5
Skip the lines!
A little hard to find the ticketing redemption point. However, buying this is well worth it. You save yourself hours of waiting in line to get into St Peter’s and the Sistine Chapel.
St. Peter’s Basilica & Optional: Vatican Museums or Breakfast
+3 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 1–5 hours
- Price from
- $23 / person
- Location
- Vatican City, Italy
- Rating
- 4.2 / 5 · 171 reviews
- Languages
- DE, EN, IT, FR
- Group
- 1–30 pax
- Cancellation
- See policy below
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- TOURISTATION
Description
Step into the spiritual and artistic heart of Vatican City with an unforgettable visit to St. Peter’s Basilica — one of the most iconic and breathtaking landmarks in the world. With priority access and dedicated assistance, enter the Basilica smoothly and discover its extraordinary treasures. Admire Michelangelo’s masterpiece, the Pietà and marvel at Bernini’s magnificent Baldachin above the Papal Altar. Every corner reveals centuries of art, faith, and history at the very heart of the Catholic world. Make your experience even more complete by upgrading your visit with reserved skip-the-line access to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. Alternatively, start your day with a delicious Italian breakfast, including a hot drink of your choice (coffee or cappuccino), a freshly baked cornetto, and a refreshing fruit juice — the perfect way to enjoy a true Roman morning before or after your visit to St. Peter’s Basilica.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Every day
- Start times
- 19 times a day, 8:30 AM–5:30 PM
- Next available
- Wed, Oct 7
- Adult (ages 18+)
- $23
- Child (ages 7–17)
- $13
- Infant (ages 0–6)
- Free
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
Out at sunset: the 5:30 PM departure is under way when the sun sets, around 6:23 PM in the coming weeks.
In demand: 330 of the next 570 departures are already sold out.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 6.
Tour Options
Itinerary
St. Peter's Basilica
St. Peter’s Basilica is one of the largest and most iconic churches in the world, located in Vatican City. Renowned for its Renaissance architecture and masterpieces by artists such as Michelangelo and Bernini, it is a major pilgrimage site and a symbol of the Catholic Church. Visitors can admire the stunning interior, climb to the dome for panoramic views of Rome, and explore its rich history and art.
Vatican Museums
The Vatican Museums are included only if this option is selected. They house one of the world’s most important art collections, featuring masterpieces from ancient Egypt, classical sculptures, Renaissance paintings, and the famous Sistine Chapel ceiling painted by Michelangelo. Visitors can explore the vast galleries, enjoy guided or audio tours, and discover the rich history and cultural heritage of the Vatican
Sistine Chapel
The Sistine Chapel is included only if this option is selected. Famous for its breathtaking ceiling painted by Michelangelo, it is one of the most iconic artistic masterpieces in the world. Visitors can admire the intricate frescoes, explore the chapel’s rich history, and experience the extraordinary beauty of this cultural and religious landmark.
What's included
Included
Touristation Staff Assistance at the meeting point
Italian breakfast: 1 hot drink (coffee or cappuccino), 1 cornetto, 1 juice (if option selected)
Accompanied Reserved Entrance to St. Peter’s Basilica (no skip the line)
Ancient Rome Multimedia Video
Skip the line ticket to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel (if option selected)
St. Peter’s Basilica Audioguide App (not a guided tour)
Not included
Guided tour
Transfer from/to the Hotel
Headsets
Audioguide for Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.2
171 reviews
How it compares in Vatican City
- No. 17 by number of reviews among 240 tours in Vatican City
- Starting price $23 is 64% below the typical $63 for tours of similar length in Vatican City
Excurgo comparison of 240 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please note that this is not a guided tour, but an assistance service to help you enter smoothly and without any issues.
- Please note that the meeting point is at the Touristation San Pietro Basilica in Borgo Vittorio, 48
- Please note that entry to St. Peter’s Basilica is free of charge, as it is a church. The booked package allows you to skip the general line, but you are still required to go through security checks, which may take longer during high season, special events, or religious celebrations. On the specified dates, the waiting time could exceed one hour.
- Shoulders and knees must be covered to enter the Basilica, as it is a sacred site.
- Bring your own headphones to fully enjoy the audio guide app, which you will download on your mobile.
- It is mandatory to bring a valid ID or passport for each participant.
