Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St Peter’s Basilica Guided Tour
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
Spend more time inside with no-wait access to the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica through an official Vatican partner entrance. On this comprehensive guided tour, you'll experience the best of the Vatican in just three hours, including the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, and more. Navigate the vast complex of artwork and history with an expert, who will bring this ancient collection to life. Choose from several departure times and languages.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
We regret that we are unable to accommodate guests with wheelchairs or any impairments requiring special assistance. We are also unable to accommodate strollers or baby carriages on our group tours.
At times, despite our priority access tickets, we may experience delays in getting through mandatory security checks when entering these venues
St Peter’s Basilica & Sistine Chapel are subject to last-minute closures for religious ceremonies. When this occurs, we're happy to offer customers an extended tour of the Vatican Museums. While we endeavour to tell tour groups ahead of time if there are any planned disruptions to the Basilica's opening hours, this is not always possible and in these cases we are unable to provide refunds or discounts.
On Wednesday mornings, access to St. Peter’s Basilica is not included due to the Papal Audience. Entry is only possible after 1:00 PM.
St Peter's Basilica is not accessible on the express tours options
Please be advised that access to St. Peter's Basilica will not be guaranteed unless the names of all participants in the booking are provided in advance. This requirement is essential for security and the Venue organizational purposes. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in ensuring a smooth and enjoyable visit.
Please note that if you choose the “St. Peter's Basilica Tour Only” option, access to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel will not be included.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Vatican City
Vatican Museums tours with skip-the-line access are popular, yet even fast-track lines can be lengthy. This exclusive experience provides admission through a dedicated entrance, ensuring a queue-free visit.
Vatican Museums
Embark on an exclusive journey into the treasure trove of the Vatican Museums. Explore the intriguing Gallery of the Maps and Tapestries, immersed in tales of Vatican secrets. Marvel at captivating Italian maps, and be awe-inspired by the sculptures in the Gallery of Candelabras. Capture memories with a photo stop at the Pigna statue in the Pinecone Courtyard, crafted by the renowned Donato Bramante. Join our English speaking expert guide for an unforgettable experience in the heart of the Vatican City!
What‘s Included
Audio headsets so you can always hear your guide
Guided visit of St. Peter’s Basilica (except: Wednesday morning & if Express option selected)
Reserved Priority Access to the Vatican Museums (except St Peter's Tour Only option)
Group of 20 people or less (except St Peter's Tour Only option, 25)
Access to the Sistine Chapel (except St Peter's Tour Only option)
Leaflet for the visits of Sistine Chapel & St Peter's Basilica (except St Peter's Tour Only option)
Gratuities
If you book “St. Peter's Basilica Tour Only,” access to the Vatican & Sistine Chapel is NOT included
Options
Vatican Group - Italian
Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica tour with Italian-speaking guide & small group of 20 people or less.
Starting point:
Via Tunisi, 4, 00192 Roma RM, Italy
Vatican Museums only
2 hours highlights tour of the Vatican Museums (does not include St. Peter's Basilica).This tour ends at the Sistine Chapel.
Duration: 2 hours
Starting point:
Via Tunisi, 4, 00192 Roma RM, Italy
Vatican Small Group - English
Experience the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica with a small group of up to 15 participants.
Starting point:
Via Tunisi, 4, 00192 Roma RM, Italy
Vatican Express Group Tour
Express Group Tour: 2-hour tour of the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel in a group of 20 people. Access to St Peter's Basilica is NOT included
Starting point:
Via Tunisi, 4, 00192 Roma RM, Italy
Vatican Express Semi Private
Express Semi Private: 2-hour Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Tour [10 people maximum]. St Peter's Basilica Access is NOT included.
Starting point:
Via Tunisi, 4, 00192 Roma RM, Italy
St Peter Tour Only- no Vatican
St. Peter's Basilica Express: Experience St. Peter’s Basilica on this express guided tour with reserved entrance [Vatican & Sistine Chapel Excluded]
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
Not included: Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel access is not included in this option
Starting point:
Piazza della Città Leonina, 00193 Roma RM, Italy
Private Tour up to 2 guests
Private Guided Tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica for up to 2 people.
Starting point:
Via Tunisi, 4, 00192 Roma RM, Italy
Vatican Group - Spanish
Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica tour with Spanish-speaking guide & small group of 20 people or less.
Starting point:
Via Tunisi, 4, 00192 Roma RM, Italy
Vatican Express Small Group
Express Small Group Tour: 2-hour Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Small Group Tour [15 people max]. St Peter's Basilica is NOT included.
