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Skip the Line Vatican, Sistine Chapel and Basilica Guided Tour

3,395 Reviews 4.75 out of 5 stars Based on 3,395 reviews collected by City Balloon Tours and TripAdvisor | Recommended by 94% of reviewers |
Badge of Excellence |Badge of Excellence This experience is highly rated by travelers and has met our top quality standards.
Rome, Italy
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 18 (0) days in advance.

2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
and 4 more
French, German, Italian, Spanish
Instant confirmation

Overview

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.

Please note that St Peters Basilica is subject to last minute closures and for the papal audience on some Wednesday mornings, entrance can not always be included. In this case there will be an extended tour of the Vatican museums.

What's Included

  • Small Group Tour Experience with Expert Official Licensed Vatican Guide
  • Skip The Line Priority Access Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Tickets
  • St. Peter's Basilica if open on the day of your tour
  • Location Pick Up & Drop Off
  • Scavi / Necropolis
  • Please note that the Basilica is subject to last minute closures and can not always be included
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Meeting Location

Meeting point

Via Germanico
16, 00192 Roma RM, Italy

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Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

Piazza San Pietro
00120 Città del Vaticano, Vatican City

You will end the tour inside St.Peter's Basilica if it is open. You will then exit into St.Peter's Square (If the Basilica is not open you will exit at the Vatican museums entrance)

What To Expect

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Our secure website provides real-time availability, instant confirmation, and free, no-hassle cancellations up to 24 hours before your tour begins.
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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
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1 hour 45 minutes Admission Ticket Included

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
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15 minutes Admission Ticket Included

St. Peter's Basilica

The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican City, or simply Saint Peter's Basilica, is a church of the Italian High Renaissance and the heart of the catholic faith located in Vatican City, an independent microstate enclaved within the city of Rome, Italy.
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30 minutes Admission Ticket Included

St. Peter's Square (pass by)

St. Peter's Square (Piazza San Pietro), located in Vatican City in front of St. Peter's Basilica, is a massive, iconic Baroque plaza designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini between 1656 and 1667. Featuring an elliptical design with massive colonnades representing the "embrace" of the Church, it holds over 300,000 people and features a central Egyptian obelisk.
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Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • All visitors must pass through the monument/attraction security check please allow at least 20 minutes to clear security.
  • Knees & Shoulders MUST be covered for both men & women.
  • 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.

Frequently Asked Questions (7)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Skip the Line Vatican, Sistine Chapel and Basilica Guided Tour?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (CET). Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

Still have questions?

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Activity code: C-7356P1

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.75
3,395 reviews

Average 4.75 out of 5 stars based on 3,395 traveler reviews collected by City Balloon Tours and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

5 stars
2,932
4 stars
250
3 stars
99
2 stars
50
1 star
64
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 18 (0) days in advance.

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What's Included

Activity name

  • Small Group Tour Experience with Expert Official Licensed Vatican Guide
  • Skip The Line Priority Access Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Tickets
  • St. Peter's Basilica if open on the day of your tour
  • Headsets to hear the guide clearly in crowded areas
  • Location Pick Up & Drop Off
  • Scavi / Necropolis
  • Please note that the Basilica is subject to last minute closures and can not always be included
  • St.Peter's Dome (Cupola) Access
  • Not wheelchair accessible

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not suitable for those with walking difficulties or using a wheelchair.
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not suitable for those with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair.
  • If you arrive late for the meeting time, it will not be possible to join the group or reschedule, unless you pay for the activity again. As per "No Show" rules you will not be entitled to a refund.
  • 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.
  • All visitors must pass through the monument/attraction security check please allow at least 20 minutes to clear security.
  • Knees & Shoulders MUST be covered for both men & women.
  • 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.
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult.
  • 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.
  • Please be aware that large bags/backpacks/suitcases are not permitted in the monument/ attraction. Only very small bags are allowed. Please do not bring these items with you on the day of your tour as there are no cloakrooms at the monument.
  • 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.
  • Please note that it is mandatory to provide the full name of each participant. Failure to do this could result in refused entry to the monument.
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers

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