Tours and Tickets to Experience St. Peter's Square

On a tour of St. Peter’s Square, you’ll see the grand obelisk, the iconic colonnades designed by Bernini, statues of saints, and the monumental façade of St. Peter’s Basilica. Few tours stop only at the square—most continue to other parts of Rome or head inside the Basilica and the Vatican.

Yes, visiting St. Peter’s Square is worth it. It’s the most prominent public square in Rome (and the Catholic world) and is worth seeing for its historical significance and architecture. The square is also in the heart of Rome, near the Vatican, the Mausoleum of Hadrian, also known as Castel Sant’Angelo, and the Tiber River.

No, St. Peter’s Square in Rome is a public space with no dress code unless it’s blocked for an event. The Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica have a Catholic church dress code that requires all visitors to dress modestly, cover their shoulders and knees, and remove hats or caps. Women may wear hats to mass.

Yes, St. Peter’s Square hosts special events and ceremonies throughout the year, especially during Catholic holiday periods. Special events include the Papal Audience, usually on Wednesday mornings while the Pope is in Rome, and masses and other group celebrations during religious holidays such as Christmas, Easter, and New Year’s Day.

Yes, you can enter the basilica from St. Peter’s Square. Once inside the basilica, you can purchase a ticket to climb to the top of the dome of St. Peter’s for views of Rome. You’ll also need tickets to visit the Sacristy & Treasury Museum and Necropolis.

Yes, you can visit on your own. The square is a public space and you do not need St. Peter’s Square tickets or a guided tour to enter. That said, a guided tour can help you appreciate the history and architecture of the religious site, and it typically continues inside the Basilica and the Vatican Museums.