Temples & religious sites
St. Peter's Basilica
The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican, or simply St. Peter's Basilica, is a church of the Italian Renaissance located in Vatican City, an independent microstate enclaved within the city of Rome, Italy. It was initially planned in the 15th century by Pope Nicholas V and then Pope Julius II to replace the ageing Old St. Peter's Basilica, which was built in the fourth century by Roman emperor Constantine the Great. Construction of the present basilica began on 18 April 1506 and was completed on 18 November 1626.
What it is
St. Peter's Basilica is the principal church of the Vatican, built over the site traditionally held to be St. Peter's tomb. Construction ran from 1506 to 1626, replacing a 4th-century basilica originally commissioned by Constantine. Inside, the main draws are Michelangelo's dome, his Pietà near the entrance, and Bernini's bronze baldachin over the high altar. It's a working church and a major pilgrimage site, so expect an atmosphere that mixes tourism with active worship.
Getting there
From central Rome, the basilica sits across the Tiber in Vatican City. Metro Line A to Ottaviano or Cipro is the most direct option, followed by a 10-15 minute walk; several bus lines also stop near Saint Peter's Square. From most central neighborhoods, total travel time is around 20-30 minutes.
Time to allow
Plan on at least 1-1.5 hours for the basilica interior. If you also want to climb to the dome for the view over Rome, add another 45 minutes to an hour, including the wait for the climb itself.
When to go
Lines to enter, both for security screening and for the dome climb, can be long, particularly in the late morning and early afternoon. Arriving close to opening time tends to mean shorter waits. The basilica and square get especially crowded during papal audiences and major religious holidays, so check the Vatican's calendar if you want to avoid or specifically catch one of those events.
Combine it with
- Saint Peter's Square (0.3km) — the approach to the basilica and worth time on its own for Bernini's colonnade.
- Sistine Chapel (0.1km) and Vatican Museums (0.5km) — typically visited together, and best planned as a separate block of time from the basilica.
- Apostolic Palace (0.3km) — the papal residence, visible from the square.
Sources: open data from Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap · Updated August 5, 2026 · Edited by the World by City editors
