Rome Vatican St Peter's Basilica & Dome Private Tour & Breakfast

Rome, Italy

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

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Overview

What's Included

St. Peter's Square Guided tour
St. Peter's Dome Guided Tour and Tickets and Elevator to the roof of the Basilica
Breakfast on the roof of St. Peter's Basilica (Cappuccino and Cornetto)
Panoramic balcony access and Spiral staircase climb to the top of the Dome
Guided tour of the Basilica
Visiti of the Grottes

Gratuities
Pick Up and Drop Off

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Largo del Colonnato, 5, 00193 Roma RM, Italy
The meeting is at Largo del Colonnato 5 (in front of the Galleria San Pietro Shop). Your tour guide will have a signboard reporting 'Tour in the City'.

End point

Saint Peter’s Basilica
Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Città del Vaticano, Vatican City
The guided tour will end at the 'Portico' of St. Peter's Basilica.

Ticket Redemption Point

Largo del Colonnato, 5, 00193 Roma RM, Italy

Itinerary

St. Peter's Square

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

St. Peter's Basilica

1 hour 20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

St. Peter's Basilica

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
The duration can be between 120/150 Minutes.
Everyone entering the basilica must pass through the security check that can take 10/60 minutes, depending on the season.
Vatican City dress code, which requires covered shoulders and knees.
Audio guide pickup between 9:00 and 16:00 at St. Peter's Basilica
Available audio guide languages: Italian, English, French, and Spanish.

You must leave an identity document (ID or passport), which will be returned to you when the device is returned.
If the Dome Guided tour is canceled due to adverse weather and the Basilica is closed for religious events, it can be rescheduled and partially refunded. However, you will receive a refund if you cannot change the date or if one or both services are canceled.
It will be sufficient to show your reservation to your tour guide
The dome's terrace might not be accessible in bad weather conditions.
The tour will not operate on religious holidays, and visiting the basilica during these holidays and ceremonies is impossible.
If the bar on the rooftop is closed, a partial refund of Euro 4,00 per person will be refunded.
Please be aware that large bags/backpacks/suitcases are not permitted. Only small bags are allowed.
Climbing the dome requires a spiral staircase with 320 steps. You can wait on the first terrace if you do not want to reach the top.
You must be on time at the meeting point. If you are delayed more than 10 minutes, the entire tour or part of it can be canceled.
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

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Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Reviews

4.5

based on 8 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Amazing Tour Guide - Deceptive Description of The Tour

John_S, Nov 2025

I was met by the wonderful and knowledgeable Alessandra at the designated meeting spot and we began our tour on time. We started in St Peter's Square and Alessandra provided so many facts and insights. We cleared security and entered St Peter's Basilica. The beauty and grandeur were truly breathtaking. Alessandra shared her knowledge of all the priceless artwork and we slowly went through the Basilica, even walking through the Holy Door. We proceeded to St. Peter's resting place and Alessandra continued sharing her knowledge with me. We spent many hours in St Peter's Basilica and eventually parted ways so I could explore the top of the Dome. No question was too trivial for Alessandra and the wealth of knowledge she has and shared made my visit a highlight of my three weeks in Italy. I left the Basilica full of knowledge and the Holy Spirit. I do have a couple of complaints. I was never offered breakfast as the tour's description advertised and feel I should have been provided access to the Vatican Museums. The price I paid for the tour was very expensive and not realizing the Sistine Chapel wasn't part of the St. Peter's tour was very misleading. I have nothing but praise for Alessandra. However, I feel not having access to the Sistine Chapel and museums was very misleading.

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Thank you very much for taking the time to share such a detailed review, and for your wonderful words about Alessandra. We’re delighted to hear that her knowledge, passion, and kindness made your visit to St. Peter’s Basilica such a memorable experience. We are truly sorry, however, for the misunderstanding regarding what is included in the tour. To clarify: This tour is a private experience of St. Peter’s Basilica and the Dome only. It does not include the Vatican Museums, or the Sistine Chapel is not part of the inclusions. These details are listed in the tour description, but we fully understand how expectations can differ—especially when visiting a place as vast as the Vatican. Your feedback is very important to us, and we will review the tour description again to ensure that everything is communicated as clearly as possible, avoiding any potential confusion for future guests. We’re very happy that Alessandra made your visit special, and we truly hope to welcome you again on a future tour—perhaps including the Museums and the Sistine Chapel next time. Thank you once again for your thoughtful review.

The only way to see the Basillica!

Darlene_H, Oct 2025

Sabrina was warm, wonderful and knowledgeable. Google maps took us to the wrong meeting space, but we had left early. The tour definitely takes more than 3 hours. We had another visit scheduled for 10, so we had to leave early. Sabrina helped get us on our way, circumventing many lines. Breakfast is in a coffee shop is not outside on a terrace. But the tour was generally amazing. No crowds!!! Lots of time and space. Probably my favorite tour while in Romr.

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Thank you so much for sharing your detailed feedback! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica tour with Sabrina — she truly is a wonderful and knowledgeable guide. We’re glad she was able to assist you with timing and access so you could make the most of your visit. We also appreciate your note about the breakfast location; your comments help us continue to improve our guests’ experience. Warm regards, The Tour in The City Team

Incredible!! Do it!!

