Skip the Line: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica Half-Day Walking Tour
Overview
Important: Entrance tickets to the Vatican Museums are NOT included and will be provided by the agency at an additional cost (on the spot).
- 3-hour Vatican Museums tour including the Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica, led by an expert guide
- Skip the line for fast-track entry to the world-famous Vatican museum complex
- Learn about the incredible Renaissance artwork inside Raphael’s Rooms
- Visit the Sistine Chapel and marvel at Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam
- Explore St Peter’s Basilica and rub the statue of St Peter for a blessing
Why Travelers Choose This Tour
Meet your local guide and pay your fee to enter the Vatican Museums. Then, with your skip-the-line ticket, step inside to start your Vatican and Sistine Chapel tour. Follow your guide, listening to tales of saintliness and scandal, and learn about the Vatican’s place as one of the holiest sites in Christendom.
Italian art flourished in the Renaissance and baroque periods, and the Vatican popes put together one of the world’s largest collections of private art with frescos, paintings, sculptures and treasure. See the highlights as you walk through galleries such as Raphael’s Rooms, and hear stories behind works such as the School of Athens — a piece that features images of Michelangelo and Raphael himself.
Pass through halls such as the Gallery of the Masks and Gallery of the Maps. Then, make your way into the Sistine Chapel. A sacred spot and the private papal chapel, the Sistine Chapel is also renowned for its Michelangelo frescoes — The Last Judgement and The Creation of Adam.
Continue to St Peter’s Basilica, which is said to be built on the ground where St Peter is buried. Admire La Pietà, an early Michelangelo sculpture, and pause to rub the foot of a statue of St Peter, said to bring good luck. Your Vatican and St Peter’s Basilica tour then finishes outside the church.
Morning Tour:
Skip the line and the crowds when you upgrade to this morning tour, with a maximum group size of 12 people. At this early time, your group enters the Vatican Museums before the doors open to the general public.
Evening Tour:
Upgrade to tour the Vatican Museums after the doors close to the public. This evening option is only available for limited period, on Friday evenings from May 6 to July 26, and September 6 to October 25. Numbers are restricted to 20 people, and the tour does not include entry to St Peter’s Basilica.
Reviews
Viator Traveler's Reviews
Had a bad experience in Venice with Viator tours, was running a little due due to complications. A square with many groups one Viator group which we approaches was not willing to help us, I'm sure it had to be the group we were scheduled with because they were the only Viator group at St Marks Basilica and Doge Palace. Due to not getting any consideration from the Viator agent we lost our tour and our money for a party of 3. The Vatican your was a little complicated we went to the right location but the travel company on our instructions had one name and the door on the travel company had another name on it so we start looking for the right one, asked people and were sent to different locations. A man with another agency came and f und us and brought us back to where we started. Everything we saw was beautiful but we could not understand the tour guide. The crowd a started getting large and was having to hurry to keep from getting lost. Would not do it again, would just buy a fast pass to by pass the lines, take my time and enjoy and take pictures without having to hurry. Much cheaper, less stressful and you don't have to be looking for anyone.
I took the tour with Viator's partner in Rome last Sunday. It was a wonderful tour led by Francesca Dresda. Francesca was highly professional, knowledgeable and kind. She took great care of our diverse group with differing mobility needs. In the three hours with Francesca, we gained insight into the history of the Vatican and some of the most important works of art. At the Vatican, we also got to see a visiting Bishop procession (Bishop of Copenhagen!), and a wedding in one of the side chapels in the basilica, serendipity it was, no doubt - but so cool nevertheless. This tour was totally worth the time and money. If you go, ask for Francesca. She is fantastico!
Was greatful I booked this package before we live US. Fees is a factor. Although I should have book an accommodation w/in the vicinity to maximize our wake up time. This 3 major sites were the most compelling goose bump experience me and my family had. Added to it was the greatness and a well verse of our tour guide FRANCESCA from NICOM TOURS 10AM batch 10-22-18 she is a HISTORY major by profession and knows all the inner most sensible details of the museum/sistine/basilica. A 3 hour tour was not enough but it seems like she covered the most significant details of the high lights. Even the most significant sites that a must see. The body of the first pope who died and amazingly preserve, I met someone after who was in a different tour and ask if they have seen it and told me their tour guide did not show it. NICOM TOUR should treasure this lady FRANCESCA she is a great asset to your business deserves a pay raise. Im a very happy more than satisfied customer w/ this tour except for the crowd. Tough but FRANCESCA has her system very organize
Booking skip the line was easy but service went down hill from there. Pandemonium in the office and shocked to find entrance to the Vatican was actually another €24 each! Nearly half of the headphones weren’t working and the ones which were crackled frequently making it difficult to hear. The guide was awesome though funny, expressive and very informative. She saved the rest of the day so you should hold on to her and sort out your information and office