St Peter's Square in Rome: free entry, colonnade, papal audience and tips
St Peter's Square (piazza San Pietro) is the great square of the Vatican in front of the basilica: it is free and needs no ticket, with a security check on busy days. It was designed by Bernini and built in the 17th century, from 1656 to 1667, with a colonnade of 284 columns. The central obelisk is about 25 metres high. Allow 20 to 30 minutes for the square alone, plus the queue for the basilica; the pope's masses, the Sunday Angelus at noon and the Wednesday audience take place here.
Highlights
Bernini's colonnade
The two semicircular arms, four rows of Doric columns, form an ellipse that "embraces" the faithful. Stand on one of the two marble discs in the paving, between the obelisk and a fountain: from there the four rows of columns seem to be one.
The facade and the dome
The basilica's facade is by Carlo Maderno; the dome, by Michelangelo, crowns the whole. See the St Peter's Basilica and the dome.
The obelisk
Brought from Egypt in Roman times, it was raised in the square in 1586 under Pope Sixtus V by Domenico Fontana; it is flanked by two fountains, one by Maderno, the other by Bernini.
The Angelus and the papal audience
On Sundays at noon the pope says the Angelus from the window of the Apostolic Palace: no ticket needed. The Wednesday morning general audience needs a free ticket, requested from the Prefecture of the Papal Household and collected at the Bronze Door; it is suspended in July or when the pope travels.
Practical info
Tips
- The square is free, but the basilica, the dome and the museums involve security checks: shoulders and knees must be covered to enter the basilica (see dress code in Vatican churches). Our pick if you want to visit rather than just see the square: the guided tour of St Peter's Basilica with dome climb, which avoids improvising and the queue. On audience days, arrive before 8:45am for the checks. Hours and rules checked in October 2026; they can change at short notice. Also read: around the Vatican, Vatican Museums or the basilica.
How to get there
Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Vatican City. Metro line A, Ottaviano or Cipro stations, then a 10-minute walk; or a bus to Via della Conciliazione.
Opening hours
Our guides that feature it
Nearby
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