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Complete Vatican: Museums, Sistine Chapel & St Peters Basilica
4.6
371 Ratings
Roma
Unlock Vatican secrets with our skip-the-line tour. Explore iconic art, architecture, and history in just 3 hours. Book now for an unforgettable experience.
Unlock Vatican secrets with our skip-the-line tour. Explore iconic art, architecture, and history in just 3 hours. Book now for an unforgettable experience.
Duration:
3 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Vatican Museums - Experience a thoughtfully curated route showcasing renowned artworks alongside some of our favorite hidden gems.
- Sphere within a Sphere - As you enter the serene Pinecone Courtyard, you’ll encounter a large bronze sculpture representing the birth of a new world from the old, crafted for the Vatican by the esteemed Italian…
- Vatican Museums - Experience a thoughtfully curated route showcasing renowned artworks alongside some of our favorite hidden gems.
- Sphere within a Sphere - As you enter the serene Pinecone Courtyard, you’ll encounter a large bronze sculpture representing the birth of a new world from the old, crafted for the Vatican by the esteemed Italian artist Arnaldo Pomodoro.
- Cortile della Pigna - Your journey includes stops at the Belvedere Courtyard featuring Apollo Belvedere & Laocoön & His Sons, the Pinecone Courtyard, the Gallery of the Candelabra, the Gallery of the Maps, and the Gallery of the Tapestries, offering breathtaking views of St Peter’s Basilica, all within a meticulously planned itinerary.
- Stanze di Raffaello - Explore the Raphael Rooms, celebrated as some of the most exquisitely frescoed interiors globally.
- Gallery of Maps - Guided tour & Photo Stop
- Sistine Chapel - Enter the Sistine Chapel to admire Michelangelo’s frescoes. Although your guide cannot speak inside, they will brief you beforehand on what to observe and share the intriguing, contentious history of this iconic room. Notice the intricate details like Michelangelo’s self-portrait and subtle jabs in the Last Judgement.
Please be aware that the Sistine Chapel (and the door leading to St. Peter’s Basilica) will be closed from April 28 to mid-May for the Papal Conclave. The Vatican Museums will remain accessible, and you can still explore its numerous highlights with your knowledgeable guide, who will lead you on an alternative itinerary during this significant period at the Vatican.
- St. Peter’s Basilica - Enjoy priority access to St. Peter’s through a special, group-exclusive door. Hear your guide narrate the tale of the church’s 120-year construction and discover the valuable art and treasures within. Please Note: Access to the Basilica is not included in tours starting at 4 pm or 4:15 pm.
- St. Peter’s Square - Guided tour & Photo Stop
- Vatican City - This tour takes place in Vatican City, the heart of the Roman Catholic Church and the residence of the Pope.
What's Included
- Skip the Line Access tickets to the Vatican Museums
- Skip-the-line Access to St. Peter’s Basilica (not included on 4 & 4:15 pm tours)
- Skip-the-Line Access to the Sistine Chapel
- Groups never more than 20 people
- Expert Local Guide
- Skip the Line Access tickets to the Vatican Museums
- Skip-the-line Access to St. Peter’s Basilica (not included on 4 & 4:15 pm tours)
- Skip-the-Line Access to the Sistine Chapel
- Groups never more than 20 people
- Expert Local Guide
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
- Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off
- Gratuities
- Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off
Additional Information
Our Complete Vatican Tour gives you the best of the museum’s collections and an in-depth understanding of the art, architecture, and history contained within the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel. The specially curated itinerary ensures that you see the most famous attractions as well as lesser-known gems in just over 3 hours. With skip-the-line tickets to…
Our Complete Vatican Tour gives you the best of the museum’s collections and an in-depth understanding of the art, architecture, and history contained within the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel. The specially curated itinerary ensures that you see the most famous attractions as well as lesser-known gems in just over 3 hours. With skip-the-line tickets to both the Museums, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica there is no quicker or more accessible way to see the best of the Vatican.
Prefer a laid-back afternoon experience? Book the Vatican Museums Tour with Sistine Chapel at 4 pm or 4:15 pm for a relaxed visit after the crowds have left for the day (St. Peter’s Basilica not included).
- 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 during special celebrations/festivities, including the Easter ceremonies. On such days we will instead explore the magnificent Pinacoteca Gallery.
- All guests (including children) must bring ID on the day of their tour.
- Due to the religious nature of the Vatican, all individuals regardless of gender must cover their shoulders and knees. Walks cannot be held responsible for those denied entry.
