St. Peter's Basilica Tours and Tickets

That depends. You can visit alone and do not need St. Peter’s Basilica tickets to access the church. However, this gem of Renaissance architecture is stuffed with important paintings, sculptures, and other cultural treasures that are better understood with a tour guide's in-depth explanations and insights.

It takes about an hour to cover the highlights inside the church—consider an extra 30 minutes if you decide to climb to the top of the dome. Remember that there is often a long security line to enter the church, however, which can add up to two hours to your time there.

No, bypassing the security line to enter the church from St. Peter’s Square is impossible. The security line at the internal entrance between the Sistine Chapel and the church is often much shorter, but you can only access this entrance via the Vatican Museums.

Yes, visitors must wear clothing that covers knees, shoulders, and midriff to enter the church, and the guards are pretty strict about enforcing the rules. Longer shorts and skirts are acceptable, as are shirts with short or cap sleeves. Visitors can also cover their bare shoulders with a wrap or shawl.

No, though St. Peter's Basilica sits in the independent country of Vatican City, visitors do not need a passport to enter the confines of the city-state or the basilica. You can, however, send mail from the Vatican post office in St. Peter's Square with a Vatican City stamp.

One great way to avoid getting caught in the long security line to enter St. Peter’s Basilica is to beat the crowds by arriving early. The church opens at 7am each morning—except for the first Wednesday of the month when the papal audience is held—so get in line around 6:45am.