J
Great Vatican experience
We had an excellent guide and thorough experience and would recommend to any visitors coming to Rome for the first time
Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and Basilica Guided Experience
+12 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 2h 30min
- Price from
- $86 / person
- Location
- Rome, Italy
- Rating
- 4.7 / 5 · 78 reviews
- Languages
- DE, EN, FR, ES
- Group
- Small group, up to 20
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Maya Tours
- Meeting point
- VIA GERMANICO 16PLEASE ARRIVE TO CHECK-IN 15 MINUTES BEFORE YOUR SCHEDULED ENTRY TIME!We organize everything and your guide will meet you with your ticket to skip the line and enter the Vatican.
Description
Skip the lines and see the incredible Sistine Chapel, the best of the Vatican’s extraordinary collections & galleries and visit St.Peter's Basilica with an expert guide, in a small group for those who want to see all the Vatican has to offer on this comprehensive and exclusive experience. The Vatican Museum boasts over 4 miles of Art, and a whopping 20,000 works on display, along with beautiful sculptures, frescoes and architecture the Vatican Museums make up an impressive collection like nowhere else on earth. Visit the breathtaking Sculptures, Tapestries, Paintings and Architecture of Master Artists like Bramante, Bernini, Perugino, Botticelli, D’Antonio, Rosselli, Signorelli, Della Gatta, Ghirlandaio, Raphael and of course Michelangelo. Please note that St Peters Basilica is subject to last minute closures and for the papal audience on some Wednesday mornings, entrance can not always be included. In this case there will be an extended tour of the Vatican museums.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, and Sat
- Start times
- 8:30 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:30 PM, and 2:30 PM
- Next available
- Sat, Oct 10
- Adult (ages 17+)
- $86
- Child (ages 6–16)
- $86
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 9.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Vatican Museums
Explore the Vatican Museums with an Expert Guide, visit the highlights of the incredible collections comprised of a colossal 20,000 works on display, over 4 miles of Art, Sculptures, Tapestries, Paintings and Architecture. Belvedere Courtyard Pinecone Courtyard Pio Clementino Museum Octagonal Courtyard Sala Degli Animali Sala Delle Muse Sala Rotonda Sala A Croce Greca Gallery of the Candelabra Gallery of Tapestries Gallery of Maps
Sistine Chapel
Marvel at the incredible Sistine Chapel, an impressive sanctuary that boasts works of art by master painters like Perugino, Pinturicchio, Ghirlandaio, Rosselli, Botticelli, Signorelli, della Gatta and, of course, Michelangelo. See the world famous frescoes stretch magnificently across the ceiling with the renowned Creation of Adam as the central focus and the majestic Last Judgement upon the rear wall, offering a visual spectacle that encapsulates the divine. Sistine Chapel Frescoes Cosmati Floor Mosaic Forseen conception of Jesus Christ Pagan Sibyls / Icons Prophet depictions Creation of Adam The Last Judgement Sacrifice of Jesus Christ Greek Mythology Styx
St. Peter's Basilica
The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican City, or simply Saint Peter's Basilica, is a church of the Italian High Renaissance and the heart of the catholic faith located in Vatican City, an independent microstate enclaved within the city of Rome, Italy.
St. Peter's Square
St. Peter's Square (Piazza San Pietro), located in Vatican City in front of St. Peter's Basilica, is a massive, iconic Baroque plaza designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini between 1656 and 1667. Featuring an elliptical design with massive colonnades representing the "embrace" of the Church, it holds over 300,000 people and features a central Egyptian obelisk.
What's included
Included
Headsets to hear the guide clearly in crowded areas
Small Group Tour Experience with Expert Official Licensed Vatican Guide
Skip The Line Access to Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
St. Peter's Basilica if open on the day of your tour
Not included
Location Pick Up & Drop Off
Scavi / Necropolis
Please note that the Basilica is subject to last minute closures and can not always be included
St.Peter's Dome (Cupola) Access
Not wheelchair accessible
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.7
78 reviews
How it compares in Rome
- Starting price $86 is 24% below the typical $113 for tours of similar length in Rome
Excurgo comparison of 8,072 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 spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not suitable for those with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair.
