Skip-the-Line Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's | Small Group
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
Why book this tour? You visit the Vatican once in a lifetime! Skip-the-line access means you’ll have more time to explore millennia of art and history within these hallowed walls without waiting in the long general admission lines.
In 3 hours, explore the highlights of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica in a small group.
Get straight inside with skip-the-line access to see a host of treasures of the Vatican City, all with enlightening storytelling from a passionate guide.
Dive into the Vatican’s must-see attractions with the highlights you absolutely can't leave Rome without. This tour has been specifically designed to get you inside as quickly as possible with skip-the-line entry.
This is the perfect tour for families traveling with small children or teens, people who "don't do" museum tours, or those who have limited time and want to see the Eternal City in less than an eternity.
The tour includes the big 3: Museums & the Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's!
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
MEETING POINT IS VIA SANTAMAURA 14B, What A Life Tours
St. Peter's Basilica is an active parish and therefore subject to last-minute closures due to mass or other religious events. In these cases, we will offer an extended tour of the Vatican Museums (including areas normally not part of the tour). Please note that 2025 is the Jubilee year, closures of St. Peter's Basilica can happen anytime without further notice. No refunds are issued for unexpected closures.
All participants (including under 18s) must bring valid ID.
All participants MUST cover their knees and shoulders during visits to religious sites, the Vatican Museums included. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements.
Please notice that we are not responsible for the number of visitors the Vatican Museums allow inside.
Large umbrellas are not allowed, please leave these at your accommodations.
We recommend you bring your own headphones as the ones provided by the Vatican have a single earpiece only, and you may prefer to use both earbuds to hear the guide better.
Your tour voucher is valid only for the day and time reserved. We’re unable to accommodate late arrivals due to a strictly timed entrance ticket to the Vatican Museums. Missed tours or tickets due to late arrivals are non-refundable. Please allow extra time to reach the meeting point as Rome's streets can be confusing. Meeting time is 15 minutes before the start time of the tour.
ACCESSIBILITY: While the Vatican Museums are equipped with elevators for wheelchair access, they are not conveniently located on the group tour route and only give access to specific sections of the Museums. As a result, we cannot accommodate wheelchairs or walkers on this tour.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Headsets to hear the guide clearly
Meeting point easy to find for a stress-free check-in
Entry to the Sistine Chapel
Guided tour with skip-the-line entry to St. Peter's Basilica
Tickets included
Skip-the-line entry with ticket to the Vatican Museums
Small Group
English-speaking licensed tour guide
Hotel pickup and drop-off
What To Expect
Meeting Point: The meeting point is our office, very close to the Museums' entrance, the exact address is Via Santamaura 14B. The closest Metro stop is Ottaviano. Please allow extra time due to traffic during the summer months! If you do need assistance with how to reach the meeting point, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Vatican City
We continue our visit entering Vatican City, the smallest country in the world. Encircled by a 2-mile border with Italy, Vatican City is an independent city-state that covers just over 100 acres, making it one-eighth the size of New York’s Central Park. Vatican City is governed as an absolute monarchy with the pope at its head. The Vatican mints its own euros, prints its own stamps, issues passports, licenses plates operates media outlets and has its own flag and anthem. One government function it lacks: taxation. Museum admission fees, stamp and souvenir sales, and contributions generate the Vatican’s revenue.
Options
Wednesday Tour (NO BASILICA)
Important Information: • Please note that the 9:30 AM tours on Wednesdays do not include St. Peter's Basilica.
High Season
Important info: •Small Group •Meeting Point: Office - Via Santamaura 14b
Low Season
Reviews
6,667 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Mario and the What a life tour
M137RBlucat,
Nov 4, 2025
- Tripadvisor
5.00Our tour was ran by Mario. I started off this tour thinking that it was going to be a simple “cookie cutter” tour, I was most certainly wrong. I came to this trip already knowing lots about the history of rome and the Vatican. But after hearing Mario talk, I know so much more about the history of the Vatican, Rome, Italy and christianity. I also felt that the tour was much more interactive than I would have thought! Mario kept the tour fun and enjoyable by having his own fun with the ways that we were shown the vatican throughout the 3 hour of the tour. Also getting the quick access is a must have! Thanks so much for the great tour. - Luca Tarabokia.
Barbara at the Vatican
275vicented,
Nov 4, 2025
- Tripadvisor
5.00We loved the guide. Ms. Barbara. She did and excellent job, and had plenty of patience with everyone and keeping everyone together.
Great tour if you only have a few hours
sjshipe2,
Nov 4, 2025
- Viator
5.00Husband and I enjoyed this tour. Mario, our guide was great. To be able to fast pass the hundreds waiting in line makes this tour worth it if you only have a few days to see all the major places in Rome.
Vatican tour made easy
Tony C,
Nov 4, 2025
- Tripadvisor
5.00this tour agency was organized and easy to deal with. And our tour guide Manuela was fabulous. This is the only way to visit the Vatican!
A Must-See!
Daydream02550457136,
Nov 4, 2025
- Tripadvisor
5.00The Vatican Museums were amazing. It was so much fun to see the art and the Sistine Chapel. The Basilica portion was canceled due to a last minute mass with the Pope but we booked the basilica separately which was absolutely breathtaking.
Fantastic Tour!
Eric B,
Nov 3, 2025
- Tripadvisor
5.00Emma was a fantastic tour guide! She was very knowledgeable and maximized our time which was shortened by the papal schedule. Her knowledge of the material showed through in her fluid presentation! We would highly recommend.
Enjoyed our time with...
Raven M,
Nov 2, 2025
- Viator
5.00Enjoyed our time with Mario (Me and my 14 year old daughter). Even though it was crowded and had a small wait, he made it entertaining. Would absolutely book again!
Best Vatican Tour ever!!!
trisheckberg,
Nov 2, 2025
- Viator
5.00Know that there is a great deal of walking and standing and some stairs, so people should understand that. With this understood, know that this tour is going to get you into and through the Vatican in the best, quickest, and most efficient manner possible. (Note the many hundreds of other people waiting while you get to “breeze through “ the line.
We were running late and...
Brian O,
Nov 2, 2025
- Viator
5.00We were running late and the tour office secretary ran with us to meet the tour group. Tonia was our guide and friendly, funny, engaging, and knowledgeable. If possible, I will request her by name for any and all tours I do in Rome or my family and friends go on. We loved it!
Once in a lifetime experience!
Stephanie P,
Nov 1, 2025
- Tripadvisor
5.00Walking through the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica was a once in a lifetime experience. What made it even better was our extraordinary guide. So knowledgeable and lively and humorous! It was worth it to pay extra for the skip-the-line option.
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