Vatican Catacombs and Basilica: St. Peter’s Tomb Underground Tour

Rome, Italy

Great choice

10+ bookings last month.

2 to 3 hours (approx.)
Offered in: English

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Overview

What's Included

Exclusive access to the Vatican Necropolis
Visit to St. Peter’s Tomb
Professional licensed guide
VIP skip-the-line entrance to St. Peter’s Basilica
Guided tour inside St. Peter’s Basilica (if the option is selected)
Small-group experience for a more intimate visit
All reservation and entrance fees

Food & Drink
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Not suitable for children under 10 years old.

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Piazza Papa Pio XII, 9, 00193 Roma RM, Italy
Piazza Papa Pio XII, 9 – in front of the Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi office (near St. Peter’s Square), where the guide will be waiting for the group. Our staff will be present outside to welcome you. Please arrive at least 30 minutes before For any problem, contact us at 0039 3280010018

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Necropolis of Saint Peter

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

St. Peter's Basilica

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

St. Peter's Square

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Most travelers can participate
Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Most travelers can participate. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
Children must be accompanied by an adult. Not suitable for children under 10 years old.
All participants must carry a valid identification document (passport or ID) to enter the sites. Entry may be denied without a valid document, with no refund.
A dress code is required to enter places of worship and selected museums. No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements
There is no refund on reservation fees and tickets of monuments that are closed due to event that is out of our control.

If this is not possible, we will operate the tour and will include other sites to compensate for the site/s being closed. No refund is given on unused tickets due to events that are out of our control.
Customers have a mandatory meeting time stated 30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time due to managing and organizational reasons.If you arrive late for the meeting time, it will not be possible to join the group or reschedule, unless you pay for the activity again. As per "No Show" rules you will not be entitled to a refund.
Cancellations, changes or issues due, security and events held by the monument are beyond our control and are directly decided by their administration team. These issues will be reviewed by us and dealt with on an individual basis but are the responsibility of the monument.
Small group tour (max 15 people). A maximum of 10 people per booking.
The catacomb temperature is about 60°F and the moisture content is high; please dress appropriately
Without notice the Basilica or parts of it can be closed for unforeseeable events. In this case, partial refund can be requested.
It is forbidden to remove any object and/or material
No photos allowed
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Reviews

3.9

based on 11 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

There is good and bad here.

Theresa_S, Jun 2026

The tour is interesting, but it is disappointing there is no photography and no post cards available. It is very rushed and the end is weird, plus there was no Basilica tour. But overall it was worth seeing the necropolis.

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Hi, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're glad to hear that you found the Necropolis worth visiting and that you enjoyed this unique and fascinating site beneath St. Peter's Basilica. Regarding photography, please note that the Vatican Necropolis is managed directly by the Vatican, and photography is strictly prohibited inside the site. Similar restrictions apply in many other Vatican locations, including the Sistine Chapel, in order to preserve these important historical and religious spaces. We also understand your disappointment regarding the Basilica tour. However, the product you booked included a guided tour of the Vatican Necropolis and skip-the-line access to St. Peter's Basilica. The Basilica itself was not included as a guided tour, as specified in the tour description. We appreciate your comments and will take them into consideration. Thank you again for your visit, and we hope to welcome you back to Rome in the future.

It was Cancelled

Kelly_Q, Jun 2026

The tour was cancelled 15 hours beforehand. We could not get tickets for another tour because of how late it cancelled

Response from Host, Jun 2026

We are sorry for the inconvenience caused by the cancellation. However, we would like to clarify that our company is the only authorized operator selling this specific Vatican Scavi and St. Peter’s Tomb Underground Tour. Access to the Vatican Necropolis is strictly controlled by the Vatican authorities, and availability and operational conditions can change at any time for reasons beyond our control. As clearly stated both in the tour description before purchase and on the voucher received after booking, this experience may be cancelled at any time, even shortly before the scheduled start, if required by the Vatican authorities. By completing the reservation, guests acknowledge and accept these conditions. We understand your disappointment at not being able to secure an alternative tour on short notice, but unfortunately this was an exceptional circumstance outside our control and fully covered by the terms communicated before booking.

Best tour on our list

Marylou_L, May 2026

Fantastic experience to see the deep underground excavation. And of course, St. Peter's thumb. Our guide was terrific.

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Thank you for your wonderful review! We are delighted to hear that this was the best tour on your list and that you enjoyed the unique opportunity to explore the underground excavations beneath St. Peter’s Basilica. Discovering this extraordinary archaeological site and the history surrounding St. Peter’s tomb is truly a memorable experience. We're also very pleased to know that your guide helped make the visit even more special. Your kind words will be greatly appreciated. Thank you for choosing our tour, and we hope to welcome you back for more unforgettable experiences in Rome! Kind regards, The Team

Weird!

joni_m, May 2026

This particular tour was very unorganized, felt chaotic and unprofessional. It started 30 min late. No explanations or updates given throughout the time waiting. The staff at Omnia check in desk were unfriendly, uninterested. We were shoved in an office quickly to wait even further. No explanations. Frankly, this whole experience was weird from start to finish. Tour guide was difficult to identify. Unprofessional attire, no name tag or visable identification. This was unlike any other experience I've had with Viator.

