St Peter's Basilica
- Address: Piazza San Pietro, Vatican City
- Hours: Open daily 7am - 7pm (6pm in winter)
- Admission: Free
ATTRACTION Keywords:
Holy Place,
Church / Cathedral
St Peter's Basilica Reviews
We've found 98 St Peter's Basilica reviews from Viator.com travelers and members: what they loved, what they liked and what they think could be improved. It's all here to help you make the most of your next trip.
Review by Monette F, April 2013
Doing what: Skip the Line: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica Half-Day Walking Tour
It was difficult to get specific directions to the meeting place but I can help! It's at the NE corner of Via Germanico and Via Leone IV. There is a sign on the SE side of the building that says "Enjoy Rome" and the door is right next to the sign on the ground floor. Backpacks will have to be checked at the door of the museum and it's a good 10 minute walk to get back to your possessions after the tour. Don't go without taking a tour! You will have long waiting lines and won't understand much. As for the tour, our guide was Valentino and we absolutely LOVED her. She was fantastic! There were 23 in our group and she kept us with us all beautifully. The tour was 3 full hours. You do get a shortwave/earphone to hear the tour guide. The crowds were incredible - 20,000 people a day makes it very crowded and very loud. I would NOT go in the summer as there is no air conditioning. We saw one museum, the Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica. No talking and No photos in the Sistine Chapel. It was all fascinating and beautiful. A definite must-do on your trip to Rome! One suggestion - go eat at Ristochicco Restaurant after - make reservations!
Review by Mark F, United Kingdom, April 2013
Doing what: Skip the Line: Vatican Museums Small-Group Tour including Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica
I booked the Vatican small group tour "on-line" 2 days before arriving in Rome.. yes I know "last minute" arrangements may "crash and burn.. but "no".. met with the Guide "early doors".. our booking details were there and a very welcoming Francesca (Graduate MA in Art) led the group. We were wired up with individual "headsets".. what a great piece of kit. From the moment we started our "passionate, polite and altogether professional guide" didn't let up. In every way this was without doubt an amazing 3 hours of "show / tell"... and an introduction to the "Masters" and their work ! In truth my wife and I could not have known about half of what was being seen.. not even with a guide book strapped to our heads !
So I think you get the point.. amazing Sistine Chapel.. amazing St Peter's Basilica and so much more... and a "top drawer" person to listen to... would we do it again... yes please !
Review by Bonnie G, March 2013
Doing what: Skip the Line: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica Half-Day Walking Tour
We went on this tour the day after the Pope stepped down. Viator was great about communicating with us regarding the possible limitations of the tour because of the timing. But it worked out and we had an amazing tour. Our guide was fabulous. She was incredibly knowledgeable about the museum and the Vatican and St Peter's Basilica . She didn't rush us at all and had the answer for all our questions.
Review by MICHAEL G, March 2013
Doing what: Skip the Line: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica Half-Day Walking Tour
I enjoyed this tour very much but it would have been a great deal better if Pope Benedict had not decided to resign. The Pope's resignation meant that we were unable to enjoy the Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica. We did however get an extended tour of the Vatican Museum. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and friendly.
Review by D W Taylor T, March 2013
Doing what: Skip the Line: Vatican Museums Walking Tour including Sistine Chapel, Raphael's Rooms and St Peter's
A well organised tour and a well informed guide. It was an interesting afternoon and we learned far more than we would have discovered if we had visited the Vatican Museums independently. Despite the Vatican's February ban on tour guides in St Peter's basilica we didn't feel that we missed out on anything. Recommended.
Review by Pauline T, February 2013
Doing what: Skip the Line: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica Half-Day Walking Tour
Excellent tour without the guide I think we would have missed half of it, well worth the money the sheer opulence of the Vatican has to be seen to be believed, St Peter's Basilica is incredible, would not like to visit high season when visitors top 29K per day
Review by Geoffrey W, November 2012
Doing what: Skip the Line: Vatican Museums Walking Tour including Sistine Chapel, Raphael's Rooms and St Peter's
our guide was Georgia a very nice young lady from Palermo Sicly she was very pleasant and informative and made the whole visit to the Vatican a very enjoyable experiance. unfortunatley St Peter's Basilica was closed. we were offered a refund or a re-scheduling of our visit, we chose to carry on and enjoyed it immensley, would highly recomend this tour, although a bit expensive it was worth it to avoid the hugh queue's waiting to get in
Review by Maggiemaeann, Australia, November 2012
Doing what: Skip the Line: Vatican Museums Walking Tour including Sistine Chapel, Raphael's Rooms and St Peter's
This tour started with a drenching in a huge rainstorm as we met our group opposite the entrance to the Vatican museum but under these difficult circumstances the tour company quickly and efficiently organised everyone and we soon skipped the VERY long line and were inside. Our guide was Francesca who was brilliant, so passionate and knowledgable about the Vatican, the artists and the history of the works in the museums. She really brought the tour alive for us and guided us smoothly through the very crowded spaces taking time to ensure everyone could see and hear. The tour was a little over 3 hours but seemed to go very quickly ending at the front of St Peter's Basilica which allowed you to go back if you wanted to spend more time yourself. It was an excellent tour and the only way to see such a large place and really get to understand and see all that it had to offer. Thank you Francesca for your wonderful tour!!
