Witness Pope Leo XIV’s first public audiences with exclusive, reserved seating in St. Peter’s Square.
Witness Pope Leo XIV’s first public audiences with exclusive, reserved seating in St. Peter’s Square.
Inclusions
Initially we weren't on "the list" perhaps due to booking a day prior to the event. We were told to wait until everyone was checked in and was escorted over to a guide. She was amazing. I wish I knew her name to give her an A++ review she deserved. She got us to the front of the line and the best aisle seats to view Pope Leo. Memories to last a lifetime!!
Our guide worked very hard to get his small group up close to the viewing - he had an asssociate who was working with him steering him to front row seats! Along the way he explained the up-coming Papal procession, the Vatican state, the Swiss guards and general history. Well Done!
The process of locating the guide was extremely stressful - I arrived at 630am and still by 715 it was a chaos with tour guides shouting at each other and no one offering helpful service. Only after I had to be very forceful to a staff member to say I'm not a late no show I have a ticket did they allow me to join.
The organizer on site was very disorganized and we waited almost an hour before we went on our tour to St. Peter's Basilica. There we were not let in via the fast track entrance, but had to stand in the blazing sun again for over an hour with the others. All in all, I spent the money for nothing. I could have done it all for free.
View original review in German
We were on our own for the Papal Audience, she simply gave us the yellow invitation and sticker and showed us where to go for security check, which was a huge line the figure ourselves out once inline looking for seats on our own in huge lines. We were then supposed to go back to meet her at McDonalds after Pope audience, but the crowds were huge and hard to walk back in the heat so it was harder to go back in the heat so we went into St. Peter on our own. It was harder to go back looking for her once we were there than to just go ahead and look around own our own. Very inconveniencing
First, No one was holding up an orange umbrella, it was leaning against the wall and couldn't be seen. The guide for the tour, had us wait an hour and another guide made us get out our. Tickets again to split up group. Unorganized. The flag she was holding didn't say "English' but a.small ribbon with a tiny bear. Guide Maria walked us around for 30 minutes not being able to get in. The tour didn't even start and by 12:30 pm we were still in line. Twice we were told by guide to turn around and walk back through crowds to different locations. I video tape me giving back my radio to Maria as others were doing as well. We would have never gotten into Basillica by time it was supposed to be over. Extremely disappointed and I would like a refund I never have bad experiences but every single person in the group was complaining as well about what they said was "a rip off" . I chose to leave this unhealthy experience and all the negative energy. Please refund my money. TY
HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE!!! There was no one at the meeting spot and no other tour guides knew about Headout . We wasted ovwr $100 for no ticket . I would NOT recommend Headout !!
tthe place to meet was a restricted are, so I never meet anyone. You guys should reinverse my money.
Highly recommended! We booked online from Mexico and had a great experience. The guide in Spanish made us vibrate with her way of telling the story. The only thing I would suggest is to put a little flag or some sign at the meeting point because when you arrive there are so many people that it is a little confusing with other tours.
View original review in Spanish
Our tour guide to get us in was fabulous with fantastic historical knowledge of the Vatican and surrounding areas. very well done.
The guide Bridgette was excellent in her tour of St Peter's basilica, she was very knowledgeable and attentive of her group The papal audience was made very easy to access for us
Explore all three Vatican highlights with skip-the-line access to the Museums and exclusive entry to the basilica via a hidden passage.
Explore all three Vatican highlights with skip-the-line access to the Museums and exclusive entry to the basilica via a hidden passage.
Inclusions
Exclusions
The crowds were very heavy for the jubilee but our guide was wonderful in directing us and keeping us focused on the important details on the museum and Basilica!
The tour guide was very well organized, punctual, very entertaining and in addition to his technical and historical knowledge also liked to have a humorous joke along the way. The group was very pleasant with 10 people, it always moved quickly so that we could see everything and also ask what we wanted from this tour. Thank you very much. We are very happy to recommend this tour.
