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Sistine Chapel (Cappella Sistina)

Sistine Chapel (Cappella Sistina) Tours

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Skip-the-Line: Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Guided Small-Group Tour

Badge of ExcellenceRoma, Italy

From $53.37

Price varies by group size

Select Date and Travelers

Reserve Now & Pay Later
Secure your spot while staying flexible
Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance.
Rome Tours
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Audio Guides
Kid-Friendly
Likely To Sell Out
Unique Experiences
  • 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Overview

Discover the Vatican on an intimate small-group tour of the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums with an expert guide and a group of up to 20 people. Navigate the vast complex of rooms, artwork, and history with a guide, who brings the ancient collection to life. Skip all the entrance lines to explore halls such as the Gallery of the Maps and Raphael’s Rooms; step inside the Sistine Chapel to admire ‘The Creation of Adam’ by Michelangelo. Choose from several departures, or upgrade to an evening experience or small-group tour with 10 people.
  • See captivating sites such as the Raphael’s Rooms, Gallery of the Maps, and Bramante’s Pinecone Courtyard
  • Choose from several different departure times, or upgrade to a semi-private tour (with up to 10 participants)
  • Audio headsets are provided to make sure you can hear your guide clearly at all times (when group size is 20 people)
  • With a reserved Skip-the-Line entrance, head straight into the Vatican to explore the museums with your dedicated art historian guide

Why Travelers Choose This Tour

“Skip the line” with this tour means using a special entrance to bypass even the fast-track line.

What's Included

  • Reserved Priority Access to the Vatican Museums
  • Skip-the-Line Access to the Sistine Chapel
  • Audio headsets so you can always hear your guide
  • Small groups of 20 people or less
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • St. Peter's Basilica is not included until further notice

Departure & Return

Departure Point

  • Via Tunisi, 4, Via Tunisi, 4, 00192 Roma RM, Italy

    Meeting point: At the bottom of the steps across the street from the Entrance of the Vatican Museums. The steps are located right next to Caffè Vaticano on the corner of Viale Vaticano and Via Tunisi. The closest Metro stop is Line A (Ottaviano – Musei Vaticani).

Return Details

  • Sistine Chapel, 00120, Vatican City

What To Expect

Vatican tours with skip-the-line access are sought-after, so even the fast-track lines are long. This experience includes admission through a special entrance, so there are no lines whatsoever. Follow your guide directly inside the vast collection of private artwork that is the Vatican Museums.

Walk through the Gallery of the Maps and Gallery of Tapestries as you listen to tales of Vatican intrigue. Gaze at artifacts such as timeworn yet fascinating Italian maps, and admire the sculptures and candelabras of the Gallery of Candelabras. Stop for photos in front of the Pigna statue in the Pinecone Courtyard, designed by Donato Bramante.

Raphael’s Rooms are a series of galleries that highlight the talent of the lauded Renaissance artist himself. Pass through the rooms, and then step inside the Sistine Chapel—the pope’s personal place of worship and a highlight of any Vatican trip. Stand beneath Michelangelo’s 'The Creation of Adam,' which cloaks the ceiling, and admire 'The Last Judgement,' his colorful mural that adorns a wall.

After your Sistine Chapel visit, continue to St. Peter’s Basilica, the symbolic heart of the Catholic church. Learn about its history and see more Vatican art including Michelangelo’s 'La Pietà,' which was sculpted when the maestro was only 24 years old. Gaze at the baldachino by Bernini, and then say goodbye to your guide in St. Peter’s Square.

Keep in mind that St. Peter's Basilica and St. Peter's Square might be unavailable on Wednesdays due to the weekly Papal Audience. As an alternative, enjoy an extended itinerary within the Vatican Museums, which still includes the Sistine Chapel and Raphael's Rooms. If you want to make sure that St. Peter's Basilica and Square are included in your tour, don't select Wednesday as your travel date.

If you want to enhance your Vatican experience, select one of the following experiences:

Small-Group Tour in the morning: Enter the Vatican Museums as soon as it opens, before the other lines enter. Your tour is limited to 10 people for personal attention and information about the Vatican’s must-see sights.

Tour in the evening: Explore the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel after the doors close to the general public. A visit to St. Peter’s Basilica is not included.

Vatican Museums

Vatican tours with skip-the-line access are sought-after, so even the fast-track lines are long. This experience includes admission through a special entrance, so there are no lines whatsoever. Follow your guide directly inside the vast collection of private artwork that is the Vatican Museums. Walkthrough the Gallery of the Maps and Gallery of Tapestries as you listen to tales of Vatican intrigue. Gaze at artifacts such as timeworn yet fascinating Italian maps, and admire the sculptures and candelabras of the Gallery of Candelabras. Stop for photos in front of the Pigna statue in the Pinecone Courtyard, designed by Dontao Bramante.

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Stanze di Raffaello

Raphael’s Rooms are a series of galleries that highlight the talent of the lauded Renaissance artist himself.

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Please bring your own mask on the tour. The wearing of mask is compulsory in order to comply with health & Safety regulations. Our guide will be wearing mask during the tour as well.
  • At the meeting point there will be social distancing taking place. Our guide will organize the group upon your arrival, but we kindly ask yourself to be conscience in taking social distance at all the time from others.
  • Following the new regulations regarding Coronavirus, at the entrance your body temperature will be checked. If a body temperature above 37.5 ° C is registered, you will not be able to enter the site.
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
  • We regret that we are unable to accommodate guests with wheelchairs or any impairments requiring special assistance. We are also unable to accommodate strollers or baby carriages on our group tours.
  • Avoid bringing large purses, bags, or backpacks on your tour
  • We may experience delays in getting through mandatory security checks when entering these venues
  • Please be aware that St. Peter's Basilica is not included until further notice
  • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers
Operated by City Wonders Ltd

Cancellation Policy

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

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

about cancellations

Frequently Asked Questions

The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.

