Landmarks · PAPAL TOMBS & GROTTOES
Good papal tombs & grottoes tours fill up weeks ahead in the school holidays and the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Art-historian guide takes you from St. Peter’s Square to the grotto tombs and up to the dome top for big Rome views.
“Great guide, new perspectives. Quick, concise and could pivot when asked new questions. Entering through grottoes was key”
Short guided visit to St. Peter’s Basilica, Pietà, tomb and grottoes, plus St. Peter’s Square optical tricks. Small-group or private.
“Silvia was amazing as our tour guide. We learnt a lot on the history and architecture of the Basilica and surrounding areas.”
Guided St. Peter’s Basilica tour with dome views, underground grottoes, and art-historian stories. Tickets and headsets included.
“Tara Washington ofrece guide and she was fantastic, she provide us a lot of information and data Thatcher nobody else know, she was the perfect host, thanks to her we know more about the basílica of san pedro that anyone today for sure. Thanks Tara !”
Self-guided St. Peter’s Basilica and Papal Tombs audio guide with QR-code access in Vatican City, flexible timing, English plus more.
“Our experience purchasing tickets through Viator felt like a scam. We paid for five people and we didn’t get to experience the tour we purchased, because we could never found the meeting point provided to us in the confirmation email. It said “ The meeting point is outside the Basilica before entering St. Peter's square and the security checks”. No one knew where that was exactly and we asked people, until last minute we were able to connect with tour operator when they gave us the actual address that we needed to go to claim the ticket. It was too late and we requested refund, they refused. So many unnecessary…”
Visit Pope Francis’s tomb area, three papal basilicas, and the Holy Stairs with air-conditioned transfers on a small-group tour.
“What a fabulous way to see the Jubilee basilicas and enter the three Holy Doors. Rebecca is the perfect guide: Warm, enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and interesting. Emma and our driver were great too. This was a comfortable way to get to all three locations in three hours. Rebecca pointed out fascinating things in each basilica that we would otherwise overlook, This was a wonderful experience in every way. I was so inspired that I returned to Santa Maria Maggiore to visit the museum and the panoramic terrace. Thanks for one of the best days I had in Italy!”
Tour St. Peter’s Basilica with a guide and go underground to the Vatican Grottoes, including St. Peter’s tomb and papal burials.
“Vito was very knowledgeable. He kept the tour very entertaining even with long lines, rain downpour and people leaving and coming back because of the weather!”
A guided 2-hour St. Peter’s Basilica and Vatican Grottoes visit in Rome, with Vatican Tombs, Pietà art, and an optional Dome climb.
“It's true that the entry is free, but waiting in the line was so much meaningful and fun with the guide talking about the Basilica, it's history, about roman catholicism and everything. Highly recommend”
Guided St. Peter’s Basilica and Vatican Grottoes tour in Rome. See Michelangelo’s Pietà, Bernini’s Baldachin, popes’ tombs. From $16.
“It was a nice experience, full of information! The hot weather and the long line were not pleasant.”
Pope Francis Tomb and Papal Basilicas tour covers three major churches and the Holy Doors in an intimate 3-hour group with entry tickets included.
“Great tour guide. She was very knowledgeable and informative, yet kept the tour on schedule so that we could see three major basilicas and ended at the holy steps, so that we could tour them as well.”
Semi-private St Peter’s Basilica tour with a Dome climb and Papal tombs, expert guidance, and tickets included in 2.5 hours.
“Excellent guide! Great interaction with us, and full of great information! Our guide John Lennon was the best!”
Guided St. Peter’s Basilica, Papal Grottoes, and Dome climb with headsets, great explanations, and Rome panoramic views.
“Valentina is a great guide, I've learned a lot and really enjoyed the tour.”
St. Peter’s Basilica and Vatican Grottoes tour with papal tomb access and dome-view option. English guide, $23.
“Our guide was so knowledgeable and recounts lots of history about the Vatican and tombs. Could not recommend this tour more”
Guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Grottoes to see Saint Peter’s tomb, plus time to explore Rome nearby.
“Muy Bueno el guía qué nos tocó. lástima que fue un día de mucha cola bajo el sol y no pudimos visitar catacumbas.”
Private half-day Vatican tour with skip-the-line Museums, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s tombs, and reserved access to the Scavi necropolis.
“We really enjoyed this tour. We got to see areas in the Vatican that most people don’t get to experience. Also, our tour guides were extremely knowledgeable and shared so much information for us at each location. It was also really nice that you could skip the line at the Basilica and the Museum!”
Guided St. Peter’s Basilica tour with dome climb and Papal Grottoes. Marvel at Michelangelo, Bernini, and big 360° Rome views.
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