Starting point:
Via Tunisi, 4, 00192 Roma RM, Italy
Private Tour up to 4 guests
Private Guided Tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica for up to 4 people.
Starting point:
Via Tunisi, 4, 00192 Roma RM, Italy
Vatican Evening Tour
Skip-the-Line Access: Enjoy a Skip-the-Line access to both the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel to maximize your time inside.
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Early Evening Departure: This early evening tour finishes at a perfect time for dinner.
Ends at Sistine Chapel: This option ends at Sistine Chapel. Please note St. Peter's Basilica is not accessible in the evening tour
Vatican Special Evening Group: Escape the crowds and visit the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel at sunset on this small-group tour of max. 22 participants.
Starting point:
Via Tunisi, 4, 00192 Roma RM, Italy
Vatican Group - English
Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica tour with English-speaking guide & small group of 20 people or less.
Starting point:
Via Tunisi, 4, 00192 Roma RM, Italy
Vatican Semi Private - English
Experience the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica with an intimate group of up to 10 participants.
Starting point:
Via Tunisi, 4, 00192 Roma RM, Italy
Reviews
38,996 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Amazing tour, we even saw the pope as a special surprise!
Katie F,,Jan 10, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Very interesting guided tour w Maria Sophia who has a wealth of knowledge ab the art and history of the Vatican, and makes the tour fun and entertaining as well as informative. We even got to see the pope as a surprise bc she had perfect timing for our group! We will never forget this experience! Truly amazing and profound, highly recommend Sophia and her company.
Our tour guide was...
Summerlyn H,,Jan 10, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Our tour guide was AMAZING! She really made the experience very enjoyable and talked through everything with us.
Herded like cattle
Andrew H,,Jan 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00The most stressful, disorganised, overrated, over priced, overcrowded disappointment ever! Dread to thing what it would be like in peak season
Adults all enjoyed it...
Pamela P,,Jan 10, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Adults all enjoyed it thoroughly, it was a little long for our kids but overall fantastic. Clarissa, our guide, was brilliant
We had a very...
Stacia B,,Jan 9, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We had a very knowledgeable and friendly tour guide. Amazing experience! Highly recommended! A must see while in Rome.
Great experience to see the Vatican
Noelle F,,Jan 9, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Greatly enjoyed the tour. Our guide had a wealth of knowledge that really helped with our understanding of the Vatican areas. We were also able to skip lines to get to attractions quickly as well. I think this tour was well organized and is a very effective way to see the Vatican.
Not what I paid for
Jessy,,Jan 8, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00I booked this with the St Peter’s Basilica and while I understand it was closed at the time of the tour I feel like part of my money should have been refunded. HOWEVER our guide was good with using the time in the Vatican Museum
The Vatican Tour
Patricia F,,Jan 7, 2026
- Review from Viator
2.00We booked a semi private tour of the Vatican scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. Unfortunately, the experience was completely mismanaged from the start. For reasons never clearly explained, we were forced to stand outside in line for over an hour in torrential January rain. There was no shelter, no communication, and no alternative offered. By the time we were allowed to enter, we were soaked, cold, and already exhausted — not at all the experience one expects from a tour. Because of the delay, our group was merged in with the 9:00 am - 9:30 am, 10:00 am and the 10:30 am crowds, resulting in extremely packed conditions throughout the Vatican. Floors were slippery and hazardous, which felt unsafe given the volume of people and the length of time we were inside. What was supposed to be a 3-hour tour stretched to nearly 6 hours, turning a visit to one of the most brilliant places in the world into a physically draining and, at times, dangerous experience. The only bright spot was our tour guide, who was wonderful, professional, and clearly embarrassed by the situation. She did her absolute best under very difficult circumstances and should not be faulted for the failures in planning and organization. This tour had the potential to be exceptional, but due to poor logistics, lack of communication, and unsafe conditions, it fell far short of expectations. I would not recommend this experience unless these serious operational issues are addressed.
Our tour guide Laura was...
Vinay S,,Jan 7, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Our tour guide Laura was fantastic! Getting to the meeting spot then navigating through Vatican, Sistine Chapel, and Basilica were an amazing experience and she did an awesome job giving us tons of information about the history of it all. It was a wonderful experience for me and my family!
Our guide did a great...
Braylee P,,Jan 7, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Our guide did a great job. It was very informative and I’m glad we did the guided tour so that we knew what we were looking at!
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Operated by City Wonders Ltd