Skip the Line Vatican, Sistine Chapel and Basilica Guided Tour
Overview
Available languages
2 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Skip the line, avoid the long queues and explore the Vatican's exceptional collections and the magnificent Sistine Chapel with an expert guide in an intimate group. This extensive and exclusive tour is designed for those eager to experience everything the Vatican has to offer.
The Vatican Museums are home to an expansive array of art, featuring stunning sculptures, frescoes, and architectural masterpieces that together form an unparalleled collection found nowhere else in the world.
Admire the incredible sculptures, tapestries, paintings, and architectural works of Renaissance masters such as Bramante, Bernini, Perugino, Botticelli, D’Antonio, Rosselli, Signorelli, Della Gatta, Ghirlandaio, Raphael, and of course Michelangelo.
-TOURS WITH ST.PETERS BASILICA LAST APPROXIMATELY 2.5 HOURS
-IF ST.PETER'S BASILICA IS CLOSED ON THE DAY OF YOUR VISIT THERE WILL BE AN EXTENDED TOUR OF THE VATICAN MUSEUMS
-TOURS NOT INCLUDING ST.PETERS BASILICA LAST APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
If you arrive late for the meeting time, it will not be possible to join the group or reschedule. As per "No Show" rules you will not be entitled to a refund.
Due to the Jubilee, some monuments or areas may be under restoration and subject to last minute closures. Please pay attention to any messages we may send regarding potential changes.
If you purchase a reduced ticket and you are not under 16 years old or a student under 26 years old with a valid student photo ID, the Vatican will deny your entry and you will not be able to visit the Vatican or join the tour.
Knees and shoulders must be covered for both men and women to enter the Sistine Chapel.
Please be aware that large bags/backpacks/suitcases are not permitted in the monument/ attraction.
Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not suitable for those with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair. Please be aware that large oversized bags/backpacks/suitcases are not permitted in the monument/ attraction.
It is not possible to contact guides when they are inside the Vatican museums, it is the clients responsibility to stay with the guided tour group, if you lose your guide inside the Vatican, there is nothing we can do in this case.
St. Peter's Basilica is subject to last minute closures for religous events, and the Papal audience on some Wednesday and Saturday mornings. In the event that it is closed if you have selected the option to visit St. Peter's Basilica you will have an extended tour of the Vatican museums. The Basilica is free to enter and we do not have any control in the event of these closures it is not possible to provide a refund under these circumstances.
Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not suitable for those with walking difficulties or using a wheelchair.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
St. Peter's Basilica if open on the day of your tour (if option selected)
Small Group Tour Experience with Expert Official Licensed Vatican Guide
Skip The Line Priority Access Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Tickets
Location Pick Up & Drop Off
Scavi / Necropolis
St Peter’s Basilica is subject to last-minute closures for religious ceremonies, with no warning
What To Expect
Vatican Museums
Explore the Vatican Museums with an Expert Guide, visit the highlights of the incredible collections comprised of a colossal 20,000 works on display, over 4 miles of Art, Sculptures, Tapestries, Paintings and Architecture. Belvedere Courtyard Pinecone Courtyard Pio Clementino Museum Octagonal Courtyard Sala Degli Animali Sala Delle Muse Sala Rotonda Sala A Croce Greca Gallery of the Candelabra Gallery of Tapestries Gallery of Maps
Sistine Chapel
Marvel at the incredible Sistine Chapel, an impressive sanctuary that boasts works of art by master painters like Perugino, Pinturicchio, Ghirlandaio, Rosselli, Botticelli, Signorelli, della Gatta and, of course, Michelangelo. See the world famous frescoes stretch magnificently across the ceiling with the renowned Creation of Adam as the central focus and the majestic Last Judgement upon the rear wall, offering a visual spectacle that encapsulates the divine. Sistine Chapel Frescoes Cosmati Floor Mosaic Forseen conception of Jesus Christ Pagan Sibyls / Icons Prophet depictions Creation of Adam The Last Judgement Sacrifice of Jesus Christ Greek Mythology Styx
Options
GERMAN VATICAN TOUR
FRENCH VATICAN TOUR
ENGLISH SEMI-PRIVATE VATICAN
VIP EARLY MORNING SMALL GROUP: ENGLISH VATICAN TOUR - VIP EARLY MORNING SMALL GROUP
SPANISH VATICAN TOUR
ENGLISH VATICAN TOUR
Reviews
4,122 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great tour by Deborah
A1620TKannem,
Nov 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our group of 8 friends had a fabulous tour with Deborah this morning. She was so knowledgeable and engaging about all we saw. It was wonderful to skip the lines that were already building at 8:30am and to learn so much as we made our way through the Museum, Sis tine Chapel, and Basilica.
Deny, the tour guide, was what made the tour! She provided detail and stories beyond the standard general information.
