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- St. Peter's Basilica
- Vatican Necropolis
- Grand Tomb of St. Peter
- St. Peter's Square
- St. Peter's Basilica Dome
- Vatican Museums
- Vatican Grottoes
- Sistine Chapel
- History
- Architecture
- Inside
- Old St. Peter's Basilica
- Saint Peter
- St. Peter's Chair
- Statues
- Floor Plan
- St. Peter's Altar
- St. Peter's Baldacchino
- Plan Your Visit
- Skip the Line Tours
- Night Tours
- Timings
- Directions
- Entrances
- Facts
- Feast of the Chair of St. Peter
- Dress Code
- Mass
- Colosseum
- Vatican Museums
- Castel Sant Angelo
- Rome Pantheon
- Roman Catacombs Tour
- Borghese Gallery
- Bioparco Rome
- Palazzo Barberini
- Musei Capitolini
- Leonardo da Vinci Museum
- Trevi Fountain Tours
- Palazzo Merulana
- Altare della Patria
- Rome Underground Tours
- Mamertine Prison
- Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica
- Rome: Ostia Antica
Contents
Learn about all the different St. Peter's Basilica entrances before your visit
St. Peter's BasilicaEntrances
Entering St. Peter’s Basilica
St. Peter’s Basilica is one of the most popular Churches in the world. This means that it is crowded throughout the year.
A visit to the Basilica can leave you waiting in endless ticket lines to get in, taking the fun out of your visit. There is more than just one way to enter the Basilica and we’ve put together a rundown of all the entrances and how to get to them.
Plan Your Visit to St. Peter's BasilicaSt. Peter’s Basilica Entrances
While the main entrance to the Basilica is free, a few attractions inside require tickets. There are separate lines for each of these attractions in different areas of the Basilica.
The Cupola
The Cupola or Dome of St. Peter’s Basilica is its most striking feature. Visitors can climb up to the Dome and walk around the roof to get mesmerizing views of the city. To enter the Cupola, go towards the right side of the portico where you will find the ticket office and the elevator that leads to the roof.
Admission: Ticketed
Opening hours: 8am to 5pm
Michelangelo's Dome Tickets
Sacristy & Treasury Museum
Built by Carlo Marcchioni in 1776, the Sacristy is a separate building that was attached to the Basilica. Inside are important relics dating back to the 1st century including decorative columns, artworks, a red cope, an ancient Papal tiara, and other historic treasures. The entrance to the Sacristy and Treasury Museum is below the Monument to Pius VIII.
Admission: Ticketed
Opening hours: 8am to 5pm
Vatican Necropolis
The Vatican Necropolis is an ancient burial site discovered through excavations under St. Peter’s Basilica. To visit the Necropolis, you can purchase a guided tour ticket and make your way through the Basilica towards the underground entrance. Inside you will find about 91 Papal tombs as well as the tomb of St. Peter himself. The tour of the Vatican Necropolis takes about 1.5 hours. Only 250 people are allowed to visit the Necropolis per day so make sure you book your tickets in advance.
Admission: Ticketed
Opening hours: 7am to 7pm
What's the Vatican Necropolis?
Hidden Entrance
There is a secret entrance to St. Peter’s Basilica that not many people know about. It is located on the right side of the Sistine Chapel through a small door.
Admission: Free
Opening hours: 7am to 7pm
Explore Sistine Chapel
Visit St. Peter's Basilica Today
Frequently asked questions about St. Peter’s Basilica Entrances
Q. Where is St. Peter’s Basilica?
A. St. Peter’s Basilica is located in Vatican City near St. Peter’s Square.
Q. Where is the entrance to St. Peter’s Basilica?
A. The main entrance to St. Peter’s Basilica is through St. Peter’s Square.
Q. How many St. Peter’s Basilica entrances are there?
A. There are 5 ways in which you can enter the St. Peter’s Basilica - the Dome, the Necropolis, the Sacristy, & through the Sistine Chapel and the recently added Prayer Path gate.
Q. Which is the shortest St. Peter’s Basilica entrance?
A. All entrances have a minimum waiting time of about 45 minutes to 1 hour or more.
Q. Which is the best St. Peter’s Basilica entrance?
A. The main entrance is usually the most crowded. Opt for a guided tour for a faster entry into the Basilica. Alternatively, you can also enter through the Dome or Sacristy.
Q. Where is the St. Peter’s Basilica dome entrance?
A. The entrance to St. Peter’s Basilica Dome is towards the right of the portico.
Q. Where is the entrance to the Vatican Necropolis?
A. The entrance to the Vatican Necropolis is below St. Peter’s Basilica.
Q. Where is the entrance to the Sacristy and Treasury Museum?
A. The entrance to the Sacristy & Treasury Museum is below the Monument to Pius VIII.
Q. Are the St. Peter’s Basilica entrances free?
A. Not all the St. Peter’s Basilica entrances are free. Only the main entrance lets you enter for free but you will have to pay to enter the Dome, Necropolis, and Sacristy.
