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- Vatican Museums
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- Vatican Grottoes
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Vatican Grottoes tours
Explore the chapels, altars, and crypts of St. Peter's Basilica with an expert guide.
- An expert guide will lead you through the best of St. Peter's Basilica, from its chapels and altars to the sacred Papal Crypts.
- Dive into art and architecture by Renaissance greats such as Donato Bramante and Carlo Maderno in your preferred language.
- As you walk through the mosaic floors that tell the stories of saints and martyrs, keep an eye out for the awe-inspiring Baldachin by Bernini.
- You can opt for a guide in your preferred language, with tours available in English, French, Spanish, and Italian.
- After the tour, you can descend to the Vatican Grottoes and explore the Papal Tombs, learn about the legacy of the Clementine Chapel, and more.
Explore the chapels, altars, and crypts of St. Peter's Basilica with an expert guide.
- An expert guide will lead you through the best of St. Peter's Basilica, from its chapels and altars to the sacred Papal Crypts.
- Dive into art and architecture by Renaissance greats such as Donato Bramante and Carlo Maderno in your preferred language.
- As you walk through the mosaic floors that tell the stories of saints and martyrs, keep an eye out for the awe-inspiring Baldachin by Bernini.
- You can opt for a guide in your preferred language, with tours available in English, French, Spanish, and Italian.
- After the tour, you can descend to the Vatican Grottoes and explore the Papal Tombs, learn about the legacy of the Clementine Chapel, and more.
Inclusions
- Guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica with skip-the-line entry
- Expert English, French, Italian or Spanish-speaking guide
- Assistance at meeting point
- Tip: Check out Pietro Cavallini's Madonna della Bocciata fresco in the Vatican Grottoes and hear the story behind its unique name.
- Strict dress code: knees and shoulders must be covered for all guests.
- Mobile phones must remain on silent mode inside the Basilica.
- This experience is wheelchair and pram/stroller accessible. The right semicircle of Saint Peter’s Square is equipped with ramp access to the Basilica. For any special requirements, contact accoglienza@fsp.va in advance.
- Sign language guided tours are available in Italian at the Basilica. This service must be booked at least 48 hours in advance at the following email address: visiteguidate@fsp.va.
- Expect a long wait at security, especially during peak times. Patience is key, it could take up to 2 hours!
- Around religious holidays at the Vatican, parts of the tour, such as the Papal Tombs, may not be open. In this case, the tour of the Basilica itself will be extended.
- These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.
Explore all three Vatican highlights with skip-the-line access to the Museums and a seamless transition to the Basilica with reserved entry.
- Everything you get: Skip the ticketing queues and follow your expert guide through the Vatican Museums, including the Gallery of Maps, Raphael Rooms, and more. Get all the context you need before stepping into the Sistine Chapel to admire Michelangelo’s masterpieces. Later, enjoy a 20-minute guided walk around the Vatican City Walls before entering St. Peter’s Basilica through Porta Angelica with reserved access for a self-guided visit.
- Why choose this: Maximize your time with reserved Basilica access and a guided transition from the Museums, with your expert guide highlighting St. Peter’s must-see treasures and hidden stories you'd likely miss on your own.
- Upgrade: Go for a fully guided tour inside St. Peter’s Basilica for a deeper, more immersive experience. Explore with an expert who brings its history to life and gain deeper context inside one of the world’s most important churches. Prefer a more exclusive experience? Opt for a semi-private tour (max 10 guests) for deeper engagement and a more intimate Vatican visit.
- Go for the early morning tour with Dome climb to explore before the rush and see the Vatican from above.
Explore all three Vatican highlights with skip-the-line access to the Museums and a seamless transition to the Basilica with reserved entry.
- Everything you get: Skip the ticketing queues and follow your expert guide through the Vatican Museums, including the Gallery of Maps, Raphael Rooms, and more. Get all the context you need before stepping into the Sistine Chapel to admire Michelangelo’s masterpieces. Later, enjoy a 20-minute guided walk around the Vatican City Walls before entering St. Peter’s Basilica through Porta Angelica with reserved access for a self-guided visit.
