St. Peter’s Basilica: Early Access & Dome Climb Tour

Take a guided tour of St.

Peter’s Basilica.

Start early, without many people around, to see the peaceful beauty of Vatican City.

Your journey starts in St.

Peter’s Square.

A local and very informative guide will tell you great stories about this famous building’s history and importance.

Watch the great Egyptian Obelisk, over 2,500 years old; admire the fine architecture of Bernini and be informed of two “secret” places that support incredible visual illusions in the square.

Go up in the dome by elevator to the first view, then keep climbing to the top.

As you climb, a guide will offer you interesting facts about how they built the basilica and its architectural miracles.

At the top, step back as your jaw is sure to drop from the expansive views of Vatican City, Rome, and even the seven famous hills.

Keep your camera handy to take these great perspectives that will serve as a perfect background for your Vatican visit.

Enter St. Peter's Basilica from the bottom of the steps—get a feel for the richly colored marble floors beneath your feet, and marvel at the size of the building and those glittering gold ceilings.

The guide can explain other superb features of the basilica, such as world-famous Papal Altar placed under Bernini's Baldachin and Michelangelo's exquisite La Pietà—two supreme examples of Renaissance art.