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

based on 3189 reviews

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

From $135.15

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Embark on an enchanting journey through the Vatican with our expert guide, immersing yourself in the awe-inspiring beauty of the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums. Let the rich history and stunning artwork come alive as your guide leads you through the labyrinthine halls, providing fascinating insights. Skip the lines to explore captivating spaces like the Gallery of the Maps. Stand in the iconic Sistine Chapel, captivated by the masterpiece 'The Creation of Adam' by Michelangelo. Conclude your unforgettable tour with a visit to the majestic St. Peter's Basilica.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

WHAT TO EXPECT

1. Vatican City
Gain exclusive access to the UNESCO-listed Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica with this small-group tour of 20 people or less, experience the renowned sites in the best conditions with your expert guide.
2. Vatican Museums
Stroll through rooms like the Gallery of Maps, with its golden, vaulted ceiling and the stunning Sistine Chapel, considered to be the Pope’s home chapel, with Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam and The Last Judgement. On your early-access tour, you’ll find the galleries to be considerably quieter than they would be later in the day.
3. Cortile della Pigna
Nestled within the Vatican Museums, the Pineyard Courtyard is a tranquil oasis exuding timeless elegance. Adorned with lush greenery and surrounded by classic architecture, this courtyard features a striking bronze statue, the Pigna, designed by Donato Bramante. The atmosphere is serene, providing a peaceful respite for visitors. As you stroll through, the sound of rustling leaves accompanies the captivating sight of the Pinecone Courtyard, offering a moment of reflection amid the cultural richness of the Vatican Museums.
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
Discover the Vatican Museums' Gallery of Maps on your tour: an enchanting showcase of detailed cartography spanning centuries. Immerse yourself in history with vibrant maps, capturing the beauty of geography and artistry.
6. Sistine Chapel
Meet and greet your guide opposite the entrance to the Vatican Museums, a collection of galleries filled with classical and Renaissance masterpieces, including the Sistine Chapel frescoes. Walk inside through a reserved door without any waiting. This access is even faster than the priority lines. Once inside, there are more than 2,000 rooms and nine miles of art, so follow along with your guide who will point out the highlights and explain the story behind each piece. The small-group nature of your tour allows you to remain close to your guide at all times, but a headset is included to make sure you can always hear the commentary clearly.
7. St. Peter's Basilica
At last, your guide will escort you into St. Peter’s Basilica, bypassing long lines of spectators, to provide an overview of this spectacular church. At the end of the tour, you can remain in St. Peter’s Basilica at your leisure, or you may return outside to St. Peter’s Square to admire Bernini’s clever optical illusion and the basilica’s heavenly façade.
8. St. Peter's Square
St. Peter's Square, an iconic masterpiece in Rome, embraces visitors with its grandeur. Designed by Gian Lorenzo 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. The most fantastic way to finish your Vatican tour experience!

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
• Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women to enter to the venues
• Only small bags are allowed in the venue
• Saint 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
• Please note all participant names are required at the time of booking in order to enter the Vatican. If we do not receive the full customers names, we will cancel the booking. Every customer is required to carry a valid ID that matches the name on the ticket, or an entry will be refused. Name changes are not permitted once the booking is confirmed.
• Please be advised that this tour option is non-refundable, with no cancellations or date changes allowed due to pre-purchased tickets. It is mandatory to bring a valid ID or Passport for security checks, and entry will not be granted without proper documentation.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Posted By : Robert_G
Simona was a great guide and narrated the entire time. This is a fast paced tour so not boring. Customers can go back to be bored on their own after the tour. Although the Vatican is not one of the wonders of the world, it should be. Absolutely amazing.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-11 03:58:03

Posted By : Josh_N
Tour guide was very through and explained everything in great detail. Gives great details and explains everything about Vatican City, highly recommend!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-10 09:29:59

Posted By : Kathleen_Y
Animated, entertaining, funny, and educational tour of the Vatican’s highlights! We saw amazing works in a timely, educational manner. Never boring!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-05 14:36:26

Posted By : Robina_H
We enjoyed our visit to the Vatican and St Paul’s Cathedral. Amy, our guide, made a huge difference with her subject area knowledge and experience with the venue.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-03 10:37:34

Posted By : Ernesto_C
Julia is a true art scholar. She was informative, provided several tour details that made the visit interesting and memorable. Julia was caring towards the elderly.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-03 03:44:38

Posted By : Paul_C
Great guide, loved his job and it showed. Excellent tour learned so much. Very impressed with the organization and how the guide knew how to get around line ups.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-02 03:53:31

Posted By : Megan_S
Our tour guide, Urus (like the bear, I probably am not spelling it correctly), was amazing! He was very knowledgeable and lead us through the crowds wonderfully.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-01 07:09:58

Posted By : 184richr
Amy was the best tour guide we had all week. She really knew her history and made it a fun 3 hour tour. This is a great tour company I would strongly recommend them to everyone.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-04-29 12:11:01

Posted By : doro5678234
Would recommend, our tour guide Elisa definitely made a difference to our experience! She was very knowledgeable and friendly, my family and I had a great time!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-04-27 03:52:06

Posted By : Frank_A
Great tour guide. Flaviana was the best very personable and happy. She said she loves her job and we loved her.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-04-26 03:09:34