- Why choose this: Maximize your time with reserved Basilica access and a guided transition from the Museums, with your expert guide highlighting St. Peter’s must-see treasures and hidden stories you'd likely miss on your own.
- Upgrade: Go for a fully guided tour inside St. Peter’s Basilica for a deeper, more immersive experience. Explore with an expert who brings its history to life and gain deeper context inside one of the world’s most important churches. Prefer a more exclusive experience? Opt for a semi-private tour (max 10 guests) for deeper engagement and a more intimate Vatican visit.
- Go for the early morning tour with Dome climb to explore before the rush and see the Vatican from above.
Inclusions
- Guided tour of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel with skip-the-line entry
- Reserved entry to St. Peter's Basilica
- Guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica (as per option selected)
- Expert English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, or Portuguese-speaking guide
- Semi private tour with a max group of 10 (as per option selected)
- Early morning tour with St. Peter's Basilica and Dome climb (as per option selected)
- Headphones
Exclusions
- Gratuities
- Entry to St. Peter's Basilica Dome
- Names on tickets must match a valid photo ID. Double-check the details at checkout for a smooth entry.
- Your ticket includes a specific entry time. Arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your chosen slot.
- Knees, shoulders, and back must be covered for all guests.
- While the tour is not accessible to wheelchair users, the Vatican Museums offer free wheelchair hire and free entry for visitors with mobility impairments (certified invalidity exceeding 74%) and a companion if required.
- When in Sistine Chapel, silence is mandatory and photography is prohibited. Guides will provide all necessary and interesting details before entry.
- Expect a considerable wait at the security line, especially during peak times. Patience is key, it could take up to an hour!
- Please be aware that during the Jubilee Year, certain areas of the Vatican Museums may be inaccessible due to religious ceremonies. Additionally, entrance to St. Peter's Basilica may also experience unannounced closures. These circumstances are beyond our control. Thank you for your understanding.
- The Vatican Museums reserve the right to close any section, including the Sistine Chapel, due to unforeseen circumstances. The closure of any museum section does not entitle visitors to any refund.
- With the Jubilee underway, all entrances to St. Peter's Basilica are restricted. Therefore, in order to secure access, it will be necessary to complete the reservation no later than 5 days before the experience.
- These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.
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.
- Everything you get: Explore the interiors of the basilica with a local expert guide who brings context to its sculptures, mosaics, and sacred spaces—including Michelangelo’s Pietà and the Papal Crypts in the Vatican Grottoes. Then, ride the elevator partway up the Dome and climb the final stretch of stairs to reach the top, where panoramic views of Vatican City and Rome await.
- Why choose this: The Basilica is vast, layered with centuries of history and symbolism. Instead of wandering without context, this tour gives you structure, stories, and expert insight—plus access to one of its most iconic experiences: the climb to the top of the Dome.
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.
- Everything you get: Explore the interiors of the basilica with a local expert guide who brings context to its sculptures, mosaics, and sacred spaces—including Michelangelo’s Pietà and the Papal Crypts in the Vatican Grottoes. Then, ride the elevator partway up the Dome and climb the final stretch of stairs to reach the top, where panoramic views of Vatican City and Rome await.
- Why choose this: The Basilica is vast, layered with centuries of history and symbolism. Instead of wandering without context, this tour gives you structure, stories, and expert insight—plus access to one of its most iconic experiences: the climb to the top of the Dome.
Inclusions
- Guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica and Dome with entry
- Expert English, Spanish, French, German or Italian-speaking guide
- Access by elevator to the base and stairs to the top
- Breakfast (for French and English options, if selected)
Exclusions
- Entry to Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
- Entry to the Necropolis / St. Peter’s Tomb / Scavi
- The Dome is not suitable for wheelchair users or those with vertigo or claustrophobia. Even with elevator access, 320 steps must be climbed to reach the cupola.
- Knees and shoulders must be covered for all guests.
- These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.
Vatican TicketsVatican Grottoes
Top things to do in Rome
Why visit the Vatican Grottoes?
