L
Highlights tour was a...
Highlights tour was a great way to see the Vatican. Appreciated Tommaso’s knowledge and hospitality. Really glad we did this and he customized our time to meet our interests.
Rome travel guide: tickets, best time & real costs
Skip-the-line Vatican and Sistine Chapel Private Guided Tour
+7 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Price from
- $376 / person
- Location
- Rome, Italy
- Rating
- 4.8 / 5 · 26 reviews
- Languages
- EN, IT
- Group
- Private
- Cancellation
- See policy below
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Raphael Tours & Events
- Meeting point
- Please meet your guide, under the big white monumental door topped with statues ( Vatican Museums entrance) , the guide will have a sing with your name.
Description
Skip the long lines at the Vatican by taking this private, 3-hour tour. With your local guide, visit the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Museums, and other famous sites. See some of the most precious artwork in the world as your guide shares the history and stories of these locations.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, and Sat
- Start times
- 8 times a day, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM
- Next available
- Thu, Oct 22
- Adult (ages 18+)
- $376
- Child (ages 6–17)
- $90
- Infant (ages 0–5)
- Free
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
Larger groups pay less per person.
Out at sunset: the 2:30 PM departure is under way when the sun sets, around 5:02 PM in the coming weeks.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 21.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Vatican Museums
On this private tour, you will travel at your own pace, plus you can stop in some of the small rooms of the museum since you won't be with a large group. Start with a visit to the Belvedere Courtyard, the Pio-Clementino Museum, and the large collection of Ancient Roman and Greek statues. Then, continue to the Galleries of Tapistries and Geographic Maps, the grandest and most significant display of Renaissance maps. Stop in the Sobiesky Room to learn about the largest canvas painting in the Vatican. See the Immaculate Conception Room's frescoes.
Stanze di Raffaello
Your guide will focus your attention on the rooms painted by Raphael for Pope Julius II, considered the greatest works of his life, especially the Parnassus and the School of Athens.
Sistine Chapel
Hear the history, facts, and curiosities of the Sistine Chapel during your visit there. View the famous frescoes made by Michelangelo, Botticelli and other famous artists. The Sistine Chapel is also the location of the conclave, the Popes' election, so you will learn details about this unique event.
What's included
Included
Blue Badge guide
Local guide
Private tour
Professional art historian guide
Guaranteed to skip the long lines
Not included
Gratuities
Food and drinks
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.8
26 reviews
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- A dress code is required to enter places of worship and selected museums. No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements
- Food and drinks are not allowed in the museums except for bottled water
- Because of the growing popularity of the current pope Francis and his intense activity in organising mass events in the Vatican some areas might get closed last minute without previous notice. This has already happened this year and can happen again during your Vatican tour: the Sistine chapel and/or the Basilica of Saint Peter might not be accessible. In case of such events our tour guide will provide you with a valuable alternative focusing the tour inside the Vatican museums.
- The Basilica is not included in this tour due to the Jubilee new access rules. You can visit the Basilica by going to Saint Peter's Square and queueing there
Cancellation
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
0+ days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Skip-the-line Vatican and Sistine Chapel Private Guided Tour take?
Skip-the-line Vatican and Sistine Chapel Private Guided Tour lasts about 3 hours. The itinerary has 3 stops.
How much does Skip-the-line Vatican and Sistine Chapel Private Guided Tour cost?
Prices start at $376 per person for this Rome experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Skip-the-line Vatican and Sistine Chapel Private Guided Tour run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, with 8 departures a day between 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM.
How much does Skip-the-line Vatican and Sistine Chapel Private Guided Tour cost for children?
Children aged 6–17 pay from $90, adults from $376. Infants go free.
Can I cancel Skip-the-line Vatican and Sistine Chapel Private Guided Tour for free?
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Please meet your guide, under the big white monumental door topped with statues ( Vatican Museums entrance) , the guide will have a sing with your name. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Skip-the-line Vatican and Sistine Chapel Private Guided 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 wheelchair accessible?
