Skip the Line: Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel + Optional Basilica
Overview
Available languages
2 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Bypass the lines and enter the Vatican Museums with first access of the day. In a calmer setting, explore the timeless pieces that fill these halls. With a knowledgeable Vatican guide and a small group of no more than 10, your visit will be even more memorable.
This isn’t a typical Vatican tour; your itinerary uncovers the stories and hidden meanings behind the museum's priceless artworks. Your English-speaking guide will highlight the must-see masterpieces such as Michelangelo's greatest work: the Sistine Chapel.
Want direct access to St. Peter’s Basilica? Choose a tour that includes it and skip the external security lines. Please note: no guided tour is provided inside the Basilica.
Important: St. Peter's Basilica is not included in all tour options. Select a tour where it’s clearly listed if you wish to visit.
Short on time? Choose the 1.5-hour version to breeze through the Vatican Museums and be among the first to enter the Sistine Chapel.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Children 6 and under are entitled to free access to the Vatican Museums (with proof of age)
Children aged 7-18 are entitled to a reduced entry fee (see tour and ticket pricing) and must provide proof of age.
Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
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.
At least 4 people are required for the guided tour options to take place.
Check-in is 15 minutes prior to the booked start time. Tickets are time sensitive and we cannot accomodate late arrivals.
Guests with a certified disability of over 75% are entitled to free entrance to the Vatican and do not require a ticket. For guests who are not self-sufficient, free entry is extended to a companion.
Due to the Jubilee, some monuments may be under restoration. Please pay attention to any messages we may send regarding potential changes.
Important: St. Peter's Basilica is not included in all tour options. If you wish to visit the Basilica as part of your experience, please ensure you select a tour where it is explicitly listed as included.
Please include all names as they appear on your passports when booking. Tickets are non-transferable and if the names on your booking do not match your ID you may be denied access and will not be due a refund. Any name changes must be communicated at least 72 hours in advance.
Please bring an ID or a photo/copy of ID.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Skip the Line Access & Entrance Tickets to the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
All taxes, fees and handling charges
Guaranteed to skip the long lines
Direct Access to St. Peter's Basilica (only when option selected)
Food and drinks
Tips
Hotel pickup and drop-off
What To Expect
Vatican Museums
Visit the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel on your own or with a guide (if option selected). Tickets provide skip the line access.
Cortile della Pigna
Explore one of the Vatican's many open air courtyards. This one is decorated with a giant bronze pinecone sculpture, giving the courtyard its name.
Options
Guided Tour: 20max
20 guests max
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Guided Tour: 20max: Tour in English of the Vatican Museums, NO access to St. Peter's Basilica.
First Access: 10max
10 guests max
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
First Access: 10max: First access. Tour in English of the Vatican Museums. NO access to St. Peter's Basilica.
Guided Tour + Basilica: 20max
20 guests max
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Guided Tour + Basilica: 20max: Tour in English of the Vatican Museums. Includes Skip the Line St. Peter’s Basilica (access only – no tour).
Guided Tour + Basilica: 10max
10 guests max
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Guided Tour + Basilica: 10max: Tour in English of the Vatican Museums. Includes Skip the Line St. Peter’s Basilica (access only – no tour).
First Access + Basilica: 20max
20 guests max
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
First Access + Basilica: 20max: First access. Tour in English of the Vatican Museums. Includes Skip the Line St. Peter’s Basilica (access only – no tour).
First Access + Basilica: 10max
10 guests max
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
First Access + Basilica: 10max: First access. Tour in English of the Vatican Museums. Includes Skip the Line St. Peter’s Basilica (access only – no tour).
Express First Access: 12max
12 guests max
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Express First Access: 12max: Express Tour in English of the Vatican Museums to the Sistine Chapel, NO access to St. Peter's Basilica.
Guided Tour: 10max
10 guests max
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Guided Tour: 10max: Tour in English of the Vatican Museums. NO access to St. Peter's Basilica.
Hosted Tickets Only (No guide)
Hosted Tickets Only (no guide): Hosted access to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, no guided tour. NO access to St. Peter's Basilica.
Reviews
5,844 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Waste of money. Waste of time. Cannot hear the guide. Doesn’t make any sense.
Atman K,
Jul 17, 2025
- Viator
1.00Cannot hear the travel guide at all. Until they purchase a proper sound amplification system (ie headphones, disposable ear pieces, etc) this is a waste. Cannot hear anything properly. The speaker system provided by the museum is poor. Please check if they have invested in a solution prior to booking. We spent $750 for 4 of us, and you can do this tour for $100 for 4 without any issues. I would NOT recommend. Just stand in line, by the way, we stood in the same line. It’s like 15 mins. Not worth it for $650 more. Easier to read Wikipedia which is what I did as I walked through with the guide we could not hear.
Fine, does what it said on the tin
Alana C,
Jul 15, 2025
- Viator
3.00Good experience, easy to book and guide was easy to find (although was not standing where we were instructed to go!). Skipped all lines and quickly into museums. Not five star as whilst standing trying to listen to the guide, I received a phone call (which turned out to be from another guide standing directly behind me) telling me to arrive soon or I would miss the tour. I could hear him speaking so turned around we ended the call. He then gave me a telling off for not checking in, despite me having done so with the woman I was listening to. She witnessed the whole conversation yet didn’t correct him. All very odd!
Amazing!
Edward L,
Jul 15, 2025
- Viator
5.00An amazing experience. This was our first time in Rome and this tour was the best experience of our trip! I highly recommend this tour and company!
Great way to experience the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museum
Christian B,
Jul 14, 2025
- Viator
5.00This was a well organised, well informed and incredible experience thanks to our guide. The site is so large and with so much history that i feel it does improve the experience to have a guide. It was easy to find our meeting place on the steps and entry was relatively smooth given such a large number of people entering at 930 am. Maybe we should of gone earlier but we had a 20min Uber that i was worried would take longer so did not want to book to early. I had my wife and 3 kids, the youngest 3. We did not bring a pram and i think it is not feasible to do so with the rooms not designed for it. The sites are truly amazing. It was so special to see the works of so many great artists, and get so close to them. It is hard to say which room impressed me the most. My only negative is that with so much to see, you don't really get an opportunity to spend a large amount of time in places such as the Raphael rooms that i could of spent hours. but you could only spend 5mins. Our guide did a great job of sharing details on the rooms we visited so you felt you got some great learning from each room. The tour finished with a clear walk to St Peters Basilica. This was easy to enter and enjoy its own magnificence. You do need to make sure you book a day where they do not have papal celebrations. Overall this was a great way to experience one of the worlds great museums.
A Long hot experience
Lynn C,
Jul 14, 2025
- Viator
4.00This experience was too long. Too much time wasted before the chapel. I would have liked more time for the items after the chapel
Related Experiences
Operated by EcoArt Travel