Essential Sistine Chapel Tour, Vatican Museums and St Peter's Basilica
Overview
Explore the figures, technique, and meaning of Michelangelo's frescoes created during his four years of passion on our Sistine Chapel tour. Learn about Pope Julius II, who commissioned the works, and explore Raphael's rooms with our expert guide, uncovering the stories behind the depicted characters. Discover how the Vatican Museums' vast collection of treasures was recovered after years of neglect.
Please note: The Raphael Rooms are part of this 3-hour itinerary, but due to crowding, timing, and the Vatican Museum's crowd flow, we may not be able to make this stop within the designated time. If the Raphael Rooms are essential, we recommend booking one of our longer tours: the Early Vatican Tour or the VIP Vatican Tour.
Disclaimer: Reservations made less than 72 hours in advance will end in the Vatican Museums, as we cannot guarantee skip-the-line access to St. Peter's Basilica.
What's Included
- All Fees and Taxes
- Escorted entrance to St. Peter's Basilica
- Headsets (for groups of 6 or more)
- Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel Skip-The-Line Tickets
- Small Group Size
- Expert English-Speaking Guide
- Gratuities (optional)
- Transportation to and from the meeting and end points
Meeting Location
Viale Giulio Cesare
00192 Roma RM, Italy
Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.
Piazza San Pietro
00120 Città del Vaticano, Vatican City
What To Expect
Vatican Museums
2 hours 10 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Cortile della Pigna
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Sphere within a Sphere (Pass By)
Stanze di Raffaello
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Sistine Chapel
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
St. Peter's Square (Pass By)
Obelisco Vaticano (Pass By)
Fontane di Piazza San Pietro (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Please note that the Vatican Museums provide free entrance for visitors who are (according to the requirements stated by the Vatican City) at least 74% disabled by presenting the appropriate certification and, if one needs assistance by another person, that person also receives a free entrance. Please inform us when you are booking if you fit into these requirements and we will remove the pricing of the entry tickets from the price of the tour.
- As this is a walking tour with steps and staircases, comfortable walking shoes and a bottle of water are strongly recommended.
- Please advise during the booking process if any clients have mobility concerns so that we can best accommodate you.
- At the end of your tour, you are required to return the headset provided to you to your guide. In the event that you do not return the headset, you will be subject to a fine of €100 for lost property.
- Due to the Jubilee, some monuments may be under restoration. Please pay attention to any messages we may send regarding potential changes.
- Disclaimer: For reservations made less than 72 hours in advance, access to the Basilica cannot be guaranteed due to ticketing restrictions.
- The Basilica of St. Peter's may be subject to unscheduled closings and late openings for religious ceremonies. We do not provide refunds for last-minute closures of St. Peter's Basilica. Your guide will still give you an introduction to the Basilica should you wish to return on your own time during your visit to Rome.
- Please note that the Raphael Rooms are part of this 3-hour itinerary but on days due to crowding, timing and direction flows of crowd traffic dictated by the Vatican Museum staff on the day, we may not be able to make this stop within the designated time frame.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers
Frequently Asked Questions
(6)Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Essential Sistine Chapel Tour, Vatican Museums and St Peter’s Basilica?
Cancellation Policy
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Activity code: C-31810P12
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Average 4.76 out of 5 stars based on 256 traveler reviews collected by City Boat Tours and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor
Additional Info
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Frequently Asked Questions (6)
The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from City Boat Tours customers.
Filter by:
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (CEST).
- All Fees and Taxes.
- Escorted entrance to St. Peter's Basilica.
- Headsets (for groups of 6 or more).
- Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel Skip-The-Line Tickets.
- Small Group Size.
- Expert English-Speaking Guide.
- Gratuities (optional).
- Transportation to and from the meeting and end points.
There is no minimum age for this tour, so bring your wee one along for an adventure..
Apr 2025If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.
If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.
Apr 2025Accessibility information for the Essential Sistine Chapel Tour, Vatican Museums and St Peter's Basilica is as follows:
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for Essential Sistine Chapel Tour, Vatican Museums and St Peter's Basilica will be included in your confirmation email from City Boat Tours. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!
Mar 2024What's Included
- All Fees and Taxes
- Escorted entrance to St. Peter's Basilica
- Headsets (for groups of 6 or more)
- Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel Skip-The-Line Tickets
- Small Group Size
- Expert English-Speaking Guide
- Gratuities (optional)
- Transportation to and from the meeting and end points
Additional Info
- Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Please note that the Vatican Museums provide free entrance for visitors who are (according to the requirements stated by the Vatican City) at least 74% disabled by presenting the appropriate certification and, if one needs assistance by another person, that person also receives a free entrance. Please inform us when you are booking if you fit into these requirements and we will remove the pricing of the entry tickets from the price of the tour.
- As this is a walking tour with steps and staircases, comfortable walking shoes and a bottle of water are strongly recommended.
- Please advise during the booking process if any clients have mobility concerns so that we can best accommodate you.
- At the end of your tour, you are required to return the headset provided to you to your guide. In the event that you do not return the headset, you will be subject to a fine of €100 for lost property.
- Due to the Jubilee, some monuments may be under restoration. Please pay attention to any messages we may send regarding potential changes.
- Disclaimer: For reservations made less than 72 hours in advance, access to the Basilica cannot be guaranteed due to ticketing restrictions.
- The Basilica of St. Peter's may be subject to unscheduled closings and late openings for religious ceremonies. We do not provide refunds for last-minute closures of St. Peter's Basilica. Your guide will still give you an introduction to the Basilica should you wish to return on your own time during your visit to Rome.
- Please note that the Raphael Rooms are part of this 3-hour itinerary but on days due to crowding, timing and direction flows of crowd traffic dictated by the Vatican Museum staff on the day, we may not be able to make this stop within the designated time frame.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers
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