St. Peter's Square in the Vatican: Bernini's colonnades and opening hours for 2026

Rome greets you with lines at its main monuments. St. Peter's Square is usually first on that list. You can see it for free at any time of day, but climbing to the basilica's dome requires a ticket and a time slot.

The basilica is open from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM (as of 09/2026, opening hours on the basilica's website). Below is the history of the site, a breakdown of Bernini's colonnades, and the exact hours for 2026.

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History

💡 In short:

• The square in front of the basilica was designed by Lorenzo Bernini, commissioned by Pope Alexander VII.
• Entry to the square and the basilica is free; you pay for the dome, audio guide, Treasury Museum, and guided tour.
• Opening hours: 09/2026, verified on the basilica's official website.

At the beginning of the Common Era, there was no square here. The space between the Janiculum and Vatican hills was occupied by Nero's circus and gardens. In the first century, an obelisk brought by Caligula was erected here: it stands over twenty meters tall.

In the fourth century, a clearing was made in front of the first St. Peter's Basilica. For centuries, it turned into a swamp whenever it rained. The elevation difference reached ten meters, which was unsuitable for the approaches to the Vatican. Pope Julius II ordered a new basilica to be built, and under Pius IV the square itself was expanded.

In 1586, under Sixtus V, the obelisk was moved to the center, even though the stone weighs over 300 tons. The work was led by Domenico Fontana, while Michelangelo considered the task impossible (according to the official page on the square). It took roughly 900 people and more than a hundred horses. The move took about five months and was completed without casualties.

In April 1655, Alexander VII ascended to the throne. He commissioned Bernini to put the square in order. The pope wanted one thing: for people to see him on the basilica's balcony from any point. Construction took eleven years and proceeded under the pope's personal supervision (basilicasanpietro.va). Today you see the level square exactly as it was then.

Architect of the square: Lorenzo Bernini

Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini was an Italian architect and sculptor, the creator of the ensemble. While still young, he gained the patronage of Cardinal Borghese. His works won people over with their detail: he sculpted emotion, not faceless statues.

Under Urban VIII of the Barberini family, the master was commissioned not only to create statues for palaces but also to transform the city. Under Alexander VII, Rome was intended to become the cultural capital of the world. It was then that the great rebuilding unfolded, and Bernini was directly involved in it.

You owe him both small churches like Sant'Andrea al Quirinale and enormous ensembles. His most ambitious work was the reconstruction of St. Peter's Square. The two semicircular colonnades are compared to arms embracing the crowd.

There was another side to it. At the request of Alexander VII, the architect went to France to work for Louis XIV. He was warmly received there, but almost all of his projects were rejected. The master returned home and spent his final years in Rome. The main work of that period is considered to be the tomb of his patron, Pope Alexander VII.

Sights of the square

Bernini's colonnades

© Jackzor · CC BY-SAPhoto: Jackzor, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

The square is framed on both sides by semicircular colonnades. According to Bernini, they represent the outstretched arms of the church. The structure consists of four rows and has 284 columns, each 16 meters high, with 140 statues on top (as of 09/2026, La Piazza on the basilica's website). Among the figures are popes, martyrs, and evangelists.

The square has an optical effect. To the left and right of the obelisk lie two round marble slabs. Stand on one of them and look at the nearest colonnade: the four rows will merge into one. You will see exactly what the architect intended.

The obelisk and fountains

In the center stands the Egyptian obelisk from Heliopolis. Its height without the pedestal is 25.5 meters, and 41 meters including the base (as of 09/2026, official page of the square). The stone was made for the prefect Cornelius Gallus, and in 37 AD Caligula had it brought to Rome on a special ship.

The fountain on the right was designed by Carlo Maderno in 1613. To make the square symmetrical, Bernini ordered an exact copy to be placed on the left (official website of the basilica). It was completed in 1677 by Carlo Fontana. Both basins still work today.

• The catch: the area around the obelisk is crowded all day, so calm shots are only possible early in the morning.

St. Peter's Basilica

© Alvesgaspar · CC BY-SAPhoto: Alvesgaspar, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

St. Peter's Basilica is considered the largest Christian church in the world. The first building was constructed back in the fourth century. Bramante, Antonio da Sangallo, Michelangelo, Giacomo della Porta, and Carlo Maderno all worked on the current church. The height of the dome reaches about 120 meters (information about the square on the basilica's website).

Inside you will see mosaics, altars, bas-reliefs, and the tomb of St. Peter (as of 09/2026, basilica website data about the square). On special occasions, such as the election of a new pope, more than 400,000 people gather in the square, and entry is restricted.

Tickets and opening hours

You will pay for climbing the dome, the audio guide, the Treasury museum, and a guided tour. For the dome, the route by stairs is cheaper, while the option with the elevator costs more. Tickets are booked in advance on the basilica's official website (as of 09/2026, tickets page).

Guided tours run on weekdays from 9:30 to 17:30, and on Sundays from 13:30 to 15:30 (as of 09/2026, official website). Wear comfortable shoes for the dome climb: there are more than five hundred steps inside.

• The catch: there is a security check at the basilica entrance, and in high season a line forms in the morning.

Where it is and how to get there

Address: Vatican City State, St. Peter's Square, 00120 (open on the map).

© Diliff · CC BY-SAPhoto: Diliff, CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/), Wikimedia Commons

The easiest way to get there is by metro. The nearest station on line A is called Ottaviano-San Pietro-Musei Vaticani. From the exit to the square it is about 700 meters, a 9-10 minute walk (plan the route on the map). The second station, Cipro-Musei Vaticani, is further north. Express bus No. 40 goes to the terminus at Castel Sant'Angelo.

St. Peter's Square on the map

Here is a map of the Vatican: it shows both the entire square and the approach from the metro station. Zoom in to build a route from the metro exit to the colonnade.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to enter the square and the basilica?

St. Peter's Square and the basilica are free to enter. You pay nothing to see the colonnades, the obelisk, and the fountains. A separate ticket is needed only for the dome climb, the audio guide, the Treasury Museum, and a guided tour.

How do you climb the dome and when are there fewer people?

Dome tickets are issued on the official basilica website. In summer the climb is open from 7:00 to 18:00, in winter from 7:30 to 17:00. In the morning there are fewer people on the stairs and at the elevator, and the view of Rome and the square is the same.

How to get there by public transport?

The most convenient option is metro line A to Ottaviano-San Pietro-Musei Vaticani station. From the exit to the square it is about a ten-minute walk. Express bus No. 40 goes to the terminus at Castel Sant'Angelo.

Do you need to book anything in advance?

You do not need to book anything for the square and the basilica. You should only reserve a slot for the dome and a tour, especially in high season. The security line grows from the morning.

How much time should you allow for the visit?

Two hours is enough for the square and the basilica without rushing. The dome climb adds another hour. If you take a tour or visit the Treasury Museum, plan for half a day.

In short: what to book in advance

You only need to book the dome climb and the guided tour in advance: in high season, slots sell out from early morning.

• If you want a view of Rome from above: take a dome slot at opening time, early in the morning.
• If you want a talk about Bernini: take a cathedral tour.
• If you are traveling with children: go to the square before noon and do not climb the dome in the heat.

For Vatican tours and fixed-time tickets, see GetYourGuide.