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.

Important: From January 12 to March 31, 2026, conservation work will be carried out on Michelangelo’s Last Judgment (Giudizio Universale). The Sistine Chapel will remain open to visitors; however, the fresco will be temporarily not visible due to scaffolding. We thank you for your understanding during this important preservation project.

Cancellation Policy

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

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

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)

Jan 12–Mar 31, 2026: Last Judgment under conservation; may be obscured.

Food and drinks

Tips

Hotel pickup and drop-off

Options

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

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

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

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: 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

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

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

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 + 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

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

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

Reviews

4.70

6,172 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

5184

541

190

114

143

Ask for Riccardo!
Jeff P,,Jan 9, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
We traveled to Rome for the holidays with our family, and this was the tour that our kids liked the most. Of course the Vatican is beautiful, but our guide Riccardo really brought it to life. He pointed out the highlights that he knew we would appreciate, and he answered the questions we didn’t even know to ask. When we did have questions, he was quick to provide thoughtful and informative answers. Maybe most impressive was Riccardo’s ability walk backwards up and down the ancient steps at the Vatican, without looking and without falling, all while talking about the incredible art and history surrounding us!
Knowledgeable and friendly guide
George M,,Jan 6, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
The EcoArt guide was amazing 😍 We loved it. Very friendly greeting and great content. Everything was explained very well.
Fabulous and worth it
mariajH125WI,,Jan 5, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had an excellent Vatican tour experience from start to finish. The instructions provided before the tour were very clear and well organized, and the meeting point was easy to find. The staff was clearly marked with identifiable clothing and a flag, which made check-in smooth and stress-free. Our guide, Fred, was outstanding—extremely knowledgeable, funny, and very well organized. He kept the group engaged while sharing fascinating insights throughout the tour. The skip-the-line access was seamless and absolutely worth it, saving us a significant amount of time. The audio equipment was also very good and made it easy to hear the guide at all times. We highly recommend this tour for anyone visiting the Vatican.
great
gingo818,,Jan 5, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The tour was short but concise. Laura was a fun tour guide at the same time knowledgeable. I wish I opted for a longer tour, if there was any.
Find another way to visit the Sistine Chapel
N6073GYpeterd,,Jan 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
2.00
I think few people would choose to tour the Vatican Museum, other than as a way to get to the Sistine Chapel. Fewer still would choose to tour the museum in the way we experienced with this tour—basically a forced march through throngs of people, with little meaningful context provided by the guide.
The Magnificent Vatican
T1873AV,,Jan 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
An eternal and magnificent city with an incredible history. The Vatican was impressive, beautiful, posh, majestic. Thank you to our guide Oscar, who helped to immerse himself in all these works of human hands. My wife and I are people far from art. And it was very interesting to know the history of many masterpieces. We were impressed!
Great trip!! Tour guide...
H H,,Jan 3, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
Great trip!! Tour guide Eddy really did a job of making sure the trip is first access, not much time wasted on waiting. He has lots of knowledge, fun. I do feel the attractions are a lot to cover which can be missed, overall, it’s great
Excellent tour
Mike A,,Jan 3, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
Excellent experience! There was so much to see but Guia covered things masterfully. I would not have gained as much of an appreciation if I had done the visit by myself. Wholeheartedly recommend.
Skip the lines!!
Julie N,,Jan 3, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
Our tour guide was excellent! She is an art historian, a native of Rome, and a Catholic, so she was able to explain the artistic, historic and religious aspects of the Vatican with authority. This is not the least expensive tour, but it is WORTH IT to skip the huge lines to enter the museums and to go from the Vatican museums straight into St. Peter’s basilica without going back out of the Vatican and all the way around to the basilica square.
The guide did not give us...
Miroslaw K,,Jan 2, 2026
- Review from Viator
2.00
The guide did not give us an opportunity to go back to the museum and spend more time to see the other parts of the museum, inspite we paid the vatican museum tickets. This is not acceptable,