- After your visit to the Basilica (which lasts approximately two hours), you can access the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel with priority entrance and no waiting in line - If you have selected the option that includes the Vatican Museums. Please note that the entry time to the Vatican Museums for you is quite flexible, but it is generally scheduled for around two hours after your original booking time.
Cancellation
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
0+ days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does this tour take?
St. Peter’s Basilica & Optional: Vatican Museums or Breakfast lasts about 1–5 hours. The itinerary has 3 stops.
How much does this tour cost?
Prices start at $23 per person for this Vatican City experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There are 3 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 every day, with 19 departures a day between 8:30 AM and 5:30 PM.
How much does this tour cost for children?
Children aged 7–17 pay from $13, adults from $23. Infants go free.
Does this tour sell out?
It can: 330 of the next 570 departures are already sold out, so booking ahead is a good idea.
Can I cancel this tour for free?
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
What languages is this tour offered in?
The experience is available in DE, EN, IT, FR, ES.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is this tour worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.2 out of 5 across 171 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by TOURISTATION.
Reviews(171)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
R
Booking Nightmare: Double-Booked, Turned Away, and Denied Refund
A booking discrepancy between systems is bad enough. But here's where it got worse: instead of honoring the date we had booked and updated through Viator, they refused to take us on the tour. They offered a cancellation and full refund to resolve the issue—which seemed reasonable. We accepted, trusting them to follow through. They never processed the refund. When we followed up, they simply denied our refund request. We paid good money and lost an irreplaceable experience with our family. The operator blamed the platform, the platform likely blamed the operator, and we were caught in the middle with empty pockets and a ruined day. This is inexcusable customer service. If this review saves even one family from this experience, it's worth posting. Book elsewhere.
J
Horrible service by TOURISTATION Rome lady was horrid
There was a huge mix up. They blamed everything on Viator that we should’ve booked thru them and this wouldn’t happen. Not only did we miss out but I don’t get my points I was banking on.
D
Slightly Better Than Standard Entry.
The Basilica is amazing. The audio guide is sufficient, and you do beat those without prepurchased tickets. However, if u have the additional funds I would recommend taking a guided tour. The lines here we're still long and standing in the sun was. O fun. Also, avoid Wednesdays as there is some type of Papal activity that day that adds to the crowds.
D
Fantastic
Valeria Laura & martina were fantastic, very welcoming and explained everything to us clearly. Great service
T
Not great customer service
The staff were very accommodating with the times as we arrived early but beyond that we were really on our own. I think it was overpriced and the audio guides were far from ideal. Also we were practically told what to write in our review by a very pushy staff member. I didn’t send it at the time and am writing this review instead. It was inappropriate and coercive. Not ok.
E
Tour Guides of Vatican City
Francesca and Valeria were very helpful on our trip and made sure we had a great experience!
E
Go at your own pace
Perfect. No strict timeline to follow. A lot of people had told us not to go to the Vatican museum. That it was very long. So I canceled that tour and booked this one instead. We had found other excursions too much so this was great to go at our own pace a just do St Peter’s
J
Scam
Absolute joke. I bought an entry ticket and I been told I can not enter because it was purchased not through official website.
G
Chiara
Chiara helped a lot with St. Peter's Basilica
Compare similar tours in Vatican City
- Lowest price: Vatican City St. Peter's Basilica Reserved Entry and Audio Guide — $18
- Best rated: Skip-The-Line Vatican Museums,Sistine Chapel & Optional Basilica — 4.6 (1,473 reviews)
- Shortest: Rome: St. Peter's Basilica & Dome Entry Ticket with Audio Guide — 1–2 hours
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Peter’s Basilica & Optional: Vatican Museums or Breakfast | 1–5 hours | 4.2 (171) | $23 | |
 Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peters Basilica Guided Tour | 3 hours | 4.6 (539) | $126 | View |
 Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel Tour with St Peter Basilica Access | 3 hours | 4.6 (56) | $182 | View |
 Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peters Basilica Guided Tour | 3 hours | 4.6 (14) | $126 | View |
 Skip-The-Line Vatican Museums,Sistine Chapel & Optional Basilica | 1–3 hours | 4.6 (1,473) | $56 | View |
 Rome: St. Peter's Basilica & Dome Entry Ticket with Audio Guide | 1–2 hours | 3.7 (547) | $39 | View |
 Vatican City St. Peter's Basilica Reserved Entry and Audio Guide | 1h 10min–3h | 3.2 (250) | $18 | View |
from$23
4.2(171)