K
Guides were great. Check...
Guides were great. Check in was easy. Did not like like I had to go back to ticket sales to get the St. Peter basilica tour and then wait in line again.
Rome travel guide: tickets, best time & real costs
Rome: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel Tour and Opt Basilica Entry
+8 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Price from
- $74 / person
- Location
- Rome, Italy
- Rating
- 4.2 / 5 · 184 reviews
- Languages
- DE, PT, JA, EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 20
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Within 24h
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Italy Wonders SRLS
- Meeting point
- Get off at "Ottaviano" Stop on Metro A line.From the station, walk on Via Ottaviano following the indication to St. Peter square.When you arrive across at Via Germanico, go to the right follow the street.After 100 mtr,Via Vespasiano will be on your left. At the number 28, you will find our office.
Description
Skip the lines and step into the Vatican Museums with a licensed guide, ready to unveil the wonders of ancient art and mythology. Admire the stunning Gallery of Maps and other highlights as your guide shares fascinating insights. The tour culminates in the breathtaking Sistine Chapel, where Michelangelo’s masterpieces, including The Creation of Adam, will leave you in awe. With an audio headset, you won’t miss a word of the expert commentary. Perfect for art and history lovers, this tour offers a seamless and enriching way to experience the Vatican’s treasures. Upgrade Option: Enhance your experience with access to St. Peter’s Basilica, where you can marvel at its grandeur and iconic artworks.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, and Sat
- Start times
- 70 times a day, 7:30 AM–5:25 PM
- Next available
- Wed, Oct 14
- Adult (ages 18+)
- $74
- Child (ages 7–17)
- $67
- Infant (ages 0–6)
- Free
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
Out at sunset: the 3:25 PM departure is under way when the sun sets, around 5:13 PM in the coming weeks.
In demand: 1481 of the next 1820 departures are already sold out.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 13.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Vatican Museums
Visit the Vatican Museums and Upper Galleries, including the one of the Maps, Tapestries and Candelabra. Explore the Stanze of Raffaello, part of the apartment of Pope Julius II, where the young Raphael spent many hours decorating the walls of the rooms with beautiful frescoes.
Vatican Museums
Visit the Borgia rooms, part of the papal apartments painted by Pinturicchio and his scholars. The Modern art and contemporary galleries were put together as an homage to Pope Paul VI who, during a homely in the Sistine Chapel underlined the importance of the link between the Church and Art.
Sistine Chapel
Get lost admiring the unique frescoes that decorate the interiors of the Sistine Chapel. Painted by some of the greatest masters of the Renaissance period, the decorative frescoes depict Biblical episodes, such as the Creation of Adam and Eve, and many more.
Vatican City
The Vatican City State, also known simply as the Vatican, became independent from Italy with the Lateran Treaty (1929), and it is a distinct territory under "full ownership, exclusive dominion, and sovereign authority and jurisdiction" of the Holy See, itself a sovereign entity of international law, which maintains the city state's temporal, diplomatic, and spiritual independence. With an area of 49 hectares and a population of about 825,it is the smallest state in the world by both area and population.
What's included
Included
St. Peter's Basilica Access (if option selected)
Free Wifi available at the meeting point
Staff available to assist you at the meeting point
Skip the line ticket to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
Professional guide with headsets to hear guide clearly
Not included
Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Food and drinks
Basilica guided tour
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.2
184 reviews
How it compares in Rome
- Starting price $74 is 34% below the typical $113 for tours of similar length in Rome
Excurgo comparison of 8,082 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
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
- Please note that on Wednesday morning the basilica will be closed due to the papal audience. If you paid for access of the basilica, we will provide you a ticket for the first time available.
- A valid photo ID is required for the mandatory security screening
- Be aware that the Vatican Museums adhere strictly to scheduled entry times. Late arrivals may be denied entry, and no refunds will be issued for missed tours.
- A strict dress code is in place at the Vatican Museums: both shoulders and knees must be covered.
- Access to St. Peter’s Basilica may be limited at short notice due to religious events.
- Visitors with disabilities are entitled to complimentary entry to the Vatican Museums. To ensure proper arrangements, please inform us at the time of booking.
