St. Peter's Square Tours and Activities

Piazza San Pietro which includes a square or plaza, heritage architecture and château or palace
St. Peter's Square
Piazza San Pietro showing a city, a statue or sculpture and a square or plaza
Piazza San Pietro featuring a city, a monument and a square or plaza
Piazza San Pietro featuring a square or plaza and heritage architecture


The open-air heart of the Catholic world, Piazza San Pietro is at the pinnacle of religious architecture, especially as the sun sets.

There’s only one way you should approach the Piazza San Pietro: head directly up the Via della Conciliazione to come face-to-face with the majestic dome of St. Peter’s Basilica. Once you are standing in the piazza, better known as St. Peter’s Square, you will be in no doubt that you are at the very center of the smallest state in the world.

The piazza as it is today is the work of Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The Baroque architect was appointed in the mid-17th century to create a space that would allow the greatest number of people to see the pope as he made public addresses from the Vatican Palace. Every Easter Day, the Piazza San Pietro is still thronged by pilgrims who turn out to witness the pope deliver his annual message. In reality, there is rarely a quiet day at the piazza.

The key is to take your time to pick out the points of interest you wish to see. Positioned right at the core of the piazza is the Egyptian obelisk, more than 82-feet (25-meter) tall and crafted out of red granite. It’s claimed that the obelisk was moved by Caligula in the year 37 from Alexandria to the Circus of Nero, a brutal theater of death games and crucifixions, which stood on the current site of the piazza. This is also the spot where St. Peter’s life ended at the hands of the Romans. There’s a striking painting of his martyrdom by Caravaggio in the Cerasi Chapel.

Forming the elliptical shape of the piazza are the towering, four-deep colonnades, which are ingeniously positioned to create an optical illusion. Looking just above the colonnades, you will see a multitude of statues, a collection of saintly figures including St. John the Baptist and Christ the Redeemer. St. Peter himself occupies a position to the right-hand side of the steps leading to the basilica, and was sculpted by Giuseppe De Fabris. He is faced on the other side by St. Paul.

St. Peter's Square is in central Rome. You can walk there from the city center the most direct route is to cross the Tiber and walk straight up Via della Conciliazione. The Metro train station Ottaviano is a short walk away along Via Ottaviano.

Plan a trip to see St. Peter's Square

Price found within the past 48 hours. Click for updated prices.
Relais de la Poste
The B Place Hotel
Euro House Inn Airport

Reviews of St. Peter's Square

4.4
Top destination
5 - Excellent
102
" "5 - Excellent 57%
4 - Good
57
" "4 - Good 32%
3 - Okay
19
" "3 - Okay 11%
2 - Disappointing
2
" "2 - Disappointing 1%
1 - Terrible
0
" "1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

The new sculpture, Angels Unawares, is a must see.

5/5 - Excellent

Phil

Its beautiful, but if you are there during the midday it is hot! GO early.

5/5 - Excellent

Grant

There is just a special feeling in places like this. So impressive

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

If you can skip the line, do it!

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

Massive crowds. We didn't tour inside but worth seeing the scale of the Vatican City.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

Massive crowds. Didn't go into the Vatican museums or Sistine Chapel but worth the trip to see the scale of it all.

Popular places to visit


Best Lodging Options Near St. Peter's Square

Hotel Quirinale
Hotel Quirinale
4 out of 5
Via Nazionale 7, Rome, RM
Hotel Quirinale
Vatican Style
Vatican Style
Via del Mascherino 46, Rome
Vatican Style
Grand Hotel Olympic
Grand Hotel Olympic
4 out of 5
Via Properzio 2/a, Rome, RM
Grand Hotel Olympic
Starhotels Michelangelo
Starhotels Michelangelo
4 out of 5
Via Della Stazione Di San Pietro 14, Rome, RM
Starhotels Michelangelo
Trianon Borgo Pio
Trianon Borgo Pio
4 out of 5
Piazza delle Vaschette n 13, Rome, RM
Trianon Borgo Pio
Hotel Museum
Hotel Museum
3 out of 5
Via Tunisi 8, Rome
Hotel Museum
Mama Shelter Roma
Mama Shelter Roma
4 out of 5
Via Luigi Rizzo 20, Rome
Mama Shelter Roma
Hotel Adriatic
Hotel Adriatic
2 out of 5
Via Vitelleschi 25, Rome, RM
Hotel Adriatic
Hotel Prati
Hotel Prati
2 out of 5
Via Crescenzio 89, Rome, RM
Hotel Prati
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Beautiful view of the beach with palm trees

Black Friday: Members save 30%+

Members save 30%+ on selected hotels until December 4 with our Black Friday deals. Stay by December 15, 2025.