Rome: St Peter's Basilica and Papal Tombs Audio Guide

Rome, Italy

1 hour (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Skip the fast pace of a guided tour and dig deep into the history and art of St. Peter’s Basilica on a self-guided visit with this audio Guide. Listen to stories about the popes, pilgrims, and Renaissance masters who have left their marks on this historic religious landmark at your own pace, lingering inside for as long as you'd like. Begin the tour at the time of your choosing for a flexible sightseeing schedule.

Enjoy the flexible pace of an independent audio guide inside St. Peter's Basilica
Insights into the history and architecture of Rome's most famous church
Begin the tour at the time you choose and pause as many times as you'd like
Skip the hassle of keeping up with a guided tour group

What's Included

St Peter's Basilica digital audio guide
Papal Tombs digital audio guide
Multilingual audio commentary: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Mandarin, Polish, Japanese
Additional self-guided audio tour of the Vatican area

Headphones (please bring your own)
Live tour guide
Entrance ticket (Saint Peter's Basilica is free to enter)

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Saint Peter’s Basilica
Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Città del Vaticano, Vatican City
Go directly to St Peter's Basilica and join the queue. This product will not allow you to skip the queue. It is a digital audio tour and you can start using it at any time.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Operating hours

01/01/2026 - 12/31/2026
Monday - Saturday : 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday : 1:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Thursday : 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday : 1:30 PM - 6:00 PM

Itinerary

See the best of St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, the self-guided tour lets you decide what you want
to visit and when. As you walk, hear tales of the popes, pilgrims and legendary artists who,
throughout history, have helped make St Peter's Basilica the awe-inspiring place it is today.

Go straight inside the spectacular structure, said to be built upon the site where St. Peter the Apostle was crucified. Throughout the centuries, the humble church grew into the ornate icon it is today—the holiest of Catholic sites. With your audio guide on, explore at your leisure to discover Renaissance art like Michelangelo’s 'La Pietà' sculpture, as well as the Cupola—St. Peter’s famous dome.

Admire mosaic works, see a statue of St. Peter, visit the tomb of Pope John Paul II, and stare in wonder at Bernini’s 'Baldacchino,' the elaborate canopy alter that sits above St. Peter’s tomb.

No meeting point needed: at the time of booking you will receive a QRCode that will allow you to download the audio guide track. This will allow you to go to the Basilica when and how you want without having to respect fixed times and appointments.

St. Peter's Basilica

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Most travelers can participate
No ticket is required to enter the Basilica. This is a digital audio tour, that makes a perfect accompaniment to your visit.

After booking, scan the QR code on your Viator voucher to download the audio tour.
This product does not give you skip-the-line access. During high season, queues for security checks can be up to 150 minutes long.
You must observe the dress code to access the St. Peter’s Basilica (no shorts, vests, or sleeveless tops)
The opening hours for the St. Peter's Basilica may vary due to special events. Typically, St. Peter's Basilica is open from 8.00 to 18.00. Please note that changes in opening hours are beyond our control. However, customers are welcome to use our audioguide on any other day when the sites are open.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 99 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

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

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

3.6

based on 362 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Never Got the Chance to Use It

Kel_L, Jan 2026

Never got a chance to use the audio guide. It was very busy. We didn’t see any signs on how to listen to the audio guide.

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Good morning, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience you encountered. To access the audio tour, guests are invited to scan the QR code provided on their Viator voucher and download the tour directly onto their mobile device. This information is outlined both on the Viator tour page and within the confirmation voucher. That said, we fully understand how frustrating it must have been when this process did not work as expected during your visit. We truly appreciate your comments and will review our instructions to improve clarity and ensure a smoother experience for future travelers. Providing high-quality experiences is always our top priority. Kind regards, VoxCity

Did not waste your money

Roberto_A, Jan 2026

Sucked. Waited on two different lines. The guards did not recognize or honor the tickets. There was no assistance online or via the website.

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Good afternoon, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're truly sorry for the inconvenience you experienced. We are sorry if you had difficulty finding our meeting point, we always provide complete directions on the voucher and we also have a customer service contact. We genuinely appreciate your feedback and will review the clarity of our instructions to help ensure a better experience for future travelers. Many thanks, VoxCity

Money lost

Steinunn_B, Nov 2025

This felt like a scam. We bought it on our way. It never said that we needed to download an app (over 100 MB). We did not want to do that so it was money lost. I bought three tickets. I tried to complain to viator but got no reply. The entrance to st peters is free and you can rent a hearing guide there.

