S
Excellent private Vatican/Sistine chapel tour
Our guide Laura was wonderful and explained everything in detail. The tour line que went quickly. Just be prepared for extreme lines and people!!
Rome travel guide: tickets, best time & real costs
Private Vatican Museum & Sistine Chapel – Exclusive 3-Hour Tour
+20 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Price from
- $433 / person
- Location
- Rome, Italy
- Rating
- 4.6 / 5 · 8 reviews
- Languages
- EN, IT, FR, ES
- Group
- Private
- Cancellation
- See policy below
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Rome Guided Visit
- Meeting point
- Meet your guide 15 minutes before the tour starts at Viale Vaticano 100, in front of Caffé Vaticano, opposite the Vatican Museums. The guide will hold a sign with your name.Please note that we might propose a slightly different starting time, depending on the availability of entrance tickets.
Description
Are you Visiting the Museums with Kids? Just relax and enjoy! Special rates up to 17 and Children-Friendly Guides are what you need! Save time and get the most out of your visit to the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica by going on a private tour. These are some of the most popular sights in Rome, so skip the lines and you have more time to admire the art and architecture. Your private guide will tell you all about the history and culture of the sites, and cater the tour to suit your needs. • Get priority access to two busy attractions • Ideal for travelers with kids, as guides can adjust the tour to their needs • First-time visitors to Rome will enjoy this comprehensive tour of the • Vatican See centuries of cultural riches in an easy three-hour tour
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, and Sat
- Start times
- 9:45 AM, 2:45 PM, and 4:30 PM
- Next available
- Wed, Oct 14
- Adult (ages 18+)
- $433
- Child (ages 5–17)
- Free
- Infant (ages 0–4)
- Free
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
Prices are per person when two book together; a solo traveller pays $695.
Larger groups pay less per person.
Out at sunset: the 2:45 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
Itinerary
Vatican Museums
You will meet your guide, holding a sign with your name, in front of the Vatican Museums. You will enter the Vatican Museums overflowing with masterpieces by many of Italy’s most important Italian artists, sitting alongside important works from Ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt. You will walk through famous galleries such as the tapestries and maps ones and elegant and precious courtyards with sculptures of pricless value.
Sistine Chapel
You will learn the secrets of The Sistine Chapel, with its enormous Michelangelo’s frescoes. Here you will have time to observe the details of his sublime “Last Judgment”that your guides explained before entering. Inside the Chapel only contemplation is allowed, not talking
St. Peter's Basilica
NOT INCLUDED IN THE EVENING TOUR! In the 16th century, the original church, constructed by Emperor Constantine on the burial site of Saint Peter, was replaced by the current St. Peter's Basilica. Your guide will bring you directly from the Sistine Chapel into St. Peter's Basilica's courtyard. Your guide will optimize your time by explaining all the features outside. You can take pictures (without a flash) in a peaceful atmosphere while the guide waits outside for you. It is the world's largest Church to admire Michelangelo's "Pietà" and other highlights. St. Peter's Square envelops visitors with the grand colonnades designed by Bernini and offers a stunning view of the Pope's Balcony. Remember to cover your knees and shoulders before entering the Sistine Chapel and the Basilica of St. Peter.
What's included
Included
Tickets to Vatican Museums, and Sistine Chapel
Certified multilingual guides. Kindly ask for languages that are not listed.
Daytime Tour: Tickets to teh Basilica
All Fees and Taxes
Not included
Hotel pick up
Basilica visit on the evening tour
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.6
8 reviews
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- The Vatican Museums' visits involve significant walking. Please provide any mobility and wheelchair access requirements. The wheelchair path does not cover all the Museums' rooms. Also, note that visitors with limited mobility can contact us for special needs, such as wheelchairs or walkers. Wheelchairs and walkers are not allowed in thThe tour can continue to the Basilica only if all members of your private group can walk down the stairs. Nevertheless you will see St. Peter's Square and the guide will explain the Basilica from the ourside. Also, note that other participants in your group will have to take charge of pushing the wheelchair.
- Strollers: We suggest avoiding strollers and using a baby sling instead. Like wheelchairs and walkers, strollers are not allowed in the passage from the Sistine Chapel directly to the Basilica
- Please provide the full names of all travelers when booking. Failure to present a voucher with all travelers' full names at the ticket office prior to entry may result in denied entry to the Vatican.
- ST. PETER'S BASILICA TICKETS: Please note that the Basilica stops selling skip-the-line tickets 3 days before the date. Therefore, you will not be able to skip the line directly from the Sistine Chapel to the Basilica. Nevertheless, if the lines are reasonable, the guide will be happy to get you in. We are very sorry for the inconvenience, which goes beyond our control.
Cancellation
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
0+ days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does this tour take?
Private Vatican Museum & Sistine Chapel – Exclusive 3-Hour Tour lasts about 3 hours. The itinerary has 3 stops.
How much does this tour cost?
Prices start at $433 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 $695. There are 2 booking options, 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, starting at 9:45 AM, 2:45 PM, and 4:30 PM.
How much does this tour cost for children?
Children aged 5–17 pay nothing, adults from $433. Infants go free.
Can I cancel this tour for free?
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Meet your guide 15 minutes before the tour starts at Viale Vaticano 100, in front of Caffé Vaticano, opposite the Vatican Museums. The guide will hold a sign with your name. Please note that we might propose a slightly different starting time, depending on the availability of entrance tickets. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is this tour offered in?
