Skip the long lines and make the most of your visit to the Vatican Museums with timed, priority entry. Step straight inside and explore the must-see highlights with your expert guide, including the breathtaking Sistine Chapel, the iconic Raphael Rooms, and the stunning Gallery of Maps. Learn the fascinating history, art, and architecture behind each masterpiece for a richer, more memorable experience. For a more personal touch, upgrade to a small-group tour, or extend your day with priority access to the magnificent St. Peter’s Basilica. Prefer to focus exclusively on the Basilica? Select the dedicated guided option and discover its history, art, and grand architecture in detail. Pressed for time? Choose the 1.5-hour express tour to breeze through the Vatican Museums and be among the first to admire the Sistine Chapel. Important: St. Peter’s Basilica is not included in all tours. When included, the guided visit is followed by free time to explore on your own.
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
Prices are per person when two book together; a solo traveller pays $788.
Larger groups pay less per person.
In demand: 129 of the next 330 departures are already sold out.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 13.
Together with your guide, set foot inside the smallest country in the world via the fastest possible entrance!
One of the first stops inside the Vatican Museums is the Pinecone Courtyard where you will find the Sphere within a Sphere sculpture as well as the Roman fountain, an enormous bronze pinecone, that lends the courtyard its name.
The bronze Sphere within a Sphere sculpture by Arnaldo Pomodoro marries this historic setting with a touch of modern art.
The Vatican Museums are made up of multiple Museums forming many "wings". The wing containing the highest concentration of highlights is the Pio Clementino Museum. Follow your guide from the Octagonal open-air courtyard where you will encounter the Laocoonte and Apollo Belvedere, to the eerily life-like statues in the Room of the Animals. Check out the masterfully painted vaults creating a 3D effect in the Gallery of the Candelabra.
The Gallery of Candelabra takes its name from the pairs of intricately carved marble candelabra that line this striking corridor within the Vatican Museums. Beyond these ancient Roman pieces, the gallery features an impressive array of classical statues and richly frescoed ceilings, providing a taste of antiquity before leading into the Gallery of Tapestries and Maps.
One of the most captivating halls in the Vatican Museums, the Gallery of Tapestries houses a remarkable collection of monumental 16th-century tapestries woven from designs by Raphael's workshop. Illustrating scenes from the life of Christ, their intricate detail and masterful craftsmanship make this gallery an unmissable highlight of any visit.
In this Gallery of hand-painted maps, you can admire the world how it was seen nearly 5 centuries ago. With the help of your guide, pick out the towns in Italy you have visited, or just enjoy the incredible hand-painted details that make these maps unique.
"Raphael's Rooms" inside the Vatican Museums are a spectacular testament to the talent of the painter Raphael, as well the inspiration of the master Michelangelo. Explore them with your guide.
Your guide will prepare you to take in the Sistine Chapel ahead of time, as no speaking is allowed in this sacred place. Admire this monumental work by Michelangelo.
Only when specific guided tour option including the Basilica is chosen, Skip the Line access to St. Peter's Basilica via a special exit from the Sistine Chapel. You will then be free to explore on your own inside.
If you choose an option including a tour of St. Peter's Basilica, access is provided, skipping the lines. You will be free to explore on your own inside.
Visit Vatican City
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Excurgo comparison of 8,082 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Skip the Line: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel Tour & St. Peter's lasts about 1–3 hours. The itinerary has 12 stops.
Prices start at $40 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 $788. There are 11 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, with 11 departures a day between 8:00 AM and 3:30 PM.
Children aged 7–17 pay from $30, adults from $40. Infants go free.
It can: 129 of the next 330 departures are already sold out, so booking ahead is a good idea.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
The meeting point is In front of 'Al San Michele Bar Caffetteria' - Borgo Santo Spirito n.17. Your guide will be waiting for you holding a flag with the "EcoArt" logo. The nearest metro stop is Line A ‘Ottaviano'. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
The experience is available in DE, EN, IT, FR, ES.
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 20 participants.
Children 6 and under are entitled to free access to the Vatican Museums (with proof of age) Children aged 7-18 are entitled to a reduced entry fee (see tour and ticket pricing) and must provide proof of age. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Oxana was a great guide and our family enjoyed our time with her. Unfortunately, during check-in in the square, there was disconnect and conflicting information from other staff members regarding the check-in process, so the beginning was a bit confusing.
Unfortunately when we were almost at the rendezvous point I tripped and tore my left Achilles tendon, which consequently made us too late for our tour. We have already submitted a Refund Request, on medical grounds.