Review by John P, October 2012
Doing what: Skip the Line: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica Half-Day Walking Tour
We thoroughly enjoyed the tour conducted by Dario. He navigated the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica with ease and confidence inspite of the hords of tours trying to see the same areas of interest as our large group . (Note - This is really becoming an issue with several museums we visited. in Rome and Florence. Tour groups are overwhelming the museums in Italy.) He was very knowledgeable and communicated in a clear and understandable manner. This is very important in a large tour. (Suggestion: each tour starts with a test of the audio equipment. If you are not comfortable with the communication skills of the tour guide, don't hestitate to ask for a different tour guide until you statisfied with their communication skills.)
When booking with Enjoy Rome Tours ask for Dario. Not all tour guides are equal!
The Group of 11 (October 12th, 1pm )
Review by Tony T, September 2012
Doing what: Skip the Line: Vatican Museums Walking Tour including Sistine Chapel, Raphael's Rooms and St Peter's
We had an excellent tour of the Vatican Museums and St Peter's Basilica. Sabrina was the perfect guide, full of knowledge which she imparted very well. The meeting point was easy to find and close to the entrance and all necessary instructions were clearly given. I would certainly recommend Viators to anyone and Sabrina especially.
Review by Maureen W, September 2012
Doing what: Skip the Line: Vatican Museums Walking Tour including Sistine Chapel, Raphael's Rooms and St Peter's
We were absolutely enthralled with the history and opulence of both the Vatican and St Peter's basilica. To think we were walking in the footsteps of some of the greatest men dating back 2 thousand years was mind blowing. Neither of us are religious at all but St Peter's was really something to comprehend. The sheer size and splendour of the architecture was awe inspiring when you consider how long ago it was built. A wonderful tour and well worth the money to skip the queues and have the informative commentary which brought alive what you were seeing. Without this it would just have been a bunch of old stuff you were looking at. Would highly recommend this tour to anyone.
Review by Jane A, September 2012
Doing what: Skip the Line: Vatican Museums Small-Group Tour including Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica
I went on a small group tour of the Vatican, Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica with my teenage daughters. Our guide Michael was excellent! He was informative, engaging to all in our group and presented the tour in a slightly alternative way! We saw all the major sights, learnt lots things but without seemingly being inundated with dry dates and facts! I have been on many tours but this one will be remembered as one of the best in terms of what we saw and how it was presented to us!
Review by Christopher B, August 2012
Doing what: Skip the Line: Vatican Museums Walking Tour including Sistine Chapel, Raphael's Rooms and St Peter's
We had an excellent tour guide, Tiffany, who was extremely knowledgeable and very informative. It was well worth having the guided tour and the way the audio worked was clever. I had not realised that to see St Peter's Basilica is free.
Review by THOMAS V, August 2012
Doing what: Skip the Line: Vatican Museums Walking Tour including Sistine Chapel, Raphael's Rooms and St Peter's
For a once in a lifetime trip, this was definitely the way to do it. There were only ten in the group, as promised, and our tour guide, Marcia, was exceptionally knowledgeable in her subject. The Vatican was busy, as is to be expected at this time of the year, but Marcia, having done the tour so many times before, knew the route to take to reduce the congestion, as much as was possible. The content of the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, and St Peter's Basilica have to be seen to be truly appreciated. So much history, so beautifully preserved, so easy to appreciate. Definitely worth the price tag; you only ever get to do it once!
Review by Bryan C, May 2012
Doing what: Skip the Line: Vatican Museums Walking Tour including Sistine Chapel, Raphael's Rooms and St Peter's
Our guide was on time, gave each of our party of 10 headsets where we each can listen as we walk to our guide who was a Rome native. Great personality, engaging and very informative. We did not have to wait in any lines to view the Sistine Chapel, St Peter's Basilica or the Vatican as we toured as a comfortable pace. Would not hesitate to use their services again on future visits.
