underground and dome vatican tour
vatican dome

The Best Scavi Tour Vatican 2024

Vatican Dome & Crypt Tour

from: €42
3 hours
Live tour guide
Mobile ticket

About Vatican Underground Tour

Make the most out of your Vatican visit by climbing to the city's highest viewpoint - the dome of St. Peter's Basilica. Marvel at the breathtaking views of iconic landmarks and delve into the mesmerizing interior of St. Peter's Basilica. Don't miss a unique opportunity to uncover the secrets of the Vatican crypts with an expert guide. Trust us, an unforgettable experience awaits!

DESCRIPTION

Dome & Underground Vatican Tour

Your Dome and Vatican Underground tour will start with a climb to the top of the Dome of St. Peter’s Basilica. Enjoy the breathtaking view extending from the Vatican Dome to the entirety of Vatican City and Rome.

From this fantastic panoramic view, you’ll also be able to spot the Pantheon and Colosseum, as well as other iconic landmarks of Rome.

After returning to the ground floor, you will be able to avoid the long queue and directly go inside St. Peter’s Basilica. There you will be able to admire its impressive interior with the colorful marble, intricate mosaics, and golden ceilings. You’ll also learn something new about the renowned works of Renaissance and Neoclassical artists that are kept here.

On this tour, you’ll also be able to visit the Basilica’s historic grottoes and the Tomb of St Peter on the underground floor. The Tomb is believed to be the final resting place of Peter, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus. Only 250 people per day are granted the opportunity to enter and explore this remarkable burial site and preserved decorations dating back to the 1st century AD. Your Vatican Dome and Underground tour will end at St Peter’s Square.

included
  • Professional guide
  • Entry fees to the top of the Dome
  • Headsets to hear your guide better
  • Full on-site assistance
X not included
  • Tips (optional)
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
languages
  • English
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Meeting point

Meet your tour guide at Piazza della Città Leonina, near the arches, where the square meets via di Porta Angelica. Facing the arches, the meeting point is located at the corner of the square, on the left-hand side, next to the kiosk.

Peter’s Basilica

Admire the Basilica’s array of impressive marble, ceilings, and mosaics

Vatican Dome

Climb to the top of the Dome to admire panoramic views of Rome and Vatican City

Peter’s Tomb

Visit St. Peter’s Tomb and touch the original 4th-century Basilica walls.

Underground grottoes

Explore Vatican Scavi and underground grottoes while marveling at the ancient frescoes

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MAKE YOUR VISIT TO VATICAN CITY UNFORGETTABLE!

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Good to know before you go

  • No photography or filming is permitted inside the Sistine Chapel
  • It is obligatory to deposit suitcases, large backpacks and umbrellas in the cloakroom
  • Students aged 18-25 must have their international student cards and ID cards as a proof of age with them on the day of the visit
  • Children under 18 years must have their documents with them as a proof of age on the day of the visit

Want to tour Colosseum Underground too?

Check out the best Colosseum underground tour

vatican underground tour

FAQ – Vatican Underground Tour

Can you tour under the Vatican?

You can visit Vatican Scavi as a part of an organized Vatican underground tour. The visit to the Vatican Necropolis is only possible by following permission. According to a schedule made by the excavations office, the Vatican Necropolis entrance is also located there. It’s organized that way because the excavations office aims to preserve and protect this exceptional archeological site. The safest way to visit the Vatican Necropolis is by going on a guided tour.

How long is the Vatican catacombs tour?

The Vatican underground tour takes about an hour and a half. And every Scavi tour ticket is organized in small groups.

Is the Vatican underground?

Underneath the Vatican City lies the Vatican Necropolis, at depths ranging between 5–12 meters. It’s located right below St Peter’s Basilica. The Vatican necropolis was not originally one of the ancient Roman Catacombs but an open-air cemetery with papal tombs and mausolea.

Can you walk around the Vatican for free?

You can walk inside the Vatican City for free and stroll around St Peter’s Square. Entry to the Saint Peter Basilica is also completely free, but we recommend avoiding long lines and booking a guided tour of St Peter’s Basilica. Also, you need to purchase tickets if you want to visit Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel, but we do recommend booking a Vatican Museums Tour as the best deal for your money.
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UNCOVER THE SECRETS OF VATICAN UNDERGROUND!

Easy & Fast booking process

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This tour is selling fast! Why wait and miss your spot?

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So good you forget about the time

Our guide was very knowledgeable and detail-oriented. Got to learn more about the symbolism inside of the dome, look at the major works inside (+great explanation), walk up the stairs to the top, and have a full overview of the city skyline, as well as the underground floor. The whole tour took 3 hours, however, if you are booking multiple Vatican tours for the same day, make sure to have 1.5-2 hours between the sessions, it might get a bit overwhelming. 🙂

Anonymous

Excellent tour

This Vatican Scavi tour is an excellent way to see all of the must-visit attractions of the Vatican without wondering where exactly to go. This tour takes you to the Vatican underground area, but you'll not be able to go to the deepest level where apostle Peter and the first Pope are buried. The great thing is that this is a small group tour, so you can talk to your tour guide and ask them whatever you want. For me, the highlight of this exclusive tour was the Vatican Necropolis. All in all, it was an incredible experience, and our entertaining guide told us a remarkable story and made it a more exciting visit.

Lea

Book your Dome & Vatican Underground Tour Now!

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  • Small group or private tours are available
  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance

Instant ticket delivery

Smartphone tickets accepted

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