All you need to know for visiting St Peter’s Basilica inside: entrance rules, dress code, what to expect, best tours, St Peter Basilica’s interior highlights. [Updates in April 2026 with current info and tips]
St Peter’s Basilica is unique in the world and a special place to visit while in Rome, no matter your religious background.
As well as being an important religious center, the basilica is a work of art.
Both the outside and the inside have been carved by the expert eyes and hands of some of the most accomplished architects and artists in the history of Rome, and the treasures contained in its tall naves add to the marvel this basilica elicits in its visitors.
A working church, the basilica is a tourist attraction, a monument, a masterpiece and a unique religious site.
As you can imagine, this means the basilica is the destination of visitors from all walks of life and handles every day the often conflicting needs of the Church authorities, the faithful and the occasional tourist.
This means that planning a visit can be as simple as showing up at the door, or as complex as navigating closures determined from special events and celebrations.
I am from Rome and have visited the Basilica countless times. I have been here on a standard day, I have been in the city for the passing of two Popes and the nominations of two news ones and I have been through two Jubilees.
So I believe I am well equipped to help you plan your visit!
This is all you need to know to plan a visit in 2026.
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St Peter Basilica in 2026 – a note
So far, 2026 has proven to be an exceptionally busy year at the Vatican.
Last year’s Jubilee brought extraordinary numbers of pilgrims to Rome, but also kept many non-religious visitors away, and those visitors are now arriving in 2026. Crowds are very high, higher than seen in most other years. Do expect long lines
Need to know: sudden closured of the basilica are possible and follow the Pope’s personal schedule and calendar which is ever changing. I recommend you build in some flexibility in your plans should your preferred date suddenly become unavailable. Religious needs always come ahead of tourism needs here.
St Peter basilica: where it is, how to get there
St Peter Basilica is in Saint Peter’s Square, Vatican City, a state within the State in Rome city center.
It is part of the vast Vatican complex and lies close to the banks of the river Tiber, close to Castel Sant’Angelo and the residential area of Prati.
The basilica opens onto Piazza San Pietro and can be easily reached on foot or by bus/tram/metro.
The closest bus lines are: 40 , 64, 62, 19 (tram), 49, 32, 982, 492, 990, 81
The tram 19 stops at Piazza Risorgimento, less than 5 mins walk from the basilica
Metro A stops at Ottaviano – San Pietro, a few minutes walk away from Piazza San Pietro itself.
You can find all my tips for using public transport in Rome here.
If getting to the basilica on foot, you can walk from the Tiber to the basilica following monumental Via della Conciliazione or you can get there from Piazza Risorgimento/Borgo (on its right side) or Piazza Sant’Uffizio (left side).
Via della Conciliazione is a large road built during Fascist times and works as a sort of grand entrance to the main square.
The basilica is right at the end of it so you find yourself walking straight towards it. Despite the Vatican being an independent state) there is no border control.
An interesting fact: the fascist reconfiguration of many areas of Rome meant the destruction of residential areas and the displacement of many. Some of the displaces were moved to the Garbatella Area, which is far from the Vatican but worth a visit!
The area of Borgo is very different as it is made of residential streets with now homes, restaurants and hotels.
Walking here gives an idea of how the area would have been before Via della Conciliazione was built.
Both places have merit and while I prefer the small streets of Borgo, the view of the basilica from the Tiber is pretty impressive!
St peter’s Basilica hours: opening times for visitors
St Peter’s Basilica standard opening hours are 7am to 7.10pm
Mass times at St Peter’s Basilica
If you head to St Peter’s Basilica to attend Mass, you can find the daily schedule here
Saint Peter Basilica interior: tickets and tours
Saint Peter Basilica is a working church and you do not need tickets nor advance booking for visiting its main floor: all you need to do is line up outside, pass security and you are in.
However, timed tickets are available and may help reduce time in the queue. ‘May’ is the operation word here and, unfortunately, they do not always help much.
They are not expensive though so they can be worth it anyway. The official website for the is >> https://www.basilicasanpietro.va/en which is also where you can get audioguides and tickets to climb the dome.
Other areas of the basilica however are ticketed, namely the dome, the Vatican treasure, St Peter’s tomb and the necropolis.
You can choose between several ticket options, guided and self-guided.
