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
High Season
Important info: •Small Group •Meeting Point: Office - Via Santamaura 14b
Low Season
Wednesday Tour (NO BASILICA)
Important Information: • Please note that the 9:30 AM tours on Wednesdays do not include St. Peter's Basilica.
Reviews
6,688 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Daniella was a super tour guide!
robertkD7949ZN,
Nov 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Daniella was a super guide. She has so much knowledge about the Vatican, the Sistene Chapel and ST Peter's Cathedral. The Story of Michelangelo was one of many spellbinding snippets she related to us. We learned so much!
Fabulous tour
francescafC9751ZF,
Nov 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00John was fantastic! Very educational which is what historic tours should be. Highly recommend tho company for touring. Thank you John.
Fantastic , fun and well paced
Trip49333511810,
Nov 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I felt intimidated At the prospect of a 3 to 4 hour tour but it flew by because Mario was so engaging, educated and witty. An ideal grip size of 12 we moved through every highlight just the right pace. This is the perfect way to see the Vatican - and skip the queues with the early morning start.
Excellent Tour
V3069MAstephaniem,
Nov 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Elaine lead our tour and was so knowledgeable, entertaining and engaging. She shared amazing stories and even some secrets that really shows you she loves what she does. I would definitely recommend this tour!
Great tour!
Tourist686831,
Nov 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our guide was John. He was excellent in explaining the history behind the vatican city as well as the frescoes in sistine chapel. He was very patient, often checking on tour group and keeping everyone together. Initially the entrance to st peter's basilica was closed, so our group started heading back. Later he came to know that the st peter's basilica was open to visitors. He took the effort to take the group through the main entrance to St Peter's basilica. Appreciate the sincerity and the passion shown towards providing an excellent tour.
Vatican Museum Sistine Chapel Tour
Eric G,
Nov 5, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00What a great tour! John was our guide & was incredible. He was knowledgeable on all things related to the Vatican. The Sistine Chapel & St Peter’s Basilica are sights to behold. If you take this tour make sure to go to the Vatican Crypts. It’s free & just adds to the wonder of the Vatican.
Hope you get Mario as a guide
liz044,
Nov 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We were so happy to have chosen this tour as we saw the long lines and we jumped straight to the front ! But the best part of this trip was our excellent guide Mario who brought the history to like a truely gifted historian with extensive knowledge and humour .. just the best
Good way to see the highlights of the Vatican and St Peters in a small group
Kathryn S,
Nov 5, 2025
- Review from Viator
4.00Very glad I took this small group tour to see the highlights of the Vatican museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peters. Sometimes it felt a bit rushed and I didn't get to take a good look like in the animal room. the guide was personable and knowledgeable. overall worth the money.
this was a fantastic way...
Matthew W,
Nov 5, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00this was a fantastic way to see the museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's. our guide Cinzia gave us a very informative tour while always being entertaining. it's a lot to absorb in 3 hours but she made it enjoyable. thanks Cinzia!
Fabulous tour
charliegB5126EH,
Nov 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Mario is the best guide ever and made our tour very interesting and went at a good pace highlighting key things with a lovely dry sense of humour. Mario bothered to learn our names. Mario kept to a good pace so we saw lots without being rushed. Mario explained the Sistine chapel ceiling in detail using a book which I think is better than the boards. The tour itself which skipped the lines was great.
Related Experiences
Operated by What a Life Tours