Vatican Museums Early Access Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Skip-the-line entry to Vatican Museums
- Guided tour with expert commentary
- Visit to Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica
- Explore Raphael Rooms and Gallery of Maps
- Early access before general public arrival
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Skip-the-line entry to Vatican Museums
- Guided tour with expert commentary
- Visit to Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica
- Food and beverages
Itinerary
Pass by: The Vatican City State, also known simply as the Vatican, became independent from Italy with the Lateran Treaty (1929), and it is a distinct territory under "full ownership, exclusive dominion, and sovereign authority and jurisdiction" of the Holy See, itself a sovereign entity of international law, which maintains the city state's temporal, diplomatic, and spiritual independence.With an area of 49 hectares and a population of about 825,it is the smallest state in the world by both area and population.
Your tour will start by visiting the Vatican Museums and Upper Galleries, including the one of the Maps, Tapestries, and Candelabra.
Apollo of Belvedere, Laocoon, Nero's Bathtub
Raphael rooms
After the Vatican Museums, you will visit Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel with the Frescoes that he painted in the 1500s for the Pope Julius II and Paul III.
Meeting point
Start Location
Unknown location
Important information
Know before you book
- The tour operates in English; ensure you understand the language for the best experience.
- The Vatican Museums are a religious site; dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered.
- Large bags and backpacks are not permitted; consider bringing a small bag or backpack.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes as the tour involves walking and standing for extended periods.
- Bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated during the tour.
- Photography is allowed in most areas, but flash photography is prohibited.
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
- St Peter's Basilica is not included
- A current valid passport or ID document is required on the day of the tour for children under 18 as proof of age
- This group is up to 20 travelers or less.
- Please note: if you arrive late you mights lose the entrance at the Vatican Museums
- Please note that, for disabled visitors with certified invalidity of more than 74%, the Vatican Museums offers free entry that is extended to a companion for visitors who are not self-sufficient. To benefit from this, make sure you mention it at the time of booking so that our staff may handle your request.
- Please show up 10 minutes before the tour to do the check in
- Please note that you will be asked a full refundable 10 euros deposit at the meeting point in order to ensure all the radios are given back to the guide or our staff. Once you return the radios you will be refunded your 10 euros. If you don't give back the radios you will be charged 30 euros for each of them.
Traveler reviews
Vatican tour
Very informative with a guide who must have had a degree in Vatican history. Lots of info to absorb. Good tour
Excellent experience
Excellent tour. Our tour guide Renata was engaging, knowledgeable and funny. Can’t say enough about what a great experience we had!! The History and art just came alive. Also great communication with the booking agent and clear instructions on where to go. It made entering the Vatican so much easier than going on your own. Highly recommend the skip the line and early entrance.
First rate tour of the Vatican Museums
Wonderful experience, excellent tour guide! Very charismatic really made history come alive. Thoroughly recommend
VISIT TO VATICAN MUSEUMS AND SISTINE CHAPEL
Visit to the Vatican museums and Sistine chapel with guide. The guide Ilaria Sinisi accompanied us throughout the journey entertaining us impeccably, with competence and sympathy, and making us spend three hours without even realizing it.
Average at best
Average at best. The employees barely acknowledge you when they arrive. You're just another one time customer, so why should they care? Our tour guide was late without any apology. We waited and no one explained what was going on. We didn't know if our guide was coming or not. I wanted to really like this tour, but with the chaos and tardiness and lack of customer appreciation, I can only say that if you find another company with a more competitive price, please chose another tour company.