These are some by my favorite ticket and tour provider , GetYourGuide (they have great tours and excellent cancellation options on most of them). I have them in a chart for clarity:
| Tickets | Description |
| Official entry ticket with audioguide | Gives access to the main basilica floor. The audioguide is on your smartphone and requires headphones |
| Official entry ticket to the basilica with dome access | Includes 90 mins basilica visit with audioguide and dome climb (By lift or stairs) |
| Basilica entry ticket with audioguide and dome climb by GetYourGuide | As above, by buy GYG (can be handy due to the easy app interface and staff support at the meeting point |
| Official entry ticket to Treasury Museum | Includes 90 mins basilica visit with audioguide |
| Necropolis and St Peter’s Tomb | This is a restricted access area with specific access rules and by request only |
| Guided Tours (my top picks) | Description |
| Vatican City highlights (including basilica) | Excellent private tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and Basilica to see the very best of the Vatican with an expert guide. Offered by LivTours, my favorite tour provider in Rome |
| St Peter’s Basilica with Dome Climb and Papal Tombs | Excellent, small group tour (only 6 people!) by my very favorite tour provider of all |
| Skip the line Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel and Basilica Tour | Offered by The Tour Guy, one of the best tour operators in Rome, this is a comprehensive tour that allows a great overview of the tops sites in Vatican City |
Entering and Visiting St Peter’s Basilica: practical tips
The most important thing you need to know about St Perter’s Basilica is that it enforces a dress code. Shoulders and knees must be covered as this is perceived as respectful to the religious nature of the place (see below for more info on this very pint).
Access is through an airport style security system: this cannot be skipped and creates a bit of a bottleneck of people, so be prepared to be in a queue for this.
Security checks are just outside the basilica, under the colonnade.
Once you are inside the basilica, you can visit in your own time.
The basilica is vast and you will find yourself standing and walking a good bit, especially if climbing the dome.
I recommend you wear comfortable shoes that can support you for a few hours.
What to wear when visiting St Peter’s basilica inside
St Peter Basilica is known for a strict dress code and indeed, there are some rules about the most suitable attire. You can find our full guide to the Vatican dress code here, but here are some quick tips.
Sings at the door specify some of the no-nos for men and women:
- NO short skirts above the knee
- NO shorts above the knee
- NO sleeveless tops
This is a good starting point but really, other items can also put you in trouble as really, you need to look at the spirit of the rule, rather than the letter, and this means you want to be dressed modestly.
This may include avoiding very revealing tops, tops with a very low cut, or that leave you belly or back exposed. Equally, any writing on clothing or tattoos that may be considered offensive to the Catholic Church may result in admittance to be denied.
Is this enforced?
I get asked this all the time and the best answer I can give you is: their home, their rules.
They request this attire and while to an extent there may be lenience on the day / the person at the door may not care / be distracted or so forth, the respectful and safest thing to do is to abide by it at all times.
The basilica doesn’t consistently offer cover ups so if you are planning on covering with a shawl or similar, I recommend you bring your own.
Good to know: since the dress code is about modesty, it tends not to be applies to babies and young kids as they cannot be immodest. However, once kids are more grown up or look like teens or grown up, best to follow the standard rule.
Skirts / short below the knee, linen pants, pants that zip on / off at the knee are all handy ideas for the hottest months.
You can find my tips on how to dress in Rome and my recommended shoes for Rome sightseeing here.
What to see in St Peter’s basilica
There is so much to see in St peter’s basilica I approach this paragraph with caution: I cannot possibly cover all the treasures you will find in San Pietro here, I would need a full art catalogue to do so!
However, I can pinpoint some of the highlights for me and some of the things I believe you should not miss and make St Peter’s basilica’s interior the marvel it is
Michelangelo’s Pieta (statue)
The Pieta by Michelangelo is right close to the entrance to the basilica, you will find it on your right as you come it.
It is protected by a see-though glass wall and it is breathtakingly beautiful, without a doubt one of the most beautiful statues in Rome and Italy in genera.
Many visitors first notice how much smaller it is than many photos suggest: the Pieta’ is life-size, an incredible idea that makes the whole scene even more touching!
The statue was made in 1498-99, it is made of white Carrara marble and it is one of the first works by Michelangelo.
It was commissioned by the French Cardinal Jean Bilhères de Lagraulas and was originally placed in the Chapel of Santa Petronilla, near the transept of the old basilica, then move to the church of Santa Maria della Febbre, still in the Vatican.
Finally, it found a home in the current chapel in the mid-VIII century.
St Peter’s statue
Along the main nave, to the right, sits an ancient and wonderful statue of St Peter.
Made of bronze, the statue represents St Peter sitting on a marble throne and with the right hand lifted in a Greek blessing gesture (only two fingers are up) and keys in the left.
The statue said to be the work of Arnolfo di Cambio and to be dating back to the XIII century although the exact dating and origin of the sculpture has been the object of many studies and exact dating and attribution is unsure.
The statue is now cordoned off but if you see it from up close, you will see that one its foot has been consumed: this is because the faithful used to kiss it in a sign of devotion!
Fun fact: every 29th of June, the day celebrating St Peter and St Paul, patron Saints of Rome, the statue gets dressed in a Papal shawl and tiara.
The baldachin
The baldachin that frames the main altar is likely to be one of the first things you notice in the church, if not the very first one, despite being all the way at the end of the central nave, as far as it gets from the basilica’s entrance.
