Entry to St. Peter’s Basilica is free, but a St. Peter’s Basilica tour buys you a guide to a church that is easy to walk through without understanding, plus, on some tours, the climb to the dome. On Viator, a tour with the grottoes and the dome climb is rated 4.6 across 2,580 reviews, from about $63, and a tour of the basilica and papal tombs is rated 4.8 across 275 reviews, from about $19.
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The verdict
The basilica and papal tombs tour is our pick for value: rated 4.8, from about $19, with an official licensed guide, skip-the-line entry and headsets. The dome is available as an option at booking, so you can add the climb only if you want it.
The dome and grottoes tour is the most reviewed and is built around an art-historian guide, the grottoes and entry to the top of the dome by stairs. Book it if the view from the top is a priority.
Neither includes the Vatican Museums or the Sistine Chapel: for those, see our Vatican Museums tickets guide.
St. Peter’s turns away visitors with bare shoulders or knees, on any tour. The dome climb means hundreds of steps in narrow, sloping passages: reviewers advise skipping it if you are claustrophobic or afraid of heights. A few low reviews on the dome tour mention cancellations the day before: check your confirmation.
Which one is for you?
Take the dome and grottoes tour if
- The climb to the top is a priority.
- You want an art-historian guide.
- You want the most reviewed option: 2,580 reviews.
- You are fine with many stairs.
Take the basilica and papal tombs tour if
- You want the higher rating, 4.8.
- You want the lowest price, from about $19.
- You want to decide on the dome at booking.
- An hour and a half fits your day.
What each price covers
The dome and grottoes tour, from about $63
Included: a professional art-historian guide, a guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica and the dome, and entry to the top of the dome by stairs.
Not included: the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel.
The basilica and papal tombs tour, from about $19
Included: skip-the-line entry to St. Peter’s Basilica, an official licensed basilica guide, access to the papal tombs, the dome if you select that option, and headsets.
Not included: pickup and drop-off, and the Scavi necropolis.
Where each one starts
- Dome and grottoes tour: Largo del Colonnato 5, by the colonnade of St. Peter’s Square.
- Basilica and papal tombs tour: Via Germanico 16, in the Prati district.
Side by side
| Dome and grottoes tour | Basilica and papal tombs tour | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6 from 2,580 | 4.8 from 275 |
| Five-star reviews | 2,082 (81%) | 252 (92%) |
| Price | from about $63 | from about $19 |
| Length | 1 h 45 min | 1 h 30 min |
| Dome | Included, by stairs | Option at booking |
| Papal tombs | Grottoes included | Included |
| Vatican Museums | Not included | Not included |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before | Free up to 24 hours before |
What travelers say
On the dome and grottoes tour
An absolutely stunning building, filled with so much to see.
michael_r, September 2026, via Viator
On the basilica and papal tombs tour
Nice tour with the friendly guide that gave a great explanatory guide throughout the whole visit.
Alexander_S, July 2026, via Viator
Worth it!
Leslie_M, June 2026, via Viator
Both are reviewed mostly with five stars: 81% of the dome and grottoes tour ratings and 92% of the basilica and papal tombs tour ratings. Three stars or lower make up about 11% of the reviews on the first and about 5% on the second.
How St. Peter’s fits a day at the Vatican
Many travelers pair the basilica with the museums: compare the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel tour. For the rest of the city, see our best tours in Rome.
Plan the tickets with the Vatican Museums tickets and Colosseum tickets guides.
Questions travelers ask
Which St. Peter’s Basilica tour should I book?
For value, the basilica and papal tombs tour, rated 4.8 on Viator, from about $19 (checked September 2026), with the dome as an option. For the climb with an art historian, the dome and grottoes tour, from about $63.
Is entry to St. Peter’s Basilica free?
Entry to the basilica itself is free; tours charge for the guide, skip-the-line access and, on some, the dome.
Do St. Peter’s tours include the Sistine Chapel?
No. Neither tour includes the Vatican Museums or the Sistine Chapel.
Is the dome climb difficult?
Yes, it involves many steps in narrow, sloping passages; reviewers advise skipping it if you are claustrophobic or afraid of heights.
Can I cancel a St. Peter’s Basilica tour?
Both offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
Book the papal tombs tour for value; book the dome and grottoes tour for the climb with an art historian.
Plan the rest of your trip
After the dome, Rome is literally at your feet. These guides help you decide where to go next.
- St. Peter’s Basilica: first, free entry, the dress code and the dome climb.
- Vatican City: next, facts, history and how to visit.
- Castel Sant’Angelo tickets: then, a short walk from St. Peter’s, with terrace views.
- 3 days in Rome: finally, a day-by-day plan by neighborhood.
Editorial assessment by Italy2Love, September 2026. Inclusions and exclusions, meeting points, prices, ratings, review counts and cancellation terms read on both Viator product pages (product codes 55341P19 and 7356P4), September 2026. Reviews quoted with attribution to their authors and to Viator. Next review March 2027, or sooner on any change to either option.