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Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel Skip-the-Line Tour
About this activity
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Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Free cancellation
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Keep your travel plans flexible — book your spot and pay nothing today.
Reserve now & pay later
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3 - 3.5 hours
Duration
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English
Live tour guide
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1
Skip the line through a separate entrance
Your experience
Start your visit by skipping the long ticket lines so that you can immediately enter and start viewing the galleries housing some of the most famous works of art in the world.
This route is crafted to ensure you see all the must-have pieces while allowing lesser-known works to captivate you.
A well-versed English-speaking guide will impart enlightening insights and contextual information, along with amusing anecdotes, as you walk through the Raphael Rooms, Belvedere courtyards-Apollo Belvedere & Laocoön group-Pinecone Courtyard; Gallery of Candelabra; Gallery of Maps; Gallery of Tapestries.
But you'll see a lot more on this tour-the highlight being a visit to the Sistine Chapel when your guide will brief you on stories surrounding not only its frescoes but their importance.
As you walk in, you will see the room's full glory, noticing even the fine details like Michelangelo's self-portrait and the rather painful retribution he devised for the Pope’s aide, who was not exactly his greatest admirer.
After visiting the Sistine Chapel, your guide will use a special group-only door to take you inside St.
Peter's Basilica with no outside wait in line (basilica is not included in tours at 4 pm and 4:15 pm).
Once inside St.
Peter's, your guide will point out priceless art and treasures while telling you the story of how the church took 120 years to build.
The Vatican isn't just a museum; it's where the Pope lives and it's one of the smallest states in the world with great influence at rallying points for Catholics around the globe.
During this personal tour, your guide will give a complete rundown of different things—from church disputes to the great works of the Renaissance, and also how Vatican City runs day-to-day.
Places Visited: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, Raphael Rooms, Apollo Belvedere & Laocoön & His Sons, Pinecone Courtyard, Gallery of the Candelabra, Gallery of Maps, Gallery of Tapestries St.
Peter's Basilica (this is not part of tours that begin at 4 pm or 4:15 pm)
Itinerary
2 starting location options:
Via Candia, 153, Antico Caffè Candia
Vatican Museums
Visit, Guided tour (1 hour)
Gallery of Maps, Vatican Museums
Visit, Guided tour (25 minutes)
Raphael Rooms
Visit, Guided tour (30 minutes)
Sistine Chapel
Visit, Guided tour, Free time (45 minutes)
St. Peter's Basilica
Visit, Guided tour (30 minutes)
2 drop-off locations:
Vatican Museums, Antico Caffè Candia
Meeting Point
To Remember
What to bring
- Passport or ID card
- Long pants
- Long-sleeved shirt
Not allowed
- Shorts
- Weapons or sharp objects
- Luggage or large bags
- Short skirts
- Sleeveless shirts
- Drinks
- Umbrellas
Know before you go
- Unfortunately due to the nature of this tour it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments or with wheelchairs, or strollers.
- The special access passage between the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica is closed on Wednesdays and is subject to other unexpected closures. On such days we will instead explore the Pinacoteca Gallery.
- All participants must provide full names, at the time of booking. The information must match the ID or passport. Name changes are not allowed, and failure to provide this will result in booking cancellation.
- Starting Dec. 24, access to St. Peter's Basilica may be limited due to the Vatican's Jubilee Year 2025 determined by the Vatican.