Your guide will escort you into the Vatican Museums while skipping the mass queues waiting outside. Marvel in the spectacular museum galleries & bask in the breathtaking Sistine Chapel. After being within such breathtaking surroundings, you might think at this point you’ve seen all that is on offer, but with our Ultimate Express Vatican experience, we will also guide you through the Scavi (Underground) area of the Vatican. With many myths and secrets, your guide will open up a new mysterious world.
Prices are per person when two book together; a solo traveller pays $1,253.
Larger groups pay less per person.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 14.
With our Prime Tour, we get you inside the Museums at its first access. Watch the Vatican Museum Galleries slowly come to life.
The Courtyard of the “Pigna”, created from the 16th century area of the “Belvedere”
The Vatican Museums' Gallery of Tapestries showcases stunning 15th and 16th-century tapestries, intricately woven with scenes from biblical and historical narratives. Inspired by designs from Raphael’s school, this gallery highlights the artistic sophistication and storytelling of the Renaissance.
The Gallery of Maps, inside the Vatican Museums, displays a stunning collection of topographical maps of Italy. Created in the 16th century under Pope Gregory XIII, these beautifully painted maps span 120 meters, offering a unique geographical snapshot of the Italy of the past.
The Gallery of the Candelabra is a part of the Vatican Museums, showcasing a rich collection of Greek and Roman statues, sarcophagi, and reliefs. It is named for the grand marble candelabra that decorate it, dividing the gallery into thematic sections. Set up in the late 18th century, the gallery merges ancient art with stunning architectural details, providing visitors a journey through history and beauty.
The Sistine Chapel takes its name from Pope Sixtus IV della Rovere (pontiff from 1471 to 1484) who had the old Cappella Magna restored between 1477 and 1480. It is known throughout the world both for being the place where the conclave and other official ceremonies of the Pope are held (in the past also some papal coronations), and for being decorated with one of the most famous and celebrated works of art of artistic civilization the frescoes by Michelangelo.
Enjoy the breathtaking Saint Peter's Basilica, shrine of Christianity and Art. You will marvel at the Priceless Pietà, by Michelangelo, and stop by the venerable tomb of Saint John Paul II & Pope Karol Wojtyla. The Pietà (1498–1499) is a work of Renaissance sculpture by Michelangelo Buonarroti, housed in St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City.
The Vatican Necropolis, beneath St. Peter's Basilica, is an ancient cemetery from the 1st century AD, believed to house St. Peter's tomb. It's a significant archaeological site, accessible only by guided tour.
This monumental elliptical space, enclosed by 284 Doric columns four rows deep (196m wide and 148m long), is the masterpiece of Gian Lorenzo Bernini, who laid it out during the pontificates of Alexander VII and of Clement IX.
Centrally located hotel/accommodation in Rome (within the Aurelian Walls)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Vatican Museums Private Tour: Sistine Chapel and Necropolis Scavi lasts about 4h 30min. The itinerary has 9 stops.
Prices start at $734 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 $1,253. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, starting at 7:15 AM.
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Yes, pickup is offered. Centrally located hotel/accommodation in Rome (within the Aurelian Walls) Pickup points include Hotel Maalot, Hotel La Place.
The experience is available in EN.
It is a private experience: only your party takes part. Up to 6 travellers can book together.
Please advise if anyone in your group has mobility issues
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Travellers rate it 4.9 out of 5 across 13 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by CityEyes Private Tours.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
We had the most knowledgeable and patient guide, Simone. He made sure to cover as much as possible during the time he was with us; basically non-stop! His depth of knowledge, ranging from history to current events was very impressive. We enjoyed our time with him and learned so much.
Overall a great tour! Pickup at hotel and drop at Vatican to meet our guide went VERY smoothly. Our guide (Benjamin) was excellent and his knowledge allowed us to see much of the Vatican highlights in very short amount of time. Would recommend this tour.
Pamela was amazing. Her art history is expertise added valuable insights to the Vatican tour. She clearly loves Italian history and art and her enthusiasm is infectious. Highly recommend asking for her!
Pamela will be very proud to read this. Thank you for choosing CityEyes and for recommending her so warmly; knowing her enthusiasm made the Vatican tour even more meaningful is a real compliment. Grazie! Pamela, and the CityEyes Team
Marco was amazing! His knowledge and attention to detail had us engaged the entire time. He knew how to avoid some of the crowds and took us to places that a lot of people don’t realize are even there. He also had great food recommendations and gave us ideas on further areas to explore off the beaten path.
