Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museums & St Peter's Small Group Tour
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
Explore the figures, technique, and meaning of Michelangelo's frescoes created during his four years of passion on our Sistine Chapel tour. Learn about Pope Julius II, who commissioned the works, and explore Raphael's rooms with our expert guide, uncovering the stories behind the depicted characters. Discover how the Vatican Museums' vast collection of treasures was recovered after years of neglect.
Please note: The Raphael Rooms are part of this 3-hour itinerary, but due to crowding, timing, and the Vatican Museum's crowd flow, we may not be able to make this stop within the designated time. If the Raphael Rooms are essential, we recommend booking one of our longer tours: the Early Vatican Tour or the VIP Vatican Tour.
Disclaimer: Reservations made less than 72 hours in advance will end in the Vatican Museums, as we cannot guarantee skip-the-line access to St. Peter's Basilica.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Please note that the Vatican Museums provide free entrance for visitors who are (according to the requirements stated by the Vatican City) at least 74% disabled by presenting the appropriate certification and, if one needs assistance by another person, that person also receives a free entrance. Please inform us when you are booking if you fit into these requirements and we will remove the pricing of the entry tickets from the price of the tour.
As this is a walking tour with steps and staircases, comfortable walking shoes and a bottle of water are strongly recommended.
Please advise during the booking process if any clients have mobility concerns so that we can best accommodate you.
At the end of your tour, you are required to return the headset provided to you to your guide. In the event that you do not return the headset, you will be subject to a fine of €100 for lost property.
Due to the Jubilee, some monuments may be under restoration. Please pay attention to any messages we may send regarding potential changes.
Disclaimer: For reservations made less than 72 hours in advance, access to the Basilica cannot be guaranteed due to ticketing restrictions.
The Basilica of St. Peter's may be subject to unscheduled closings and late openings for religious ceremonies. We do not provide refunds for last-minute closures of St. Peter's Basilica. Your guide will still give you an introduction to the Basilica should you wish to return on your own time during your visit to Rome.
Please note that the Raphael Rooms are part of this 3-hour itinerary but on days due to crowding, timing and direction flows of crowd traffic dictated by the Vatican Museum staff on the day, we may not be able to make this stop within the designated time frame.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Escorted entrance to St. Peter's Basilica
Headsets (for groups of 6 or more)
All Fees and Taxes
Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel Skip-The-Line Tickets
Small Group Size
Expert English-Speaking Guide
Gratuities (optional)
Transportation to and from the meeting and end points
What To Expect
Vatican Museums
With more than five miles of corridors, this vast complex of museums chronicles the history and accomplishments of mankind over the last 2000 years, featuring classic masterpieces such as Rodin's "Thinker" and the Sistine Chapel.
Cortile della Pigna
The Vatican bronze pinecone is a colossal and ancient bronze sculpture also known as the Pinion and is located in one of the courtyards at the Vatican, in the Cortile della Pigna. It was found in the Middle Ages at the Baths of Agrippa where it originates, until late in the antiquity, today you can find it in the complex of the Vatican Museums now for many centuries.
Options
Current Season
Reviews
296 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
The most engaging tour of the Vatican
Hartl A,
Oct 18, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This was a superb tour. The guide shared interesting information throughout the experience and managed the group extraordinarily well. We took 17 tours this trip and this one offered the most polished and comprehensive presentation.
Great tour!
Sarah B,
Oct 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our guide, Georgia, was amazing! She navigated through the large crowd with ease, and was incredibly informative. She kept our 5 year old and 7 year old engaged for three hours, which is quite a feat. We were really glad we did the tour, as we gleaned a lot more from the experience than we would have without a guide. Definitely recommend!
A Fine Tour Guide
David O,
Oct 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Rachael, out tour guide, was informative and organized. It seems that the key to moving people through detailed history is the give them a taste of information without overwhelming with details. She did just that, pacing the presentation and providing insights into the artists and their work. It was a lot to cover in a few hours, and she did it well.
Great tour
Gregg R,
Oct 13, 2025
- Review from Viator
4.00The tour guide did a great job taking us thru the Vatican and explaining so much history. The tour was great. The Vatican is a bit overwhelming!
Small group tour
Brenda W,
Oct 12, 2025
- Review from Viator
4.00What was supposed to be a small group (9-12) only turned out to be 18. Another tour guide failed to show b up. I paid for small group and got a big group with a couple that eould stay with group. Me missed our tour to the top of dome.
Excellent Tour Guide
frankcY2082HN,
Oct 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our English speaking tour guide, Thomas, was EXCELLENT! He was extremely knowledgeable, explained everything we were looking at, was very patient, energetic , answered all our questions, gave use useful tips & did all this with a smile in his voice! Thank you Thomas. You made our trip from Texas very memorable.
It was an easy guided...
Erik T,
Sep 30, 2025
- Review from Viator
4.00It was an easy guided tour through several rooms of the museum, Sistine Chapel, and entrance into the basilica. It was during the jubilee and the crowds were there in full force.
Gracelyn Monaco is amazing 😍
Odyssey04945159230,
Sep 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Gracelyn Monaco is absolutely the very very best tour guide. She's so knowledgeable she literally knows everything. She started our tour while we were waiting in line to get into the Vatican and she began to pull us through history and give us a lot of context around everything that we were going to see. She was able to give us so much information and she made sure we were positioned in the very best spot so we could have the best vantage point to view all of the amazing art and history we saw.
Brandon is the best
Fabiola C,
Sep 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Brandon was a scholar and a gentleman. He did not even have to look at his notes. He is very passionate enthusiastic and knowledgeable. You are a scholar and a gentleman, Brandon! Good luck with your PHD.
Amazing but very crowded
Jennifer M,
Sep 20, 2025
- Review from Viator
4.00The Artwork in these places is amazing! The history of all these places is very interesting - but be warned very crowded!!! Make sure you are up to weaving through crowds of people to do this.
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