Do you need a ticket for St. Peter's Basilica?
No. St. Peter's Basilica is free to enter, every day from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm. You join the security line under the colonnade, pass the metal detectors and walk in.
What a ticket buys you is certainty. The official website of the basilica sells timed entry slots with a digital audio guide, and visitors with a booking use a separate entrance. That makes a real difference in high season, when the free line can take an hour or more around midday.
Official St. Peter's Basilica tickets compared
Prices on basilicasanpietro.va as of October 2026, per person. Official bookings are personal and non-refundable.
| Option | What you get | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free entry | Basilica via the general security line, no time slot | 1–2 h | Free |
| The Basilica | Timed entry via the online-booking entrance, digital audio guide on your phone | about 1 h | €7 |
| Guided tour | Accredited guide in English or Italian, radio headsets, groups of up to 30 | about 1 h | €23 |
| Pétros ení + Basilica | Immersive multimedia exhibition in the Octagonal Halls, Vatican Grottoes, basilica with audio guide | about 2 h | €22 |
| Dome with stairs | 551 steps to the top, basilica with audio guide | about 2.5 h | €17 |
| Dome with lift | Lift to the terrace, then 320 steps, basilica with audio guide | about 2.5 h | €22 |
| Pétros ení + Basilica + Dome | Exhibition, basilica and dome with lift in one booking | half a day | €37 |
How booked entry works
After booking on the official site you receive three emails: a voucher, then the QR codes for every person in your group, and within 24 hours of your visit a link to activate the digital audio guide. The audio guide runs in your phone's browser, so bring your own earphones.
On the day, follow the signs for the "Online booking entrance". The route starts on Via di Porta Angelica, on the right-hand side of the colonnade, and leads along the square to a gazebo where your QR code is checked, then on to security. Arrive within your time slot and leave time for the security check. For some products, entry after the booked time is not allowed.
A few details worth knowing: bookings are in your name and cannot be changed or refunded, unless the basilica cancels because of an extraordinary celebration. With a 6:00 pm slot, the Vatican Grottoes are already closed. Visitors with disabilities and pregnant women have a privileged entrance with a ramp.
Our picks: St. Peter's Basilica tickets
Booked entry and dome tickets from resellers. Compare them with the official €7 timed entry and the €17–22 dome tickets above.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Dome ticket with papal tombs audio tour
A dome ticket with an audio tour of the papal tombs, for a full visit without a guide.
Check availability →Basilica timed entry with audio guide
Timed reserved entry with an audio guide and an optional dome climb. Costs more than the official €7 booking.
Check availability →
Basilica priority entrance with audio guide
Priority entrance with an audio guide, the cheapest reseller option here. Mainly worth it when official slots are gone.
Check availability →St. Peter's Basilica tickets and tours
Priority entry with audio guide, guided basilica tours, dome climbs and combo tickets with free cancellation, with live prices and availability.
Which ticket is right for you?
A quick guide by type of visit.
Short visit, low budget
Go free at 7 am, or book the official €7 timed entry for any other time of day. The audio guide is a good bonus.
You want the view
Book the dome. Both dome tickets include the basilica, so you do not need a separate entry ticket.
Dome climbing guide →You want the stories
Take a guided tour. The official one lasts an hour. Longer tours from other providers add the grottoes, the dome or the Vatican Museums.
Compare Vatican tours →Plans may change
Official tickets are non-refundable. Tickets and tours on booking platforms often allow free cancellation up to 24 hours before, which is worth a slightly higher price.
Other paid areas in and under the basilica
- Treasury Museum: liturgical treasures, reliquaries and sacred art, with its own ticket on the official site.
- Vatican Necropolis (Scavi): the excavations under the nave with ancient Roman tombs and the site of St. Peter's tomb. Small groups, booked well in advance. See our Scavi tour guide.
- Vatican Grottoes: the papal tombs below the main floor, usually included in a visit to the basilica. More in our guide to the papal tombs.
Beware of websites with official-looking names that resell free entry at a high price. The official site of the basilica is basilicasanpietro.va. Everything about the visit itself is in our guide how to visit St. Peter's Basilica.
St. Peter's Basilica tickets: frequently asked questions
Do you need tickets for St. Peter's Basilica?
No. Entry is free. You only need a ticket for a fixed time slot, a guided tour, the dome or the Treasury Museum.
How much are St. Peter's Basilica tickets?
The official timed entry with digital audio guide costs €7. The official guided tour costs €23, dome tickets €17 by stairs and €22 with the lift, both including the basilica.
Does a ticket let you skip the line?
Visitors with an online booking use a separate entrance from Via di Porta Angelica with its own QR check, which is usually much faster than the free line. You still go through security.
Are St. Peter's Basilica tickets refundable?
Official tickets are not refundable and cannot be changed. Many tickets and tours sold on booking platforms can be cancelled for free up to 24 hours before.
Is St. Peter's Basilica included in the Vatican Museums ticket?
No. The basilica is separate and free. Some guided museum tours end with direct access from the Sistine Chapel into the basilica.