Q:What is the policy on face masks and attendee health during Skip-the-Line: Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Guided Small-Group Tour?

A:The policies on face masks and attendee health are:
  • Face masks required for travelers in public areas
  • Face masks required for guides in public areas
  • Temperature checks for travelers upon arrival

Q:What is the social distancing policy during Skip-the-Line: Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Guided Small-Group Tour?

A:The policy on social distancing is:
  • Social distancing enforced throughout experience

Traveler Photos

See more

Traveler Tips

Arrive early since it is a bit difficult to locate the tour guide to check in.
Bring water with you as you won’t find any inside.
Don’t go on a Wednesday because the Pope will be doing mass and it supposedly gets really crowded.
Reviews
4.5
25,653 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
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Reviews by Viator travelers
Showing 1-10 of 25,653 reviews
Not for me
Paul_P, May 2022
Too much standing around while the guide goes in to extreme detail that is forgotten a couple minutes later. Also, group was bigger than advertised.
Do not do the Vatican without a guide!
Mary_L, May 2022
Our guide Laura was very knowledgeable about the Vatican and gave so much information. There is so much art that without a guide it would be impossible to know what you are looking at and is historical significance. We had a wonderful time.
Great history lesson and very beautiful
Krysten_L, May 2022
Guessepe was an amazing tour guide! It’s a lot of walking but honestly all the information was so worth it. I learned so much about Roman and Greek culture it was amazing.
Wow
Doug_K, May 2022
Unbelievable experience, getting to see up close, the treasures within the Vatican Museum. Our guide was knowledgeable, friendly, and open to additional questions
Extremly Knowalable guide.
Susan_E, May 2022
Such a great trip really enjoyed ourselves, what made it for us was our tour guide, Alexander was a student of art. She spent time drawing our attention to the details of what we were looking at which made the whole experience so much more enjoyable I will certainly return and do it all again.
1 traveler found this review helpful
Great tour and guide!
Nicole_S, May 2022
The trip to see the Vatican is worth it! Our guide Doria was amazing!!!!! Would recommend this tour.
Do not pay for a one on one private tour.
Sabrina_F, May 2022
Tour guide was very knowledgeable and kind. Be prepared for lots of stairs and being on your feet for hours. I paid for a one on one private tour guide. I was put in a group tour. Supposed to be given a refund, but I have not gotten refund.
Vatican City tour
Simon_H, May 2022
We had a really nice time the guide was very knowledgeable and really helpful with any questions. She was especially very kind in helping us get from the Vatican to the basilica.😎👍
Would definitely recommend
Patricia_N, May 2022
Valentina was very informative and kept a good pace. She made sure the group stayed together and went into further detail around some subjects that people asked about. She was very welcoming and I would definitely recommend her.
Well organized.
Kimberly_C, May 2022
Tour was well organized and guide was engaging. The meeting point is used by multiple tour companies. After a bit of confusion we were able to find the correct group. Allow extra time for this when planning.
Great tour
Alan_F, May 2022
Our guide Emilio was so knowledgeable, passionate and enthusiastic. Would recommend this tour. All well organised from the start
Vatican 😁
Lesley_G, May 2022
Polly was great and gave us lots of information. All info re meeting was spot on. Head phones were great although one part was crowded and bit hard to hear.
The tour was very...
Meera_M, May 2022
The tour was very informative. Lots of beautiful art and sculptures that the tour guide, Anna, explained in-depth.
Very good guide. She...
David_Z, May 2022
Very good guide. She patiently answered our questions and gave us all the highlights. We moved easily from site to site.,
Would not recommend - overcrowded.
karen_M, May 2022
Overcrowded. Firstly the ear pice isn’t designed for people with small ears particularly if trying to balance a FFP2 mask. It is all very overcrowded and the tours end up intermingling so very difficult to keep up with your guide who walks around pointing things out but you miss it all trying to get through all the crowds to keep up. Didn’t learn anything the colosseum tour was much better. Diss pointed we weren’t took to the front of Vatican city it was all about the museum collections.
Excellent and informative experience
Laurette_J, May 2022
This was an excellent tour with a very knowledgeable tour guide. Visiting the Vatican City and Sistine Chapel is an experience in general and this tour made that experience more informed and enjoyable. My only suggestion was to put on the ticket the suggested meeting place for the tour guide company
Nice your
Meryl_L, May 2022
Good tour with Sal our guide, very knowledgeable. Part way through the headsets were a little hit and miss for everyone so we missed some details.
Great tour guide!
Muriel_F, May 2022
Went 5/20/2022, had a great tour guide-Mickey. He was incredibly knowledgeable, took the time to thoroughly explain things. Also asked if there were any questions. He helped us find our way to St. Peter’s Basilica. Highly recommend.
Brings the Vatican to Life!
Daniel_C, May 2022
The Vatican museums are overwhelming, filled with treasures from the ages. Our guide, Millaria, was so knowledgeable and such a great story teller that she brought the collections to life. Although she couldn’t describe everything, she kept a good pace, allowed us breaks to catch our breath, and made the overwhelming doable. What an absolute treat!
Great experience
Mary_H, May 2022
The guide was excellent, friendly, enthusiastic, and very knowledgeable. The tour was a great way to learn about the Vatican and appreciate its art
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Product code: 3731VATICAN

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