The Grottoes contain the tombs of over 90 popes, several monarchs, and other church dignitaries, dating back to the 10th century.
Key highlights include the marble statue of St. Peter Enthroned, the funerary monument of Calixtus III, the sepulcher of St. Peter, and remnants of the Old St. Peter’s Basilica.
Note: Your ticket to St.Peter’s Basilica/Vatican Museums includes access to Vatican Grottoes.
St.Peter’s Basilica/Vatican Museums TicketsPlan your visit to Vatican Grottoes
Location
The Vatican Grottoes are located beneath St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. You can access them through the main church by entering near the statues of St. Helen and St. Andrew and heading down towards the papal tombs.
Directions to St. Peter's Basilica
Timings
The Vatican Grottoes are open during the same hours as St. Peter’s Basilica:
7am to 7pm from April to September
7 am to 6pm from October to March.
Ensure you complete your visit at least half an hour before closing time.
St. Peter's Basilica TimingsOrigin of Vatican Grottoes
The Grottoes were established during the construction of the current St. Peter’s Basilica in the 17th century, built over the Old St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Necropolis, and Saint Peter’s tomb.
It took about 120 years to complete the Basilica, including the construction of the papal tombs and necropolis below the structure.
What’s inside the Grottoes?
Clementine Chapel (Chapel of St. Peter)
Clementine Chapel is the precious gem of the Vatican Grottoes, holding the chest that protects the sepulcher of Peter the Apostle. It makes up the center of the peribolos and is the only part of the cathedral to maintain its original purpose and function. Just like back in the day, people of faith make their way to the chapel to pay their respects. It is believed that the head of St. Peter lay above the tomb towards the back of the monument. The chapel gets its name from Clement VIII, who modified the ancient chapel in 1592.
Tomb of John Paul II (previous)
After the funeral of Pope John Paul II on April 8, 2005, his first tomb was placed towards the north end of the Grottoes, less than 100 feet from the tomb of St. Peter. He was placed in the spot where Pope John XXII previously lay, until he was moved to the St. Jerome Altar on June 3, 2001. A few years later in 2011, John Paul II was declared blessed and moved under the Altar of St. Sebastian. His body was placed in a cypress coffin as part of three traditional coffins that lay together. The outermost zinc casket was encrypted with three bronze plaques and a cross and placed in a larger casket which was shut using nails made of pure gold.
Chapel of the Madonna of Bocciata
The Chapel of Madonna of Bocciata is the oldest in the area around St. Peter’s sepulcher, commissioned by Gregory XIII in 1580. Inside the chapel is an elegant fresco painted by Pietro Cavallini, a renowned 14th-century artist. He called it the “Madonna della Bocciata” because Mary’s face is swollen in the painting. It is believed that a drunken soldier once threw a bowl at the image after losing a game, which made her face bleed.
Icon of the Madonna Dolorosa & Reliefs of the Doctors of the Church
A massive depiction of the Holy Madonna is present in one corner of the Vatican Grottoes towards the south end. Here you can see Madonna painted in red and black clothes, slightly raising her arms, with an orange halo above her head. This image is surrounded by reliefs of the Doctors of the Church, preserved for many centuries.
Archaeological Rooms of Vatican Grottoes
Although the Old St. Peter’s Basilica was gravely destroyed, some parts of it remain buried below the new cathedral. Paul V extended the Vatican Grottoes in the 16th century with parts of the old basilica placed on its walls. There are six Archeological Rooms in total containing tombs, frescoes, and other structures from the old cathedral.
Funerary Monument of Calixtus III
A funerary monument of Pope Calixtus III lies at the south end of the grottoes, before the exit. Calixtus was the head of the Church and Papal States in the 14th century until his death. Although his remains were kept at Santa Maria in Monserrato, a funerary monument was built in his honor at St. Peter’s Basilica.
Marble Statue of St. Peter Enthroned
The marble statue of St. Peter is a famous image throughout the world. Located right before the exit of the grottoes, the statue shows the apostle sitting with his arms crossed and his feet adorned with sandals. Almost everyone who visits the Vatican Grottoes is known to perform the gesture of kissing feet of the Apostle.