This tour was fantastic. The information was accurate and clear. Our tour guide, Laura, was absolutely amazing! The information throughout the tour was clear and precise with the right amount of humour. I would highly recommend this tour.
Dear Lorna, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you had such a fantastic experience with Laura and appreciated her clear explanations, knowledge, and sense of humour. It's wonderful to know that she made the tour both informative and entertaining! We'll be happy to share your lovely words with her. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again for another memorable experience in Rome!
It was very informative and well planned. Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and took great care of our group.
Dear Tim, Thank you so much for your kind review! We're delighted to hear that you found the tour informative and well-organized. It's wonderful to know that your guide's knowledge and attention to the group made your experience even more enjoyable. We truly appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you again for another memorable experience in Rome!
Seemed long. The English speaking guide had a heavy accent so it was hard to understand at times. Plus the guides monologue seemed to drag on at times.
Dear Mary, Thank you for your feedback. Our guided tours of the Vatican Museums last approximately 2.5 hours, allowing guests to enjoy an informative and engaging experience without feeling rushed. All our guides are licensed professionals who speak English at a high level and undergo a careful selection process. However, we understand that everyone has different preferences regarding accents, presentation styles, and the pace of a tour. We appreciate your comments and thank you for joining us.
Daniel (the 5th 😊) did a wonderful job guiding us thru the vatican, sistine and St Peters. He was very knowledgeable and shared many historical facts and stories. The small group was truly small. Only 11people which was perfect. The crowds were extremely large on Saturday October 3.
Dear Karen, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted that you enjoyed your experience with Daniele and appreciated his knowledge and storytelling, as well as the small group size. The Vatican can indeed be extremely crowded, so we’re especially happy that Daniel helped make your visit enjoyable despite the busy conditions.
It was very informative Wear comfortable shoes Edward did a good job but did walk a lil fast and didn’t let folks browse
Dear Christine, Thank you for your review! We’re glad you found the tour informative and enjoyed your experience with Edward. The guided tour follows a scheduled itinerary within a fixed timeframe, so the guide needs to maintain a certain pace to cover the main highlights. We nevertheless appreciate your feedback and will take it into consideration.
Our map took us to the wrong Meeting place. We were told by the team that the steps had the same address and we were using the wrong map. We were frantically trying to communicate with the EPIC art team and barely made it in time. I think your app should offer better directions. I think you should add landmarks (like “meet at the steps look for our team with bright green T-shirts”). We really enjoyed the information provided by our tour guide. She was awesome!
Dear Denise, Thank you for your feedback! We’re very happy to hear that you enjoyed the tour and had such a great experience with your guide. Regarding the meeting point, all the relevant information is provided in the “Before You Go” message, as well as on the voucher and in the tour description. The meeting point is Via Tunisi 4, at the bottom of the steps, where our team is clearly recognizable by their bright green EcoArt clothing and flag. The location can also be easily found using Google Maps. Nevertheless, we appreciate your suggestion regarding additional landmarks and clearer directions, and we will certainly take it into consideration. We appreciate your feedback and are glad you made it in time to enjoy the tour! Warmest regards, EcoArt Team
Highly recommend this tour through Eco tours and tour guide Sarah!! She knows her stuff and is extremely engaging, caring, patient and respectful! I would’ve loved to spend even more time with her soaking in all the knowledge she has!
Dear Mia, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you had such a great experience with Sara and appreciated her knowledge, engaging personality, patience, and care. We’ll be very happy to share your kind words with her. Thank you for recommending EcoArt!
Excellent service, it was easy to join the group, the people are clearly visible, Sarah our guide was very professional and attentive while waiting for people and gathering the group often so as not to miss any of the explanations she was giving, a very competent guide who knows how things work well, no time wasted!! Thank you very much Sarah!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that everything was well organized and easy to find, and that Sara’s professionalism, attentiveness, and knowledge made your experience so enjoyable. We’ll be very happy to share your kind words with her. Thank you for choosing EcoArt!
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skip the Line: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel Tour & St. Peter's | 1–3 hours | 4.8 (1,776) | $40 | |
 Skip-the-Line Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's | Small Group | 3 hours | 4.9 (8,394) | $113 | View |
 Skip the line Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peters Tour | 3 hours | 4.7 (3,509) | $21 | View |
 Skip-the-line Private: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel&St Peter's | 3 hours | 4.9 (212) | $406 | View |
 Skip-the-Line Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel & St Peter Basilica | 2–3 hours | 4.7 (170) | $136 | View |
 Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St Peter’s Basilica Guided Tour | 3 hours | 4.5 (41,876) | $79 | View |
 Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St Peter’s Basilica-Small Group | 3 hours | 4.7 (714) | $113 | View |