--- title: Guided Tour of St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Grottoes lang: en type: tour city: Rome country: Italy price: 14 currency: EUR price_unit: per_person availability: bookable rating: 4.89 reviews: 96 duration_minutes: 90 languages: [en, it] free_cancellation: "true" rank_in_category: 44 of 138 (Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St Peter's Tours) schedule_checked: 2026-09-12 data_updated: 2026-10-12 canonical: https://guidekin.com/italy/rome/tours/guided-tour-of-st-peter-s-basilica-and-the-vatican-grottoes/ --- # Guided Tour of St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Grottoes **Guidekin's take:** The Basilica and the Vatican Grottoes with a guide and radio earpieces at €14 per person, for people who want the Pietà, the nave and the tombs explained without the dome climb or a museum day, rated 4.89 across 96 reviews. Dome tickets are not included. Offered in English or Italian. In our comparison: #44 of 138 in Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St Peter's Tours, by rating weighted by review volume (table below). ## Overview Explore the iconic St. Peter’s Basilica with an expert guide, delving into its rich history and art. Marvel at Michelangelo’s Pietà, wander through the stunning central nave, and discover the serene Vatican Grottoes, where popes and saints rest. This 1.5-hour tour offers a profound yet accessible glimpse into one of the world's most significant religious sites without the need for a dome climb. - Expert-led tour focusing on the art and history of St. Peter’s Basilica - Admire the renowned Pietà by Michelangelo - Visit the Vatican Grottoes, the burial site of popes and saints - Ideal for those seeking an insightful Vatican experience ## Before you book - Meeting point: The meeting point is at Largo del… - Starts 12:00, 15:00: 2 departures a day - Strollers OK: infants accepted - Children from €10: ages 6 to 12 **Pickup:** No hotel pickup: everyone meets at the start point ## Key facts - Price: from €14 per person - Duration: 1h 30m - Rating: 4.89/5 from 96 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor) - Free cancellation (see policy below) - Operator: Mirò Tour - Group: Shared tour - Guide languages: English, Italian - Start times: 12:00, 15:00 - Booking: Instant confirmation, mobile ticket - Price checked on Viator: 2026-09-12 ## Reviews 4.89 from 96 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor. 97% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4 or 5 stars: 93 of 96. - 5 stars: 92 (96%) - 4 stars: 1 (1%) - 3 stars: 1 (1%) - 2 stars: 0 (0%) - 1 star: 2 (2%) ### What reviewers say Reviewers praise the clear explanations and attentive guides, but long entry queues are a recurring drawback. **Praised:** - Clear explanations of the Basilica's art, architecture and papal history - Stories and humour keep adults, children and teenagers engaged - Friendly, patient guides answer questions and consider the group's needs - An unhurried pace leaves time to take in the Basilica - Guides share history and anecdotes while the group waits in the entry queue **Complaints:** - Long waits in the security queue before entering the Basilica - Changes to the starting time at short notice disrupted some bookings Written by Guidekin from the 47 most recent English reviews on Viator & Tripadvisor (2025-08-01 to 2026-09-29); last checked 2026-10-03. ## Tour options Prices are the operator's current list price for two travellers (whole euros); options sold only to bigger parties say so; pick the option on the booking page. | Option | Price | Guide languages | Details | |---|---|---|---| | English Guided Tour | €15 / person | English | - | | Tour in Italiano | €15 / person | Italian | - | ## What's included - tourist guide - Radios with earpieces ## Not included - dome tickets ## Itinerary 1. **St. Peter's Basilica** (1h 30m; admission included) - At the meeting point, in front of Galleria San Pietro, you will be welcomed by the guide holding the sign. After a brief introduction in St. Peter’s Square, the experience begins with a visit to the Vatican Grottoes, where popes and saints rest in a place rich in history.... ## Schedule - Runs: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat - Departures: 12:00, 15:00 - Schedule last checked: 2026-09-12 - These are published departures, not a live seat count; availability is confirmed at checkout. ## Cancellation For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time. ## Meeting point The meeting point is at Largo del Colonnato 2, right in front of the entrance to Galleria San Pietro. Your guide will be easy to recognize, holding a “MiRò Tours” sign. Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJf3lprGdgLxMRZgRgHpClATc Ends: The tour will end inside St. Peter’s Basilica. ## Good to know - Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller - Public transportation options are available nearby - Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap - Suitable for all physical fitness levels Booking asks for: dates of birth ## Compared with other Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St Peter's Tours | Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group | |---|---|---|---|---| | **This tour · #44 of 138** | €14 | 1h 30m | 4.89 (96) | shared | | [Private Vatican Highlights Guided Tour with Sistine Chapel](/italy/rome/tours/private-vatican-highlights-guided-tour-with-sistine-chapel/?format=md) | €250 | 3h 15m | 4.99 (1713) | private | | [Rome: Complete Early Morning Vatican Tour / Small Group](/italy/rome/tours/rome-complete-early-morning-vatican-tour-small-group/?format=md) | €99 | 3h 30m | 4.94 (2821) | shared | | [Express Early Morning Sistine Chapel Tour with Max 6 People](/italy/rome/tours/express-early-morning-sistine-chapel-tour-with-max-6-people/?format=md) | €148 | 2h | 4.98 (513) | shared | Ranked #44 of 138 in Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St Peter's Tours by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €8 to €4913, median €136; typical length 3h. 57 of 138 are private. Figures are live from the tour cards; the rubric is our handpicked set, not the whole market. Full list: https://guidekin.com/italy/rome/vatican-tours/?format=md ## More in Rome - All Rome tours: https://guidekin.com/italy/rome/?format=md - This page as HTML: https://guidekin.com/italy/rome/tours/guided-tour-of-st-peter-s-basilica-and-the-vatican-grottoes/ Filters, the full catalogue and the URL contract for this city: https://guidekin.com/italy/rome/?format=md