First time traveler to Europe here. I’m confused on the Vatican. I read that there are three lines to get into Saint Peter‘s Basilica. One line has no tickets. The other line is for timed entrance tickets and a third line. If I get in the line with no tickets. When I get to the front to buy my tickets is that when I can buy tickets for the dome and the Crypts and the necropolis ? I’m not being able to find timed tickets through the Vatican website. Thank you!!!
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
9511 posts
Make sure you are on the official St Peter’s Basilica site
https://www.basilicasanpietro.va/en
You will need prebooked tickets for dome and necropolis tour
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
18309 posts
To add to Christine's good information, this video could be helpful:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25K9oa2tHNU
As well, understand that the "crypt" most often refers to the grottos. This area is beneath the church and contains the tombs of many popes. It's free to see once inside the basilica. Info:
https://www.basilicasanpietro.va/en/san-pietro/the-vatican-grottoes
https://www.basilicasanpietro.va/en/visit-to-the-vatican-grottoes
You can either pre-book a timed-entry ticket for the dome, or buy inside the basilica: reference the video linked above.
There are two queues to enter the church: one for people with pre-purchased, timed-entry reservations, and another for those entering for free.
Necropolis: more commonly called the Scavi. Accessing this subterranean area requires a guided tour, and to my knowledge you cannot buy tickets AT the church. you must make an advance reservations, and they may or may not be able to accommodate you on your desired date given the limited space. You send them your request: they get back to you with availability. The tour has its own external entry point and ends inside the upper basilica.
https://visite.basilicasanpietro.va/en/booking/necropolivaticana
Posted by
Greeley, co, usa
3101 posts
Take a look at Youtuber ROMEWISE for a good, up to date explanation
Posted by
587 posts
The Necropolis or Scavi tour tickets are available at scavi.va. Tickets and times are limited. I did the tour last month. Fascinating. Note: you exit the tour in St. Peter's Basilica.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
18309 posts
Bigtyke, the youtube link I provided above is from RomeWise's Elyssa, and is her 2026 update on St Peter's ticketing.
Posted by
Indiana
1230 posts
We just returned from Rome. Here are the sites you need to use:
This is the official Vatican Website where you will book tickets for the various things: https://www.basilicasanpietro.va/en On this site, you can book tickets to tour the Basilica and the Dome.
From the main Vatican site, you need to use this link to request tickets for the Scavi (Necropolis) Tour: https://visite.basilicasanpietro.va/en/booking/necropolivaticana This is only a REQUEST for Scavi tickets, it is not a reservation. Send in your request, 90 days ahead of when you want to visit. The Vatican will send you an email saying that they received your request. Then you will wait up to several months to see if your request for tickets has been granted. IF you are granted tickets, then you need to confirm and send in your payment right away in order to secure that spot. Finding the starting point of the tour can be a little tricky. As you stand in St. Peter's Square and face the Basilica, walk to the left side of it and you will see the Swiss Guards. Scavi Entrance is there. Do not be late, or they will leave without you. They are very strict about day and time. Make sure you are dressed appropriately, shoulders and knees covered. No backpacks are permitted. Our tour was on a Wednesday, and it got a little hectic, because the St. Peter's Square was closed due to the fact that Pope Leo is sometimes outside there on Wednesdays. The square did not open until shortly before our tour. His appearance also caused the timed tickets to tour the Basilica to be delayed, so there was quite line and wait to enter that. The Scavi Tour was wonderful, and we felt fortunate to obtain tickets. Enjoy your Vatican visit.
Posted by
1 posts
The official website has timed entry tickets for the Basilica - we tried to go 6/29 during our allotted timeslot but for an unexplained reason they had the ticket line altogether closed for entry. After waiting 40 minutes in 100F+ (there is no shade or cooling stations provided) and seeing a woman pass out/seizure in the heat we decided to forego the visit (and the ticket fee, which is non-refundable). If we were to go again I think we’d try for a tour with access rather than purchasing on the site and trying the line.
Posted by
Staffordshire, UK
36 posts
Regarding the dome - I was at St. Peter's very recently and yes, it is possible to buy tickets for the dome on-site as long as they are available, but it was another queue to stand in. This is inside St. Peter's Basilica, which is entirely separate from both the security queue, and the queue for the Vatican Museums.
The Necropolis is much more exclusive and you are required to purchase a ticket in advance, you can't do it on-site on the day.