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!
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.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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
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! AFTERNOON TOUR - Meeting Point: Our office is located 2-min away from the Vatican Museums' entrance, the exact address is Via Santamaura 14B. 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.
Important Information: • Please note that the 9:30 AM tours on Wednesdays do not include St. Peter's Basilica.
Important info: •Small Group •Meeting Point: Office - Via Santamaura 14b
6,343 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Kyle S,
Sep 8, 2025
- Viator
Mario was our guide for this tour. He was incredible. He was engaging, knowledgeable, and had an excellent sense of humor that offered some levity in a pretty stern setting. As someone who is not religious, I wasn’t entirely sure how the experience would be. As it turns out I couldn’t have asked for a better guide for this ~4 hour excursion. He even stayed and chatted with my partner and I at the end of the tour for awhile, and shared some thought provoking personal insights that I deeply appreciated. Absolutely worth the booking, and if you get Mario you are in for an amazing experience.
Donna H,
Sep 8, 2025
- Viator
It was a once in a lifetime dream for us and we were not disappointed. Julia, our guide was well informed, patient, and thoughtful.
Dale S,
Sep 7, 2025
- Viator
We missed our tour but you did get us in so we could see it on our own which was greatly appreciated.
Jennifer J,
Sep 7, 2025
- Viator
Great once in a lifetime opportunity! Hits all the highlights, would have loved more time to take in all the sights had to offer. All sights were extremely busy and packed full of people.
David W,
Sep 6, 2025
- Viator
The tour is magically. If you love art, culture or history this tour is amazing. The sheer history you encounter and legendary work from world famous Artisans is breath taking. Our tour guide, Eugene was magnificent. Taught not just the timelines and significance of the Vatican but stories behind the art work and the history throughout the years. My wife and I completed this tour on our Honeymoon, with Eugene personally making it a mission to get us blessed within St Peter's Basilica. Never forget the experience and would pay to do this tour again if Eugene was the guide! Phenomenonal!!
Operated by What a Life Tours