View original review in German
Everything that was mentioned in the tour we saw. Our guide Olga explained so much to the in-depth knowledge & history of The Vatican & sacred places. The crowds were overwhelming but Olga was able to guide us safely to the best vantage points
Very complete visit, the meeting point very easy to locate. I would have liked to have been able to enjoy a little more of the Sistine Chapel, but there were many people and we passed quickly. Otherwise everything was great !!!!
View original review in Spanish
Absolutely loved our guide, Antonio that also speaks Japanese. He was knowledgeable and passionate about his tours. He knew the end and outs making it unforgettable.
Very good guide bravo! However, we didn't have time to go to St Peter's Basilica, even though it was included in the ticket.
View original review in French
We visited the Vatican Museums with an exceptional guide named Marco and we were really thrilled with the experience. Marco was very well prepared, clear in his explanations and very passionate: he was able to convey to us the importance and beauty of the works of art in an engaging and never boring way. Thanks to him we were able to better appreciate the richness of the Vatican Museums, and the whole tour. We highly recommend this guided tour, especially with Marco: he made our day unforgettable!
View original review in Italian
Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable about both the history of all sites but also about how to effectively navigate the journey through the spaces during such an extremely crowded time. Due to the jubilee crowds we had some delays, and our tour ran long. She did not rush through the museums, nd gave us the complete tour anyway. Seeing that some on the group were getting tired, she sought out places to sit and rest, and was more concerned with everyone's health and happiness than ending on time. A native Roman, the depth of her knowledge, her personal perspectives, and her passion were amazing! Since the sistene chapel was closed, she spent 20 minutes using picture handouts to talk through the meaning of the art inside. The climb to the dome was my favorite part - to be inside seeing the mosaics and the perspective of such a grand church from above were incredible!
Our guide Theresa was simply great! She told and explained everything so well. The whole tour was super nice and absolutely recommendable.
View original review in German
Fantastic tour! It's worth it to skip the queues and have a guided tour with a small group. Wonderful experience which I would reccomend to anyone and will absolutely do it again.
Our guide, Francesca, was funny and easy to listen to. She brought the history to life with her stories and kept us all interested at what was a very busy time in the Vatican. The Vatican museums and gardens were stunning, the Sistine Chapel was breathtaking and St Peter's Basilicia was beautiful. Francesca's stories about the art in the Sistine Chapel and Michelangelo's antics were the highlight for me.
Our tour of the Vatican museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's basilica was amazing. The crowds were crazy but our tour guide kept us together and helped us get where we wanted to go. Her information was great and she was entertaining.
The guide was phenomenal !!! So knowledgeable, so invested in the history, and importing that to the group. Her timing, for ingress and egress to specific areas was so beneficial to the whole experience.
I love the entire surreal experience with Vatican Museum,Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica self guided tour. She was an excellent tour guide on everything she talks about. I would highly recommend her and tour company. It was very easy to meet up and how organize it was. Thank you for the wonderful experience. #firsttimeinItaly!!!!
Great visit with guide Paola, we didn't have to hear to get into the museums and we learned so much!
View original review in French
Fred was amazing. Our group was small which was even better. He was super informative without being boring or too lengthy. He moved us through swiftly without rushing and was super joyful.
It was a great success to have booked the guided tour of the Vatican, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica with Headout. I did not know you but I trusted the comments and I was right. Alessandro (our guide) was very experienced in getting around the Vatican and very knowledgeable in explaining each part of the Vatican. It is definitely worth your guided tour and I have to say that it is perfect value for money. Thank you.
View original review in Spanish
The highlight of our visit to th Vatican was going through the holy door, the crowd was not as bad as I thought they would be. Our host was great she took her time explaining and giving us the history behind the painting/structures/rooms. We spent most of our time in St. Peter basilica, we where able to go underground to see the tomb of the pope's. The we did some shopping in the Vatican store, it was a great experience.
Knowledgeable guide, very attentive and helpful.
View original review in Italian
Our guide, Federico Grande was great. We pass the line in about 5 min. We saw and heard a lot of interesting.
Very interesting tour we did, it allowed us to take pictures and explore the beautiful place.
