Best of the Vatican Tour: Fast Track Highlights
Overview
Available languages
2 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Meet your expert guide by the Vatican Museum entrance and enjoy skip-the-line entry to what is arguably the most important collection of art in the world. Your guide knows every nook and cranny of the museums and will navigate seamlessly through the more than 1,200 galleries.
Much of this tour will be dedicated to the majestic Sistine Chapel, from its commissioning to the finishing touches applied by none other than Michaelangelo Buonarroti. You will hear the true life story of this fascinating yet tormented artist, who considered himself a sculptor and not a painter yet dedicated countless years of his life painting frescoes on a ceiling 44 feet high. Learn of the physical and psychological damage inflicted on the artist as your guide helps you to discern between myth, fact, and popular Hollywood fiction regarding this epic work of art.
At the end you can explore some of the remaining 1,400 galleries of art at your own pace.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
A dress code is required to enter places of worship and selected museums. No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements
Direct access to the Basilica will be possible exclusively to those who book at least 72 hours in advance. Visitors without prior bookings will need to enter through the main square.
Due to the route covered and/or transportation used, it is not possible to participate in this tour using a wheelchair, scooter, or other aid. Please contact us to inquire about customized tour options for guests with mobility challenges.
Please note: This description is provided as a general example. Actual experiences may vary slightly depending on the season, local conditions, and other factors beyond our control
On days immediately surrounding religious holidays at the Vatican, alterations to tours may become necessary due to partial closings of areas normally included in this tour
Access to St. Peter's Basilica is not possible on Wednesday morning during the weekly papal audience.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Full-immersion guided Vatican Museums experience with an expert Vatican tour guide
Skip the Line at the Vatican & get ahead of everyone else
Priority access to St. Peter’s Basilica
Rooms of Raphael & Sistine Chapel
Belvedere Courtyard, Greek and Roman Sculptures
Hotel pick-up and drop-off
Gratuities
What To Expect
Vatican Museums
Your guide knows every nook and cranny of the museums and will navigate seamlessly through the more than 1,200 galleries while emphasizing the Rooms of Raphael, the Ancient Roman and Greek pieces in the Belvedere Courtyard and the Gallery of Maps while ensuring that you stay on track with an eye on the ultimate prize: the Sistine Chapel.
Sistine Chapel
Much of this tour will be dedicated to the majestic Sistine Chapel, from its commissioning to the finishing touches applied by none other than Michaelangelo Buonarroti. You will hear the true life story of this fascinating yet tormented artist who considered himself a sculptor and not a painter yet dedicated countless years of his life painting frescoes on a ceiling 44 feet high. Learn of the physical and psychological damage inflicted on the artist as your guide helps you to discern between myth, fact, and popular Hollywood fiction regarding this epic work of art.
Options
2025 Departures
Reviews
335 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Our tour guide, Chiara...
Steve H,
Nov 6, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Our tour guide, Chiara Antonelli, was great and we really enjoyed our tour. Chiara is extremely knowledgeable, friendly, and has a great sense of humor. We had several tours over the course of a 3-week vacation and this was one of the best!
10/10 recommend
Vicki P,
Nov 5, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Our tour guide Maria was amazing. She was very well informed, easy to understand, and very attentive with our needs while touring with our two year old. Although it is possible to tour the Vatican with a young child, I had very unrealistic expectations of her attention span, and bandwidth; and navigating the Vatican properties. If you are on the fence as to whether or not this is a good idea for your young children I would say NO!! This tour experience went above and beyond to accommodate an exceptional experience for us. Would highly recommend, and will revisit again in the future when our daughter is in her early teens, and will be able to appreciate the absolute wonder the Vatican is. Thank you again Maria!
Great experience with kids.
madsennd,
Nov 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My two daughters (13 and 10) and I did the early tour meeting at 7:45 AM near the Vatican. Easy to find meetup place and our guide Nadia was awesome. A short walk, a quick line, some security, and we were on the way. From start to finish, Nadia was great in accommodating the kids. The tour kept the kid’s attention and 2.5 hours was the perfect amount of time for them. I’ve done the Vatican without a guide, I have to say that this experience was great and different because of the history and things we learned along the way from our guide. Definitely worth it.
11 out of 10! Great job Paola!!!
tobinp229,
Oct 31, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Paola was fantastic. She has 25 years of experience and really knows her job! Great tour and experience and always nice to see the Vatican when we are in town.
Gratifying
Erika P,
Oct 30, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00It was a nice tour but the Vatican the day I visited it was extremely crowded besides it being the year of the jubilee. It was a beautiful experience there where just a lot of tourists and people
Wonderful and easy
HENSON G,
Oct 29, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00We went through all the places with a breeze. Getting this tour package was very convinient and knowlegdeable.
Informative and fun
ian c,
Oct 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Massimo our tour guide was enthusiastic and knowledgeable about all things vatican. Tour was aroud 3 hours which was just right for our teenage kids.
Vatican Museum Tour 10/2025
SuzChev67,
Oct 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our family of 6 enjoyed our tour guide, he was informative and provided a different perspective of the artwork. Highly recommended. Thank you. Suz & Geoff
Vatican with Nadia
Susan C,
Oct 25, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Nadia an amazing job getting us through the Vatican in Sistine Chapel. Puppy face was perfect then she was extremely informative in person. If I could give her 10 stars I would. She gave us everything we needed to know.
Great way to see the...
Emily V,
Oct 25, 2025
- Review from Viator
4.00Great way to see the museums and skip the lines at the Basilica, well worth the money. We enjoyed the tour and our guide was very friendly and enthusiastic. The downside was there was a bit too much side commentary, the guide makes all the difference.
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