Exclusive First Access Vatican Tour with Skip the Line Basilica

based on 110 reviews

Duration:2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
Location: Rome, Italy

From $174.17

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Bypass the lines and enter the Vatican Museums with the first access of the day. In a less congested setting, begin exploring the timeless pieces that line these halls. With a knowledgeable Vatican tour guide and a select small group of no more than 10 people, your visit will be even more memorable.

This is not a typical Vatican tour; instead, your itinerary has been tailored to discover the legends, histories, stories, and even hidden meanings behind the museum's most priceless artworks. Your English-speaking Vatican guide will show you all the must-see masterpieces the Vatican Museums have to offer.

Your guide will brace you to encounter Michelangelo's greatest work: the Sistine Chapel towards the end of your visit.

When available, and excluding Wednesdays, Skip the Line access to St. Peter's Basilica will be included at the end of your tour at no extra cost. No guided tour is provided inside the Basilica. The Basilica is free to enter.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

WHAT TO EXPECT

1.
Visit the Vatican Museums with fast entry, in the first available access of the day.
2. Cortile della Pigna
This courtyard gets its name from the enormous bronze Pinecone sculpture that dominates it. Don't miss Alfredo Pomodoro's famous Sphere within Sphere while you are here. Ask your guide to give it a spin for you!
3. Sphere within a Sphere
Don't miss Arnaldo Pomodoro's Sphere within a Sphere. Variations of this sculpture can be found in many settings around the world. Ask your guide to give it a spin for you!
4. Museo Pio Clementino
The most famous wing of the Vatican Museums, the Pio Clementino museum contains much of the Museum's most important highlights. Your guide will take you through the Room of the Animals, where you can spot the life-like statues of fauna from around the world. Head to the Octagonal Courtyard where a small fountain trickles in the background of famous statues like the Laocoonte and Apollo Belvedere. Don't forget to look at the Candelabra Gallery - master painters decorated these ceilings to create the illusion of a 3D effect centuries ago!
5. Gallery of the Maps
Head with your guide to the Gallery of the Maps and get a perspective of the world how it was five centuries ago. These exquisitely detailed, hand-painted giant maps are a favorite of the Vatican Museums. See if you can find the Italian cities you have visited, or spot the nod to Christopher Columbus' journey to the Americas.
6. Stanze di Raffaello
Raphael painted these rooms with incredible frescoes, originally meant for the private rooms of Pope Julius II.
7. Sistine Chapel
No guides are able to speak inside the Sistine Chapel. However, your guide will prepare you in advance for your free time inside so you'll know what to look for.
8. Museos Vaticanos
Your visit ends close to where it began, after the spiral staircase at the entrance to the Vatican Museums.
9. Vatican City
Visit to Vatican Museums - Vatican City
10. St. Peter's Square
When available, access is provided to St Peter's Basilica, skipping the lines. A tour is not provided inside the Basilica, only access. Your visit will end at the steps of St. Peter's Square with an introduction made by your guide after which you will be on your own to continue exploring.
11. St. Peter's Basilica
When available, access to St. Peter's Basilica via a special exit from the Sistine Chapel will be included in your tour. This access will allow you to skip the long lines normally required for entry to the Basilica. No tour inside the Basilica will be provided, just access. Please note this is provided in an as available basis and access is not guaranteed. Note: The remaining time is spent between the attractions.

ADDITIONAL INFO

CANCELLATION POLICY

Posted By : stevenbV1378SM
Excellent tour, superb works of art and architecture. Guiseppe really enhanced the whole amazing experience. His English was excellent and he combined wit and deep knowledge. Yes there were crows of people but skip the lines made all the difference.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-18 11:48:15

Posted By : Scorpiotraveler00
Ricardo was excellent! He is very knowledgeable and engaging. He knows how to stay on pace while still giving you the important history.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-13 12:50:02

Posted By : V3614JJrobr
Our guide was amazing. She knew all the history and knew just the right amount of direction without being too much. So nice and helped make our experience!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-09 04:32:30

Posted By : rachellen917
I was a little nervous as i read mixed reviews. Glad I booked, as it was lne of the best tours I have ever done. They arrived on time, we skipped the HUGE lineup and we learned sooo much. I highly recommend 👌
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-08 09:10:50

Posted By : kriscZ3531PQ
The tour is fantastic as we could visit the museum and the chapel in a less crowded condition. Our guide Assunta is friendly and professional.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-08 03:30:06

Posted By : mrsc1810
The tour was brilliant! Well organised and we were well informed. Yumana our Tour Guide was fabulous, she was very knowledgeable and very engaging and made the whole experience fantastic. Well worth the money we paid and we would highly recommend
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-07 03:35:11

Posted By : Trail234944
Definitely worth it. Our tour guide Marcello was terrific and very knowledgeable. Just know that even though you're with a small group, there are other tours going on at the same time and thus it is very, very crowded.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-04 07:24:19

Posted By : ctl213
Elena was wonderful. Very knowledgeable and informative. The crowds were huge, but she manuvered our group through effortlessly. Good value and wouldn’t go without skip the line access.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-04 03:38:22

Posted By : gustavobN4247BY
Laura was amazing. She explained everything with a lot of detail. You could see how passionate and knowledgeable she was. All and all this was a great experience.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-04-30 02:48:36

Posted By : chrispF4027NX
Many things to see at Vatican, benefit of guided tour: skip the (very long) lines and also explanation of what you are seeing in pictures and sculptures.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-04-26 10:33:41