The experience is available in EN, IT, FR, ES.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a private experience: only your party takes part. Up to 10 travellers can book together.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller Strollers: We suggest avoiding strollers and using a baby sling instead. Like wheelchairs and walkers, strollers are not allowed in the passage from the Sistine Chapel directly to the Basilica
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessible The Vatican Museums' visits involve significant walking. Please provide any mobility and wheelchair access requirements. The wheelchair path does not cover all the Museums' rooms. Also, note that visitors with limited mobility can contact us for special needs, such as wheelchairs or walkers. Wheelchairs and walkers are not allowed in thThe tour can continue to the Basilica only if all members of your private group can walk down the stairs. Nevertheless you will see St. Peter's Square and the guide will explain the Basilica from the ourside. Also, note that other participants in your group will have to take charge of pushing the wheelchair. Strollers: We suggest avoiding strollers and using a baby sling instead. Like wheelchairs and walkers, strollers are not allowed in the passage from the Sistine Chapel directly to the Basilica
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Reviews(8)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
U
Vatican private tour
Rgvincoming is an excellent tour company. They got in touch with me before I left for Italy and informed me that Vatican city is not open on Sunday. My family has a very tight travel schedule and doesn't allow any mistake. They helped me set up the Vatican tour on Saturday. The driver picked us up from the hotel. Our tour guide Robert met us at the Vatican city entrance. He led us navigate through the long lines and visited Vatican museum, the Basilica and the Sistine Chapel. He is very knowledgable and he picked out the interesting facts and shared with us his insights about different art pieces. It is a very well-orgnized tour, very educational, very interesting and no time wasted.
S
But geared for kids
Our guide was knowledgeable and nice but he barley addressed our kids at all and this was a Vatican with kids tour. I was expecting for him to engage with them a little to keep them interested. He also left before we got to to the Sistine chapel and St. Peter’s which was so odd. He basically told us what to expect and sent us on our way 🤷🏻♀️. It’s was so weird. Def not worth the $550 we spent…
Operator response
Hello Steve, Thank you for allowing us to remind all visitors that Vatican Museums are always art Museums. The guide knows that the tour was booked primarily for your kids and how much we care about this aspect. In fact, he called me at the beginning of the tour, saying that you and the kids were tired ( it was also a 39° afternoon with no air conditioning) and your children were struggling to stay engaged. Thank you for appreciating his knowledge and attitude; despite these challenges, he did his best to make the tour enjoyable and engaging. He did not leave you but asked twice if you preferred to stay inside the museums or go to the Basilica ( when you leave the Sistine Chapel, you cannot go back but only go to the church ). Since you could not agree on going to the Basilica or end the tour, he could not leave part of the family and bring the other to the church. What he could do was explain the way to leave or proceed. The guide led the same tour in the morning to a father with a teenage daughter and stayed inside longer than usual because the kid was very interested in art and history. I am really sorry you did not have the experience you deserved. Please keep my phone number handy to be my guest in the future. I'll make sure that you and your family receive the best Vatican tour possible. Sincerely, Elisabetta Elisabetta
B
A great tour with an amazing guide!
We came into Rome on a Saturday of a holiday weekend. The Vatican was closed the next 2 days, and we went at the end of the day. It was VERY crowded, yet our guide was expertly able to lead ups through this fascinating place. Would we rather have gone another time? Certainly! But we were so glad we went to this iconic place. Our guide did an mazing job! Definitely would recommended the tour!
Operator response
Greetings Brenda! I was planning on requesting your feedback, but it seems you beat me to it! You've booked other 2 tours with us, in addition to your Vatican experience. I would like to express my gratitude for choosing us to guide you through Rome, during the busy Italian holidays of May 1. I'd also like to mention your guide's name, Patrizia. Thank you again for entrusting us with your exploration of Rome. Elisabetta
T
So worth it! Amazing experience
We had an amazing time. Our guide was fun and knowledgeable. Very accommodating for my mother in her wheelchair as well. The info we received were a great addition to everything we viewed. Prepare to do some walking. Worth the exercise Miss Rome so much!
Operator response
Hello Dempsey! Thank you very much! It was last September, and you have such a vivid memory of your tour with Valter. We are "happy" you miss Rome! It means that you might come back, and I will thank you in person for accepting my invitation to review your experience! We thank you for the underlying that the Vatican can be visited in a wheelchair; your mother surely has a real passion for art! We hope she also had a good time in Rome, although it was a bit more challenging for both of you! All the best, and see you next time!
2
Top service
Booking and paying were easy, immediate, and safe! The agency told me they would have chosen a child-friendly guide, and it was so! My concern was that my children could get bored. The guide was at the meeting point with a big smile for our kids and conducted the tour taking particular care of the kids. The Museums are definitely worth the visit! The Sistine Chapel and the Basilica are amazing! We enjoyed this tour and recommend it.
1 people found this helpful
Operator response
Dear Kiko, Thank you for taking the time to write this review!!! We are happy that this experience met your expectations and you enjoyed the Vatican so much! Cecilia, like many of our guides, is very attentive to children's needs. It allows their parents to have a relaxing tour. Thank you for suggesting this tour to others. We hope to meet you again in the future!
M
Super guide.
Our guide, Andrea was excellent. Knowledgeable, attentive to our needs with two children under 5 and very well connected with the museum staff which helped short circuit many of the inevitable queues! A charming man and thoroughly recommended by us.
Operator response
Thank you for your enthusiasm. We are happy you enjoyed your visit so much! see you next time in Rome, then!
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| Private Vatican Museum & Sistine Chapel – Exclusive 3-Hour Tour | 3 hours | 4.6 (8) | $433 | |
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from$433
4.6(8)