Rome: Skip the Line Vatican, Sistine Chapel, St Peter Small Group
Overview
Available languages
3 hours 15 minutes
Mobile ticket
Enjoy a semi-private Vatican tour with a maximum of six guests. With your expert guide and skip-the-line tickets, explore the Vatican Museums, experience the wonders of the Pinecone and Octagonal Courtyard and the Belvedere Torso.
Admire Constantine’s coffins and unique sculptures while learning about Church history, the Popes, and the artworks.
After this, it’s time to head over to see one of the stars of the tour – Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. Admire the 8,000 square feet of this masterpiece standing in its center surrounded by paintings. After the Chapel and all its glory, your tour guide will take you towards your final stop, St. Peter’s Basilica* where you will enjoy exclusive access to the most immense and ornate Catholic church in the world. Visit one of the most stunning pieces of art in the basilica, Michelangelo’s statue of the Pietà, depicting the Virgin Mary holding her dying child in her arms.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
*St. Peter’s Basilica is an active church and can be closed unexpectedly for liturgical ceremonies. If closed, your guide will provide a revised itinerary including more of the Vatican Museums. No compensation is granted in these circumstances.
*Saint Peter’s Basilica is closed on most Wednesdays mornings due to the weekly Papal Audience. If you book this tour for a Wednesday the time inside the Vatican Museums will be extended.
Important Notice Jubilee Year 2025: As part of the 2025 Jubilee celebrations, from December 24th, 2024 to January 6th, 2026, St. Peter’s Basilica may experience unexpected partial or complete closures. In the rare event that the Basilica cannot be visited, rest assured that your tour experience will remain exceptional. Your guide will seamlessly adapt the itinerary to include alternative highlights, ensuring the full duration and quality of your tour. Please note that, in accordance with our Terms & Conditions agreed upon at the time of booking, partial or full refunds cannot be issued due to Basilica closures.
Places of worship have strict dress code requirements for entry. All participants are required to have shoulders and knees covered (no tank tops or short dresses) to enter.
There is no photography allowed inside the Sistine Chapel.
Please be aware that the Sistine Chapel is a Holy Place and talking during your visit inside is strictly forbidden, therefore your guide will give you an explanation of the Sistine Chapel beforehand during your tour, in order to give you a comprehensive explanation before entering the chapel.
Backpacks are not permitted in the Museum.
Guests with wheelchair accessibility needs will find difficulty with this small group tour. In order to ensure a barrier-free tour with alternative routes, please book the private version of this tour.
Everyone in your group, regardless of age, needs a government issued ID to enter the Vatican Museums.
IMPORTANT: Please advise our team if you believe that a disability qualifies you for complimentary access to the Vatican
*Access to the Raphael Rooms is contingent upon crowd conditions, timing constraints, and guard-regulated routes. Including them may not always be feasible. In these cases, your tour guide will exercise discretion to adjust the itinerary, ensuring a high-quality experience
From January 12 through March 31, the Vatican Museums will be carrying out special conservation work on Michelangelo’s Last Judgment inside the Sistine Chapel. During this time, a scaffolding structure will cover the entire Last Judgment wall. The Sistine Chapel will remain open and fully accessible, but this specific artwork will not be visible during the restoration period. Thank you for your understanding as this masterpiece receives important care.
Not recommended for travelers with mobility issues
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Vatican Museums
Discover some of the most famous paintings and sculptures from western civilization and listen to amusing anecdotes about the former popes and artists represented in the museums. With a small-group tour of maximum of 6 people, or in your very own private tour, easily manoeuvre through the crowded museums at a comfortable pace. After a view of the terrace over the Vatican gardens, make your way across the beautiful early Renaissance courtyard to admire Hadrian's Pinecone, and then to the modern art piece of Arnaldo Pomodoro. You will then head to the magnificent Octagonal Courtyard which is one of the most remarkable collections of Roman and Greek artefacts. Admire the famous Belvedere Torso, learn about the mystery of the Laocoön Priest of Troy, and visit the Muses Room. Walk through the beautiful galleries to admire an abundance of candelabra, tapestries, and maps. Then head to the Julius II apartments and see the grandeur and the magnificent details of the Raphael Rooms.
Sistine Chapel
Next, learn of Michelangelo's masterpiece from your guide before you enter through a tiny door to admire the majestic Sistine Chapel. Take in its grandeur in contemplative silence as you admire this 8,000 square foot wonder. From January 12 through March 31, the Vatican Museums will be carrying out special conservation work on Michelangelo’s Last Judgment inside the Sistine Chapel. During this time, a scaffolding structure will cover the entire Last Judgment wall. The Sistine Chapel will remain open and fully accessible, but this specific artwork will not be visible during the restoration period. Thank you for your understanding as this masterpiece receives important care.
What‘s Included
Private Option available!
