Why choose this Rome tour ?
Are you searching for a Vatican tour that lets you bypass the queue, but struggling to find one that fits your schedule? Fear not, as we have the perfect solution! Our Small Group Vatican tour offers multiple start times throughout the day, at a fantastic price point.
In addition to accommodating your schedule, this small-group tour promises an unforgettable experience with a highly knowledgeable guide.
Alongside an expert guide, you’ll journey through the Vatican Museums, marvel at the breath-taking Sistine Chapel, explore the stunning Raphael Rooms, and visit the awe-inspiring St. Peter’s Basilica, guaranteeing an all-in-one experience!
Make the most of your Rome adventure
What makes Skip-the-line Vatican Tour with Sistine Chapel & St Peter’s a unique experience ?
Meet your guide at a selected location in Vatican city, from where your guided tour will start!
Experience the best of the Vatican City with our Highlights of the Vatican Museums tour. Skip the line and delve into the treasures of this holy place, guided by an expert who will reveal the secrets behind the stunning artworks and artifacts.
Follow your guide through the Candelabra Gallery, Gallery of the Tapestries, and Gallery of Maps, marvelling at the ancient Greek and Roman statues, Flemish tapestries, and detailed maps of Italy.
In the Pio-Clementino Museum, home to some of the world’s most famous sculptures, you’ll see Laocoön and His Sons, the Belvedere Torso, and the magnificent sarcophagus of St. Helen, mother of Constantine.
Next, enter the Raphael Rooms and immerse yourself in the Renaissance era of amazing art and literature. See the rooms frescoed by Raphael and admire his most famous work, The School of Athens, as your guide shares insights into the artist’s life and influences.
Before entering the museums, join our guide on a brisk walk through the Pinecone Courtyard. Here you’ll see the famous ”Sphere within a Sphere” sculpture.
Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel
One of the most iconic experiences in Vatican City is visiting the Sistine Chapel, and once you step inside, you’ll understand why. It’s no wonder that this masterpiece is revered as one of the greatest works of art in Western civilization. Since the chapel is a sacred place of worship, speaking is not allowed inside, and your guide won’t be able to provide commentary while you’re there. But fear not, they’ll provide commentary before entering ensuring that you’re fully prepared to take in all the wonders of the Sistine Chapel.
To gain entry into the Sistine Chapel, both men and women must ensure that their knees and shoulders are covered. Failure to comply might result in the Vatican denying entry to religious sites. We understand that the Roman summers can be scorching, so a great alternative is to bring a shawl, scarf, or sweater with you. Get ready to be spellbound by the sheer grandeur of the Sistine Chapel!
St. Peter’s Basilica – (Except on Wednesdays!)
The last stop of your tour brings you to St. Peter’s Basilica. Accompanied by your guide, you’ll enter through a dedicated corridor for groups, granting swift access to the basilica skipping the long queues that often appear on the square. Inside, you’ll have the opportunity to witness the Vatican’s most esteemed church, believed to house the remains of St. Peter himself. Your guide will introduce you to the cathedral before you enter to explore on your own, allowing you all the time you need to take in the beauty of this religious site.
Admire the architecture and art, including Michelangelo’s La Pietà and Bernini’s Baldacchino, and bask in the peaceful atmosphere of this spiritual sanctuary.
Please note that St. Peter’s Basilica is closed on Wednesdays for the Papal Audience and can occasionally experience other unexpected closures. If this happens, your guide will make up the time at other areas within the Vatican.
Tour Description & Additional Info:
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- 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
- The Vatican generally quiets down again in the late afternoon, but there is a chance the museums may still be crowded while you are inside
- You are advised to be ready at the meeting point up to 15 minutes ahead of the start time to ensure a prompt start. After leaving the meeting point, your guide will bring you inside the Vatican Museums. Since we have a strict entrance time, in case of delays and late arrivals, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to add you to the group. Depending on the size of your group, headphones may be used for some tours. In that case, headphones will be provided. However you may use your own earbuds if you wish
- Please contact The Tour Guy to book a wheelchair accessible tour
Options To Choose for Your Trip:
- Museums, Chapel & St Peters
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Duration: 3 hours: This option includes Visiting the Highlights of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica.
Skip-the-line Vatican Tour with Sistine Chapel & St Peter’s Inclusions:
Included with Your Ticket
- Maximum Group Size of 20!
- Passionate English-Speaking Guide
- Change to Marvel at The Last Judgement
- Skip-the-line Entry & Visit to the St. Peter’s Church
- Including Visit to the Raphael Rooms and Borgia Apartments and into Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel
- Skip-the-line Tickets and guided Tour to the Vatican Museums
Not Included
- Hotel Pick Up / Drop Off
- Food & Beverages
- Gratuities
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Special Instructions:
- This Tour is Provided by The Roman Guy Tours.
- 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 Stars based on 625 valid reviews on VIATOR.
- Minimum 1 Travelers is required to book.
- Maximum 15 Travelers is accepted for booking.
DRESS CODE: Entrance into any religious site requires a strict dress code. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women. The Roman Guy will not be held responsible for refused entry due to unsuitable dress.
IMPORTANT: During State visits or special religious events, there may be unexpected closings of different parts of the Vatican. We will do our best to inform you on time of possible closings, but for the most part, the Vatican does not announce them in advance. In the event that an area normally covered on the tour is closed, our guide will still provide the explanation and will show you an extra site or gallery to compensate for the closure.
• Large bags, backpacks, luggage, and tripods cannot be brought into the Vatican Museums. There is a coat check at the entrance, however, the tour ends far away. If you choose to leave anything at the Vatican Museums coat check, you will be responsible to retrieve it on your own after the tour. We encourage you to leave such items and anything similar at your accommodations.
• On Wednesdays, the tour does not visit St. Peter’s Basilica on the morning tours due to an Audience blessing. Those tours will cover other areas of the Vatican Museums in place of the Basilica. The afternoon tours will still visit St. Peter’s Basilica in accordance with its standard opening schedule.
• Please read our meeting point directions thoroughly in advance. It is the responsibility of all visitors to be at the meeting point 10 – 15 minutes before departure. Guests arriving after departure cannot be accommodated, & missed tours or tickets cannot be refunded.
• Mandatory: Everyone is required to carry a copy of the identification page of their passports on all tours. A photo of the first page of your passport saved on your smartphone works as well.
• Depending on the size of your group, headphones may be used for some tours. In this case, headphones will be provided. You may use your own earphones if you wish.
• We regret that we are unable to accommodate guests with wheelchairs or any walking impairments that require special assistance on our group tours. We recommend booking private tours in these cases. We are also unable to accommodate strollers or baby carriages on our group tours.
• We will be subject to a security check at the entrance to all sites. Depending on the volume of visitors, we may have a short wait in the security line.
• The museums, sites and monuments we visit on our tours are among the most popular in the world. Careful planning helps limit crowd exposure, but please be aware that some locations may be unavoidably busy during standard hours/high season.
• We will do everything within our power to ensure timings and itineraries are respected, however, due to issues beyond our control, timings and sites are subject to last minute changes on rare occasions.
