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‘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)
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.
Options
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
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
Skip-the-Line Group Tour of the Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica
English Tour & Tickets
Vatican Museums+SISTINE CHAPEL
INCLUDES Tickets & Tour: VATICAN MUSEUMS and SISTINE CHAPEL
NOT included:: ST.PETER'S BASILICA
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Vatican Tour & Tickets - 8 AM
MUSEUM+SISTINE CHAPEL+BASILICA
INCLUDES Tickets & Tour: VATICAN MUSEUMS, SISTINE CHAPEL & ST. PETER'S BASILICA
Duration: 3 hours
English Tour
Reviews
10,787 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
The Vatican earpieces stole the show, literally
Irina M,
Jul 14, 2025
- Viator
3.00Our guide Lorenzo was very kind and ensured no one fell behind. He himself was a good guide. It was a very hot day and he made sure we were in the shade whenever possible, as well as encouraging us to stay hydrated. However, it was very hard to hear his information as we toured because the earpieces in the Vatican museums were atrocious. They constantly fell off mine and other people's ears because they were too heavy. I believe those were supplied by the Museums so it isn't the tour operator's fault, but perhaps a company owned alternative can be considered. It seemed like other groups had better equipment. It completely compromised my experience since I couldn't hear, had to keep struggling with it, and had to partially crane my neck and walk irregularly to keep it on.
You need a guide!
Karen W,
Jul 14, 2025
- Viator
5.00The Vatican museum has so much to see. I very much appreciated having a guide to show us the highlights and pointing out interesting features of the art pieces in the museum and the Sistine Chapel. Be ready to log in many steps!
The Vatican is a massive...
Sam M,
Jul 13, 2025
- Viator
5.00The Vatican is a massive place with such a massive amount of world class artwork.. so much so it’s almost comical. Another thing about the Vatican is that it has tens of thousands of visitors every day. These 2 things provide important context to this tour, because it will feel like they are rushing you through it and not allowing you to stopped and appreciate all the incredible art.
Merting the group was...
Matt H,
Jul 13, 2025
- Viator
5.00Merting the group was very easy and had a of places to eat and shop nearby. Radios wirh ear pieces were given out to hear the guide speak as we went thru the tour. Very beautiful experience!
Skip the crowd rather than skip the queue
Wendy G,
Jul 13, 2025
- Viator
4.00It was extremely crowded and very hot. There was no shade or seating for visitors during the lengthy briefings outdoors. Inside it was chaos as there were literally hundreds of groups and very easy to get lost. In fact my husband did get lost and joined another group. Fortunately we managed to meet up later. A better system needs to be arranged so that it is less chaotic and jammed packed.
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