Why choose this Rome tour ?
This 2.5 hour Vatican Tour is led by an expert guide who will share stories you won’t hear anywhere else! Visit the highlights of the Vatican Museums in small, exclusive groups limited to 10 people or less. Skip-the-Line no-wait access is included and is the fastest possible way to enter the Museums. For a special experience, choose the first access of the day at 8:00AM. All tours included Skip the Line access to St. Peter’s Basilica (except Wednesdays, special events).
Make the most of your Rome adventure
What makes Skip the Line: Small Group Vatican Tour with Basilica Access a unique experience ?
A typical itinerary inside the Vatican Museums includes the Pavilion of the Carriages, home to everything from centuries old horse-drawn carriages to vintage and modern cars really used by Popes past and present. You’ll visit the Pinecone Courtyard, the Hall of the Maps (the “Oval Office” of the Pope centuries ago), the Gallery of the Tapestries, the Pinacoteca, Belvedere Courtyard, Room of the Muses, the Round Room and Candelabra Gallery.
This courtyard gets its name from the enormous bronze Pinecone sculpture that dominates it.
The Vatican Museums contains some modern art as well, including this famous sculpture: Sphere within a Sphere. Variations of this sculpture can be found in many settings around the world.
The most famous wing of the Vatican Museums, the Pio Clementino museum contains much of the Museum’s most important highlights. Your guide will take you through the Room of the Animals, where you can spot the life-like statues of fauna from around the world. Head to the Octagonal Courtyard where a small fountain trickles in the background of famous statues like the Laocoonte and Apollo Belvedere. Don’t forget to look at the Candelabra Gallery — master painters decorated these ceilings to create the illusion of a 3D effect centuries ago!
Head with your guide to the Gallery of the Maps — and get a perspective of the world how it was five centuries ago. These exquisitely detailed, hand-painted giant maps are a favorite of the Vatican Museums. See if you can find the Italian cities you have visited, or spot the nod to Christopher Columbus’ journey to the Americas.
Raphael painted these rooms with incredible frescoes, originally meant for the private rooms of Pope Julius II.
No guides are able to speak inside the Sistine Chapel. However, your guide will prepare you in advance for your free time inside so you’ll know what to look for.
Your visit ends close to where it began, after the spiral staircase at the entrance to the Vatican Museums.
Visit to Vatican Museums – Vatican City
When available, access is provided to St Peter’s Basilica, skipping the lines. A tour is not provided inside the Basilica, only access. Your visit will end at the steps of St. Peter’s Square with an introduction made by your guide after which you will be on your own to continue exploring.
When available, access is provided to St Peter’s Basilica, skipping the lines. A tour is not provided inside the Basilica, only access. Your visit will end at the steps of St. Peter’s Square with an introduction made by your guide after which you will be on your own to continue exploring.
Tour Description & Additional Info:
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children 6 and under are entitled to free access to the Vatican Museums (with proof of age)
- Children aged 7-18 are entitled to a reduced entry fee (see tour and ticket pricing) and must provide proof of age.
- Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult
- A dress code is required to enter places of worship and selected museums. No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements.
- Check-in is 15 minutes prior to the booked start time. Tickets are time sensitive and we cannot accomodate late arrivals.
- Skip the Line Access (no guided tour) to St. Peter’s Basilica is included when available, except Wednesdays and special events.
Options To Choose for Your Trip:
- Small Group Tour
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Tour in English with 10 or less participants with Skip the Line access to St. Peter’s Basilica (except Wednesdays, events). - Small Group First Access Tour
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Groups of 10 or fewer. First access of the day. Includes Skip the Line access to St. Peter’s (except Wednesdays, events),. - First Access Sistine Chapel
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Enjoy first access of the day and head straight to the Sistine Chapel. Access to St. Peter’s Basilica included (ex Wednedays)
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Skip the Line: Small Group Vatican Tour with Basilica Access Inclusions:
Included with Your Ticket
- Skip the Line access to the Vatican Museums
- Vatican Insider Guide
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Transportation
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Special Instructions:
- This Tour is Provided by EcoArt Travel.
- Tour Timezone & Starts at Europe/Rome.
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted.
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- This Tour is Rated 4.5 Stars based on 516 valid reviews on VIATOR.
- Minimum 1 Travelers is required to book.
- Maximum 10 Travelers is accepted for booking.
Plan on arriving to our meeting point at least 15 minutes in advance of your selected departure time. All Vatican Tours meet our representative on the steps at Via Tunisi, located at the corner with Via Sebastiano Veniero. They will be holding a sign with the green EcoArt logo.
