Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museum and Basilica Small Group Tour
128 Reviews
4.88 out of 5 stars Based on 128 reviews collected by City Boat Tours and TripAdvisor
|
Recommended by 96% of reviewers
|
Badge of Excellence |Badge of Excellence This experience is highly rated by travelers and has met our top quality standards.
Rome, Italy
3 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Instant confirmation
Overview
Discover the best of the Vatican City in a 3 hour tour of the Museum, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter’s Basilica. Skip all the lines and be guided through the largest collection of art in the Western Hemisphere. Your professional English speaking guide will walk you through the Gallery of Papal Carriages, Gallery of Tapestries, Gallery of Maps, Pinacoteca and the Sistine Chapel. The last part of the tour quickly brings you into St. Peter’s Basilica, exclusively going down the Scala Regia and passing in front of the Pope's office and the Swiss Guards! Be prepared to be amazed by the grandeur and splendor of man's creation.
What's Included
- Ear phones are included for groups of 6 or more
- Professional English speaking guide with a clear diction
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Food and Drinks
Meeting Location
Meeting point
Viale Vaticano
00192 Roma RM, Italy
Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.
End point
Piazza San Pietro
00120 Città del Vaticano, Vatican City
Our tour ends in the center of St.Peter's Square.
What To Expect
Vatican Museums
Start your tour at the renowned Vatican Museums. Aside from being the home of the Pope, Vatican city is also home to the Vatican Museums, the world’s largest collection of art with 9 miles of art that could wrap around the Vatican walls 4 ½ times! It contains 54 museums, 1400 rooms, chapels, and galleries. Aside from the renowned Sistine Chapel, the museums also display the only work of Leonardo Da Vinci in Rome, St. Jerome, the Raphael Rooms, and the Pinoteca, which contains collections of the Popes, all dating back to the middle ages and are set in chronological order.
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
Sistine Chapel
Michaelangelo’s Sistine Chapel is possibly the most well known masterpiece in modern day, with over 5 million visitors per year. It was a project the artist took on reluctantly because his focus was sculptures, and he would complain about the physical toll it took on his body. It is said that the design of the chapel from Pope Sixtus IV, is modeled after Solomon’s temple from the Old Testament, measuring at just larger than a professional basketball court! There are many more frescoes to admire here from other artists, including: Domenico Ghirlandaio, Pietro Perugino, Cosimo Roselli and Sandro Botticelli.
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
St. Peter's Basilica
You will head through a secret entry into our last stop on the tour, St. Peter's Basilica: the largest basilica in the world, with markings inside the church to ensure every other basilica would fit inside. The curious visitor is treated to Michelangelo’s Pieta at the front, 150 mosaics, and Bernini’s baldacchino, which stands at 96 feet tall and 100,000 pounds of bronze! Surprisingly, there is only one actual painting in the basilica, and it can be spotted hanging above the Pieta. Many popes are buried in the church or are on display, but most of the popes are buried underneath the basilica including St. Peter, the first pope.
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Not recommended for clients who cannot climb and decent stairs
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Please bring a bottle of water per person.
- If it is raining carry umbrellas that are compact and can be folded and not ones that have sharp pokey end. The long one give by your hotels will have to be checked into the cloakroom of the museum and involves a 1 km walk to get it back again.
- Carry medium size back packs as large ones will be checked into the cloak room and involves a long walk to get them back.
- The following items along with the bags will have to be checked into the cloak room: glass bottles of any kind, swiss knives, wine openers, large tripods and large bags.
- Photography is permitted in most rooms but without flash. It is prohibited to photograph inside the Sistine Chapel.
- Entry to St. Peter's Basilica may be subject to unexpected closures or limited availability of tickets. If an area typically included in the tour is closed, our guide will provide an explanation and show an additional site or gallery to compensate As these circumstances are beyond our control, we appreciate your patience and understanding.
- You can also chose to climb the dome on your own, for a separate fee.
- On Wednesdays the Basilica is closed until noon due to the Papal Audience.
- Please note: 2025 is a Jubilee Year and Basilica tickets sell out very quickly. If you book less than 72 hours before your tour, we cannot guarantee direct access to St. Peter’s Basilica. However, you’re still welcome to visit on your own—with a short wait at the main entrance—while guests with tickets enjoy direct entry with our guide from the Sistine Chapel.
- A dress code is required to enter places of worship and selected museums. No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements
- A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
- Bring Umbrellas that can fold and are not long have a pokey end
- The tour ends in front on the Basilica. You can spend more time inside the Basilica but you cannot go back to the Sistine Chapel nor the Museum.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
Frequently Asked Questions
(6)Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museum and Basilica Small Group Tour?
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.
Still have questions?
We're here to help.
Activity code: C-43389P2
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.88
128 reviews
Average 4.88 out of 5 stars based on 128 traveler reviews collected by City Boat Tours and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor
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118
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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:
Q:
What is the cancellation policy for the Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museum and Basilica Small Group Tour?
A:Apr 2025
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.
- 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).
Q:
What's included in the price?
A:
Apr 2025
The following is included:
- Ear phones are included for groups of 6 or more.
- Professional English speaking guide with a clear diction.
The following is NOT included:
- Hotel pickup and drop-off.
- Food and Drinks.
Q:
What is the minimum age for this tour?
A:
There is no minimum age for this tour, so bring your wee one along for an adventure. This tour requires at least one adult to accompany children..
Apr 2025
Q:
My date is not available in the calendar, I am just checking to see if it is available?
A:
If 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 2025
Q:
Is this an accessible tour?
A:Apr 2025
Accessibility information for the Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museum and Basilica Small Group Tour is as follows:
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Not recommended for clients who cannot climb and decent stairs
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Q:
Where is the meeting point for this activity?
A:
Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museum and Basilica Small Group Tour 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
- Ear phones are included for groups of 6 or more
- Professional English speaking guide with a clear diction
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Food and Drinks
Additional Info
- Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Not recommended for clients who cannot climb and decent stairs
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Please bring a bottle of water per person.
- If it is raining carry umbrellas that are compact and can be folded and not ones that have sharp pokey end. The long one give by your hotels will have to be checked into the cloakroom of the museum and involves a 1 km walk to get it back again.
- Carry medium size back packs as large ones will be checked into the cloak room and involves a long walk to get them back.
- The following items along with the bags will have to be checked into the cloak room: glass bottles of any kind, swiss knives, wine openers, large tripods and large bags.
- Photography is permitted in most rooms but without flash. It is prohibited to photograph inside the Sistine Chapel.
- Entry to St. Peter's Basilica may be subject to unexpected closures or limited availability of tickets. If an area typically included in the tour is closed, our guide will provide an explanation and show an additional site or gallery to compensate As these circumstances are beyond our control, we appreciate your patience and understanding.
- You can also chose to climb the dome on your own, for a separate fee.
- On Wednesdays the Basilica is closed until noon due to the Papal Audience.
- Please note: 2025 is a Jubilee Year and Basilica tickets sell out very quickly. If you book less than 72 hours before your tour, we cannot guarantee direct access to St. Peter’s Basilica. However, you’re still welcome to visit on your own—with a short wait at the main entrance—while guests with tickets enjoy direct entry with our guide from the Sistine Chapel.
- A dress code is required to enter places of worship and selected museums. No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements
- A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
- Bring Umbrellas that can fold and are not long have a pokey end
- The tour ends in front on the Basilica. You can spend more time inside the Basilica but you cannot go back to the Sistine Chapel nor the Museum.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
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