139jamesv,
Nov 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This tour far exceeded expectations. This was mostly due to Deny, the tour guide. She was able to tell stories and provide detail not given by most guides. Her expertise and knowledge of art really set this tour apart from others. We only had six people in our group and Deny took time with each of us and made us feel like we had a personal tour. The admission fee was reasonable considering the wondrous place the Vatican is. My wife and I are so happy we chose this tour .
Worth the money
Rena B,
Nov 13, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Maggie did a wonderful job. Very knowledgeable. She did a great job of keeping the group together and accommodating specific needs of our group. Would highly recommend and absolutely would not go to the Vatican without a guide. Well worth the money.
The guide was very...
Mary T,
Nov 12, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The guide was very knowledgeable. The crowded conditions were unpleasant. I didn’t even get to see The Pieta.
Maggie from Maya Tours is the best!!
Andrea B,
Nov 9, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This tour was brilliant thanks to our tour guide Maggie from Maya Tours. We had never ventured on to a guided tour before so we’re unsure what to expect. It was great to skip the queue and Maggie was very knowledgable about the Vatican and clearly loves what she does. She also interacted with the group brilliantly. Highly recommend.
Maggie was our guide and...
John R,
Nov 9, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Maggie was our guide and she demonstrated a great knowledge of the museum and the chapel. She was extremely considerate and caring. Highly recommend this tour
Great Tour - A Lot Of Stairs
Peta B,
Nov 8, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The tour office was very easy to find and check-in for our tour. Maggie our guide was fantastic. There were only 13 of us and it was a vey personal tour. There is so much to see. Maggie and the group made the tour a lot of fun and Maggie is very knowledgeable. A lot of walking up and down steps. As I have been using a walking stick due to bad knees Maggie was able to make it easier for me by sending me to the elevator instead of using the entry level steps, she was very helpful throughout the tour. I don’t recommend this tour for people with mobility issues but for everyone else it was fabulous.
Tour of the Vatican offered by DECOLAR. Beware, deceptive propaganda!
yurilopesds,
Nov 8, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00Be careful when buying by Decolar! It's practically a hit! This is a completely different Service from what is sold. Besides the value is much higher than offered on the official website and in the ticket office of the Vatican. They will direct you to a huge queue that any visitor can access. Explaining our terrible experience: During my time in Rome, I would like to take a tour of the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel. I couldn't buy a ticket directly from the museum's website and found a ticket by Decolar. The big difference was the value. On the official Vatican website it cost 25 euros per Cover, for taking off around 61 euros per Cover, a frightening difference, but the need to live this experience and the restriction of dates and tickets made me and my wife accept. By the app I consulted the information of my reservation that indicated entrance to the museum and guided visit by a host among other items. When I arrived at the point on my reservation to find my host, I learned that it was the Enterprise Vox City. There arriving other Covers were part of the group, some bought directly with Vox City paying a total of 30 euros per person, which already caused me strange. At the established time we were led to the entrance of the museum and positioned in a queue which we claimed would be the entrance queue of the museum and that could last around 2 to 3 hours, before that the guides of Vox City informed that we would have 3 options: a) Request the refund of the amount paid; b) Wait in the queue; c) Do other activities while the guide stayed in the queue and maintain contact via whatsapp to consult the advance; We found this situation very strange, especially she was informed only after we arrived in this queue, but because it was our last day of our trip in Rome, we decided to stay, even because we did not buy with Vox City so the refund option could be more complex. During the whole period, the guide Mr. Matteo informed that we would soon enter and being asked he claimed to be with our tickets. After 4 hours in the queue and little advance, I decided to go to the entrance and inform myself directly with the staff of the venue, arriving there I found that that queue was covered by people who did not have a ticket and was a common queue, accessible to everyone without the need for intermediaries and to buy the value of the ticket for the same value from the Vatican website, i.e. 25 euros per person. Therefore, aside from not being true that our tickets were bought, they sold us an access that anyone could get and with an absurd price difference. When questioning the guide Matteo, he gave unfounded justifications and placed another employee of Vox City to accompany us in the queue and informed that he needed to leave. After almost 6 hours in line, we arrived at the ticket office where our ticket was bought for 8 euros, because it was bought by an Italian employee of Vox City and therefore, had the benefit of a reduced value. The employee handed us over and informed us that from the entrance we would follow alone. He apologized for the disruption, informed that they were experiencing problems regarding this ride and informed that we could request the refund that they would approve. I entered with the request at Decolar on the 29/10 and so far I have not received a return.
It is an excellent...
Joseph S,
Nov 8, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00It is an excellent excursion. Debbie was extremely informative as well entertaining. Would recommend highly.
Vatican Tour: Museum/Sistine Chapel/Basilica
Caden T,
Nov 7, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Amazing! 10/10 would recommend. Our tour guide, Christina did an exceptional job. She made the tour exciting and did an incredible job explaining the artwork of the Sistine Chapel and the history of the Vatican.
From €85.00
Want a private experience? Upgrade to a private tour
Chat with us on social
Related Experiences
Operated by Maya Tours