View original review in Spanish
Our guide was awesome. Skip the line was great
Our tour guide was patient and extremely knowledgeable. She interacted with guests pleasantly and was very sincere.
the guide was super qualified! excellent, entertaining, didactic. Impeccable
View original review in Spanish
The guide Liliane at the Vatican was great and the Colosseum guide was also very good.
View original review in French
Enter before opening hours for a quieter, crowd-free Vatican experience.
Enter before opening hours for a quieter, crowd-free Vatican experience.
Inclusions
Exclusions
Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable about both the history of all sites but also about how to effectively navigate the journey through the spaces during such an extremely crowded time. Due to the jubilee crowds we had some delays, and our tour ran long. She did not rush through the museums, nd gave us the complete tour anyway. Seeing that some on the group were getting tired, she sought out places to sit and rest, and was more concerned with everyone's health and happiness than ending on time. A native Roman, the depth of her knowledge, her personal perspectives, and her passion were amazing! Since the sistene chapel was closed, she spent 20 minutes using picture handouts to talk through the meaning of the art inside. The climb to the dome was my favorite part - to be inside seeing the mosaics and the perspective of such a grand church from above were incredible!
Special and Quick entrance to all locations with the help of Guide. Very friendly and knowledgeable guide.
Our tour was delayed because the Pope met the Vatican staff in the morning so the afternoon was packed with people. Michaela our guide was the boss, she got us through extremely busy areas with ease. She appears to have a great relationship with the Vatican staff which meant we had a smooth tour bypassing queues and she is not afraid to "have words" if needed. Now for the tour, excellent loads of information, plenty of time to stop and appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship or take photos. Anyone who gets Michaela as a guide is in for a great tour.
Beautiful experience! We entered the Vatican museum among the first ones early in the morning. Our guide Chiara was awesome! Extremely knowledgeable with a solid background in history. She gave us so so much information that we can honestly say we graduated from a history college course. When we finished with the Sixteenth Chapel (Amazon) we moved to St Peter basilica to admire more amazing art form Michelangelo and other classics. We were fortunate to go thru the Holly Doors" during the jubilee year. If anyone would like to experience this miracle named Vatican City I highly recommend this company"
Our tour guide Marina was excellent. Early entry was fantastic and very well organised. Would recommend this tour to anyone as you get to enjoy the experience before the large crowds.
I had so much fun!! The experience was absolutely incredible and we had the best guide Andreas! He was so knowledgeable and funny and we had so many laughs throughout the day, I highly highly recommend this experience:)))
Our small group tour of the Vatican was fabulous from the start to the finish. Our Tour Guide, Marina, was exceptional, very knowledgeable and informative, very pleasant and friendly and made the tour very enjoyable. We saw all the major
Elenora was an amazing tour guide with so much knowledge. We loved our experience and would highly recommend. It was the highlight of our stay in Rome.
The whole experience was great, it makes such a difference to have some education about the history of the Vatican and the chapel. Rita is an amazing tour guide and wholeheartedly recommend the experience.
The highlight of my visit was St Peter Dome. Our guide took pride in her job to explain & cover every aspect of the tour. We are blessed to be at Vertican City during this Jubilee year. It was very crowded It took us from 7.15am till 2pm to cover the highlights of Vertican City
We had a great day. Our guide was amazing. She really knew her stuff. She was good at giving lots of info and answering questions. Very fun places to visit.
We had an amazing morning with our guide, Simona. From our ascent up the 330 steps to the dome of St Peter's Basilica to the amazing trip through the Vatican museum, our 5-hour tour was fantastic. Simona shared facts and stories that I had never heard before, and we thoroughly enjoyed her guidance. The Sistine Chapel was closed due to Pope Leo celebrating his first Mass, but we saw other precious historic artifacts and works of art instead. I highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a guided tour.
The guide and the crew from Tour Guy had everything planned and were diligent to provide the best experince. It was an awsome and very especial tour!
Yamuna was well prepared with all the interesting facts, lovely personality, easy to chat with, answerting questions. She prepared us all very well for the climb up the Basilica tower. The information aboit the Cistine Chapel was fantastic and respecting the rules of the chapel even though nobody else was observing them.
Getting there early was key. Our tour guide was fantastic. Very knowledgeable about what she showed us and how to budget time to maximize our experience..