Response from Host, May 2026

We are sorry that your experience did not meet your expectations. However, we would like to point out that all our other guests have left excellent reviews about this tour and our staff. Regarding the delay: As noted in the tour description, access times may be delayed by up to 30 minutes due to the special nature of Vatican Necropolis access. We would also like to remind you that visiting the Necropolis of St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Peter’s Tomb is not only an extremely exclusive experience but, above all, a moment of spiritual reflection and recollection, which requires compliance with strict Vatican procedures and timings. We still appreciate your comments, as they help us improve our service.

Vatican

Nathan_B, Apr 2026

Sabine best tour guide ever … Both tours of catacombs and basilica very informative spent some tine exploring expansive descriptions

Response from Host, May 2026

Thank you so much for your wonderful review! 😊 We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed both the Vatican Catacombs and Basilica tour. Sabrina will be especially happy to know her passion and knowledge made such a great impression! It’s great that you appreciated the detailed explanations and the time spent exploring the incredible history of these unique sites. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again on another tour in Rome! 🙏

Wow what a fiasco. We...

Laurie_F, Apr 2026

Wow what a fiasco. We booked our trip of a lifetime, trip to Rome to specifically see the Vatican. Booked this catacombs tour months in advance. Had a 3:00 appointment. Our group were all early and ready to go at 2:45. We were lead to the door where you enter the catacomb tour. We waited. And waited. And waited. And waited. The 3:15 tour went ahead of us. The 3:30 tour went ahead of us. The 3:45 tour went ahead of us. The 4:00 tour went ahead of us. Then we were told we have to rush through as we wouldn’t make it before closing. We were told “our” guide went to wrong entrance. There is only one entrance and even if not, she couldn’t ring our entrance in an hour and a half? Wow. We saved for and planned for this trip for years. The man at the gate where you entered, was mad that some in our group weee mad that we had been forgotten. Like it was our fault. This was so very wrong on so many levels. As we discussed among our group, as we were just waiting outside, we all agreed that there was nothing we could do to resolve anything. But the kicker was that man at the gate being mad at us. I would tell you, never to book through them. Ever. But the problem is, then you’ll never get to see it. Was many many months saving and planning, and it all didn’t matter. Our time here is short and literally booked by the hour. Can you imagine if we were almost 2 hours late? And of course this cut our time drastically at the end to see St. Peter’s basilica. Trip of a lifetime. On someone else’s time, but on our hard earned dollar.

Response from Host, Apr 2026

We’re very sorry to read about your experience and understand how frustrating that must have been. As mentioned in the tour description, access to the Vatican Necropolis (Scavi) is extremely limited (around 100–150 visitors per day) and fully managed by St. Peter’s Basilica. For this reason, timing and access are handled directly by the Vatican, and unfortunately, not by our agency. It is also specified in advance that delays or unexpected changes may occur due to the site's sensitive, highly restricted nature. The Necropolis is not only a historical site but, above all, a deeply spiritual place, traditionally recognized as the burial site of the Apostle Peter, which is why access is strictly controlled. We truly regret the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.

Truly amazing! We tried...

Anthony_D, Apr 2026

Truly amazing! We tried to book through the vatican 2 months before our trip and got a denial response 4 days before we got to Rome. Thankfully we booked this tour as a back up. The guides were amazing and it was really spectacular!!

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re truly glad that you chose our tour as an alternative and that it turned out to be such an amazing experience. The Vatican underground areas are incredibly special, and we’re happy we could offer you the opportunity to enjoy them despite the initial difficulties. It’s great to hear that our guides made the visit even more memorable—your kind words mean a lot to us. We hope to welcome you again soon for another spectacular experience in Rome!

Do it!!

Casey_C, Apr 2026

Sabrina was the best!!! She was so excited to show us the beauty and art. Her knowledge was deep and profound. You can tell she loves what she does. Her interaction with us was great and really made us feel welcome.

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you so much for your kind review! We are delighted to hear that you had such a wonderful experience and that Sabrina made it so special. Her passion, deep knowledge, and enthusiasm truly make every tour unique, and we’re glad you felt welcomed and engaged throughout. Your words mean a lot to us, and we will be sure to share your feedback with her. We hope to welcome you again soon for another memorable experience in Rome!

Best experience!

Rachael_S, Apr 2026

This was beyond wonderful! It was my first time seeing Rome and the Vatican and honestly this was the best way to see it! I will be recommending this to everyone!

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We are truly delighted to hear that your first visit to Rome and the Vatican was such a memorable experience. Knowing that this tour was the best way for you to discover these incredible places means a lot to us. Your kind recommendation is greatly appreciated, and we’re so happy we could be part of your journey. We hope to welcome you again soon for another unforgettable experience in Rome!

We had two different...

Andrew_H, Mar 2026

We had two different guides, one for the necropolis and one for the basilica. They were both great and would recommend to anyone

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed both guides and your experience at the Vatican Catacombs and Basilica. It’s wonderful to know that everything met your expectations, and we truly appreciate your recommendation. We hope to welcome you again on another tour soon! Best regards, Tour in the City Team

Likely to Sell Out