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Good morning, thank you for your feedback. It is important to us so that we can always improve. We’re sorry if the audio guide did not meet your expectations, but the product description clearly states that it is a digital audio guide to be installed on your own device. Additionally, the package does not include an entrance ticket, as St. Peter’s Basilica is always free to enter. We remain at your disposal for any clarification, please don’t hesitate to contact us at the following email address: customer@voxcity.com Best regards, VoxCity

SCAM! It is free!

Mehdi_S, Nov 2025

You don't a ticket to visit St Peter's Basilica and Papal Tombs! You can go there and visit it for free!

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Good morning, thank you first of all for leaving us your valuable feedback. The St. Peter’s Basilica complex is free to enter; the only paid area is the Dome. You paid for our digital audio guide service, which includes content about the Basilica, the panoramic view from the Dome, the Papal Tombs, and an introduction to Vatican City. We are sorry if this did not meet your expectations and we sincerely apologize. We will work on making the instructions and the descriptions of our packages clearer in the future. Best regards, VoxCity

Hidden Gems

Lisa_E, Oct 2025

Kasia was very knowledgeable and friendly. We really enjoyed learning so much and exploring hidden gems we wouldn't have otherwise visited. Thanks for a great evening Kasia.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Good morning, Thank you for leaving us this very important feedback. We are enthusiastic and happy that you enjoyed our service. We hope to have another opportunity to see you again! Best regards, VoxCity

Do not buy this ticket...

Randy_K, Sep 2025

Do not buy this ticket and expect St Peter’s to honor it. It doesn’t work The site only recognizes the on-line tickets it sells

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Do not waste the money if...

Wilson_L, Sep 2025

Do not waste the money if you hope for quicker entry with this purchase, you queue with the free access crowd still. There is no fast line for this ticket.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Good morning, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're truly sorry for the inconvenience you experienced. The security checks are mandatory for everyone to enter Vatican City. This does not depend on us, but on the Police. During high season, there might be some waiting time for security checks, especially this year, which is the Jubilee year. We genuinely appreciate your feedback and will review the clarity of our instructions to help ensure a better experience for future travelers. We always try to do our best to ensure good experiences. Many thanks, VoxCity

Unclear what this was for or how to use.

Markus_O, Sep 2025

It was unclear what this tour was for. The Basicalla it self was free of charge and no ticket was needed.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Good morning, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're truly sorry for the inconvenience you experienced. We confirm that entry to the Basilica is free of charge, but we always offer a package that includes an audio guide with digital maps for the Basilica and the Papal tombs, along with assistance in case of any technical issues We genuinely appreciate your feedback and will review the clarity of our instructions to help ensure a better experience for future travelers. Many thanks, VoxCity

Scam

Ava_W, Aug 2025

I was scammed by this service because this was a ticket for an audio tour not the vatican and I wasted money on nothing

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Good morning, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're truly sorry for the inconvenience you experienced. We’re sorry if you’re dissatisfied with our service, which includes an audio guide with digital maps for St. Peter’s Basilica. You can find the details of the service you booked both on the voucher and on our website, where we provide all the specific information in English. We genuinely appreciate your feedback and will review the clarity of our instructions to help ensure a better experience for future travelers. We always try to do our best to ensure good experiences. Many thanks, VoxCity

Waste of money! We could...

Alexandra_P, Jul 2025

Waste of money! We could not access the audio guide and the instructions were useless. Much better just going in and taking in the sights without a guide.

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Good morning, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're truly sorry for the inconvenience you experienced. To access the audio tour, guests can scan the QR code on their Viator voucher and download it directly to their mobile phone. We include this information both on the tour page on Viator's website and again in the confirmation voucher. That said, we completely understand how disappointing and frustrating it must have been not to have this process go smoothly during your visit. We genuinely appreciate your feedback and will review the clarity of our instructions to help ensure a better experience for future travelers. We always try to do our best to ensure good experiences. Many thanks, VoxCity

The audio guide itself is...

Elijah_W, Jul 2025

The audio guide itself is fine but no need to purchase prior to entering. Purchasing through Viator, you have to download their app, then another app, scan codes, enter order number, and then finally get going. So again it is fine, but I ended up in the exact same line, paying the exact same amount and could have skipped all of the downloads and code entering by simply paying inside the vatican.

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Good morning, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're truly sorry for the inconvenience you experienced. We will try to make the instructions for our audio guide clearer for our future customers: we are always looking to improve, also based on your feedback. We appreciate your feedback and will review the clarity of our instructions to help ensure a better experience for future travelers. We always try to do our best to ensure good experiences. Many thanks, VoxCity

Disgraceful

Deborah_S, Jul 2025

The audio app purchased did not work. All links went nowhere. Viator did not care. Would not refund money as said tickets provided by third party. My contract is with Viator. Never again! Complete scam!!