Colossal and imposing, it has four columns that shoot towards the ceiling of the church in a spiral fashion and it just stops on your tracks with its height and magnificence, even if you are not a fan of Baroque architecture!
The baldachin was made by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in 1624/1633 and it is the most important bronze monument of the baroque.
Many even consider is a manifesto of the whole baroque movement.
It is 28 meters tall and sits just above St Peter’s tomb.
From the distance, it is easy to underestimate how big the baldachin truly is.
Its dimension makes it fit perfectly inside the massive perimeter of the basilica but as you find yourself under it, you can appreciate how immense this work it and the level of details on each of the columns!
It is said the the baldachin received mixed reaction however, in centuries to come it also had big admirers such as d’Annunzio who, in the Elegie Romane, wrote “Sorgono scintillando per l’ombra le quattro colonne che nel pagano bronzo torge il Bernini a spire“.
The Apse and St Peter’s cathedra
Behind the baldachin, in the basilica’s apse, you will find the cathedra of St Peter’s, or St Peter’s throne.
The throne is said to have been used by Peter himself however, the one we can currently see in the church dates back to the IX century and was given to the Pope as a gift by the King of France Carlo il Calvo (Charles II).
The throne is now surrounded by an eye-catching, very elaborate golden bronze sculpture by Bernini, who built it in 1656-1665 that make the throne look as if it was levitating mid-air.
At its bottom, we find statues of the 4 church fathers (Sant’Agostino, Sant’Ambrogio, Sant’Anastasio and San Giovanni Crisostomo) and, at the top, we can admire golden clouds, rays, and angels as well as a colored glass window with the dove representing the holy spirit.
Chapels and statues, the Holy Sacrament chapel
St Peter’s Basilica has many chapels and statues, some accessible and some currently cordoned off.
Among the many worth seeing, we can highlight the tomb of Pio VII by Thorvaldsen, the tomb of Innocenzo III by Pollaiolo, the monument to Clemente XIII by Canova.
One chapel worth a special mention is the Chapel of the Holy Sacrament, now closed by a gate designed by Bernini.
The chapel was originally designed to be a sacristy but took its function in 1638 and has kept it ever since.
The chapel is elaborate and elegant and contains a marble altar and Bernini’s ciborium, with incredible blue lapislazuli.
The central corridor
As you enter the church you will notice that part of it is cordoned off, forming a central corridor closed to visitors.
If you get close, you will notice why the corridor is interesting: it marks the relative size of other churches around the world, to highlight how much bigger St Peter is!
This is one of the most fun things to show kids when visiting the basilica!
Saint Peter’s Treasure
To the left-hand side of the Basilica, you will find the entrance to the treasure (ticketed).
The treasure can be worth seeing however, even if you are not interested in it, I recommend you venture up to its entrance.
Here, as well as interesting architectural spaces and volumes, you will find a carving of all the Popes buried in the church from St Peter on.
It makes quite an impression as the Popes are many but not that many if you think how far back the history of the church brings us!
What else to see in and near Saint Peter’s basilica
St Peter basilica is inside Vatican city, close to several other attractions.
While you should avoid packing in too much into your day here, it is possible to add other attractions to your visit.
Some to consider are:
St Peter’s dome: part of the basilica but only accessible with specific tickets, the dome is wonderful to visit if you are not afraid of heights, do not have issues with small places (it’s a claustrophobic person nightmare!) and if you are reasonably fit.
You will be climbing lots of steps!
If you are up for the challenge, the dome will reward you with incredible views!
Vatican Gardens: just to the back of the basilica, they are accessible by tour only (guided / with audio guide).
The visit takes 45 mins/2 hours depending on the tour chosen. You can find all the info and our review of our Vatican Gardens visit here.
St Peter’s Square: the square is just outside the basilica and is a work of art in itself.
Designed by Bernini, it is important for the stunning colonnade, the beautiful fountains it hosts, its obelisk and the touching monument to the refugees, now on its left-hand side.
The square is also an incredible vantage point to admire the façade of the basilica itself.
Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. The Vatican museums and Sistine chapel are right beside the basilica and are, in normal times, connected to it (Sistine chapel to the church, not the opposite).
They are one of the great museums of the world and are more than worth a visit however, be warned: they are huge!
If planning on seeing them, I recommend you go there first and leave the basilica for the end of your trip.
While technically possible, seeing the museums, the Basilica and the gardens on the same day is possible, adding the Vatican gardens on the same day may prove too tiring.
Evaluate energy well before committing. In case, opt for the gardens bus tour, you will be happy to be sitting down!
I hope you enjoyed this article and found my tips for visiting St Peter’s basilica useful.
Safe travel planning!
A visit to San Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican is one of our top ten things to do in Rome.