Private Family Experience | Vatican Tour for Kids OPTION
Gallery of Tapestries
Sistine Chapel
Raphael Rooms*
Tour in a Safe and Semi Private group of 6 people
Berninis bronze alter canopy
Pinecone and Octagonal Courtyard
Michelangelos ceiling & Last Judgement
The School of Athens painting
St Peters Basilica*
Gallery of Maps
Professional, Local, Expert Guide
Belvedere Torso
St Peters square
The round room
Constantine coffins
Reserved Vatican entrance tickets
Food and drinks
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Gratuities
Options
English Small Group Tour
Small Group Tour in English: Explore the Vatican in a group of maximum 6 people and a top-rated guided
PRIVATE Tour Upgrade
Private Tour: Tour of the Vatican with your very own dedicated guide.
Special: Vatican Tour for Kids
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes: With Family Experience, you can rest assured that even the youngest ones will be engaged, have fun, and learn a whole lot!
Private Tour for Families: Vatican Tour for Kids Private Tour is the perfect tour for the whole family!
Reviews
3,814 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
A Guided Tour of Understanding and Knowledge
LambTrial,,Dec 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I just finished the Vatican tour given by a cherub named Tatyana. She unlocked and opened channels of thought to rivers of understanding I never knew existed! Her vast knowledge flowed seamlessly across oceans of time and culture. I could not have been more impressed. It was quite a journey of faith, hope, and love to a whole new world!!! She was able to communicate at a level that even my younger son, Shilo, appreciated. She was patient with all of our questions and it was amazing! I highly recommend the tour and insist that you request Tatyana. With All Our Love, Lorenza, Akta, and Shilo
Vatican Small Group Tour
shammy331,,Dec 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an awesome time on our tour. Our guide, Eva, was very friendly and informative. We have done this tour the past few times we've visited. With our guide we learned new things about the Vatican that we hadn't known. I highly recommend this tour.
Wonderful experience by the best tour guide
Sue K,,Dec 23, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00It’s amazing how your tour guide can really make or break your experience in visiting a landmark or tourist site. Deborah was by far the best guide we had during our trip to Italy. The Vatican museums and Sistine Chapel are amazing places to visit even without a guide. But Deborah brought so much more meaning and depth to our time there. She is a talented teacher and conveyor of history and art that really made our understanding of what we saw here so much more richer. Thank you Deborah!
Appreciation for the Beautiful Vatican
Dolores K,,Dec 20, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00We were blessed to have Giada as our private tour guide for the Vatican Museum. Giada provided detailed information regarding the meaning behind the paintings, tapestry, the figurines, the marble floors. We have a better understanding of the beauty of the paintings and the time it took to complete them. Thank you Giada for your passion for art. I highly recommend having a guided tour to truly appreciate the beauty of the Vatican.
Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Tour
Andrew K,,Dec 20, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel tour was amazing. We visited 20 years ago and today’s visit was refreshing. Our guide Monica provided many insights which were new to us this time around. While St Peter’s Basilica was closed in the morning (Jubilee event) we were fortunate enough to have a quick lunch and waited five minutes in the security line to gain entry into the Basilica. It’s a hit and miss when it comes to visiting the Basicila due to the Jubilee Year events this year.
The Best Way to Experience the Vatican
Jaime G,,Dec 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our semi-private tour with Eleonora was truly unforgettable. Her depth of knowledge and the way she connected art, history, and faith brought everything to life in a way that was deeply moving. Several times I found myself with goosebumps as she shared the stories behind the artwork, the artists, and the biblical scenes woven throughout the artwork. She has a remarkable gift for storytelling, and we could have listened to her for several more hours. The Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica are breathtaking on their own, but experiencing them through Eleonora’s insight and passion made them feel even more extraordinary. The pacing was excellent, the walking comfortable, and we never once felt rushed. This truly feels like the best way to experience these incredible places. It was a memorable and meaningful experience, and I would highly recommend both the tour and Eleonora to anyone visiting Rome.
Love Rome
569eileenl,,Dec 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Incredibly informative and the name is accurate “skip the lines” perfect. Our tour guide was very helpful and knowledgeable.
Book the small group tour always
SoTaingy,,Dec 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Laura P. was a knowledgeable and friendly tour guide, and our three-hour tour flew by. She shared just the right amount of history without overwhelming us, making the experience both engaging and enjoyable. I would highly recommend booking a small group tour with her. I’m not usually a museum person, but she made me far more invested in the art than I ever expected. Vatican City is truly a must-visit.
Friendly, helpful and informative
Christopher E,,Dec 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Prompt small friendly group with Laura our informative guide who made a point of remembering our names. Really enjoyed the time we had in Sistine chapel and the history in St Peter’s
Amazing tour
Navigator41200495484,,Dec 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I really enjoyed the tour we had with Fabrizio. He did a great job of explaining the history and was very knowledgeable. I wish we had a bit more time to just roam around on our own, but I recognize that it is a timed tour and we have to keep to the schedule. I would recommend the tour to anyone. The skip-the-line access was amazing - we zipped right through the security lines to get into the Vatican museum and going directly into St Peter's Basilica was fantastic.
From €189.00
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