Response from Host, Jul 2025

We were not able to download the link that was sent to us and we’re told that the link was broken. You can check my emai

Donna_M, Jul 2025

Make sure you know what you’re getting into. We didn’t need these tickets to get into the Basilica especially because the link wouldn’t download on our phones.

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Good morning, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're truly sorry for the inconvenience you experienced. We send our vouchers 24 hours before your visit. In any case, we provide a phone contact, also available via WhatsApp, ready to assist you with any need. We are very sorry for the difficulties you encountered during this experience. We genuinely appreciate your feedback and will review the clarity of our instructions to help ensure a better experience for future travelers. We always try to do our best to ensure good experiences. Many thanks, VoxCity

No assistance at site.

Gene_C, Jun 2025

We received no assistance at site. Had to wait in regular line with 2 kids. Disappointing event from Viator.

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Good afternoon, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're truly sorry for the inconvenience you experienced. We always provide assistance at the meeting point during the available booking hours. Additionally, we also have our own phone number available for customer support. We genuinely appreciate your feedback and will review the clarity of our instructions to help ensure a better experience for future travelers. We always try to do our best to ensure good experiences. Many thanks, VoxCity

Don’t buy this ticket

Zhongmei_H, May 2025

The line was incredibly long which makes sense. It is free to get in. This rating is for the ticket we bought for the audio app. There were no instructions on how to get the app or which app to download. It was a complete rip off and a scam.

Response from Host, May 2025

Good afternoon, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're truly sorry for the inconvenience you experienced. Unfortunately, in high season, waiting times can be up to 150 minutes and security checks are mandatory for everyone to enter Vatican City. This does not depend on us, but on the Police. In addition, we have staff available to help you with the audio guide. The same instructions can also be found in the brochure that we leave at the time of check in. We genuinely appreciate your feedback and will review the clarity of our instructions to help ensure a better experience for future travelers. Many thanks, VoxCity

Skip the line at St. Peter’s

Debby_S, May 2025

Long lines if you don’t reserve ahead of time. Found Viator and booked as we were waiting so cut the time at least in half

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Good morning, thank you for leaving us this very important feedback for us. We are enthusiastic and happy that you enjoyed our service. We hope to have another opportunity to see you again! Best regards, VoxCity

I could not find where to...

Peggy_D, May 2025

I could not find where to pick up the audio guide so I didn’t have any. The Basilica is free so I feel I wasted my money on a audio guide that I didn’t get

Response from Host, May 2025

Do not recommend

niwuchukwu, Apr 2025

This was horrible. Sent several messages for clarification and never got a response. Ended up being a waste of time.

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Good morning, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're truly sorry for the inconvenience you experienced. We’re sorry if you didn’t receive timely assistance for your issue. We are constantly working to optimize our response times to ensure quality customer service. For any further clarification, please don’t hesitate to contact us at the following email address customer@voxcity.com . We genuinely appreciate your feedback and will review the clarity of our instructions to help ensure a better experience for future travelers. We always try to do our best to ensure good experiences. Many thanks, VoxCity

Beautiful experience!...

Amberley_M, Apr 2025

Beautiful experience! What an opportunity to walk through the holy doors! Easy to navigate enjoyed walking at our own pace.

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Never again

Jackie_D, Mar 2025

We could not find where you collected the audio head sets, no one was helpful at the basilica either..and we did not need to pay it's free entrance ..feel ripped off....so won't use again

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Good afternoon, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're truly sorry for the inconvenience you experienced. To access the audio tour, guests can scan the QR code on their Viator voucher and download it directly to their mobile phone. We include this information both on the tour page on Viator's website and again in the confirmation voucher. That said, we completely understand how disappointing and frustrating it must have been not to have this process go smoothly during your visit. We genuinely appreciate your feedback and will review the clarity of our instructions to help ensure a better experience for future travelers. Many thanks, VoxCity

Review

Tracy_D, Mar 2025

Very informative and educational. Great Guide. Worth doing if a little bit long and tiring. Audio didn't fit my ears unfortunately.

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Scam

Andrei_T, Mar 2025

Couldn’t find any audio guidance. Sellers use tricky words such as visit when actually is audio guidance only. Advertising pops up as mainly entry ticket which it isn’t.

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Wonderful!