Because of the growing popularity of the current pope Francis and his intense activity in organising mass events in the Vatican some areas might get closed last minute without previous notice. This has already happened this year and can happen again during your Vatican tour: the Sistine chapel and/or the Basilica of Saint Peter might not be accessible. In case of such events our tour guide will provide you with a valuable alternative focusing the tour inside the Vatican museums.
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Skip-the-line Vatican and Sistine Chapel Private Guided Tour worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.8 out of 5 across 26 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Raphael Tours & Events.
Reviews(26)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
I
Fantastic Private Experience!
My wife and I took the private, Fast Access Entrance to Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter Basilica tour with Donato A. and could not have been happier! Donato's passion, knowledge of intimate details, love for the place, and helpfulness came through at each stop and with each display. The tour was well thought out, organized, and perfectly allowed us to take in all of the beautiful sites and learn more of the history - without long waits in line. The private aspect gave us more options and flexibility and we really enjoyed the 1:1 discussions. 10/10 - Definitely recommended!
J
Beautiful! So many things to see!
Francesco was very knowledgeable and passionate about the information that he shared with us. I would highly recommend Francesco as a tour guide.
F
Skip the Line Tour of Vatican
Very informative & interesting tour by our extremely knowledgeable tour guide Maximillian! He was great in highlighting the important info. We( group of 7) all highly recommend this tour especially with Maximillian! Thank you!
S
Absolutely the highlight of our trip
Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and led our tour with little pop quiz’s and humor. There wasn’t one question she couldn’t answer and we asked lots !
M
Great family trip to the Vatican!
A private, skip-the-line tour is the only way to see the Vatican. Bruno was extremely knowledgable and a ton of fun! All seven of us had a wonderful time, I would definitely use this tour group again!
T
Great experience!
We had a great tour with Tomas! He was knowledgeable and made the tour enjoyable. He showed us a statue of a Persian goddess which was very relevant !
G
The great experience in the Vat
The knowledge of our tour guide. He was very professional and enjoyed him being a terrific tour guide. The tour guide made the Vatican come to life our experience was outstanding.
L
A Flavor of Rome
A wonderful & interesting experience! Our driver Stephanie was skilled & friendly. Our guide Tomasso was excellent! We had lunch in Restaurant Carbonara- delicious!
M
Something for Everyone
Touring the Vatican Museum can be daunting. But our guide Thomas made our day super fun and fulfilled our group’s varied needs. His explanations of the history/architecture/art/importance of the Vatican were filled with enthusiasm that rubbed off on to us. My twelve year old twins will never forget their first trip to Vatican City. Grazie Thomas!!!
Compare similar tours in Rome
- Lowest price: Skip the Line: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel Tour & St. Peter's — $40
- Best rated: Private Vatican Highlights Guided Tour with Sistine Chapel — 5.0 (1,750 reviews)
- Shortest: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel Skip-the-Line Ticket with Greeter — 45 min
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skip-the-line Vatican and Sistine Chapel Private Guided Tour | 3 hours | 4.8 (26) | $376 | |
 Skip the Line Vatican, Sistine Chapel and Basilica Guided Tour | 2h 30min | 4.6 (4,347) | $86 | View |
 Skip-the-Line Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's | Small Group | 3 hours | 4.9 (8,436) | $113 | View |
 Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel Skip-the-Line Ticket with Greeter | 45 min | 4.9 (1,509) | $68 | View |
 Skip the Line: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel Tour & St. Peter's | 1–3 hours | 4.8 (1,788) | $40 | View |
 Private Vatican Highlights Guided Tour with Sistine Chapel | 3h 15min | 5.0 (1,750) | $286 | View |
 Skip-The-Line Vatican Museums,Sistine Chapel & Optional Basilica | 1–3 hours | 4.6 (1,569) | $56 | View |
from$376
4.8(26)