Vanessa_C, Oct 2025

Our tour guide Marat was incredible! We learned so much from his tour and he was kind enough to also take pictures and videos for us during our visit—mementos we would have never otherwise had. St. Peter’s Basilica was incredible! Our guide took us all throughout as well as to the top. Make sure you wear good walking shoes and you’re ready for trek up to the top! If you’re claustrophobic I wouldn’t recommend going to the top since the stairway becomes quite narrow. The view at the top is windy and breath taking. There’s a small cafe in that area where you’ll grab coffee and pastries. We had the best time with our guide and it was well worth the price. Navigating on our own would have been pointless and a waste of time. I highly recommend doing this once in a lifetime tour and booking with Marat.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Dear Customer, Thank you so much for your fantastic review! We’re thrilled to hear how much you enjoyed your private tour of St. Peter’s Basilica and the Dome with Marat. He will be so happy to know that his knowledge, kindness, and the extra touch of helping with photos and videos made your experience even more memorable. We’re glad you appreciated the full visit — from the Basilica to the top of the Dome, with its breathtaking views — and that you found it truly worthwhile. Your kind recommendation means a lot to us, and we hope to welcome you back on another tour in the future! Best regards, Stefano

Surreal and Awe-inspiring Vatican! A life changing experience!

Alfred_F, Aug 2025

First and foremost, Sabrina our tour guide was beyond superb. She was thorough and very very articulate. She was kind, helpful, caring, and thoughtful of your time. We were very lucky to have her as our tour guide in this incredible experience. The tour: at first, I thought it’ll just be a “climb” up the dome of the basilica and a little breakfast at the top, which for us first-time visitors is already a great experience but I was wrong.. it was way more than that. It was a complete tour from the entrance of the St. Peter’s Square, explaining each detail of almost every corner and every part of history of the rise and fall of the Vatican to an extensive tour of every nook and corner of the basilica and of course the climb up the dome where you will have an outstanding view of the Vatican and the grandeur of Rome. It was indeed, life-changing. Our group was small, just me and my family and a couple of other people which made this experience a lot more intimate. After we had breakfast, Sabrina, our tour guide, was genuinely caring enough to ensure that we are replenished and refreshed before we continue our tour. We headed back down to the main floor of the basilica where we saw several sarcophaguses and statues honoring past popes even the tomb of St John Paul II. One moving experience after another, passing through the holy doors in this jubilee year, coming face-to-face within inches from Bernini and Raphael art pieces, and witnessing the Pieta by Michaelango, which personally, was my favorite art piece in this entire experience. Lastly, when I booked this tour, I didn’t expect to see the crypt below the basilica so to my surprise, Sabrina led us down to the lower levels to bear witness to none other than the tomb of the very first pope, St. Peter himself. Again, life changing indeed. I cannot rate this tour enough and our incredible tour guide. I highly highly highly recommend this tour to anyone and if you can request for Sabrina, please do so because she is the sweetest and the best there is. She made this experience 100x more interesting, more special, spiritual, awe-inspiring, and did I say incredible? I loved our experience at the Vatican and I can’t wait to do it again.

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a detailed and heartfelt review. Reading your words truly warmed our hearts, and we are beyond delighted to know that your experience at the Vatican was so meaningful and memorable. We are incredibly proud to have Sabrina on our team — she will be overjoyed to know that her knowledge, kindness, and care made your visit not only informative but also special on a personal and spiritual level. It is wonderful to hear that you enjoyed every part of the tour — from exploring St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, to the climb up the dome, the breathtaking views, the art masterpieces, and the powerful moments in the crypt. Your vivid description captures the essence of what we hope every guest experiences with us. Your recommendation means the world to us, and we will make sure Sabrina knows how much you appreciated her dedication. We would be honored to welcome you back anytime for another unforgettable journey through history, art, and faith. With sincere gratitude, Tour In the City

Fantastic

Maree_G, Jun 2025

Sabrina was fantastic. Weath of experience and knowledge Enthusiastic and Energetic. You could tell she really enjoyed her job and was passionate about it

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your experience with Sabrina. Her passion and energy truly make a difference, and we're glad it came through during your tour. We'll be sure to pass along your compliments to her!

Unique experience to start your day

Jessica_D, Jun 2025

This was a great way to visit St. Peter’s Basilica. We enjoyed getting in early and touring the dome. Our guide was knowledgeable and made the experience easy for us.

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Dear Guest, Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're so pleased to hear that you enjoyed your early access visit to St. Peter’s Basilica and the dome—it’s truly a special experience. It's great to know that your guide made the tour informative and seamless. We always aim to make these moments both meaningful and stress-free, and your kind words mean a lot to us. We hope to see you again on a future tour! Warm regards,

Great time

stephen_f, Mar 2025

Our tour guide was amazing she was very knowledgeable, interactive and genuinely love the subject she was touring us on. I would recommend this tour 100%. The only thing I can say is that if you have a member of the group that is disabled or not strong the climb to the dome will be impossible for them.it was a hike up a ton of stairs ( totally worth it if you can do it).

Response from Host, Apr 2025

That's fantastic to hear you had such an amazing and engaging tour guide! It's wonderful when their knowledge and passion truly enhance the experience. We really appreciate your 100% recommendation!