Michael_K, Mar 2025

Amazing experience! Would go again and highly recommend! We learned so much and saw such history - thank you!

Response from Host, Jun 2025

A fraud, tickets sold the day when the basilica was closed

Alexandre_M, Jan 2025

Not possible to Visit because closed the 31. 12.24 . Viator should have been informend but emitted the tickets anyway . For us it was very inconvenient and considered as a Fraud from Viator

Response from Host, Jan 2025

Good evening, Firstly, we apologise that the Basilica was closed on the date you booked, and if this caused any inconvenience during your trip. The product you have purchased is an audio tour that is downloadable via a mobile-app. It can be used on any date. As this product does not include entry to the Basilica, it is possible that you could have used the audio guide on a different date, however we apologise if this wasn't made clear on your booking confirmation. If we can do anything further to support you in this matter, please feel free to contact us directly, and once again we send our sincerest apologies for any inconvenience caused. Many thanks, VoxCity

Not needed

mimisullivan, Dec 2024

This pass is not necessary. If you really want an audio guide you can get one. The line to St. Peter’s is only circumvented if you book the Vatican tour and St Peters

Response from Host, Jan 2025

Good afternoon, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re sorry to hear that you felt the audio guide was not necessary. Our audio guide is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the Basilica and its highlights, available in 7 languages. It’s a convenient option for those who prefer to explore at their own pace, without a live guide. Additionally, because the guide is accessible through your own mobile device, you can use it before, during, and after your visit, giving you the flexibility to learn more about the Basilica at any time. We also believe the audio guide helps to streamline the experience, as you won’t need to queue for a physical headset or share equipment with other visitors. If you wish to discuss anything further, please don't hesitate to contact us. Many thanks, VoxCity

Terrible experience and will never recommend this to anyone!

Krishna_H, Dec 2024

Our experience purchasing tickets through Viator felt like a scam. We paid for five people and we didn’t get to experience the tour we purchased, because we could never found the meeting point provided to us in the confirmation email. It said “ The meeting point is outside the Basilica before entering St. Peter's square and the security checks”. No one knew where that was exactly and we asked people, until last minute we were able to connect with tour operator when they gave us the actual address that we needed to go to claim the ticket. It was too late and we requested refund, they refused. So many unnecessary steps and no clear instructions. Why can’t they just have the address in the confirmation email explicitly and clear? It was unacceptable and we would never recommend this company. We also learned that we actually can buy ticket on site at and directly from the Vatican without going through company that is actually more expensive and took you several other convoluted steps to get your tickets. They took our money unfairly, they got our curses and karma will come get them in mysterious way for shady business dealing!

Great audio tour!

Andrea_B, Dec 2024

The audio tour was a great way for my family to visit Saint Peter’s Basilica. We enjoyed the detail of the audio presentation. We wish that instructions to download the app and to bring our own headphones were included much earlier in the process.

Poor

Matt_T, Nov 2024

Was very very poor , couldn’t access as their was neither WiFi access and the Basillica was restricted on the Sunday due to the service with the Pope in attendance , whilst exciting for some ruined our visit.

Find another tour! VERY OVERPRICED!

Lawrence_L, Oct 2024

We walked & waited in line for over an hour. Then the Guide talked sooooooo long at the beginning of the tour while we stood in one place outside. She was knowledgeable, but our feet were killing us after waiting for so long. She also repeated information. It really cut into our time to see the museum. We were then whisked through and had very little time in the museum. I would not recommend this tour.

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Good afternoon, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're truly sorry for the inconvenience you experienced. Unfortunately, in high season, waiting times can be up to 150 minutes and security checks are mandatory for everyone to enter Vatican City. This does not depend on us, but on the Police. We genuinely appreciate your feedback and will review the clarity of our instructions to help ensure a better experience for future travelers. Many thanks, VoxCity

Viator is Overcharging

Lidia_M, Oct 2024

The experience was great however the entrance to the Basilica and the Tombs are free do DONT buy tickets. Entry to the Dome is only 10 euros so don't buy tickets via the Viator because they don't give you a good offer.

Response from Host, Jan 2025

Good afternoon, Thank you for your feedback. We're truly sorry to hear that you felt the product did not provide value for the price you paid. We strive to offer a comprehensive experience, which includes several inclusions: entry to the Dome (a paid ticket), a multilingual audio guide of the Basilica, a breakfast, and an additional audio guide of the Vatican City. This is why our retail price is higher than the cost of the single Dome ticket. We appreciate your feedback and we hope to have the opportunity to serve you again in the future. Many thanks, VoxCity