Skip-the-Line Group Tour of the Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
A holiday in Rome without visiting the Vatican is like a day at the beach without swimming in the sea. See the best of the Vatican museums and gain direct entrance with skip-the-line access to the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica, while our excellent guides entertain you with stories that go with each masterpiece.
This budget-friendly tour is the best value for money for travelers that are interested in 1) seeing the museum’s highlights 2) meeting a new friend or two through your group and 3) skipping the lines (trust us, with over 6 million tourist spilling into the museum every year, you'll want it!)
Disclaimer: you will be entering the Vatican museum during one of the busiest times of the day. While the tour provides skip-the-line access, the crowds in the museum vary from day to day and some delay with security can be expected (it would be misleading for other tour operators to not tell you this!)
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
Unforeseen events= The Vatican is its own country and therefore the Pope can decide also last minute to close St. Peter’s Basilica for ad hoc events. It is a very rare event during the year but it is possibile and we will do our best to inform you. If it is too late to inform you, our guide will extend the tour in the Vatican. Not to worry that the incredibile collection of Vatican Museums and the masterpiece of Michelagelo in the Sistine Chapel will still be included.
Most of our tours include the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica. However, there are two specific options with different inclusions. You will find below:
Museums & SISTINE CHAPEL Tour – Includes the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel but does NOT include St. Peter’s Basilica.
ST.PETER'S BASILICA TOUR – Includes St. Peter’s Basilica but does NOT include the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Borgo
Meet your tour guide at our office, located in the oldest neighbourhoods of the Vatican, Borgo Pio. Following a self introduction by your guide, you will walk through the charming shops of the Borgo, as he/she shares some local tips for eating and site seeing in Rome, including off the beaten track sites that you must visit during your holiday! Some background will also be provided on the history of the Sistine Chapel (we do it here as the chapel forbids noise and travellers are expected to observe silence once entering).
Via Della Conciliazione
Admire the flags and surrounding embassies as you walk through this street, which serve as the primary access point to St. Peter's Square, and by extension, to the Vatican City itself.
What‘s Included
Admission tickets to the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and/or St. Peter's Basilica
Entry/Admission-Vatican Museums (NOT included if you book the option: ONLY ST.PETER'S BASILICA TOUR)
An expert tour guide with over 10 years of experience. Excellent story teller.
Entry/Admission- Sistine Chapel (NOT included if you book the option: ONLY ST.PETER'S BASILICA TOUR)
Guaranteed skip-the-line access
Entry/Admission - St. Peter's Basilica (check below to see which option does not include it)
If you book the “Museums & SISTINE CHAPEL Tour” option it does NOT include St. Peter’s Basilica.
If you book “ONLY ST.PETER'S BASILICA TOUR” option it does NOT include the Museums & Sistine Chapel.
Gratuities (Tips)
Options
ONLY ST.PETER'S BASILICA TOUR
NOT included: Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
INCLUDES Tickets & Tour:: ST.PETER'S BASILICA
Duration: 1 hour
Meeting Point: Via Plauto 17A, 00193 Roma, Italy
MUSEUM+SISTINE CHAPEL+BASILICA
INCLUDES Tickets & Tour: VATICAN MUSEUMS, SISTINE CHAPEL & ST. PETER'S BASILICA
Duration: 3 hours
English Tour
Vatican Tour & Tickets - 8 AM
VATICAN KEY MASTER EARLY TOUR
Super Early Morning: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica
First in the Sistine Chapel: The Vatican Key Master will accompany you with the tour guide inside the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel.