Tour guide was very informative. Gave good descriptions and was clear.
Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and engaged.
Very good except that the weather did not coincide with what was agreed upon
View original review in Spanish
Very well organized. Sandra was a great guide.
Our guide Marianna was very knowledgeable and helpful.
View original review in Italian
Gain insights into the art, history, and spiritual legacy of St. Peter’s with a licensed guide—and climb the Dome for stunning views over Vatican City.
Gain insights into the art, history, and spiritual legacy of St. Peter’s with a licensed guide—and climb the Dome for stunning views over Vatican City.
Inclusions
Exclusions
The lady who gave us a lot of information about St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican State was very knowledgeable and extremely friendly and never tired of answering even the last interesting question. A "feel-good tour"!
View original review in German
Super-friendly guide, to the point in her explanations and full of anecdotes. Mastered her subject and was extremely efficient. Remarkable VAV in all aspects of the tour.
View original review in French
Superb visit despite the crowds due to the basilica being closed in the morning. The guide was perfect, full of anecdotes and attention to detail, conveying his passion and love for this monument. The climb up to the dome was well worth it, with its magnificent 360° view of Rome and Vatican City. The only downside is that the meeting point is poorly signposted, as it's a guide with a flag that shouldn't be blue. And it would be simpler to have a bus stop for the meeting point or a reserved room.
View original review in French
The guide, Edward, who was very knowledgeable and personable, was able to engage the group in the tour, giving comprehensive and easy-to-understand explanations even for children.
View original review in Italian
The church itself was amazing, but our guide topped it with an engaged, huomoristic and very interesting tour. We really learned a lot from him and we all had a great experience and it was worth all the money.
We loved the overall experience and our tour guide was awesome and very knowledgeable. She explained everything patiently and thoroughly. We highly recommend this tour.
We had a very nice tour, especially the guide was very, very nice, knowledgeable, very well read and above all friendly. You could ask him questions, he explained everything, took a toilet break and always kept an eye on his group!!!! I would recommend such a tour!!! It's really worth the money. There was so much going on, yet he kept calm and kept on explaining. We took away so much from this tour, including the history.....If you do a tour like this on your own you don't get this information at all. Thank you very much
View original review in German
Our guide Frédérico was sensational. With great explanations. We lived in the moment. And, above all, in beautiful French.
View original review in French
We took the tour in a small group. The starting point was easy to find. Our guide JAD was attentive to our needs, and we appreciated his explanations.
View original review in French
Many thanks for the experience! A big compliment to our guide. She was very knowledgeable and articulate. Everything seemed very professional and customer-friendly.
View original review in German
We had Michaela as our guide and we were more than impressed with her. There were a total of 18 young people in our group who stayed attentive until the end thanks to Michaela's manner. A thousand thanks to Michaela for this wonderful experience.
View original review in German
Our tour guide was very nice and knowledgeable. What I didn't like was that it said it was a 2 hour tour and it was to start at 8:25 which it did however one of the most things I was looking forward to was the dome climb. Since the description said 2 hours I felt comfortable scheduling another tour at noon. We were still in line at 11:15 for the climb and we had to miss what I was really looking forward to to make sure we made our next tour. I would suggest in your description that the dome climb isn't until the end of the tour and that your tour can last upwards of 3-4 hours long. Since that was one of my highlights of your tour description we then went back after our other tour and then had to pay more to do the dome climb.
Good, a little disorganized and a lot of wasted time. But it was good. I went off on my own to explore, because the history can be googled or read in the library, most people already read and heard, then come to SEE it . Tour guide needs to focus on getting people inside, taking them to various biblical status, and areas, for pictures. This is not a history class, we only had 1-2hrs , but our tour guide spent 40 mins telling us stories and history outside and on the door way, While I applaud her of her knowledge, however this is not a history class, 6 of us had other tours scheduled right afterwards, so we left the tour midway to explore the Basilica on our own, including the Tomb areas underneath.
We had an unforgettable tour. Even though we thought we had booked an audio tour, we absolutely did not regret the guided tour. Alexandra is a very enthusiastic guide with extensive knowledge about St. Peter's and the Vatican. Her English is very good! Also highly recommended for visitors who have been to St. Peter's before!
