Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Skip-the-line access to Vatican Museums
- Guided tour of Sistine Chapel
- Visit to St. Peter's Basilica
- Explore Raphael Rooms
- Admire Michelangelo's frescoes
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Skip-the-line access to Vatican Museums
- Guided tour of Sistine Chapel
- Visit to St. Peter's Basilica
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Itinerary
Meet your tour guide at our office, located in the oldest neighbourhoods of the Vatican, Borgo Pio. Following a self introduction by your guide, you will walk through the charming shops of the Borgo, as he/she shares some local tips for eating and site seeing in Rome, including off the beaten track sites that you must visit during your holiday! Some background will also be provided on the history of the Sistine Chapel (we do it here as the chapel forbids noise and travellers are expected to observe silence once entering).
Pass by: Admire the flags and surrounding embassies as you walk through this street, which serve as the primary access point to St. Peter's Square, and by extension, to the Vatican City itself.
We arrive at St. Peter's Square, which is marked by a towering Egyptian obelisk and enveloped by columns and statues of saints. Hear about the history of the square and the legendary artist Bernini who designed it. Fun fact- the Pope addresses crowds from his apartment window overlooking St. Peter’s Square, during the Papal audience held every Wednesday and Sunday morning.
En route to the museum, you will get to see and hear about how residents of the smallest city in the word go about their day to day life (including getting their mail!) Snap a pic of the Swiss guards- the pontifical bodyguards in their distinctly Renaissance uniforms. Our Tip: send yourself a post card after the tour. The post office sells a variety of memorabilia, including stamps with Pope Francis's face! Then, slowly head towards the museum's entrance, where you will be led to a special area reserved for skip-the-line groups.
Be prepared to hear about stories as your guide walk you through an astonishing collection of Roman and Greek statues, the gallery of tapestries, and a gallery of maps depicting 16th century Italy.
Admire Michelangelo's famous works, including the Creation of Adam and the Last Judgement. This spectacular fresco evokes lifelike images within the mind, vividly portraying stories of mankind in the biblical era. Note that the museum requires visitors to observe silence and a dress code (knees and shoulders covered).
You will be brought in front of St. Peter's Church, where a special entrance will allow you to enter directly from the museum and bypass the long queue out in the square. Got questions? Ask you guide before parting ways!
Important information
Know before you book
- The tour is conducted in English; ensure you understand the language for a full experience.
- Photography is allowed in most areas; however, flash photography is prohibited in certain sections.
- 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.
- Bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated during the tour.
- Ensure your attire is respectful; shoulders and knees should be covered when entering religious sites.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Stroller Accessible
- Easy Public Transport
Good to know
- Unforeseen events= The Vatican is its own country and therefore the Pope can decide also last minute to close St. Peter’s Basilica for ad hoc events. It is a very rare event during the year but it is possibile and we will do our best to inform you. If it is too late to inform you, our guide will extend the tour in the Vatican. Not to worry that the incredibile collection of Vatican Museums and the masterpiece of Michelagelo in the Sistine Chapel will still be included.
- Most of our tours include the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica. However, there are two specific options with different inclusions. You will find below:
- Museums & SISTINE CHAPEL Tour – Includes the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel but does NOT include St. Peter’s Basilica.
- ST.PETER'S BASILICA TOUR – Includes St. Peter’s Basilica but does NOT include the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel.
Traveler reviews
The Vatican
Great for avoiding the long lines to get in. Our group was small and that helped. We had trouble understanding our guide. I asked once for him to slow his talking down but it didn’t appear that he did. Only got about 25% of the information.
You can trust
Amazing experience. The tour guide was very knowlegble and you laterally skip the line. Was a busy day and we could see everything
Penn Wells is a gem and we keep coming back!
Our fifth stay at Penn Wells Lodge in 18 months. Great location in a wonderful town. We use the ADA rooms which have excellent features and are clean and spacious. The daily breakfast is nice, but I will give it a B because the eggs seem powdered and are bland. Maybe rotate in an extra hot or cold dish as well on the daily menu. We have already booked our visit for this coming fall. The staff are all friendly and helpful. Looking forward to many more getaways to Wellsboro and the Penn Wells Lodge.
Great experience!
Totally worth it! First, specific meeting place was very nice and greeted by a company employee. Not every company does this. Really reduces “the find your guide” stress. Second, our tour guide had a fun stuffed animal on the stick that she held up to guide us. Really important in the crush of the crowds. She was easy to understand and very informative. So glad we spent the extra to skip the line. People were waiting for an 1 hr to 2 hrs to get in.
Visit to the Vatican
Do not visit without a pre-booked tour with a guide. The line to get tickets would have been 3 hours in the Italian sun. We arrived for a nice heat wave in May. Our guide was wonderful and knowledgeable.