Your guide will meet you in front of the Café Vaticano. They will have a Through Eternity sign or flag.
Description
Discover the figures, the technique and the meaning of the frescoes created in 4 years of Michelangelo's timeless passion on our Sistine Chapel tour. Find out more about Julius II, the pope who commissioned his works. Wander through Raphael's rooms as you let our expert guide reveal the mysteries and insights of the depicted characters. Discover how the church's admiration for art has led to such a vast collection of treasures in the Vatican Museums recovered from underground after years of neglect.
** Please note that the Raphael Rooms are part of this 3-hour itinerary but on days due to crowding, timing and direction flows of crowd traffic dictated by the Vatican Museum staff on the day, we may not be able to make this stop within the designated time frame. If the Raphael Rooms are an absolute must for you to see, we suggest you book one of our longer group tours: the Early Vatican Tour or the VIP Vatican Tour where the Raphael Rooms will be covered.**
Schedule & prices
Runs
Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, and Sat
Start times
14 times a day, 8:00 AM–2:30 PM
Next available
Sat, Oct 17
Adult (ages 18+)
$370
Prices are per person when two book together; a solo traveller pays $740.
Larger groups pay less per person.
Out at sunset: the 2:30 PM departure is under way when the sun sets, around 5:13 PM in the coming weeks.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 13.
Tour Options
Private Essential Vatican
Itinerary
Vatican Museums
Admission included70 min
Raphael Rooms, Hall of Maps,
Sistine Chapel
Admission included20 min
Sistine Chapel
St. Peter's Basilica
60 min
La Pieta
La Pieta
Admission included10 min
Inside St Peter's Basilica
Cortile della Pigna
Admission included10 min
Inside Vatican Museums
Baldacchino di San Pietro, Di Bernini
Admission included10 min
View from inside the Basilica of Saint Peter
What's included
Included
St. Peter's Basilica (free entrance)
Skip-the-Lines Access
Headsets (for groups of 6 or more)
All Fees and Taxes
Expert, English-Speaking Private Guide
Not included
Transportation to and from the meeting and end points
Food and Beverages
Gratuities (optional)
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.9
79 reviews
5
76
4
1
3
0
2
0
1
2
Important Information
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Please note that the Vatican Museums provide free entrance for visitors who are (according to the requirements stated by the Vatican City) at least 74% disabled by presenting the appropriate certification and, if one needs assistance by another person, that person also receives a free entrance. Please inform us when you are booking if you fit into these requirements and we will remove the pricing of the entry tickets from the price of the tour.
As this is a walking tour with steps and staircases, comfortable walking shoes and a bottle of water are strongly recommended.
Please advise during the booking process if any clients have mobility concerns so that we can best accommodate you.
At the end of your tour, you are required to return the headset provided to you to your guide. In the event that you do not return the headset, you will be subject to a fine of €100 for lost property.
Each traveler must present a valid passport or government issued photo ID that matches the name provided at the time of booking for successful entry to the Vatican Museums.
Due to the Jubilee, some monuments may be under restoration. Please pay attention to any messages we may send regarding potential changes.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does this tour take?
Private Experience: Sistine Chapel , Vatican Museums & St.Peters Basilica lasts about 3 hours. The itinerary has 6 stops.
How much does this tour cost?
Prices start at $370 per person for this Rome experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. That is the per-person price when two book together; a solo traveller pays $740. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does this tour run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, with 14 departures a day between 8:00 AM and 2:30 PM.
Can I cancel this tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Your guide will meet you in front of the Café Vaticano. They will have a Through Eternity sign or flag. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is this tour offered in?
The experience is available in EN, IT.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a private experience: only your party takes part. Up to 15 travellers can book together.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessible Transportation options are wheelchair accessible Please advise during the booking process if any clients have mobility concerns so that we can best accommodate you.
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is this tour worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.9 out of 5 across 79 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Through Eternity Tours.
Reviews(79)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
D
Dream44345737451
October 10, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
A Great Experience and Excellent Guide
We booked with Through Eternity for a tour of the Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museum and St Peter's Basilica.
