Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore tickets
Papal basilica · Liberian Museum, 360° terraces and underground area
At Santa Maria Maggiore the tickets cover the extras: the Liberian Museum areas (museum, Loggia of Blessings, Hall of Popes, Bernini staircase), the 360° panoramic terraces and the underground archaeological area, visited with a guide. The museum areas open Monday to Saturday 8 am–6:30 pm and Sunday 12:30–5 pm. Buy online or at the welcome desk under the portico.
All tickets online: from €8.50 on Tiqets →
At a glance
- Booking
- No booking needed Tickets for the museum areas (Liberian Museum, Loggia of Blessings, Hall of Popes, Bernini staircase), the 360° terraces and the archaeological area: online through the booking system linked from the basilica's website, or at the welcome desk under the portico. Groups with their own guide book the archaeological area by email.
- Opening hours
- Museum areas: Monday–Saturday 8 am–6:30 pm (last entry 6 pm), Sunday 12:30–5 pm. Weekday Masses in the Pauline Chapel at 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 am, 12 pm and 6 pm.
- Official sales
- Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore
Checked on the official site on 28 October 2026 · Sources & checks
Which ticket is right for you
- 2 optionsYou want the Loggia of Blessings and the museum rooms→ Priority entry + museum areas
- 3 optionsYou're after the view over Rome→ Terraces / dome ticket
- 1 optionYou want the mosaics and chapels explained without a guide→ Entry with audio guide
- 7 optionsYou're curious about what lies beneath the basilica→ Underground guided tour
All tickets online
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from€8.50
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With audio guidefrom€9.50
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from€12.50
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from€19.50
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from€16
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from€16.50
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from€45
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from€104
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from€9
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from€18
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Guided tourfrom€20.50
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from€11.50
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Experiencefrom€45
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from€22.50
Reseller prices are refreshed daily; the final price is the one on the partner's site. Resellers cost more than the official ticket because they add availability, free cancellation or services.
What you pay for
Santa Maria Maggiore is one of Rome's four major papal basilicas and, first of all, a working church with Masses from early morning. The tickets on the basilica's official website are for the separate visits:
- Museum areas of the Liberian Museum complex: the Liberian Museum, the Loggia of Blessings, the Hall of Popes and Bernini's staircase. The façade mosaic belongs to the same complex.
- 360° Panoramic Terraces above the basilica.
- Archaeological area: the underground levels, by guided tour. Groups with their own guide book by email.
- Entry with an audio guide, and tours with the basilica's art historian.
Online sales go through the booking system linked from the basilica's site; otherwise use the welcome desk under the portico. We couldn't read the official prices reliably, so we don't print them here. No number is better than a wrong one.
Hours and Mass times
The museum areas are open Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 6:30 pm (last entry 6 pm), and Sunday 12:30 to 5 pm. Sunday morning belongs to the liturgy.
Weekday Masses are in the Pauline Chapel at 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 am, 12 pm and 6 pm. On Sundays and holidays they're at the Papal Altar at 10 am, 12 pm and 6 pm. If you want to look at the mosaics in peace, avoid the main Mass times.
Rules at the door
It's a papal basilica and the staff enforce the rules:
- Dress: no sleeveless or low-cut tops, no shorts above the knee, no miniskirts, no hats. This catches a lot of summer visitors; carry a scarf.
- Phones: using a phone inside the basilica isn't allowed; in the museum, keep it on silent.
- Bags: no large bags, suitcases or backpacks, and no cloakroom. If you're coming from Termini with luggage, leave it in left-luggage first.
- Security: metal detector at the entrance; knives and scissors are handed in at the checks.
- Photos: fine for personal use, never with flash, no tripods or selfie sticks.
- Groups: groups of more than 7 receiving explanations must wear the official headsets.
For visitors with reduced mobility there's an entrance ramp, mobile platforms for the side chapels and a lift to the museum areas. For the terraces and the underground area, email the basilica beforehand.
Partners and combos
Tiqets, Headout and GetYourGuide sell priority entry with the museum areas, terraces and dome tickets, audio guides, guided tours of the basilica and the underground, and combos with the Colosseum or the Pantheon. The basilica's own website links to Tiqets for the combo with the Colosseum or Pantheon.
FAQ
Is Santa Maria Maggiore free to enter?
The basilica's official website only sells the extras: the museum areas, the 360° terraces, the underground area, an audio guide and tours with its art historian. It doesn't list a ticket for the basilica itself.
What are the museum opening hours at Santa Maria Maggiore?
Monday to Saturday 8 am–6:30 pm (last entry 6 pm), Sunday 12:30–5 pm.
How much do the museum and terrace tickets cost?