Marco will be very happy to read this. Thank you for choosing CityEyes and for sharing such generous words about him. Grazie! Marco, and the CityEyes Team
Expensive but worth it. Gio was great, we learned so much and would not have understood most of the experience without her. Please be respectful of the location and traditions. It is one of the most incredible places on Earth. The art is unfathomable, and the history like nothing you have ever heard. Wear lightweight coverings, it’s very hot. The experience will take your breath away.
Thank you for such a thoughtful review. It means a lot to know the experience left such a lasting impression, and we'll be sure to pass your kind words on to Gio. Grazie! Gio, and the CityEyes Team
Vatican tour was so good and Katie was the absolute best. Please do yourself a favor and book with Katie. So easy to understand and relate to and passionate about telling the stories of the vatican
Amazing tour and tour guide. My tour guide was so patient with my slow walking and so very helpful. She took time to thoroughly explain what we were seeing. There is so much to see it is a bit overwhelming, but she did a great job and focusing on the key things and explain explaining the history and beauty of it all. Her thoroughness helped with the enjoyment of this tour. She was very considerate asking if I needed to rest or use the facilities several times throughout the tour.If you happen to get Ellie for a tour guide, you are in for a real treat.
Wonderful, Guide was knowledgeable, friendly, and we learned alot. Worth every penny. Highly recommend!
Thank you for your kind words! We’re delighted to hear that your guide’s knowledge and friendliness made the tour so rewarding, and that you found it well worth the value. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again soon! Kind regards, The Eyes of Rome Team
The sites are spectacular. My guide Elisse was wonderful. Your customers might want to know that they will be on their feet for almost all the tour.
The Scavi and Vatican tours were absolutely the highlight of our trip to Italy. Our guides, Elisa for the Vatican museums, St. Peter's and the Sistine chapel and Kiran for the Scavi tour, were absolutely excellent. Elisa managed to get us through construction and changing entrance procedures smoothly on a very busy day there, even organizing an impromptu backdoor pickup with our driver when the lay of the land changed. She obviously has good relationships with the Vatican staff which is so helpful and her friendly, warm demeanor was a pleasure for us. She gave us clear instructions and just the right amount of time at each of our stops. The order of sites and timing had to change a bit due to Vatican changes and actually turned out so much better than what we originally planned. Elisa was easy to understand, knowledgeable and so very helpful. We never would have gotten so much out of the visit without her. The Scavi tour with Kiran was an absolutely beautiful experience. She struck a perfect balance between the fascinating archeology and history and the profound religious meaning of the site. Our whole group with varying backgrounds and interests was overcome by the blessing that this experience was. What a gift to employ Kiran in this capacity. We are so very grateful for her knowledge and presentation skills and her ability to convey the full meaning of this once-in-a-lifetime visit. I can't recommend her or the tour more highly!
Ciao Sally, Thank you for your incredible review! We’re thrilled to hear that both Elisa and Kiran made your Scavi and Vatican tours the highlight of your trip. Elisa’s smooth handling of the day’s changes and Kiran’s perfect balance of archaeology, history, and religious significance truly made a difference. We’re grateful for your kind words and high recommendation. We hope to have the pleasure of guiding you again in the future! Arrivederci! Francesca Eyes of Rome Team
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vatican Museums Private Tour: Sistine Chapel and Necropolis Scavi | 4h 30min | 4.9 (13) | $734 | |
 Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St Peter’s Basilica Guided Tour | 3 hours | 4.5 (41,896) | $79 | View |
 Skip the Line: Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Tour + Basilica | 1–3 hours | 4.7 (6,535) | $40 | View |
 Vatican Scavi: Underground St. Peter’s Tomb & Basilica VIP Tour | 2–4 hours | 4.4 (75) | $77 | View |
 Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel Skip-the-Line Ticket with Greeter | 45 min | 4.9 (1,502) | $67 | View |
 Private Vatican Highlights Guided Tour with Sistine Chapel | 3h 15min | 5.0 (1,724) | $285 | View |
 Semi Private Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & Basilica Tour | 3 hours | 4.7 (902) | $110 | View |