- Address: Piazza san Pietro, Vatican City 00120, Italy
- Hours: Open daily
- Admission: Free
St Peter's Square
St. Peter's Square (Piazza San Pietro) is the grand colonnaded area in front of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. A visually imposing entry to this great church, the semi-circular colonnades on either side designed by the Roman Baroque sculptor Bernini, seem to reach out and enfold you in their arms. Within the colonnade lies the security-check for entry to St. Peter's and, on the other side, the Vatican post office, because the Vatican is its own municipality with its own stamps.
During times such as the death of a pope or election of a new one, and at Easter and Christmas, the piazza is jammed with pilgrims from all over the world.
Practical Info
St. Peter's Square is easy to reach. Metro line A stops Ottaviano-S.Pietro-Musei Vaticano or Cipro. Tramway 19 to Piazza del Risorgimento, or various buses. You can also walk from the centre of Rome across Ponte Sant'Angelo and up towards the piazza for the most breathtaking approach.
Tours & Tickets
Papal Audience Tickets and Presentation
See the pope and his cardinals deliver their weekly address in Vatican City with a ticket to the papal audience. Follow a local guide through the crowds to a ... Read more
Location: Rome, Italy
Duration: 4 hours (approx.)
Papal Audience Ticket at Vatican City
Bookings are essential if you'd like to attend a Papal Audience with Pope Francis I at the Vatican. Tickets are free of charge but they are limited and you ... Read more
Location: Rome, Italy
Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
Vatican Private Tour of St Peter's Basilica including the Cupola and Vatican Mosaic Studio
Explore two Vatican landmarks with your very own private guide on this 4.5-hour tour. Head up to the top of Michelangelo’s majestic cupola to take in ... Read more
Location: Rome, Italy
Duration: 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
Early Access Vatican Museums Small-Group Tour with St Peter’s and Sistine Chapel
See the highlights of the world-famous Vatican Museums in one morning on this intimate, small-group Vatican walking tour! Starting early in the morning to beat ... Read more
Location: Rome, Italy
Duration: 3 hours (approx.)
Skip the Line: Vatican in One Day
Vatican City’s most comprehensive introduction combining two walking tours to see Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, Gallery of Maps, Raphael's Rooms, St. Peter's ... Read more
Location: Rome, Italy
Duration: 8 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
Entire Vatican and Vatacombs: Heritage of Rome Tour
This comprehensive 3-hour Vatican tour includes Sistine Chapel, the extensive Vatican Museums and the ‘Vatacombs’ — the final resting place of many popes. ... Read more
Location: Rome, Italy
Duration: 3 hours (approx.)
Skip the Line: St Peter's Basilica Walking Tour Including Views from the Top of the Dome
Skip the line to St Peter's Basilica with a guided walking tour and a visit to the cupola. Ride an elevator to the cupola and admire the mosaic designs of ... Read more
Location: Rome, Italy
Duration: 2 hours (approx.)
Private Early Bird Vatican and St Peter's Basilica Tour
Treat yourselves with a private guided tour of the Vatican museums with Early Bird access - explore the second largest and the fifth most visited art museum in ... Read more
Location: Rome, Italy
Duration: 4 hours (approx.)
Private Vatican Tour with Hidden Gems
Enjoy this exclusively designed private tour of the stunning Vatican museums and its hidden gems - the second largest and the fifth most visited art museum in ... Read more
Location: Rome, Italy
Duration: 3 hours (approx.)
No Wait Access: St Peter's Basilica Guided Tour
See the best of St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City on a comprehensive 1.15-hour walking tour. Led by a knowledgeable Vatican guide, your tour starts with a ... Read more
Location: Rome, Italy
Duration: Varies