Duration: 3 hours
Vatican Museums+SISTINE CHAPEL
INCLUDES Tickets & Tour: VATICAN MUSEUMS and SISTINE CHAPEL
NOT included:: ST.PETER'S BASILICA
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Vatican English Tour & Tickets
English Tour and Tickets
SKIP-THE-LINE Tickets & Tour
Duration: 3 hours
Includes: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica
Meeting Point: Via Plauto 17A, 00193 Roma, Italy
Sistine Chapel NOT included
Included : Vatican Museums and St.Peter’s Basilica
NOT included: SISTINE CHAPEL
VATICAN AFTER HOURS
Description: Start at St. Peter’s Basilica, then visit the Vatican Museums after closing, ending alone with our group inside the SISTINE
Exclusive Access Tour: SISTINE CHAPEL
Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes
Skip-the-Line Group Tour of the Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica
English Tour & Tickets
Reviews
12,686 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Informative but not worth it
Julianne K,,Jan 24, 2026
- Review from Viator
3.00Not gonna lie, I would recommend not booking this tour and instead just getting tickets to the museum and chapel and doing it yourself. We spent 40 minutes just getting to the Vatican from the meeting point through security, and the interesting stuff didn’t start for 30 minutes after that. There is no room for stopping and resting, bathroom breaks or snacks. You miss quite a bit as you follow your group through the designated talking points. Our guide was very knowledgeable and passionate about the history, but it very much felt like you’d get left behind if you didn’t keep up, and that actually happened with two people in our group. No idea where they ended up. We spent about 30 minutes just looking at photos of the Sistine chapel, which felt like a waste of time while we could be taking our time looking through the gorgeous museum. Although informative and organized, this experience could be improved upon if you just do it yourself. The benefit of the shortcut from Sistine chapel to the basilica is very likely not worth the downsides. And you won’t need to wait in a long line if you have tickets, anyway. Good luck!
Beat tour!
Jessica P,,Jan 24, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This was the best guided tour I have ever had! My siblings and I did this tour together and everyone enjoyed it. From getting to skip the line to getting to use back doors around the Vatican. Carl was a phenomenal guide. You could tell how passionate he was about it and he did a great job of explaining. Would highly recommend to anyone visiting!
Well worth it!
Scouper81,,Jan 24, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My wife and I decided to book an organised tour of the Vatican Museums without knowing much about it. It turned out to be the right choice as our day out couldn’t have went better and we really enjoyed the personal touch and knowledge of having a personal guide. Giovanni looked after our group of 20 for 3 hours and never wavered in energy and enthusiasm. You stick to a pre-arranged path through some of the most spectacular sights of the museums and the rooms within before culminating in a short cut into the breathtaking Cistine Chapel and then culminating in St Peter’s Basilica that stops you in your tracks as you emerge into the church. Well worth the investment and that little extra is more that returned in time and effort saved with access to a guide who keeps you right and knows his history.
Vatican tour
V9839HBshelleyl,,Jan 24, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00It took a while to get going. I think we waited around for at least an hour before the tour actually started. Once things got started it was really good and our guide was very knowledgeable. It lasted an extra hour too though so we weren’t hipped on time. Just make sure you don’t plan anything too close in case it runs long.
Full experience
nikolinal4,,Jan 24, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We loved it. It was realy beautifull and enjoying tour. Also we learned a lot from our qiude Maura. She is very interesting and fun. Because of her it was awsome experince.
Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica
Mark D,,Jan 24, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Excellent tour led by Saverio - Thank you! Knowledgeable, informative, and some added humor to keep it fun. Perfect pace and well organized. No lines!
Amazing trip to Vatican City
mcknight2017,,Jan 24, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Tour of Vatican museums, Sistine Chapel & St Peter's Basilica with Daniel our tour guide, the place itself is absolutely amazing, Daniel was so knowledgeable & explained everything, would highly recommend.
A tour worth doing
Francella T,,Jan 24, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our tour guide Carl was welcoming, witty and well informed! He connected with everyone in the group and made sure we were well taken care of!
Vatican Tour
Alan R,,Jan 24, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Excellent value for money. Guide was very informative, concise & friendly. Worth the cost just to walk right up to the gates and in rather than hours of queueing.
Stunning tour around Vatican City
121felicityn,,Jan 23, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Absolutely fantastic tour around Vatican city- loved it. Would highly recommend. Our guide was so knowledgeable 🩷
From €25.00
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Operated by Vatican Tour