Children under 10 are not admitted.
St. Peter's Basilica tours
Tours of the basilica, the dome and the grottoes to combine with your Scavi visit, with live prices and availability.
Tips for getting a place
- Book months ahead. With only around 250 places a day, popular dates in spring, summer and around holidays fill up early.
- Be flexible. A request with several possible days and times, and a small group, has the best chance.
- Read the confirmation carefully. It tells you where to go for the separate entrance and security check, and when to arrive.
- Plan the rest of the day. The Scavi do not include the dome, but you can combine them with a dome climb or the Vatican Museums on the same day.
Before you go underground
The conditions in the necropolis are different from the basilica above.
Warm and humid
Temperature and humidity are noticeably higher. The basilica advises against the visit for people with claustrophobia or health problems that heat and humidity could worsen.
Not step-free
The route has narrow passages and steps, so it is not suitable for wheelchairs.
Dress code
The basilica dress code applies: shoulders covered, long trousers for men, no hats.
Vatican dress code →No photos
Photography is not permitted in the necropolis. Bring only a small bag.
Scavi tour: frequently asked questions
How much is the Scavi tour?
€20 for adults and €14 for young people aged 10 to 17, including a guide. Payment is by credit card.
How do I book the Scavi tour?
Through the booking request form for the Vatican Necropolis on the official website of St. Peter's Basilica. There is no walk-in option.
Is St. Peter's tomb really under the basilica?
Tradition and the excavations place the tomb directly beneath the papal altar, and in 1968 Pope Paul VI announced that bones found there had been identified as Peter's. The tour shows you the site and the evidence.
Can children do the Scavi tour?
Children aged 10 and over can join. Younger children are not admitted.
Is the Scavi tour the same as the papal tombs?
No. The papal tombs in the Vatican Grottoes are free to visit from the basilica. The Scavi lie deeper and require a booked tour.