When is the best time to visit St. Peter’s Basilica?

Rome Attractions

St. Peter’s Basilica is one of the most iconic churches in the world, drawing an average of 10 million people every year.

Therefore, it is important to decide when to visit St. Peter’s in Vatican City if you want to have a great experience.

Factors like the number of people visiting the Basilica on a given day, the weather, and if your visit coincides with special events can make a huge difference.

In this article, we’ll explore the best times to visit the Basilica to help you enjoy your tour of this amazing building full of history and beauty.

Mass timings at St. Peter’s Basilica

Knowing when Mass is celebrated can help you have a better visit to St. Peter’s Basilica. It will help you avoid waiting in long lines or being held up in a crowd.

Many people visit St. Peter’s when a Mass is in session, so it’s better to plan your visit when it is not happening.

St. Peter’s hosts various masses throughout the week, allowing visitors to engage in moments of spirituality at this historic site.

Weekday masses are typically held at 7 am, 8 am, 9 am, 10 am and 5 pm.

On Sundays and other Papal ceremonies, there is a 9 am mass in the Chapel of the Choir, followed by a larger mass at 10.30 am at the Altar of the Chair.

Masses usually last about an hour, so you can plan your visit for after 11 am during the day or after 6 pm in the evening.

The Angelus prayer and blessing, led by the Pope, also occur at noon in St. Peter’s Square. The day concludes with another mass being held at 5 pm.

Special liturgical seasons such as Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter bring an additional count of masses and ceremonies.

You should know that mass schedules may change due to liturgical or Papal events.

Sundays at St. Peter’s Basilica

Visiting the Basilica on Sundays is a unique experience, as it draws a larger crowd due to its spiritual significance.

A highlight for many visitors is the Angelus Prayer and Blessing led by the Pope at noon in St. Peter’s Square, although it is not a Mass.

Sundays witness a surge in visitors, especially during the Angelus, bringing them closer to the Pope, the head of the Roman Catholic church worldwide.

That is why you must book tickets early and explore the Basilica before mass begins.

You will have time to find a good spot for the masses when you start early.

Vatican Museums is closed on Sundays—except for the last Sunday of each month.

Visiting St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesdays

Visiting St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesdays is special because it offers a Papal Audience.

This usually happens at 10 am in St. Peter’s Square or the Paul VI Audience Hall.

Many visitors come to see it, so it’s important to arrive early, explore St Peter’s Basilica, and find a good spot to see the Pope.

In fact, booking your tickets in advance is a good idea to avoid long queues.

After the audience, people generally visit the basilica, so there may be more crowds after that.

The Papal audience lasts about an hour, including arrival and departure times.

Dress respectfully, covering your shoulders and knees when entering the basilica and for the papal audience.

If you can’t make it in the morning, you can always explore the Basilica in the afternoon after the Papal Audience ends.

If you want to visit the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel, planning for Wednesday might be a good idea because many people focus on the Papal Audience in the morning.

Check out some combo tours
# Visiting St. Peter’s Basilica and Colosseum
# Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica

Visiting St. Peter’s Basilica at night or day

When should you visit St. Peter’s Basilica? During the day or night?

When deciding the time and hour to visit St. Peter’s, consider your preferences, the type of experience you’re looking for, and other practical issues like opening hours.

Night-time at St. Peter’s Basilica

The Basilica is usually closed at night, but the area around it, like St. Peter’s Square, is open and well-lit by lights.

You can take great photos of the basilica and the square that look all the more magical at night.

Moreover, walking around the square and nearby streets is definitely peaceful and safe at night, but we recommend that you be aware of your surroundings at all times.

Sometimes, special events at night in the basilica require tickets to attend.

When you finish the Square, you can also visit places like Castel Sant’Angelo, which offers night tours, or the Vatican Museums, which sometimes open at night.

Daytime visits to St. Peter’s

To avoid crowds, the best time to visit this Vatican attraction is early in the morning.

If you want to see the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica, the best times to go are early in the morning before they open at 7 am and 9 am or after 4 pm.

People start lining up for the Vatican Museums as early as 7.30 am, even though it opens at 9 am!

You can explore this famous site’s spiritual and artistic beauty with few people around.

You can attend Mass at various locations, such as the Altar or Chapel, and capture beautiful photographs in the morning light.

Arriving early, dressing appropriately, and considering a guided tour can enhance your visit and help you learn more about the history and significance of this special place.

Climbing to the top of the dome for a great view or visiting the Vatican Grottoes below can make your daytime visit to the Basilica even more memorable and special.

Read more about St. Peter’s Basilica Dome climb.

Tips to avoid peak hour crowds at the Basilica

Some guided tours let you skip the line, which is helpful when the Basilica is crowded.

You can arrive when the Basilica opens at 7 am to avoid crowds.

Visiting the basilica in the evening, just before it closes at 7 pm, also offers a quieter and more pleasant experience as there are fewer people.

Picking a weekday, except Wednesday when there’s the Papal Audience, is a good idea because the crowds are less.

Avoid the Weekends as they tend to be busier.

If attending a Mass at the Basilica is important to you, note the masses’ timings as the place gets easily crowded with visitors making a beeline to get inside.

We also suggest that if you want a more peaceful and calm experience during your church service, try going for an early morning service at 7 am.