St. Peter’s Basilica VIP Tour with Dome Climb and Vatican Crypt Visit

A. English. This tour does not operate in multi-language, which means you’ll never have to wait for translations.

A. Either your tour guide or a tour coordinator will be waiting at the tour meeting point 15 minutes before your tour start time. They will be holding up a sign with the Walks of Italy logo on it.

A. We ask all guests to arrive at the tour meeting point at least 15 minutes before the scheduled start time of their tour. If you have difficulty finding the meeting point or are delayed along the way, please call the emergency phone number, (Italy) +39-069-480-4888 not the regular customer service number.

A. It’s hard to say. We recommend booking as soon as you can as these services often sell out in advance and have limited-availability. If you know what tour you want to book though, we would always say to book as soon as you can.

A. It means the tour price listed on our website includes all ticket, reservation and entrance fees. There won’t be any nasty surprises on the day of your tour, so you could leave your wallet at home (unless you felt like tipping your tour guide).

A. When we have space! Check the website for availability first. If you can’t find what you’re looking for there is a chance that it's sold out or it may just be off-sale because it's within a day or two of tour running time.

A. It’s really up to you. If you enjoyed your tour and feel like you received exemplary service from your guide, it is customary to leave a tip at the end of the tour. It’s not obligatory though and we won’t hold it against you if you don't – nor will your guide.

A. Unfortunately we are unable to accommodate wheelchairs on most of our group tours for a variety reasons. That said, in most cases we can serve wheelchair users on our private tours, to allow the guide to adapt the route to their particular requirements. Please get in touch with us before you book, however, and be aware that guests are responsible for propelling their own chairs – guides will be unable to do this.

A. Not on all tours. Please get in touch with our us before bringing a stroller on your tour. Some sites will not allow you to bring a stroller inside and we may not have suitable storage options. If you let us know in advance we can help you to arrange a suitable solution.

A. We recommend all customers bring photo ID with their date of birth listed plus the confirmation voucher. For all tours involving walking, we would recommend that you wear comfortable shoes. If you’re visiting in warm weather (May – Sep) we recommend that you bring sunscreen, a bottle of water (which you can refill along the way) and a hat. During the cooler months we would recommend that you bring a coat and possibly a rain jacket and/or umbrella.

A. Yes! The tours run rain or shine. On some very rare occasions, when the weather is particularly dramatic, some outdoor sites may be closed. On these occasions we will try to contact you in advance, where we have warning.

A. A group tour is one where you join a group of other travellers and a single guide – our groups are usually around 12 people, although they can be a little larger, particularly on day trips. Because our groups are so small, you’ll still find it easy to hear and interact with your guide and it's more effective than a private tour, which is when you pay to have your own personal tour guide (and/or transfer) just for you.

A. Non-flash photography is permitted in most areas of the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica. But, photography of any kind is not allowed inside the Sistine Chapel.

A. Men, women, and children must have their shoulders and knees covered at all times. Low-cut clothing and hats are not allowed.

A. The Necropolis refers to the crypts beneath St Peter’s Basilica, where most of the late Popes have been buried. The tour visits this site.

The Scavi is where the tomb of St Peter is located. The only way to get in is to contact the Vatican directly through the Vatican Scavi office by emailing scavi@fsp.va to request access.

A. If you want to avoid the crowds, go really early or really late. There are tours on VELTRA that provide access to the Sistine Chapel before it opens to the public and to the Vatican Museums after its operating hours.

A. Visit on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday to avoid most of the crowds.

Most of the museums in Rome are closed on Mondays, the Papal Audience is staged every Wednesday, locals are part of the crowds on Saturdays and the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel are closed on Sundays.