Vatican Scavi (Necropolis) Tickets
You get tickets for the Vatican necropolis by sending a written request to the Excavations Office, which assigns your date and time. Vatican scavi tour tickets cost 13 euros each with the guide included, about $14.51 at the ECB reference rate of 2026-11-06. This page covers who sells them, what to send, the rules to check and what to do if your dates fail. For the wider picture, see our guide to Vatican tickets.
Who Sells Vatican Scavi Tickets?
The Excavations Office (Ufficio Scavi) of the Fabbrica di San Pietro sells Scavi tickets. It is the official body for visits to the necropolis under St. Peter's Basilica, and its site is scavi.va. The Vatican Museums run a separate ticket portal, and a Museums ticket does not include the Scavi.
The Scavi, the necropolis and the Vatican catacombs people search for all point to the same underground visit in practice. The Scavi are the excavations, and the necropolis is the ancient burial ground they reveal. The tombs date from the first to the fourth century AD and lie 5 to 12 meters below the basilica, according to Wikipedia. Listings may call it "Scavi", "Necropolis" or "St. Peter's Tomb".
Some tour companies sell packages that include a Scavi visit. Read the listing line by line and confirm it names the Scavi. If it does not, it is a different product. Our note on official versus reseller prices shows how to spot the difference.
Short on time? Vatican Scavi with St Peter's Tomb and skip line St. Peter's, from $128See skip-the-line tickets →What Is the Excavations Office Request Process?
You email the Excavations Office with your group details and possible dates, and the office replies with the date and time it can grant. The email is scavi@fsp.va. The office also accepts requests by fax at +39 06 69873017, or in person at the south (left) entrance just outside the Colonnade. You cannot join a walk-up queue on the day.
The official Reservations page says every request must include five things:
- The exact number of participants.
- The names of all participants.
- The language you want.
- Possible dates, with the month written in full, for example "from 01 January 2013 to 08 January 2013".
- An email address, fax number or complete postal address.
| Step | What you do | Source detail |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pick a range of dates, not one day | The office fills requests from the places left at the closest date |
| 2 | Gather every full name and your language | Both are required in the request |
| 3 | Send one complete email to scavi@fsp.va | Fax or in-person requests are also accepted |
| 4 | Wait for the office's reply | It sets the date and time; keep it as your confirmation |
| 5 | Pay as instructed | 13 euros per person, guide included, no reductions |
Ready to see prices? Vatican Scavi with St Peter's Tomb and skip line St. Peter's, from $128See times →What Are the Age and Group Rules for the Scavi?
The sources we rely on give group rules but no age limit, so check the official visit regulations before you request children's places. The office publishes them on its regulations during visits page, along with a page on depositing prohibited items. We do not quote a minimum age because we cannot confirm one.
Price rules are clear. The Excavations Office states that no reductions are given for any reason, so there are no child, student or senior rates. Compare that with the Museums, which list reduced categories on their own price page; see Vatican reduced tickets for those.
Groups have their own rule. If you lead a university, parish, cultural association or agency, send the complete list of participant names and the name of your organization. Do not send a rough headcount and promise names later. If you write on behalf of other visitors, include their names and email addresses so the office can reply to them too.
The office lists contact hours of Monday to Friday 9:00 to 18:00 and Saturday 9:00 to 14:00, with Sunday closed. Its phone line is +39 06 69 885 318, but email gives you a written record.
Travelling with family? Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica Tour, from $60Check family times →What If the Scavi Is Full?
If your dates do not work, the office offers the closest date with places left, so widen your range and ask again. The Reservations page says there are no set deadlines for sending requests, and that even urgent requests are filled from the places left. A single fixed day lowers your chances.
Here is how to improve a tight request, and what to do if no date fits.
If no date fits your trip, a guided package that names the Scavi is the other route. It costs more than the 13 euro direct ticket because it adds a lecture, Basilica access and the company's service. Compare the inclusions before you pay.
- Give a wider window of dates, with the month written in full.
- Send the request as early as your plans allow, early in the week so office hours do not delay the reply.
- Do not book non-refundable flights or hotels around a Scavi date you have not confirmed.
- Never trust a seller who guarantees a slot. The office alone assigns the time.
Which Underground Alternatives Can You Book?
If the Scavi is full, you can book a different underground visit with vatican underground tour tickets, which are sold online with a confirmed date. These are separate products from the Excavations Office visit, so check what each listing covers before you buy.
You can also build the rest of your Vatican day above ground while you wait for the office's reply. A Museums ticket is valid only on the day it is issued, so pick it for a different time or day from your Scavi slot. Our guides to St Peter's Basilica tickets and Vatican City tickets explain the options. These Museums tickets do not include the Scavi, and do not confuse them with the Museums' own tile called "Necropolis of the Via Triumphalis", which is a different visit from the tombs under St. Peter's.
- Vatican: Museums & Sistine Chapel Entrance Ticket, from $36.
- Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Skip-the-Line Entry Ticket, from $53.
- Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica Tour, from $60.
- Rome: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & Basilica Tour, from $71.
Questions visitors ask
Is the Vatican necropolis tour worth it?
Yes, if you care about history more than art. The ticket is 13 euros with the guide included, less than a 20 euro full Museums ticket, and it takes you to tombs most visitors never see. If you have one day and want Michelangelo's ceiling, choose the Museums first.
How long is the Vatican necropolis tour?
The sources we use give no official length for the Excavations Office visit. One guided package that includes the Scavi runs about 2 hours, but that covers its own lecture and Basilica entry. Check the length in your confirmation reply.
Do you need tickets for the Vatican necropolis?
Yes. The basilica is free to enter, but the necropolis is a separate visit that you request from the Excavations Office. A standard Museums ticket does not include it.
How do you get to the Vatican necropolis?
The Ufficio Scavi is in Piazza San Pietro. For in-person requests use the south (left) entrance, just outside the Colonnade. For the visit itself, follow the meeting instructions in your confirmation, which override any general directions.
Can you choose the date and time of the Scavi?
You can suggest possible dates, but the office decides the final date and time from the places left. It is not part of the Museums booking system, where you pick a slot online.