St. Peter's Basilica (Basilica di San Pietro)

The largest Catholic church in the world, St. Peter's is a must-see during any visit to the Vatican. There is no ticket required to enter, so it's easy to stop in on your own, but a guided St. Peter's Basilica tour or audio guide will help you understand the significance of its history and art. 

Many travelers either choose a tour that focuses exclusively on the Renaissance-style basilica, or one that also includes St. Peter's Basilica Dome, the Vatican Museums, and the Sistine Chapel. Either way, you can book a skip-the-line ticket or early-access tour to visit before most of the crowds arrive.

• Be prepared for security lines similar to those at airports, including metal detectors, bag scanners, and potentially long waits.

• This is one of the most popular attractions in all of Italy, so crowds are nearly inevitable.

• The Basilica of St. Peter has a strict dress code—no bare shoulders, midriffs, or knees—and you won't be allowed in unless you adhere to it.

• A skip-the-line tour of the Vatican Museums that includes St. Peter's enables you to bypass the basilica's long entry lines; you still have to go through the security check.

• Climbing the dome atop the Basilica to take in the fantastic views over St. Peter's Square, requires a ticket.

St. Peter's Basilica is across the Tiber River from top sights such as the Colosseum and Piazza Navona. The nearest metro stops are Ottaviano–San Pietro–Musei Vaticani and Cipro on line A; there are closer tram and bus stops. If you'd like to walk, cross the Ponte Sant'Angelo toward the Castel Sant'Angelo for a picturesque view.

The basilica is open year-round, but as a working church, it closes regularly for mass and special religious services. Crowds are biggest during the summer and holidays such as Easter and Christmas, as well as during public papal addresses, given most Wednesdays in the square.

The basilica's most famous tomb is that of St. Peter, but most visitors never go below the main level of the church. (This area also closes to visitors earlier, and has more restrictions than the rest of the basilica.) You can book a guided tour of the Vatican Necropolis (also known as the Scavi) to explore the ancient Roman cemetery that lies underground, past the Vatican Grottoes, and stand before St. Peter's tomb.

That depends. You can visit alone and do not need St. Peter’s Basilica tickets to access the church. However, this gem of Renaissance architecture is stuffed with important paintings, sculptures, and other cultural treasures that are better understood with a tour guide's in-depth explanations and insights.

It takes about an hour to cover the highlights inside the church—consider an extra 30 minutes if you decide to climb to the top of the dome. Remember that there is often a long security line to enter the church, however, which can add up to two hours to your time there.

No, bypassing the security line to enter the church from St. Peter’s Square is impossible. The security line at the internal entrance between the Sistine Chapel and the church is often much shorter, but you can only access this entrance via the Vatican Museums.

Yes, visitors must wear clothing that covers knees, shoulders, and midriff to enter the church, and the guards are pretty strict about enforcing the rules. Longer shorts and skirts are acceptable, as are shirts with short or cap sleeves. Visitors can also cover their bare shoulders with a wrap or shawl.

No, though St. Peter's Basilica sits in the independent country of Vatican City, visitors do not need a passport to enter the confines of the city-state or the basilica. You can, however, send mail from the Vatican post office in St. Peter's Square with a Vatican City stamp.

One great way to avoid getting caught in the long security line to enter St. Peter’s Basilica is to beat the crowds by arriving early. The church opens at 7am each morning—except for the first Wednesday of the month when the papal audience is held—so get in line around 6:45am.