Overview:
Explore the Vatican on a guided group tour that encompasses both the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums, guided by a knowledgeable expert. This tour offers an opportunity to navigate through the extensive array of rooms, artworks, and historical significance under the guidance of an experienced curator who adds depth and context to the ancient collection. By participating in this tour, you can bypass the usual entrance lines, granting you expedited access to renowned halls such as the Gallery of the Maps. Furthermore, you’ll have the privilege of stepping inside the awe-inspiring Sistine Chapel to admire the masterful ‘The Creation of Adam’ by Michelangelo. To culminate your journey, the tour concludes with a visit to the illustrious St. Peter’s Basilica. Various departure times are available for your convenience, and for a more intimate experience, you have the option to upgrade to a small-group tour.
- Enjoy the Vatican highlights including the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica
- Choose from several different departure times, or upgrade to a small-group tour
- Audio headsets are provided to make sure you can hear your guide clearly
- Avoid long queues with skip-the-line entrance tickets
Why Travelers Choose This Tour
The “skip the line” feature of this tour entails accessing a dedicated entrance that allows participants to bypass not only the regular queue but also the fast-track line, ensuring a swift and efficient entry into the Vatican attractions.
What’s Included
- Reserved Priority Access to the Vatican Museums
- Guided visit of St. Peter’s Basilica (except: Vatican Museums only / Evening / Wed morning options)
- Access to the Sistine Chapel
- Audio headsets so you can always hear your guide
- Group of 20 people or less
Meeting And Pickup
Meeting point
- Via Tunisi, 4
- Via Tunisi, 4, 00192 Roma RM, Italy
Meeting point: At the bottom of the steps across the street from the Entrance of the Vatican Museums. The steps are located right next to Caffè Vaticano on the corner of Viale Vaticano and Via Tunisi. The closest Metro stop is Line A (Ottaviano – Musei Vaticani).
What To Expect
Vatican tours with skip-the-line access are highly coveted, as even the fast-track lines can be quite lengthy. This particular experience goes a step further by offering admission through an exclusive entrance, completely eliminating the need to wait in any lines. As a result, you will be able to follow your guide directly into the expansive and exquisite collection of private artwork housed within the Vatican Museums, without any delays or queues to contend with.
Vatican Museums
- Vatican tours offering skip-the-line access are in high demand, often resulting in considerable queues even for the fast-track lines. However, this exceptional experience goes above and beyond by providing exclusive admission through a specially designated entrance, guaranteeing a seamless entry without any waiting time. With this privilege, you can follow your guide directly into the extensive collection of private artwork within the Vatican Museums.
- During the tour, you’ll traverse the remarkable Gallery of the Maps and the captivating Gallery of Tapestries, all while immersing yourself in captivating tales of Vatican intrigue shared by your guide. Take in the beauty of timeworn yet captivating Italian maps and marvel at the sculptures and candelabras gracing the Gallery of Candelabras. Don’t miss the opportunity to capture memorable photos in front of the impressive Pigna statue in the Pinecone Courtyard, an architectural masterpiece designed by Donato Bramante.
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
Sistine Chapel
- As you progress through the various rooms, the tour culminates with a visit to the Sistine Chapel, a place of profound significance as it serves as the personal place of worship for the Pope and stands as a paramount highlight of any Vatican excursion. Here, you will have the privilege of standing beneath Michelangelo’s masterpiece, “The Creation of Adam,” which envelops the entire ceiling with its magnificence. Additionally, you can admire “The Last Judgment,” another stunning creation by Michelangelo, characterized by its vibrant and captivating mural that embellishes one of the chapel’s walls. This iconic artwork within the Sistine Chapel represents a pivotal moment in the history of art and is sure to leave a lasting impression on your Vatican journey.
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
St. Peter’s Basilica
- Following your visit to the Sistine Chapel, your journey continues under the guidance of your tour leader as you make your way to St. Peter’s Basilica, the symbolic heart of the Catholic Church. Here, you will delve into the rich history of this magnificent basilica and have the opportunity to marvel at more exceptional Vatican artistry, including Michelangelo’s “La Pietà,” a remarkable sculpture created by the maestro when he was just 24 years old. Your exploration will also lead you to gaze upon Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s awe-inspiring baldachin.
- Upon concluding your tour, you will bid farewell to your guide in St. Peter’s Square. Please note that St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Peter’s Square may not be accessible on Wednesdays due to the weekly Papal Audience. In such cases, you will be provided with an extended itinerary within the Vatican Museums to ensure a fulfilling and memorable experience.
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
St. Peter’s Square
- In the span of just three hours, our tour offers you a captivating introduction to the artistic treasures of Vatican City, with a particular focus on its foremost attraction, the Vatican Museums. This experience is designed to be both enjoyable and free of any logistical hassles.
- From the grand basilica constructed atop the tomb of St. Peter to the revolutionary frescoes crafted by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel, you will gain insight into how the Popes leveraged art and culture as potent tools for disseminating their message. Our aim is not only to leave you with an appreciation for the Vatican’s remarkable heritage but also to ensure that you depart with a profound understanding of its historical and cultural significance.
3 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- We regret that we are unable to accommodate guests with wheelchairs or any impairments requiring special assistance. We are also unable to accommodate strollers or baby carriages on our group tours.
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Avoid bringing large purses, bags, or backpacks on your tour
- At times, despite our priority access tickets, we may experience delays in getting through mandatory security checks when entering these venues
- Near public transportation
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- St Peter’s Basilica is subject to last-minute closures for religious ceremonies. When this occurs, we’re happy to offer customers an extended tour of the Vatican Museums. While we endeavour to tell tour groups ahead of time if there are any planned disruptions to the Basilica’s opening hours, this is not always possible and in these cases we are unable to provide refunds or discounts.
- On Wednesdays, due to the Papal Audiences, access to St Peter’s Basilica is not possible until 1pm
- St Peter’s Basilica is not accessible on the evening tours
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
Traveler Tips
Arrive early since it is a bit difficult to locate the tour guide to check in.
- Bring water with you as you won’t find any inside.
- Don’t go on a Wednesday because the Pope will be doing mass and it supposedly gets really crowded.