VIP Vatican, Sistine Chapel & Basilica Tour with Vatican Grottoes

based on 381 reviews

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

From $49.42

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CHILD (Age : 6 to 16)

ADULT (Age : 17 to 99)

Free Cancellation

Upto 24 hours in Advance.

Mobile or paper ticket accepted

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Skip the line and immerse yourself in the Vatican's treasures with an expert guide and priority entrance with a small group. This exclusive tour includes the awe-inspiring Sistine Chapel and direct entrance into St.Peter's Basilica and the Papal tombs. Designed for those who wish to absorb the full splendour of the Vatican, this experience is an in-depth exploration into Vatican city.

Wander through the Vatican Museums, whose halls house an incredible array of masterpieces. This vast collection includes exquisite sculptures, mesmerising frescoes, and architectural wonders that together create a collection unmatched anywhere in the world.

Feast your eyes on breathtaking works by world renowned artists such as Bramante, Bernini, Perugino, and Botticelli, culminating in the Sistine Chapel. Here, Michelangelo's famous frescoes, including the majestic Last Judgement, stretch magnificently across the ceiling and rear wall, offering a visual spectacle that encapsulates the divine.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

WHAT TO EXPECT

1.
Once you book, we organize everything. Just show up and check-in at the Maya Tours office (VIA GERMANICO, 16) at the correct time (Please arrive 10 minutes before your booked departure time) and your guide will escort you inside the Museums & provide you with your ticket.
2. Vatican Museums
Explore the Vatican Museums with an Expert Guide, visit the highlights of the incredible collections comprised of a colossal 20,000 works on display, over 4 miles of Art, Sculptures, Tapestries, Paintings and Architecture. Belvedere Courtyard Pinecone Courtyard Pio Clementino Museum Octagonal Courtyard Sala Degli Animali Sala Delle Muse Sala Rotonda Sala A Croce Greca Gallery of the Candelabra Gallery of Tapestries Gallery of Maps
3. Sistine Chapel
Marvel at the incredible Sistine Chapel, an impressive sanctuary that boasts works of art by master painters like Perugino, Pinturicchio, Ghirlandaio, Rosselli, Botticelli, Signorelli, della Gatta and, of course, Michelangelo. See the world famous frescoes stretch magnificently across the ceiling with the renowned Creation of Adam as the central focus and the majestic Last Judgement upon the rear wall, offering a visual spectacle that encapsulates the divine. Sistine Chapel Frescoes Cosmati Floor Mosaic Forseen conception of Jesus Christ Pagan Sibyls / Icons Prophet depictions Creation of Adam The Last Judgement Sacrifice of Jesus Christ Greek Mythology Styx
4. St. Peter's Basilica
Gain privileged direct entrance to the heart of the Catholic faith and lose yourself in the monumental grandeur of Saint Peter's Basilica. See the highlights of the phenomenal church with a guide and enjoy free time to explore its many secrets including getting your blessing at Saint Peter's feet and head down into the Vatican Grottoes which contain the Papal Tombs. The Pillars The Ceiling Statue Of St. Peter (Blessing at Saint Peter's Feet) Tomb Of Innocent XI St. Peter’s Throne La Porta Santa (Holy Door) Loggia Of The Blessings Or Central Balcony The Dome High Altar (St. Peter's Altar) Baldacchino Vatican Grottoes (Papal Tombs) La Pietá Tomb of John Paul II La Navicella Mosaic
5. St. Peter's Square
Exit the Basilica on to St. Peter's Square, a large plaza located directly in front of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, one of the largest, most beautiful squares in Europe where the Papal Audience is held. Bernini Fountain Maderno Fountain Vatican Egyptian Obelisk St. Peter's Square colonnades Columns Basilica Façade Central Balcony Statues of the Saints and first century apostles

