St. Peter's Square Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience St. Peter's Square. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Skip-the-Line Group Tour of the Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica

• Skip-the-Line Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's | Small Group

• Skip the Line: Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Tour + Basilica

• Skip the Line Vatican, Sistine Chapel and Basilica Guided Tour

• Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St Peter's Basilica Guided Tour

St. Peter’s Square is open to the public and free to visit. For those who want to see more of Vatican City with expert commentary from a knowledgeable guide, tours that include St. Peter’s Square, the Vatican Museums, and the Sistine Chapel with skip-the-line privileges start at around US$29 per person. Small-group and VIP options run closer to US$116–$151.

Yes, St. Peter's Square is one of Rome's most iconic public spaces and the spot where newly elected popes are proclaimed from the Loggia della Benedizione above—making it well worth the visit. Designed by Bernini in the 17th century, the sweeping piazza is framed by a colonnade of 284 columns and topped with 140 saints. To get the most out of your visit, book a Vatican tour that includes St. Peter's Square, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Museums, as local guides specialize in making the history and scale far easier to appreciate.

Per one customer who booked the Skip-the-Line Group Tour of the Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica, "So much information to receive and so many amazing artifacts to see. Our guide was both knowledgeable and compassionate on all subjects. Worth every step!"

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.

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.

There are tons of things to do when you're done visiting St. Peter's Square. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Vatican City:

• Vatican Museums

• Sistine Chapel

• St. Peter's Basilica

• Vatican City (Citta del Vaticano)

• St. Peter's Dome (Cupola di San Pietro)

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Vatican City.