- If you arrive late for the meeting time, it will not be possible to join the group or reschedule, unless you pay for the activity again. As per "No Show" rules you will not be entitled to a refund.
- If you purchase a reduced ticket and you are not under 16 years old or a student under 26 years old with a valid STUDENT PHOTO ID, the Vatican will deny your entry and you will not be able to visit the Vatican or join the tour.
- All visitors must pass through the monument/attraction security check please allow at least 20 minutes to clear security.
- Knees & Shoulders MUST be covered for both men & women.
- Some monuments or areas may be under restoration and subject to last minute closures. Please pay attention to any messages we may send regarding potential changes.
- Children must be accompanied by an adult.
- It is not possible to contact guides when they are inside the Vatican museums, it is the clients responsibility to stay with the guided tour group, if you lose your guide inside the Vatican, there is nothing we can do in this case.
- Please be aware that large bags/backpacks/suitcases are not permitted in the monument/ attraction. Only very small bags are allowed. Please do not bring these items with you on the day of your tour as there are no cloakrooms at the monument.
- St. Peter's Basilica is subject to last minute closures for religous events, and the Papal audience on some Wednesday and Saturday mornings. In the event that it is closed if you have selected the option to visit St. Peter's Basilica you will have an extended tour of the Vatican museums. The Basilica is free to enter and we do not have any control in the event of these closures it is not possible to provide a refund under these circumstances.
- Please note that it is mandatory to provide the full name of each participant. Failure to do this could result in refused entry to the monument.
- Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not suitable for those with walking difficulties or using a wheelchair.
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?
Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and Basilica Guided Experience lasts about 2h 30min. The itinerary has 4 stops.
How much does this tour cost?
Prices start at $86 per person for this Rome experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There are 5 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, starting at 8:30 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:30 PM, and 2:30 PM.
How much does this tour cost for children?
Children aged 6–16 pay from $86, adults from $86.
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 VIA GERMANICO 16. PLEASE ARRIVE TO CHECK-IN 15 MINUTES BEFORE YOUR SCHEDULED ENTRY TIME! We organize everything and your guide will meet you with your ticket to skip the line and enter the Vatican. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is this tour offered in?
The experience is available in DE, EN, 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 Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not suitable for those with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair. Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not suitable for those with walking difficulties or using a wheelchair.
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Reviews(78)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
A
Very beautiful excursion
Excellent excursion with a very professional guide
M
The perfect Vatican tour experience
This is a great and comprehensive tour experience of the Vatican museums, the Sistine chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. Our guide Christine was phenomenal and knew the history and behind the scenes tips and information that made this into a very enjoyable experience. The tour was informative and mesmerizing with all that was included. I would highly recommend booking this tour and seeing the Vatican with Christine.
B
Very pathetic and very...
Very pathetic and very costly don’t take this tour they are very costly and poor service Really very bad experience
B
Incredible!!! Thank you, Paolo
Paolo, an exceptional guide and history enthusiast
T
Amazing tour with Maggie!
Maggie was absolutely amazing! I felt so terrible as I did not yet have any cash to tip her. She was so kind, knowledgeable, made sure none of us went astray, made a point to know where we were from, and so much fun! This is my first ever guided tour and it was worth it! Thanks, Maggie!!!
P
Missed Opportunities
This tour was just okay. Our guide Christina was good but I felt that for the price it could have been better and we should have seen much more. We did a short tour of some of walkways but we spent almost a half hour sitting looking at pictures that could have been better spent actually touring more. The Sistine Chapel was good but then we went to St Peter’s and spent probably 5 minutes with our guide and then the tour was done. This tour would be expensive at half the price so pretty disappointing.
B
Deny, very good guide!!
It was very dynamic; we quickly entered the museums, and our guide was very well prepared! Deny shared interesting facts and was always looking for the best place to explore and see the wonders of the tour. In addition to that, Deny speaks many languages.
A
Must do!
Deny was an amazing guide! She was so informative and kept everyone engaged.
J
Very interesting
Very good and interesting. I recommend it to everyone thinking of doing so.
1 people found this helpful
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from$86
4.7(78) Free cancellation