Official prices sit in the booking system linked from the basilica's site, which we couldn't read reliably, so we don't quote them. Partner prices are listed on this page.
What is the dress code at Santa Maria Maggiore?
No sleeveless or low-cut tops, no shorts above the knee, no miniskirts and no hats. It applies to the basilica and the museum.
Can I bring a backpack or suitcase?
No large bags, backpacks or suitcases, and there's no cloakroom. There's a metal detector at the entrance.
How far is Santa Maria Maggiore from Termini station?
A few minutes' walk. It's an easy stop on an arrival or departure day, as long as your luggage is stored elsewhere.
Sources & checks
Official prices and rules are copied from the pages below. Spotted a change? Write to info@tickets.co.it.
- Official site: Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore · tickets.museivaticani.va
- basilicasantamariamaggiore.va/it/visite/info-contatti.html — museum areas hours
Orari di apertura Polo Museale Dal Lunedì al Sabato 8:00 - 18:30 (ultimo ingresso 18:00) Domenica 12.30 - 17:00
- basilicasantamariamaggiore.va/it/basilica/visite.html — what the museum ticket covers
Visita il Museo Liberiano la Loggia delle Benedizioni, la Sala dei Papi, la Scala del Bernini e le Terrazze Panoramiche 360°.
- basilicasantamariamaggiore.va/it/visite/polo-museale.html — bookable visits
Prenota il tuo biglietto di ingresso alle Aree Museali e visita il Museo Liberiano, la Loggia delle Benedizioni, la Sala dei Papi e la Scala del Bernini.
- basilicasantamariamaggiore.va/it/visite/area-archeologica.html — underground guided visit, groups by email
Per i gruppi precostituiti che vogliono visitare l’ Area Archeologica con la propria guida è possibile prenotare l'ingresso inviando un’email a visitemuseo.smm@basilica.va
- turismoroma.it/it/luoghi/polo-museale-liberiano — ticket desk under the portico
acquistando un biglietto al desk accoglienza, situato sotto al portico, o prenotando tramite il seguente indirizzo e-mail
- basilicasantamariamaggiore.va/it/visite/consigli-utili.html — dress code
Non sono ammessi indumenti sbracciati e/o scollati, pantaloncini che non coprano finoalle ginocchia, minigonne e cappelli.
- basilicasantamariamaggiore.va/it/visite/consigli-utili.html — large bags not allowed
Ai visitatori non è consentito l’accesso alla Basilica e al Polo Museale Liberiano con borse, valigie e zaini di grandi dimensioni
- basilicasantamariamaggiore.va/it/visite/consigli-utili.html — no cloakroom
La Basilica non dispone di un servizio guardaroba.
- basilicasantamariamaggiore.va/it/visite/consigli-utili.html — phones banned in the basilica
All’interno della Basilica è vietato l’utilizzo di telefoni cellulari.
- basilicasantamariamaggiore.va/it/visite/consigli-utili.html — group headsets
Tutti quei gruppi che ricevono una spiegazione e che superano le 7 persone devono necessariamente indossare gli auricolari forniti dal concessionario ufficiale della Basilica.
- basilicasantamariamaggiore.va/it/visite/consigli-utili.html — photos, no flash, no selfie sticks
L’uso del flash è sempre vietato.
- basilicasantamariamaggiore.va/it/visite/accessibilita.html — accessibility
Il Polo Museale Liberiano dispone di un ascensore per il raggiungimento delle Aree Museali.
- basilicasantamariamaggiore.va/it/vita-liturgica/celebrazioni-e-orari.html — Mass times
Cappella Paolina Feriali: ore 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 18. Festive: ore 7 - 8 – 9. Altare Papale Pre-Festiva: ore 18. Festive: ore 10 - 12 - 18.
- basilicasantamariamaggiore.va/it/visite/consigli-utili.html — security: knives and scissors handed in
è richiesta la consegna, presso i controlli di sicurezza, di coltelli, forbici e/o arnesi metallici di vario genere.
- basilicasantamariamaggiore.va/it/visite/consigli-utili.html — no tripods, drones, selfie sticks
È, inoltre, vietato l'uso dell'asta allungabile per selfie.
- basilicasantamariamaggiore.va/it/visite/accessibilita.html — ramp and mobile platforms
La Basilica dispone di pedane mobili per poter garantire l’accesso a tutte le Cappelle laterali.
- basilicasantamariamaggiore.va/it/vita-liturgica/celebrazioni-e-orari.html — group Mass booking
Per la prenotazione della Santa Messa da parte dei gruppi
- basilicasantamariamaggiore.va/it/visite/area-archeologica.html — underground guided visit
Unisciti ad una visita guidata nell’affascinante mondo dei sotterranei della Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore.
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