Skip the Line: Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel + Optional Basilica

Overview

Available languages

English

2 hours 30 minutes

Mobile ticket

Save time and energy at the Vatican Museums with skip-the-line, timed entry that lets you bypass long queues and head straight inside. Explore the highlights with your guide, including the Sistine Chapel, Raphael’s Rooms, and the Gallery of Maps, while learning the rich history, art, and architecture behind these masterpieces. With expert commentary, you’ll gain a deeper appreciation of the Vatican’s treasures and enjoy a more meaningful visit. Upgrade to a small-group tour for a more personalized experience, or extend your visit with priority entry to St. Peter’s Basilica. Prefer to focus only on St. Peter’s? Select the Basilica-only option for a guided visit inside.

Short on time? Opt for the 1.5-hour tour 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.

Important: The ‘Basilica Only’ option it does NOT include access to the Vatican Museums.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Skip the Line Access to Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel (except when Basilica Only option selected)

All taxes, fees and handling charges

Guided Tour

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.

10 minutes • Admission Included

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.

15 minutes • Admission Included

Options

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).
Starting point:
Via Tunisi, 4, 00192 Roma RM, Italy

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.
Starting point:
Via Tunisi, 4, 00192 Roma RM, Italy

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).
Starting point:
Via Tunisi, 4, 00192 Roma RM, Italy

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).
Starting point:
Via Tunisi, 4, 00192 Roma RM, Italy

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.
Starting point:
Via Tunisi, 4, 00192 Roma RM, Italy

Private Tour

Exclusive Private Tour : Private Tour in English of the Vatican Museums. Includes Skip the Line (no included St. Peter’s Basilica)
Starting point:
Via Tunisi, 4, 00192 Roma RM, Italy

Express: 12max

12 guests max
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Express: 12max: Express Tour in English of the Vatican Museums to the Sistine Chapel, NO access to St. Peter's Basilica.
Starting point:
Via Tunisi, 4, 00192 Roma RM, Italy

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.
Starting point:
Via Tunisi, 4, 00192 Roma RM, Italy

Basilica Only

Guided 1 hour tour in English with skip the line access, 20 people or less. (Cupola and Vatican Museums not included).
Starting point:
Borgo Santo Spirito, 17, 00193 Roma RM, Italy

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.
Starting point:
Via Tunisi, 4, 00192 Roma RM, Italy

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).
Starting point:
Via Tunisi, 4, 00192 Roma RM, Italy

Reviews

4.70

6,102 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

5125

537

189

111

140

vatican museum tour
donald e,
Nov 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
it was a beautiful experience, from st. peter’s basillica, the vatican and the sistine chapel. sarah was a very kind and knowledgeable guide we had a great time.
Great High-Level Tour!
Chris M,
Nov 11, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Perfect tour to experience the "highlights" of Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel. And Maria Laura was a fantastic tour guide!
Marina was the best!
tylerhY447LQ,
Nov 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Our family had the BEST tine with Marina as our tour guide! She was a wealth of knowledge, as well as entertaining. 10/10 would go again!
Great tour guide.
irmarR191NS,
Nov 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Great tour guide. Very Friendly and very knowledgeable, answering all questions in detail and with good humor. Would recommend
If this is your first...
Deb C,
Nov 10, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
If this is your first time in the museums, or if you visited a long time ago, I think it would be confusing and time consuming to try this without a good guide.
Great experience
emseekay,
Nov 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had Laura as our guide, she made the experience for us, her knowledge, passion and humour shone through and made the tour very enjoyable - would definately recommend. We came away having learnt alot and seeing details we otherwise would have missed. Oh and skip the line is so worth it!
Easy and smooth process
223nataliet,
Nov 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The staff was friendly and professional. The meeting location was easy to find and the hosted ticket line to enter the museum moved quickly. The staff provided critical information, setting us up for success, before we departed on our self guided tour. I appreciated that the staff did not try to sell or push any other products. They were very respectful of our selection.
Ok Tour…
mycare2010,
Nov 8, 2025
- Review from Viator
3.00
Not worth the value of money that we paid. First of all, we could not really understand the Tour guides accent. This was very strong, so we could not really hear everything. He was trying to explain to us. He was going so fast that it was hard to keep up with what he was trying to say, as well as try to understand the accent. I thought that we were gonna be able to go into the Basilica and also see the tomb of the popes. But he left us and we had to do all that on our own, so we only did the Sistine Chapel and the vatican museum, even though we paid for the basilica as an option. So I will say that it would have been better for us to do it ourselves than to pay this amount of money for what we got.
Easy and work smoothly....
Jesus M,
Nov 8, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Easy and work smoothly. Recommended. Just meet the person at the meeting point and go inside with the group.
Vatican tour
Mellissa B,
Nov 8, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Our tour guide, Maria Laura, was amazing! She was patient with the group in such a big crowd. She was very sweet and humorous! She brought the Vatican art and artists to life!