Which one to choose in Rome
Two churches in Rome. San Clemente has 23 tickets and tours to book; St Peter’s Basilica has 154 tickets and tours to book. The table and the two notes below put them side by side; the full pages have what to see, the ticket and the timing for each.
Rome, Italy
The upper church is free. The ticket, bought at a desk in the sacristy, is for the excavations below and is inexpensive; it is the reason everyone comes and it cannot be skipped if you want to understand the building. Audio guides are available and a printed plan is included. Guided tours of underground Rome include San Clemente and cost several times the ticket, which is fair value here because the three levels are confusing without help.
Rome, Italy
Entry to the basilica itself is free, which surprises many visitors, so what you pay for is either speed or access to something extra. The free route means the security queue across St Peter's Square, which can run from twenty minutes to well over an hour depending on the season and the hour. Priority-access tickets sold by operators do not skip security, but they add a guide and a reserved slot that moves you through faster. The dome is the one genuine ticket: you choose between the full climb on foot and the lift that carries you to the roof terrace, after which everyone walks the last 320 steps up the narrowing shell of the cupola.
| San Clemente | St Peter’s Basilica | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Basilica | Basilica |
| Height | — | 136.6 m |
| Opened | 1084 | 1506 |
| Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide | 23 | 154 |
| Official website | yes | yes |