Private & Small Group Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel& St. Peter’s
Description
Explore the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica on a private or small-group tour. Skip the lines and enjoy a licensed English-speaking guide who brings the art, history, and architecture to life. Wander through Renaissance masterpieces, ancient sculptures, and then marvel at Michelangelo’s ceiling and Last Judgment in the Sistine Chapel. Finish at St. Peter’s Basilica, home to Michelangelo’s Pietà and Bernini’s grand altar. Note: St. Peter’s Basilica access may occasionally be restricted due to Vatican events. Perfect for US travelers, families, couples, and first-time visitors seeking a personalized, stress-free Vatican experience.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Take a leisurely walk through the Vatican galleries, which showcase the most significant art collection in the world while bypassing the usual entrance queues. *Pinecone Courtyard offers a stunning view of St. Peter's Basilica. *Octagonal Courtyard features the Apollo and Laocoön statues. *Next, you will explore the Room of the Muses, home to the Belvedere Torso statue. *The Round Room, a smaller replica of the Pantheon, contains Nero's bathtub at its center and will surely be a highlight of your visit. *In the Greek Cross Room, you will find two magnificent tombs crafted from extremely rare porphyry marble. *The Gallery of Tapestries presents incredible optical illusions, concluding with the Gallery of Geographical Maps, which is undoubtedly the most important artwork in the Vatican Museums.
Experience what are arguably the most significant masterpieces of art, Michelangelo's frescoes of the Last Judgment and Creation, and explore the venue where the papal election, known as the conclave, occurs. Attempt to deduce the locations of the stove and chimney, as well as where the newly elected pope will transition from his cardinal attire to the papal garments.
See a place where st. Peter was crucified and where Pope does the audience every Wednesday.Tour will end with priority access to the St.peter's Basilica that you'll explore at your own pace. Note: St. Peter’s Basilica access may occasionally be restricted due to Vatican events.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- 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
- Note: St. Peter’s Basilica access may occasionally be restricted due to Vatican events.
- 10 inch shorts are fine since they are reaching knees
- Flip flops and sandals are fine as well
- Make sure to bring a bottle of water with you
Reviews(57)
I booked this tour because it was advertised as a small group or private tour and we were traveling with 2 kids and my elderly father in law and seeing the Vatican for the first time. I did a lot of research and comparisons of tours when booking and specifically booked a 10:30am time slot due to our jet lag but got a message that the tour operator had made a mistake when opening the time slots and we had to move to the 9:30am slot or get a refund. Since the operator was apologetic and we were told about this with only about 24 hours in advance of the tour, we decided to just make the best of it and I regret it. The tour had 15 people in total and no other children, which is not a small group or private as advertised. The tour guide had to use radios for such a large group and for such a crowded place and the kids could not understand anything she said due to static and her rushed speech and my older daughter asked a lot of questions so it was difficult to keep explaining things to them that we could understand from the headset. The worst part was that when we were about to enter the Sistine chapel, the guide told us we could take a toilet break and then spend time in the chapel and meet back up with the group after the chapel. Well, the toilet line and the line to buy a bottle of water took 30 minutes and we didn’t get to see the chapel at all because the guide was rushing us out of there and apparently nobody else in the group had understood that there was also a break time. So, the part of the tour I was most excited to see I didn’t get to see at all because we were rushed by the guide. The guide did not enter St. Peter’s basilica at all because she said tour guides aren’t allowed inside even though we saw plenty of other guides walking around and explaining significant things like La Pieta. Basically, the tour was 3 hours of the museum only and we had a large group which I never would have booked if I had known it would be like this. This tour has been the biggest disappointment of our trip to Rome and I cannot believe what a bad experience it was.
Dear Guest, Thank you for sharing your feedback. We are sorry to hear that the tour did not fully meet your expectations. We want to clarify a few points for future guests. The experience you booked was advertised as a small-group tour, not a private one. With 15 participants, the group size fit the advertised format and is considered small for Vatican Museums tours, where larger groups are common. As for the radios and headsets, these are required by the Vatican Museums for guided groups inside the museums. They help ensure that guests can hear the guide clearly while following the museum’s rules and respecting other visitors. Using headsets is standard practice and not tied to an unusually large group size. We understand that visiting the Vatican with children can be tough. Our regular tours are designed for a general audience and cover the history, art, and highlights of the Vatican Museums. Regarding the restroom break before the Sistine Chapel, we are sorry that you experienced a long wait. However, restroom queues and visitor congestion inside the Vatican Museums are managed by the museum and are unfortunately outside of our control. The guide provides the available time and instructions according to the tour schedule, but unexpected waiting times can occur due to the high number of visitors. We appreciate your feedback and will keep working to provide clear information so guests can select the experience that fits their expectations. Kind regards, Customer Support Team
Slobodan was incredible. Very in depth. Amazing tour!!! You want him!!! The family from Chicago loves you Slobodan!!!!
Overall the experience was good. There were plenty of times I wish our guide would not have talked so much. Sometimes you just want to look, not hear talking. We went end of June. It was so hot and there is no air conditioning so be prepared. Also so many people it is packed where ever you try to move. I think we also could have gone on our own and read all the signs. Tour was good overall.
This was an experience of true history and has to be seen in person. Our guide (Tony) was super informative and fun!
A MUST SEE IN ROME. You CAN get tickets on your own but, I do not recommend it. ALWAYS hordes of visitors and your guide is your advocate. I don't know how you'd do without their services.
Ava was excellent. Very informative and kind. We have a large family with kids ranging from 4-16. She was so patient!
Great knowledgeable guide. Easy access to find guide location and easy access to all of the museums.
Such an amazing tour experience! Absolutely loved it! Our guide was so knowledgeable and a great host.
Great tour and definitely worth the price. The guide was kind, helpful and very informative. Saved us a lot of waiting by taking us through the shortcuts. Made sure everyone in the group was comfortable. Would highly recommend.
Very informative tour. Luigi was knowledgeable and pleasant. He kept us engaged and was very good at keeping track of us—even the little one.
