This St. Peter's Basilica, dome climb and underground grottoes tour is built for travelers who want to focus on the Basilica itself rather than the full Vatican Museums route. A licensed guide walks you through the Renaissance and Baroque architecture of the church, including the dome designed in part by Michelangelo, explaining its role as the burial site of St. Peter and a center for major papal ceremonies.

From the main floor, you descend into the Vatican Grottoes, where popes and saints are buried, including the traditional resting place of St. Peter. You can also see sections of wall from the original 4th-century basilica that once stood on this site, a detail most visitors walking straight through the Basilica never notice.

If you add the dome option at booking, the tour continues upward for panoramic views over Vatican City and the rooftops of Rome. Note that the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel are not included here. If you want those sites in the same visit, see our guided tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and Basilica instead.

For more on the Basilica's history, see the history of St. Peter's Basilica, built over the traditional tomb of St. Peter. Our Vatican Museums tickets guide can help you decide whether this Basilica-only option or a combined tour fits your trip better.