View original review in Dutch
I had an incredible experience on the St. Peter’s Basilica Guided Tour. Our guide was absolutely amazing and extremely knowledgeable about the rich history and architecture of the basilica. I walked away with a much deeper appreciation and understanding of this iconic site. Highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting the Vatican!
This was my first Headout experience and it was A+! First of all, our guide, Brigitta, was wonderful! So many informations and fun facts, she was also full of humor and funny comments, it was so nice! She really made us feel close to Rome, Vatican and their history. She eas really easy to talk to and that means a lot! The climb wasn't hard, whole 551 steps. The crowd on top was big, but that is what happens with big turistic places. Our trip was so much better because we had this day in the Vatican!
Brigida was a fabulous guide, we learnt such a lot & loved the whole experience. I highly recommend this tour and this company.
We had a wonderful tour with a very engaging guide who gave a lovely balance of facts and information with regard to art, construction, architecture and religion. She also catered to the needs of younger kids in the group as well as adults from different backgrounds.
Our guide was super knowledgeable really enjoyed the whole experience only downside people from group go missing and then we have to wait as guide tries phoning Why are people so selfish
We had a great guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica with Michaela. You can tell that she has a lot of heart, wit and a wealth of knowledge. You should plan at least 4 hours for the tour of this wonderful St. Peter's Basilica if you also want to go up to the dome. It was a very special moment for me when I came out of the grottoes and up into St. Peter's Basilica. It was an absolute WOW moment that overwhelmed me. After the tour, you still have time to climb the dome and go through the Holy Door (only in 2025 and then again in 25 years), past Michelangelo's Pietá. On Michaela's recommendation, we took a short break in a side chapel where neither cell phones nor talking are allowed. A guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica is an absolute must, because otherwise you never get to know all the background information. A big thank you to the organizer and to Michaela.
View original review in German
The punctuality of the group, the dynamism, the documentation and anecdotes of the guide, her ease in finding her way to the best views. We thoroughly enjoyed this tour and would recommend it in a heartbeat.
View original review in French
I've been to tours all over the world from Mexico to Uganda but but ANN is the best bar non. I can't wait to book more of her tours SHE IS A STAR!
Our guide Frerico was very pleasant and knowledgeable. We really appreciated his comments The Basilica is really impressive.
View original review in French
Awesome , my pleased to be here and wish everyone a good, peace fortune
Fantastic and Tour guide Alexandria was exceptional
Tour the Vatican on your terms with a private, customizable experience and exclusive Basilica access.
Tour the Vatican on your terms with a private, customizable experience and exclusive Basilica access.
Inclusions
This experience is perfect for our guide Laura was knowledgeable and pleasant.. She made the tour so interesting. We are so grateful for Laura!!
Nunzia had incredible knowledge and an extremely pleasant feeling for us. In addition to the tour, she gave us lots of tips for the days and evenings. We would be happy to book with you again; I can only recommend you.
View original review in German
AnnaMaria was an absolutely brilliant tour guide. Very knowledgeable and a true Roman. Thank you for the great experience
Loved our guide! Maggie was knowledgeable and very capable. We were extremely please with her guidance.
Good guide and good highlights on the tour.
View original review in German
Valentina is fantastic! Reccomend 100%
Great Italian guide who speaks French fluently and knows all the guards. We passed through Vatican security in few minutes and the tour was really interesting. We have a great memory of this morning. Thank you very much.
Noelle Exceptional, very happy with our guide and the knowledge she has of all the details during the tour, very attentive and respectful with all my family. Visit, very attentive and respectful with all my family, super recommended!
View original review in Spanish
Our guide Alexandra led us through the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel with such naturalness that we felt like we were in Roman times and enjoyed our visit ! Grazzie mile
View original review in Spanish
Very knowledgeable and very accommodation to my husnads use of a cane. We had a great time
There was FAR too many people - you should reduce the number of people entering. The greatness dissapear I was there 40 years ago with a totally different experience
Attending the Papal Audience is always free, but tickets are required for the main seated and standing sections to help manage crowds and ensure safety.