Mickey was an incredibly knowledgeable guide with a great sense of humour. He kept us entertained and informed even during the wait due to the large crowds - thank goodness for the included skip-the-queue.
Mickey made sure we were all looked after and highlighted the important features so we knew what to look out for. He even allowed us enough time at the end for a blessing from a priest at St Peter's which was particularly special.
I would highly recommend him and the Through Eternity tours to anyone visiting the Vatican
T
traceyeP659UP
October 4, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Private tour with Monica
Highly recommend. Having a private guide made the overwhelming experience a pleasure. We can’t say enough about our tour guide Monica Saab. She squeezed us through the crowds easily. She has years of experience and it shines through. Every museum employee greeted her with a smile. We had a great experience.
Operator response
Thank you so much for the wonderful review and recommendation! We’re so happy to hear that having a private guide made such a difference and turned what can be an overwhelming experience into such a pleasure.
We’ll definitely share your kind words with Monica. It’s wonderful to hear that her experience and knowledge helped you navigate the crowds with ease and made you feel so well taken care of throughout the tour.
We’re thrilled you had such a great experience with us, and we hope to have the opportunity to welcome you again on your next trip to Rome or elsewhere in Europe!
P
Paula_G
September 30, 2026 · via Viator
Amazing Experience
This experience was AMAZING! My guide, Alexandria, was delightful. She was knowledgeable, answered questions and tailored the tour around my interests. I could tell she was respected by all the Vatican employees/vendors and that speaks volumes. Highly recommend Alexandria this Elite Private Tour.
Operator response
Thank you so much for your amazing review! We’re thrilled to hear that Alexandria made your Vatican experience so special. It’s wonderful to know that she was able to tailor the tour to your interests, answer all your questions, and share her knowledge along the way. We’ll definitely pass your kind words on to her. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back to the Vatican again!
P
paulagZ3650UB
September 28, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Incredible Private Experience at the Vatican
Alexandria was an absolute joy from start to finish. The historical knowledge, the ins and outs of the Vatican, the attention to detail….was 20/10. It was truly a personal tour & experience.
C
chir0care
September 1, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Worth the price!
Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and engaging. It was very hot and humid during our visit and the area was very busy. Everything was included and our tour guide just walked us into the areas without waiting in line. The tour was approximately 3 hours long with a lot of walking. I would recommend this for people who want a one and one experience with their guide and to remember to put on some good walking shoes.
J
Jgulia
August 8, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Amazing tour
Our guide, Alessandra was pleasant, knowledgeable and personable. We had a great time learning interesting facts, history and had many laughs along the way! We felt comfortable and we were well taken care of. A terrific experience (even my teen boys were engaged and attentive) we would recommend to anyone!
N
newp0rt99
August 6, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Great tour company for the Vatican
Great tour! Covered all of the major sites with some fun facts along the way. Very pleased and definitely recommend this company. Their communication was professional and responsive.
Operator response
Thank you for your kind feedback! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour, learned some fun facts along the way. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back on another memorable tour in the future!
P
P4444PPlancew
August 6, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Vatican private tour
Enrica was absolutely fantastic!! She was so knowledgeable and moved at the pace our group wanted to move . I highly recommend this tour but above all I recommend Enrica as a guide .
Operator response
Thank you for your kind words! We're delighted to hear that Enrica made such a positive impression with her knowledge and ability to tailor the pace to your group. We'll be sure to share your wonderful feedback with her. Thank you for recommending both the tour and Enrica!
F
F3695JNannr
July 6, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Must use!!!
It was amazing. Our tour guide was wonderful and so knowledgeable
Operator response
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed your private experience at the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums, and that our guide made such a positive impression with their knowledge.
K
Kate_G
July 2, 2026 · via Viator
EXCELLENT knowledgeable...
EXCELLENT knowledgeable guide. It was super hot but Ricardo was great. It was just my husband and myself. We paid the premium price for easy access and not a group as that is what we prefer.
Operator response
We truly appreciate your feedback, and we're glad you had a great time with Ricardo! It's always wonderful to hear that our premium service met your expectations, especially on such a hot day. Thank you for choosing us!
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