Clementinian Peribolos
In between the Chapel with the Tomb of Pius XII and the Chapel of St. Veronica is the beautiful Clementinian Peribolos. The roof of the area is adorned with bright and colorful holy images that stretch along the corridor.
Georgian Peribolos
The Georgian Peribolos, unlike the Clementinian one, is worn down with many parts of its walls having fallen off. However, the structure still holds strong even centuries later.
1. Chapel with Tomb of Pius XII
2. Chapel of St Veronica
3. Clementinian Peribolos
4. Chapel of St Helen
5. Clementine Chapel (Chapel of St Peter)
6. Gregorian Peribolos
7. Chapel of the Madonna of Bocciata
8. Opening onto the Archeological Remains of the Confessio (ex Chapel of Salvatorello)
9. Irish Chapel of St Columbanus
10. Chapel of the Madonna of Partorienti
11. Southern Corridor of the Confessio
12. The Confessio - Pallium Niche
13. Northern Corridor of the Confessio
14. Polish Chapel of Our Lady of Czestochowa
15. Lithuanian Chapel of Mater Misericordiae
16. Peribolos - Last Section
17. Mexican Chapel of Our Lady of Guadeloupe
18. Tomb of Pius VI
19. Chapel of the Madonna between Peter and Paul
20. Peribolos - First Section
21. Chapel of the Patron Saints of Europe
22. Chapel of St. Andrew (Grottoes Entrance)
23. Opening in front of the Confessio
24. Chapel of St Longinus
25. Tomb of Pius XI
26. Central Altar
27. Tomb of John Paul II (previous)
28. Tomb of Cardinal Merry del Val
29. Tomb of Queen Charlotte of Cyprus
30. Queen Christina of Sweden
31. Tomb of the Stuarts
32. Tomb of Cardinal Francesco Tedeschini
33. Tomb of Benedict XV
34. Tomb of Innocent IX
35. Archeological Room VI
36. Archeological Room V
37. Archeological Room IV
38. Tomb of Innocent XIII
39. Tomb of John Paul I
40. Tomb of Marcellus II
41. Tomb of Urban VI
42. Tomb of Paul VI
43. Chapel of Our Lady, Queen of the Hungarians
44. Entrance to Scavi from Piazza Braschi
45. Archeological Room I
46. Archeological Room II
47. Archeological Room III
48. Early Christian Sarcophagus
49. Mosaic of John VII
50. Gallery of Clement VIII
51. Sarcophagus of Pius III
52. Sarcophagus of Paul II
53. Polyandrium under the floor
54. Tomb of Hadrian IV
55. Tomb of Innocent VII
56. Tomb of Nicholas V
57. Tomb of Monsignor Ludvig Kaas
58. Tomb of Gregory V
59. Tomb of Emperor Otto II
60. Tomb of Julius III
61. Statue of Pius VI
62. Tomb of Nicholas III
63. Tomb of Boniface VIII
64. Icon of the Madonna Dolorosa and Reliefs of the Doctors of the Church
65. Dividing wall of Paul III and the Remains of two Columns from the Old Basilica
66. Funerary Monument of Calixtus III
67. Marble Statue of St Peter Enthroned
68. Exit from the Grottoes to the Patio
Frequently asked questions about Vatican Grottoes
What are the Vatican Grottoes?
Under St. Peter’s Basilica is a massive papal burial ground (separate from the Vatican Necropolis) referred to as the Vatican Grottoes.
Are the Vatican Grottoes free to visit?
Yes. The papal tombs are free to visit during the opening hours of St. Peter’s Basilica.
How to visit the Vatican Grottoes?
You can plan your visit to the Vatican Grottoes as part of your visit to St. Peter’s Basilica. It is located below the cathedral, so make sure you head there towards the end of your tour.
Do I need separate entry tickets to Vatican Grottoes?
No. You do not need separate tickets to enter the Vatican Grottoes. Once you enter St. Peter’s Basilica, you can make your way below towards the papal tombs.
Is photography allowed in the Grottoes of the Vatican?
No. Photography is strictly prohibited at the Vatican Grottoes.