- Please note: starting December 2024, access to St. Peter’s Basilica may be limited due to the Vatican’s Jubilee Year 2025, which includes special events and ceremonies. These closures are determined by the Vatican and are beyond our control. Thank you for your understanding.
- The full names of all participants must be provided at the time of booking and must match the names on the ID/Passport. Name changes are not permitted.
- Walks Tours is an Accredited Tour Operator with an official ticketing agreement with the Vatican Museums.
Location
Antico Caffè Candia
Via Candia
Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of your tour, your guide will be holding a green Walks sign. This tour meets at Antico Café Candia, Via Candia, 153, 00192 Roma RM.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.6
(371 Ratings)
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Gumariya2022
May 6, 2025
Great tour! - Amazing Vatican tour with Max. Max is one of the best guides we've ever had!!! He is so knowledgeable and provided so much interesting information and showed as much as possible during our tour! We were able to get into the Basilica almost 5 mins before it closed for a mass on a Friday before Easter. One of the rare tours where my daughter remembers all the information from the tour. A must tour!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jessica_h
Apr 20, 2025
Loved it!! - Sabrina was amazing. She was so patient with all the questions and has so much interesting knowledge.
Review provided by Viator
Hagwitch
Apr 6, 2025
Colosseum - Scott’s knowledge of Ancient Rome was phenomenal. He kept us moving at a good pace and we saw everything. He also gave us a recommendation for lunch at Cleto’s which was delicious
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Laura_m
Apr 17, 2025
Informative trip - A good trip/ lots of walking and information given. You don’t get to see everything as it’s guided and it seemed a lot was missed out in the Vatican. However the guide was very funny and the trip overall was great
Review provided by Viator
Mark_k
Apr 16, 2025
Vatican tour - The tour company changed our tour date from Tuesday to Wednesday. Viator never updated the reservation, so we showed up on Tuesday for the tour only to be told to come back the next day (after paying cab fair to get there). When we got there on Wednesday, the tour company told us that they can’t do guided tours of Saint Peter’s on Wednesdays, although it was part of the original package we paid for… Our tour guide was knowledgeable and did a nice job of taking us through the art museum, but failed to direct us to the line that would get us into St Peter’s (without going through security again).. Buyer beware when you book with Viator. The communication between the booking app (Viator) and the tour company is horrible and neither the tour company or Viator want to take responsibility for their mistakes.
Review provided by Viator
Douglas_g
Apr 16, 2025
Lost in translation - Guide was difficult to understand due to his accent and seemed to waste time talking about things that were unnecessary.
Review provided by Viator
Cmglawson
May 4, 2025
Not at all what we were expecting - We did not enjoy this tour at all. Although the guide was very knowledgeable and very nice, he was not a good guide. He walked through the Vatican museums so quickly and never checked to see if we were all with him. With the result, he was sometimes so far ahead that we couldn't even hear him on the earpiece. Also, we completely understood that the Sistine chapel was closed due to the conclave. However, the tour said Vatican museums, Sistine Chapel and Saint Peter's Basilica. After he rushed us through the Vatican museum, he then left us. He never brought us to Saint Peter's Basilica. It was not at all the tour I was expecting and I would not recommend it to anyone.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michael_m
May 6, 2025
Disappointed - Difficult to understand highly accented tour guide who lost us near end of the museum tour! The Sistine chapel was closed due to conclave monopolizing the space! Luckily we were able to tour the Basilica ourselves!! Otherwise not worthwhile
Review provided by Viator
C
May 4, 2025
Tour components changed without enough notice…. - Very disappointed with this tour. We booked for a tour of the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica. Turns out these key parts of the tour were dropped and what we got was a 3 hour tour of the Vatican museum which is exactly what I did not want to do. I dropped out after 2 hours. It was a total shame as I am sure that while some people like this kind of thing, it is absolutely not my thing. The tour company should have informed us of the major changes before the tour so I could have cancelled. I want someone to refund her $170 I spent for this tour as it was not at all what what described in the tour information.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sorina_c
Apr 12, 2025
Disappointing - Very disappointed. We booked this tour just because it was advertised as having the skip the line for the Basilica, however once the tour started , the guide informed us she would not take us there as it was closed till 12pm even though the tour was supposed to last 3.5 hours and ended exactly at 12 ( start time was 8.45am and she was late ) . There should be a partial refund as we paid for a service that was not delivered. No need to say more.
Review provided by Viator
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