Tickets do not assign you a specific seat—they simply grant access to a particular section or area. Seating is always first-come, first-served: the earlier you arrive, the better your spot will be.
You can still attend without a ticket, but you’ll be limited to standing at the back of St. Peter’s Square. For a better view and overall experience, it’s best to request tickets at least 1 month in advance, especially in peak season.
Note: Newlyweds married within two months can request special seating (“sposi novelli” section) via the Prefecture.
For a seamless and enriching experience, consider booking the Papal Audience tour. This package includes:
This option ensures you have a reserved spot and provides insightful commentary, enhancing your understanding of the event's significance.
Important notes:
The General Audience with the Pope happens every Wednesday and usually begins at 9am. Security usually allows visitors in by 7:30am.
The Pope’s official schedule is made known days ahead of the event. You can also refer to the Papal Audience calendar for dates when the event is held.
There are times when the Pope is overseas or is engaged in some work in which case the Papal Audience will not be held for that week.
The Papal audience is held in the spacious St. Peter’s Square close to St. Peter’s Basilica. During the Winter and the rainy season, if weather conditions are unfavorable, the Papal audience is held at the Hall of The Pontifical Audiences, also called the Papal Hall, which can accommodate over 6000 visitors.
During the Italian holiday period in August, the Pope may reside in his summer residence - Castel Gandolfo, in which case the gathering will be held there.
Getting to the VaticanA casual dress code is followed during a Papal Audience since it happens outdoors. Being modestly dressed is still strongly advised. Shorts or dresses exposing the knees, tank tops, sleeveless shirts, and baseball caps inside the churches are not allowed. Ladies are required to cover up their shoulders if the meetings are held indoors.
Due to the heat, you may also want to bring sun hats, sunscreen, and water to keep yourself cool and protected. Men are permitted to wear hats throughout the Audience.
Read More on Vatican Dress CodeStaff at the Papal Audience prioritize seating for wheelchair users. Wheelchair users are invited to sit in a premium seating location to the right of the Pope’s speaking platform and may even get a chance to interact with the Pope after the event has concluded.
Plan Your Visit to Vatican CityPeople from all over the world visit the Vatican with the hope of seeing the Pope and listening to his words of wisdom. Experience the following while you’re there:
No, the Papal Audience is open to individuals of all faiths and backgrounds. It's an opportunity to hear the Pope's teachings and receive his blessing.
No, tickets to the Papal Audience are entirely free. Be cautious of any third parties attempting to sell tickets, as this is not authorized.
While tickets are required for seated areas, individuals without tickets may still attend by standing in the open sections of St. Peter's Square. However, space is limited, and early arrival is recommended.
Modest attire is required. Both men and women should ensure shoulders and knees are covered. This dress code is strictly enforced, and non-compliance may result in denied entry.
The Papal Audience is usually held in St. Peter’s square of the Vatican. When the weather becomes cold or rainy, the Papal Audience is held indoors within the Papal Hall.
The construction of the Papal Hall was started in 1963 and inaugurated in 1971. It was designed by Italian engineer and architect Pier Luigi Nervi.
Yes, children are welcome to attend. It's a family-friendly event, but parents should prepare for large crowds and ensure children are supervised at all times.
The Papal Audience takes about an hour and a half to complete but may extend to two hours.
At the Papal Audience, you will get a chance to see the Pope live. You can listen to his teaching and receive his blessings. You will also get a chance to see St. Peter’s square, a magnificent oval pavilion.
Yes, taking photos and selfies is permitted at a Papal Audience.
During his arrival and exit, the Pope meets and greets the public under strict security measures. Unless you are part of the special groups seated near the speaking platform like disabled visitors and newlyweds, you will not get a chance to meet the Pope personally.
Yes, the Pope imparts an Apostolic Blessing at the conclusion of the audience, which extends to religious articles such as rosaries and medals. Simply have them with you during the blessing.
In the event of inclement weather, the Papal Audience may be relocated to the Paul VI Audience Hall. Ticket holders will be informed of any changes accordingly.