Skip the Line! Book your Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel Tour ahead of time to take advantage of jumping the queue. Don't waste time waiting in lines on vacation!

Board the bus and begin your tour passing through Piazza della Repubblica with the Fountain of the Nayads, and follows the ancient Aurelian Walls, once surrounding the city of Rome. You will drive past the famous Villa Borghese gardens and the northern gate of the ancient city leading into Piazza del Popolo, where you will see an Egyptian obelisk dating back to the time of Ramses II. The city tour includes a live commentary by the guide. It is a brief introduction only as you travel by bus to Vatican City and the beginning of the walking portion of your tour.

Upon arrival your guide will lead you into the Vatican Museums taking the beautiful spiral stairway and continuing through the Gallery of the Tapestries and the Gallery of the Geographical Maps before arriving at the famous Sistine Chapel with its magnificent fresco of the Last Judgement by Michelangelo.

All entrance fees to the Vatican Museums are included in the tour price. Book now to gain access to the Vatican Museums with pre-booked skip long lines tickets. Tours are conducted with passionate local multilingual guides who have a proficient knowledge of history and art.

Schedule Details

Departure Dates:

Daily, except Sunday

Unavailable Dates:

• Religious holidays
• January 01 (New Years Day)
• March 17 (Ascension Thursday), 19
• March 21 - 23 (Easter)
• March 26 (Rome Marathon)
• December 25 and 26 (Christmas)

Departure Point:

Tour departs from centrally located Rome hotels. If you're staying outside the Aurelian Walls or did not confirm hotel pick up - all tours will depart from 5/a Via Farini, located off Via Cavour, Rome. This departure point is a few minutes walking distance from Termini Railway Station and easy to locate.

Departure Time:

Morning Departure (Daily)

• From Rome hotels: 7:00am
• From central meeting point: 8:00am
Afternoon Departure (March - October only)

• From Rome hotels: 2:00pm
• From central meeting point: 3:00pm

Return details:

Tour concludes at 5/a Via Farini (centrally located and close to Termini Railway Station).

Hotel Pickup:

Hotel pick up is available from all Rome centrally located hotels. All hotels must be located in the city center (within the Aurelian Walls). Please advise your full hotel name and address at time of booking. If you are staying outside of the central city area, please make your own way to the departure point located at 5/a Via Farini, Rome. It is close to Termini Railway Station and just off via Cavour.

Cruise Port Pickup:
For passengers arriving into Rome on a cruise ship, the tour operator can pick up/drop off guests from/to Civitavecchia Port at an additional cost. To book this option you must book separate cruise port transfers between Civitavecchia and Rome. If you choose to combine transfers with a scheduled tour commencing in Rome, take into consideration the traveling time from the Port of Civitavecchia to Rome. It is approximately 1 hour and you should allow minimum 30 minutes to disembark cruise.

Itinerary:

Upgrade to the Christian Rome Afternoon Tour (3 hours):

The guided tour of Christian Rome begins with a stop on the Esquiline Hill where your guide will show you some of the treasures inside the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, before continuing by coach to stop and see the Holy Staircase and the Lateran Palace and visiting inside the Basilica of San Giovanni*, the cathedral of Rome. After your inside visit, proceed along the Ancient Appian Way, and pass by the Chapel of "Domine Quo Vadis" before arriving at the Catacombs, the ancient underground cemeteries and first hiding places for the Christians. A visit will be made to either the Catacombs of S. Callisto, Santa Domitilla or San Sebastiano depending on seasonal conditions. The tour will end with a spectacular view of the Baths of Emperor Caracalla.

After the conclusion of your Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel Tour you will have free time in between tours. You can choose to spend this time at leisure, or you can book an OPTIONAL LUNCH. Indulge in an authentic Italian meal (drinks not included) at a restaurant nearby and start the Christian Rome Afternoon Tour at 3:00pm (Mar-Oct) or 2:30pm (Nov-Feb).

Tour Highlights:

• The Basilicas of Santa Maria Maggiore and Saint John in Lateran
• Travel along the Ancient Appian Way and see Rome's Catacombs

Please note, entrance to basilicas and catacombs require appropriate attire. No shorts, miniskirts or uncovered shoulders. It is also advisable to wear comfortable shoes for both visits.

Additional Information

Inclusions:

• Guided walking tour inside the Vatican Museums
• Vatican Museums entrance tickets
• Guaranteed to skip the long lines!
• Escorted by a multilingual local guide with commentary
• Headsets to hear the guide clearly
• Transportation in air-conditioned coach (maximum 50 people)
• Hotel pick up from Rome centrally located hotels only

Exclusions:

• Optional gratuities

Additional Info:

• This tour must be booked at least 48 hours in advance of your travel date.
• Confirmation for this product will be received at time of booking.
• Tour is operated in English unless otherwise specified.
• This tour is not suitable for wheelchair bound passengers.
• By pre-booking this tour it enables you to skip the long lines (which can take up to two hours!) to enter the Vatican Museums. Please note, all visitors must pass through metal detectors at the security check point. Please expect to wait 20-30 minutes to clear security.
• Please note: For March 25, 2008 departures the Vatican tour will start in the afternoon. Hotel pick-ups will start at 2:00pm.

Local Operator Information:

Complete Operator information, including local telephone numbers at your destination, are included on your Confirmation Voucher. Our Product Managers select only the most experienced and reliable operators in each destination, removing the guesswork for you, and ensuring your peace of mind.

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