Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St Peter’s Basilica Guided Tour

based on 32349 reviews

Duration:3 hours (approx.)
Location: Rome, Italy

From $107.9

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Spend more time inside with no-wait access to the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica through an official Vatican partner entrance. On this comprehensive guided tour, you'll experience the best of the Vatican in just three hours, including the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, and more. Navigate the vast complex of artwork and history with an expert, who will bring this ancient collection to life. Choose from several departure times and languages.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

WHAT TO EXPECT

1. Vatican City
Vatican Museums tours with skip-the-line access are popular, yet even fast-track lines can be lengthy. This exclusive experience provides admission through a dedicated entrance, ensuring a queue-free visit.
2. Vatican Museums
Embark on an exclusive journey into the treasure trove of the Vatican Museums. Explore the intriguing Gallery of the Maps and Tapestries, immersed in tales of Vatican secrets. Marvel at captivating Italian maps, and be awe-inspired by the sculptures in the Gallery of Candelabras. Capture memories with a photo stop at the Pigna statue in the Pinecone Courtyard, crafted by the renowned Donato Bramante. Join our English speaking expert guide for an unforgettable experience in the heart of the Vatican City!
3. Cortile della Pigna
The Pineyard Courtyard at the Vatican Museums is a serene haven, blending classic architecture with lush greenery. Donato Bramante's Pigna statue stands as a bronze centerpiece, creating a peaceful retreat. Amidst this cultural richness, the courtyard invites reflection and appreciation for its timeless elegance.
4. Sphere within a Sphere
In the heart of the Vatican's Cortile della Pigna stands a notable bronze sculpture: Sfera con sfera (Sphere Within a Sphere) by Italian artist Arnaldo Pomodoro. This captivating artwork depicts two fractured orbs resembling intricate machine gears, symbolizing the intricate and fragile nature of the modern world. Pomodoro began creating similar sculptures in the early 1960s, exploring the theme of complexity.
5. Gallery of the Maps
The Gallery of the Maps is a mesmerizing display of intricate cartography, spanning centuries. Immerse yourself in history through vividly detailed maps, capturing the beauty of geography and artistry.
6. Sistine Chapel
Explore the Museums rooms and then enter the incredible Sistine Chapel— the Pope's own sanctuary and a must-see on any Vatican visit. Stand beneath Michelangelo's iconic The Creation of Adam on the ceiling, and marvel at The Last Judgement, his vibrant mural gracing the wall.
7. St. Peter's Basilica
After marveling at the Sistine Chapel, your guide leads you to St. Peter's Basilica, the symbolic heart of the Catholic Church. Dive into its rich history, exploring Vatican art like Michelangelo's La Pietà, crafted when he was just 24. Admire Bernini's baldachin and bid farewell to your guide in St. Peter's Square. Note: On Wednesdays, due to the Papal Audience, St. Peter's Basilica and Square may be unavailable. Fear not, as an extended Vatican Museums itinerary awaits you as a perfect alternative.
8. St. Peter's Square
St. Peter's Square is an iconic masterpiece in Rome. It embraces visitors with its grandeur. Designed by Bernini, the vast elliptical space is encircled by a majestic colonnade, symbolizing the Church's embrace. The central obelisk and fountains add splendor, while the stunning façade of St. Peter's Basilica stands as a beacon of architectural brilliance, inviting pilgrims and tourists alike to marvel at the heart of Vatican City.

ADDITIONAL INFO

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
• We regret that we are unable to accommodate guests with wheelchairs or any impairments requiring special assistance. We are also unable to accommodate strollers or baby carriages on our group tours.
• Avoid bringing large purses, bags, or backpacks on your tour
• At times, despite our priority access tickets, we may experience delays in getting through mandatory security checks when entering these venues
• St Peter’s Basilica is subject to last-minute closures for religious ceremonies. When this occurs, we're happy to offer customers an extended tour of the Vatican Museums. While we endeavour to tell tour groups ahead of time if there are any planned disruptions to the Basilica's opening hours, this is not always possible and in these cases we are unable to provide refunds or discounts.
• On Wednesdays, due to the Papal Audiences, access to St Peter's Basilica is not possible until 1pm
• St Peter's Basilica is not accessible on the evening tours

CANCELLATION POLICY

Posted By : michaeldB1122TA
Tour guide was vague and only talked about specific things that were of interest to her. Also extremely slow, the check point workers kept telling her even to move along.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-14 15:45:04

Posted By : lyonsdenplyons
Sarah was absolutely brilliant. Very informative very caring of the party looking for shade and clear instructions.
Enjoyed all of it.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-14 15:36:38

Posted By : Marina_S
We had great guide Madi!!! She is extremely nice as she waited for a few late comers. She is very knowledgeable, it was fun and interesting. I would definitely recommend it
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-14 13:24:20

Posted By : Lisa_M
Excellent tour and guide! Great content, very crowded but still enjoyable with our experiences guide!
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Posted On : 2024-05-14 13:21:08

Posted By : Clive_T
Very enjoyable experience around the Vatican under the guidance of Elisa our City Wonders tour guide. Her knowledge and insights helped us gain more from the visit.
Do miss The Vatican, so much history, artifacts, grounds, works of art & much more.
Not part of the part for tour but we went to the top of the Dome after tour ended. Lots of effort to get to the top , even after a part lift/elevator start, but the views are stunning.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-14 12:50:07

Posted By : Stacey_C
This was the worst tour we took our entire trip. The tour guide needs to know their audience. He was to into the weeds. We kept stopping and he would ramble on and on. It was over an hour before we entered the building bc he stopped to talk so much. Once inside we left the group and just walked around ourselves. I am not happy bc we spent a lot of money for this tour and there was so much to see that we didn’t have any context on. On our way out of the building we ran into another couple from the tour and we come to find out they left the group too.
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Posted On : 2024-05-14 09:36:20

Posted By : carlee_b
Thank you Amy for providing an amazing tour! We found out so many new things about the Vatican, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica. Amy was great at keeping this tour fun. Thank you again Amy :) I highly recommend booking this tour!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-14 08:50:48

Posted By : John_B
Skipping the long line was great. Paulina was a great guide.Very informative, good knowledge.. Time passed very quickly.
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Posted On : 2024-05-14 08:30:53

Posted By : Alan_W
Way too many people to truly appreciate. Tour guide did not speak English very well, hard to understand.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-14 07:46:05

Posted By : hanstorleift
Wonderful Tour and good Tour Guide ! We saw the Vatican Gardens and the art there, the Museums (well the selected parts), the Sixtine Chapel and the St Peters.
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Posted On : 2024-05-14 04:27:19