Skip-the-Line Vatican & Sistine Chapel Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Skip-the-line access to Vatican Museums
- Explore the Sistine Chapel's masterpieces
- Learn from an expert English-speaking guide
- Discover art treasures in Vatican Museums
- Experience Vatican City's rich history
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Priority access to Vatican Museums
- Guided tour of Sistine Chapel
- Expert English-speaking guide
- Food and beverages
Itinerary
On this private tour, you will travel at your own pace, plus you can stop in some of the small rooms of the museum since you won't be with a large group. Start with a visit to the Belvedere Courtyard, the Pio-Clementino Museum, and the large collection of Ancient Roman and Greek statues. Then, continue to the Galleries of Tapistries and Geographic Maps, the grandest and most significant display of Renaissance maps. Stop in the Sobiesky Room to learn about the largest canvas painting in the Vatican. See the Immaculate Conception Room's frescoes.
Your guide will focus your attention on the rooms painted by Raphael for Pope Julius II, considered the greatest works of his life, especially the Parnassus and the School of Athens.
Hear the history, facts, and curiosities of the Sistine Chapel during your visit there. View the famous frescoes made by Michelangelo, Botticelli and other famous artists. The Sistine Chapel is also the location of the conclave, the Popes' election, so you will learn details about this unique event.
Meeting point
Start Location
Unknown location
Important information
Know before you book
- Tour operates rain or shine; dress appropriately for weather conditions.
- Photography is allowed in most areas; check for specific restrictions.
- Children under 6 years old can join for free; please inform in advance.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes for the tour.
- Bring a valid ID for entry into Vatican City.
- Dress modestly; shoulders and knees should be covered.
Cancellation policy
0All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Accessibility
- Easy Public Transport
Good to know
- 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
- Food and drinks are not allowed in the museums except for bottled water
- 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 your 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.
- The Basilica is not included in this tour due to the Jubilee new access rules. You can visit the Basilica by going to Saint Peter's Square and queueing there
Traveler reviews
Highlights tour was a...
Highlights tour was a great way to see the Vatican. Appreciated Tommaso’s knowledge and hospitality. Really glad we did this and he customized our time to meet our interests.
Fantastic Private Experience!
My wife and I took the private, Fast Access Entrance to Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter Basilica tour with Donato A. and could not have been happier! Donato's passion, knowledge of intimate details, love for the place, and helpfulness came through at each stop and with each display. The tour was well thought out, organized, and perfectly allowed us to take in all of the beautiful sites and learn more of the history - without long waits in line. The private aspect gave us more options and flexibility and we really enjoyed the 1:1 discussions. 10/10 - Definitely recommended!
Beautiful! So many things to see!
Francesco was very knowledgeable and passionate about the information that he shared with us. I would highly recommend Francesco as a tour guide.
Skip the Line Tour of Vatican
Very informative & interesting tour by our extremely knowledgeable tour guide Maximillian! He was great in highlighting the important info. We( group of 7) all highly recommend this tour especially with Maximillian! Thank you!
Absolutely the highlight of our trip
Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and led our tour with little pop quiz’s and humor. There wasn’t one question she couldn’t answer and we asked lots !