St Peter's Basilica
It is the largest church in Christendom and the heart of the Vatican. St Peter's Basilica holds Michelangelo's Pietà and Bernini's imposing baldachin, opens onto the most famous square in the world, and lets you climb its dome to take in Rome from above. Unlike the Vatican Museums, entry to the basilica is free; the challenge is the queues.
The full Vatican: Museums + Sistine Chapel + St Peter's
The complete experience in one morning, skipping the line at every access and with a guide. Direct access to the basilica from the Sistine Chapel.
See the Vatican + St Peter's combo (from €119) →⏳ One of the world's most visited sites: tickets sell out in high season. Book ahead · free cancellation.
Free entry… but with queues
St Peter's Basilica is not a museum: it is a working church, and entering is free. You do not need a ticket to visit the interior. The problem is the security check on the square, which everyone passes through: in high season the queue can wrap around the colonnade and exceed an hour's wait. Some options for avoiding it:
- Access from the Sistine Chapel: if you visit the Vatican Museums with a guided group, there is a shortcut to the right of the Sistine altar that leads directly to the basilica, without queuing for security again.
- Go very early (the basilica opens around 07:00) or late in the afternoon.
- Book a guided tour or a timed-entry access that includes priority passage through the check.
Michelangelo's Pietà
As soon as you enter, in the first chapel on the right, is one of the most moving sculptures ever carved: Michelangelo's Pietà. He carved it in Carrara marble around 1498-1499, when he was just over twenty, and it depicts the Virgin holding the lifeless body of Christ with a serenity that is overwhelming. It is the only work the artist signed: he engraved his name on the band crossing Mary's chest — according to legend, after hearing it attributed to another sculptor. Since an attack in 1972, it is viewed behind armoured glass.
Bernini's baldachin and the interior
Beneath the dome, over the high altar and the tomb of the apostle Peter, rises the colossal bronze baldachin by Bernini (1624-1633): almost 30 metres of twisting Solomonic columns that seem to spiral up towards the sky. At the far end of the apse, Bernini also designed the Chair of St Peter, a golden explosion of light and angels. The interior is so vast that it is hard to gauge: markings on the floor of the central nave indicate the size of other great churches of the world, all smaller. Look up to Michelangelo's dome, with its golden inscription running 120 metres up.
Climbing the dome: 551 steps or lift
Climbing the dome is one of the best experiences in Rome. There are two options:
- On foot: 551 steps from the ground to the lantern.
- By lift: it takes you up to the terrace over the nave and leaves around 320 final steps up an increasingly narrow and steep ramp that follows the curve of the dome.
Along the way there is a stop inside the drum, from where you see the basilica's interior from high up. At the top, the reward: a 360° view over Bernini's square, the Vatican gardens and all of Rome. It is a demanding climb with narrow spaces; it is not suitable for anyone with claustrophobia or mobility issues. Climbing the dome has a cost (around €8-10 at the ticket office; a little more with the lift).
Climb the dome without the hassle
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See the dome climb (from €27) →Bernini's square
Before or after going in, pause at St Peter's Square, designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini between 1656 and 1667. Its double elliptical colonnade, with 284 columns and 140 statues of saints on top, opens like two arms that, in Bernini's own words, "maternally embrace" the faithful. At the centre rises an Egyptian obelisk almost 3,000 years old, brought to Rome by Caligula. Look in the pavement for the two stone discs on either side of the obelisk: standing on them, the four rows of columns line up and appear as a single one. It is one of visitors' favourite visual tricks.
Practical information
| Entry to the basilica | Free (queues at the security check) |
|---|---|
| Climbing the dome | Paid: ~€8-10 on foot / a little more with lift |
| Dome steps | 551 on foot · ~320 with lift |
| Dress code | Shoulders and knees covered (mandatory) |
| Access from the Sistine Chapel | Direct shortcut for guided groups (avoids queues) |
Last updated: July 2026. Hours and prices may vary; check them before your visit.
Frequently asked questions
Is entry to the basilica free?
Yes, access to St Peter's Basilica is free. What you pay for is climbing the dome. The drawback is the security-check queues; there are skip-the-line accesses and guided tours that avoid them.
How many steps does the dome have?
551 in total. With the lift up to the terrace, around 320 final steps remain up an increasingly steep ramp. The view from the top is among the best in Rome.
Where is Michelangelo's Pietà?
In the first chapel on the right as you enter, behind glass. Michelangelo carved it when he was just over twenty; it is the only work he signed.
Is there a dress code?
Yes, the same as throughout the Vatican: shoulders and knees covered. Sleeveless tops, shorts and skirts above the knee are not allowed.
Keep exploring the Vatican
Last updated: July 2026. The works cited are in the public domain; the images are reproductions or exterior views.
