Skip-the-line Sistine Chapel & Vatican Highlights Guided Tour

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Recommended by 100% of reviewers

| Rome, Italy

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3 hours (approx.)

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Overview

With skip-the-line entry and the services of a very knowledgeable guide this is an excellent half-day tour of the Vatican to see not only the highlights but much more besides.

You visit the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and Saint Peter’s Basilica and see on the way the numerous ancient Greek and Roman statues, Raphael’s Rooms and the Galleries of Tapestries and Maps to name a few. This is a super tour of the Vatican, not to be missed!

What's Included

Professional art historian guide
Guaranteed to skip the long lines
All activities
Local guide

Gratuities
Private transportation

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Meeting Location

Meeting point

Viale Vaticano
00192 Roma RM, Italy

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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

What To Expect

Vatican Museums

meet your guide at the entrance to the museums, pass the tourists in the long queues and head for the cloakrooms. Starting in the Pio-Clementino Museum you see the wonderful ancient Roman and Greek Statues. Your guide will tell you all about the wonderful artwork as you pass through the myriad of rooms and galleries; the visit continues to the Room of Animals and the Gallery of Candelabra; there is so much to see. Next are the Galleries of Tapestries and Maps and the Sobieski Room with its vast canvas, the largest in the Vatican. Finally to the most visited site in the whole of Italy the Sistine Chapel. Your guide will bring the frescoes to life. The chapel holds many secrets and your guide will tell you some interesting facts about the conclave that is held to elect a new Pope.

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Sistine Chapel

Finally to the most visited site in the whole of Italy the Sistine Chapel. It is interesting to learn about the famous frescoes painted by Michelangelo, Botticelli, Perugino and other Renaissance artists. What to look for when you enter the chapel and see the Last Judgment, the Creation of Adam, the Genesis and the Stories of Moses and Jesus. Your guide will bring the frescoes to life. The chapel holds many secrets and your guide will tell you some interesting facts about the conclave that is held to elect a new Pope.

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

St. Peter's Basilica

It is then time for a tour of St. Peter’s Basilica where you will explore the numerous side chapels with their hidden crypts. You will see Michelangelo’s Pietà and your guide will explain why this is the only work that he signed. You will gain an appreciation of the mastery that went into the creation of Bernini’s altarpiece and learn how Michelangelo triumphed over his contemporaries for the honour to paint St. Peter’s magnificent dome.There is still more to see though below ground level. You guide will lead you below ground to the papal crypt where, over the centuries, many of the Popes have been interred. This special place is a site of pilgrimage for many Catholics.

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

St. Peter's Square

You end your tour in Saint Peter’s Square where your guide will leave you with some curious facts about Bernini’s statues that surround this great square. Don’t forget to look to the balcony where the white smoke tells of a new Pope and take a picture of the colorful Swiss Guards.

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

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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
Specialized infant seats are available

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
READ CAREFULLY: Because of the growing popularity of the current pope Francis and his intense activity in organising mass events in the Vatican some areas might get closed last minute without previous notice. This has already happened this year and can happen again during you Vatican tour: the Sistine chapel and/or the Basilica of Saint Peter might not be accessible. In case of such events our tour guide will provide you with a valuable alternative focusing the tour inside the Vatican museums.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to the Jubilee the Basilica might not be accessible as part of the tour. Unfortunately, we know that very last minute. In any case, you can go there after the tour, queuing.

Frequently Asked Questions

(6)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Skip-the-line Sistine Chapel & Vatican Highlights Guided Tour?

A: This tour is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded. This tour requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund. Read more Apr 2025