ADDITIONAL INFO

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
• The tour reservations have strict timing. To join the tour, you are required to be at the meeting point for check-in at least 15 minutes prior to your tour departure time.
• If you arrive late for the meeting time, it will not be possible to join the group or reschedule, the tickets and guide are void. As per Vatican rules you will not be entitled to a refund.
• Knees & Shoulders MUST be covered for both men & women to enter the Sistine Chapel!
• St Peter’s Basilica is subject to last-minute closures for religious ceremonies, with little to no warning and in this case, the tour will conclude in the Sistine Chapel. When this occurs visitors will have an extended tour of the Vatican Museums.
• Should St. Peter’s Basilica be closed or not accessible within the scheduled time, the tour will include Raphael's Rooms or the explanation of the Basilica from the outside. In this case we are unable to provide refunds or discounts as the Basilica is free to enter and not included in the tour price.
• The Raphael's Rooms are not included in the tour and are visited only when St. Peter’s Basilica remains closed to the public or if the Vatican makes the internal itinerary mandatory.
• Please note that on the day of your visit certain areas of the monument/attraction can be closed due to either religious events or national holidays.
• Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not suitable for those with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair. Please be aware that large oversized bags/backpacks/suitcases are not permitted in the monument/ attraction.
• Students booking a reduced ticket must have a photo ID to be allowed into the monument. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
• It is not possible to contact guides when they are inside the Vatican museums, it is the clients responsibility to stay with the guided tour group, if you lose your guide inside the Vatican, there is nothing we can do in this case.
• Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not suitable for those with walking difficulties or using a wheelchair.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Posted By : Brittany_C
We had DEBRA. She was incredible. So knowledgeable and very talented. She gave us wonderful insights insights into the history. I would highly recommend her.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-02 03:36:36

Posted By : Patricia_W
Our tour guide Maggie was absolutely wonderful. She was kind and very knowledgeable about the tour. We skipped all the lines and walked right in. Very please with this experience!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-31 04:12:49

Posted By : Charla_M
Far too crowded and rushed. Our guide was fantastic, but the Vatican fails to limit and control the crowds. We were literally shoulder-to-shoulder with thousands of people being herded through the museums and Sistine Chapel.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-27 06:23:18

Posted By : Elizabeth_O
Basilica. It was much more expansive than anticipated. Needed more time to take it all in and for questions. Better to see less and have it more time for discussion
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-25 03:46:09

Posted By : Cynthia_C
Our Tour Guide was Tiana, and she did a great job of relaying the history of the site, the museums, and the artworks we were seeing. She was knowledgeable and friendly, and would point out little things that we wouldn't have noticed on our own and give us interesting bits of background on those. It was very crowded, which made it difficult at times to keep up with her, but she did her best to do a head count before moving on to another room/building, and we had audio devices that made it easy to hear what she was saying despite the crowds surrounding us. St. Peter's Basilica was closed to the public for a private event/service the afternoon we were there, so we weren't able to see that, but Tiana said that, as a church, it's normally free to visit, so we could come back to it if we had time available on another day. Sadly, we weren't able to get back.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-23 19:23:18

Posted By : Anthony_A
Our guide was wonderful-Korn?
He was very knowledge , patient and thorough

That’s all I have to say.

Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-19 16:17:01

Posted By : Richard_R
Our guide was very conscientious and knowledgeable. Everything was fast, easy and hassle-free. It was great to be directed to the highlights of such an extensive collection. Highly recommend.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-09 22:26:55

Posted By : Marne_C
My group of four adults had a terrific Vatican Museum & Sistine Chapel tour operated by Maya Tours and led by the dazzling, spirited, hugely informed and delightfully well-spoken Christina. We saw all the expected things, but we learned soooo much more than we expected. Christina was funny as hell, and supremely knowledgeable after her years of advanced studies in art, history, archaeology, fashion, and probably rocket science. Christina had us skirting crowds and finding the oh-so-rare areas of space in the packed-to-the-gills museum galleries. She described in detail — amazing personal detail — about the Vatican, the art, and the artists. Christina really made the day for us. Five stars (ten!) all the way!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-03 08:31:34

Posted By : Simon_S
An excellent tour, with as much crammed in as possible, and plenty of knowledegable input from the tour guide.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-03 06:05:06

Posted By : Jennifer_P
Very good tour with a very good guide. Meeting place was clear and easy to check in. The details on the tour were well presented and the small group setting was exactly what we wanted.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-04-23 15:11:44