VIP Vatican Breakfast and Guided Tour with Sistine Chapel Access
Description
Embark on an extraordinary journey at the Vatican with this morning tour that includes an American-style breakfast inside the Vatican's Courtyard. You’ll explore the Vatican Museums before they open to the general public so you can admire famous sights like the Sistine Chapel in a more intimate atmosphere before finishing with skip-the-line access to St Peter’s Basilica through a reserved entrance.
Tour Options
Itinerary
With our Early Entrance into the Vatican, you’ll explore the Vatican Museums before they open to the general public so you can admire the Sistine Chapel in a more intimate atmosphere before finishing with skip-the-line access to St Peter’s Basilica through a reserved entrance.
Begin with an American-style breakfast in the Vatican's Courtyard among the majestic views of the Vatican with unparalleled serenity before the public is allowed inside.
In the heart of the Vatican's Cortile della Pigna stands a notable bronze sculpture: Sfera con sfera (Sphere Within a Sphere) by Italian artist Arnaldo Pomodoro. This captivating artwork depicts two fractured orbs resembling intricate machine gears, symbolizing the intricate and fragile nature of the modern world. Pomodoro began creating similar sculptures in the early 1960s, exploring the theme of complexity.
Then join your expert guide for a semi-private tour of the Vatican Museums. Saunter along our carefully designed route to admire exquisite centuries old art collections and archeological wonders.
The Vatican Museums' Gallery of Maps is a mesmerizing display of intricate cartography, spanning centuries. Immerse yourself in history through vividly detailed maps, capturing the beauty of geography and artistry.
From there, visit the Sistine Chapel – the Pope’s personal place of worship. Marvel at Michelangelo’s artistry as you immerse yourself within one of the world’s most significant landmarks.
Finally, your guide will avoid long lines to get you into St. Peter’s Basilica to explore one of the pillars of the Catholic church. Remain in St. Peter’s Basilica after the tour to experience more of this amazing church at your leisure, or step back outside St. Peter’s Square to admire Bernini’s clever optical illusion and the basilica’s heavenly facade.
St. Peter's Square, an iconic masterpiece in Rome, embraces visitors with its grandeur. Designed by Bernini, the vast elliptical space is encircled by a majestic colonnade, symbolizing the Church's embrace. The central obelisk and fountains add splendor, while the stunning façade of St. Peter's Basilica stands as a beacon of architectural brilliance, inviting pilgrims and tourists alike to marvel at the heart of Vatican City.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Please note that this tour is only available up to 60 days in advance, due to the nature of the tickets. We recommend booking early to avoid disappointment!
- Saint 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 in the morning.
- * Please note all participant names and date of birth are required at the time of booking in order to join this tour. If we do not receive this information, we will cancel the booking. Every customer is required to carry a valid ID that matches the name on the ticket, or an entry will be refused. Name changes are not permitted once the booking is confirmed.
- * Please be advised that this tour option is non-refundable, with no cancellations or date changes allowed due to pre-purchased tickets. It is mandatory to bring a valid ID or Passport for security checks, and entry will not be granted without proper documentation.
- A dress code is required to enter to the museums. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women.
Reviews(1,866)
Amazing 5star experience at the Vatican with breakfast! We loved this experience. My children loved the food. Marina was a fabulous tour guide! Cannot recommend this tour enough especially with Marina being so friendly and knowledgeable!! Thank you for an unforgettable experience! A must do in Rome.
It seemed really disorganized trying to get into the Vatican from our tour guide. Once inside, we eventually made our way to breakfast. But it took a good 30-45 mins from the start of where we met. The breakfast was good overall. We had about 30 mins to eat. Then we made our way towards the museum rooms. It was very difficult to understand our tour guide due to his accent and we missed all the highlights due to that barrier. We seemed to have spent too much time walking thru the museums which normally wouldn’t be a problem if we could understand the content. Also, what made it difficult is their listening devices were terrible. It’s not a full headset style. It’s one earphone that hangs off your ear. And mine kept falling off. We eventually made our way to the Sistine Chapel. And it was magnificent. We spent about 30 mins inside. Then met up with our tour guide at the exit making our way over to St Peter’s Basilica. When we got there, it seemed like we missed our appointment time and the tour guide had to go all the way back to wherever he went to get our time updated so that we could enter. When we finally got inside, we still could not understand the dialogue from the guide. So several of us did our own thing walking about and just reading the signs to get our own understanding of what we were seeing. I think overall, if we had a tour guide that we could understand, the experience would have been a lot different.
A great tour that was informative, touching, and funny. Cosmio did a great job, and he paid attention to our group as we dealt with crowds. The breakfast is a great way to start!
This was an amazing experience learning about one of the largest art collections in the world. Christian was very knowledgeable and taught us a lot about the various exhibits. Breakfast in the Pinecone Courtyard was amazing, sort of mix between an American and an European style breakfast. The tour lasted a little over 3 hours, which was probably the breaking point for our two young daughters. I would say the crowd was somewhat busy, but not super busy.
First things first: our girl Silvia was phenomenal. She was incredibly knowledgeable about the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica and made us feel like VIP guests from start to finish. She often worked with Vatican staff to provide special access opportunities and answered every question with thoughtful, detailed responses while still allowing the beauty and culture of the Vatican to speak for itself. Though we did it as a couple, the tour itself is with a bunch of other people and there few guests who had mobility challenges, and Silvia made sure everyone felt included and valued throughout the experience. She carefully adjusted the pace of the tour and was attentive to everyone’s needs the entire time. She also did an excellent job explaining the Vatican’s rules and expectations—not just what they are, but why they exist. It was clear that she deeply respects the Vatican and is passionate about preserving its traditions, and she shared that passion in a way that was informative and never off-putting. And yes—the breakfast was delicious! Special shoutout to the bacon and eggs. Beyond the Vatican itself, Silvia’s knowledge of Rome and Italy’s history made the entire experience even richer. One thing to note, and this is by no means a reflection of City Wonders: the Vatican itself is not particularly accessibility-friendly for those with mobility impairments or anyone who has difficulty walking. There is one elevator that takes visitors to the first floor upon entry, but the remainder of the experience involves significant walking and numerous staircases. There was another couple that was a part of our larger group who struggled with this, so it’s something to keep in mind whether you’re touring independently or with any company. That said, Silvia handled this challenge beautifully and made every effort to ensure everyone had the best experience possible. I would absolutely recommend this tour to anyone looking to add history, culture, and a truly memorable experience to their time in Rome!
Great experience. Christian was very knowledgeable of all areas toured. The Sistine chapel and basilica de San Pietro were breathtaking. Highly recommend visiting burials grotto’s after the tour finishes
We had a wonderful time. Out guide was Christian. Very informative and interesting. Audio ear phones was very helpful. Breakfast was good and filling. All in all worth the time/money spent.
Cosimo was a fantastic guide. He shared a lot of helpful information and moved us through spaces skillfully and with good humor. We hit the high points of the Vatican and I feel like I learned many new things despite visiting before. The breakfast was huge and delicious. I would recommend this tour for sure.
Our tour guide Cohme was informative, entertaining & very accommodating!
Had the breakfast tour with the amazing guide Kristian, was really worth the extra money, the breakfast was like a 3 course meal, a mix of pastries, pancakes and a full English. Kristian did a great job of negotiating the entry which would have been very stressful if you don't have a guide, the queue jump was priceless as by 8am the queue for not pre-booked groups was huge and at least 2 hours wait. Kristian was lovely and very knowledgeable, the tech failed a bit but he worked round it and ensured the group stayed together and had enough time and space to see all the amazing art works and statues. Would highly recommend.