- Please provide an accurate phone number with the correct country code so we can reach you if necessary.
- Please note that by purchasing this tour, you accept our Terms and Conditions and are aware that no refund will be given in case you do not attend the tour or arrive late for the tour.
- In peak season, due to the high number of visitors, it might take extra time to go through the security check and to collect the Vatican headsets which are compulsory.
- Please note that the Sistine Chapel may close without prior notice on rare occasions. Should this occur, your guide will provide a tour of other sections of the Vatican Museums.
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?
Rome: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel Tour and Opt Basilica Entry lasts about 2 hours. The itinerary has 4 stops.
How much does this tour cost?
Prices start at $74 per person for this Rome experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There are 13 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, with 70 departures a day between 7:30 AM and 5:25 PM.
How much does this tour cost for children?
Children aged 7–17 pay from $67, adults from $74. Infants go free.
Does this tour sell out?
It can: 1481 of the next 1820 departures are already sold out, so booking ahead is a good idea.
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 Get off at "Ottaviano" Stop on Metro A line.From the station, walk on Via Ottaviano following the indication to St. Peter square.When you arrive across at Via Germanico, go to the right follow the street.After 100 mtr,Via Vespasiano will be on your left. At the number 28, you will find our office. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is this tour offered in?
The experience is available in DE, PT, JA, EN, ZH-CN, IT, FR, ES.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 20 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Confirmation is sent by the operator within 24 hours of booking.
Reviews(184)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
D
Good tour.
Good tour. They basically walk you through Vatican security to get your guided tour tickets. The Vatican tour guide leads you through for about 45 minutes talking about the history and rooms and then lets you go at the Sistine Chapel after giving you the background. You’re free to go around afterwards. If you booked the Basilica as part of it, you have to walk back to the tour office in order for them to lead you to the Basilica portion of the tour.
W
Exhausting
If you are senior citizen, it has some health issues when it comes to walking up and down steps and ramps I would suggest in your advertisement that this tour includes several hours of standing and walking if you’re not capable of doing that, don’t take the tour!!!
G
Poor customer service
We were stuck in traffic and arrived a few minutes late! The tour operator was less than accommodating and we had to purchase another tour from a separate group! I would do no stars, but that was not an option! The local person was not helpful or friendly!
F
Disappointing, impersonal and overpriced tour
We were so disappointed with this overpriced experience. First, the tour group moved our tour later by one hour , the day before the tour. We had tickets to the basilica that could not be changed at that late notice, so we missed it. Second, the reception by the Vivico tours was not very welcoming and they had all of us stand outside in the heat instead of inside waiting for the 15 minutes they asked to arrive early. There were no introductions, there was no overview of what to expect on the tour. They just made us walk 10 minutes and dropped us off. It was a lot of handing off without a lot of clarity. The audio equipment was poor and it was hard to understand the guide. I would not recommend this tour for teens/ kids. It felt unstructured and not cohesive in any way. I’m really disappointed that we wasted our time and money and I don’t recommend.
1 people found this helpful
D
Wasn't that easy to...
Was not easy to find the meeting place, so be out well in advance. Otherwise a very good tour.
J
Our guide was very...
Our guide was very personable and enthusiastic. Since we had been through Vatican Museum tours several times, we wanted a shorter tour at less cost given our group. Tour does not go extensively through the artwork of the museums but hits only the highlights, plus gaining access to the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica. This tour is more of a sampler version of the full vatican tour.
S
Nice and knowledgeable guide...
Nice and knowledgeable guide who took good care of his group. Super to get past the queues for both the Sistine Chapel and the Petri Church!
S
Vatican museum
Experienced, knowledgeable tour guide. Orderly, easy to find. Good experiences with visitor. Very good!
A
Beatiful
An incredible experience! The Vatican Museums are breathtaking, and the tour was very well organized. Our guide was knowledgeable and engaging, making the visit even more enjoyable. A must-see in Rome!
Operator response
Thank you! We’re so glad you enjoyed the tour! It was a pleasure showing you through the breathtaking halls of the Vatican. Thank you for the 'must-see' recommendation!
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from$74
4.2(184) Free cancellation