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Skip the Line: Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel with St. Peter's Basilica Access

Recommended by 93% of travelersBadge of ExcellenceVatican City, Italy
Skip the Line Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel Entrance Tickets
Likely to Sell Out

From $41.73

per person

Select Date and Travelers

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

- Secure your spot while staying flexible

  • 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
  • Offered in: English

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Overview

This Vatican Museums Skip-the-Line Tour is a great choice for first-time visitors and travelers that prefer to bypass the long lines that the Vatican can attract. Skip the entrance lines with your tour group and then explore the highlights of the museums, including the Sistine Chapel and Raphael's Rooms, with a guide leading the way. Plus, this tour also gives you skip-the-line access to St. Peter's Basilica (morning tours only; and not on Wednesdays).
  • Save hours of waiting and skip the long lines at the Vatican with your tour
  • Get more from your visit with a guide who knows the history of the attraction
  • Gain access to popular areas such as the Sistine Chapel and Gallery of Maps
  • Choose to upgrade to a small-group tour that limits your group size to 10 people

What's Included

  • All taxes, fees and handling charges
  • Guaranteed to skip the long lines
  • Skip the Line Access & Entrance Tickets to the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
  • St. Peter's Basilica access when available except Wednesdays (NOT included for tickets).
  • Food and drinks
  • Tips
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

  • Via Tunisi, 4, 00192 Roma RM, Italy

    Plan on arriving to our meeting point at least 15 minutes in advance of your selected departure time. 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.

End point

  • Vatican Museums
    00120, Vatican City

Ticket Redemption Point

Via Tunisi, 4, 00192 Roma RM, Italy

What To Expect

Meet your guide just steps the Vatican Museums to avoid the chaos just outside the entrance and make your way through the crowd and directly inside with skip-the-line tickets. Follow your guide through the vast complex of galleries to focus on the most important works of art. Visit Raphael’s Rooms, the Gallery of the Candelabras, Gallery of the Maps, and Pinecone Courtyard before ending your time inside the museum in the Sistine Chapel.

Morning tours—with the exception of Wednesdays, when the Pope holds his public audience—then continue on through the interior passage for skip-the-line entry to St. Peter’s Basilica, where you’ll leave your guide and have free time to explore the church and its masterpieces at your own pace.

Vatican Museums

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Cortile della Pigna

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Sphere within a Sphere (Pass By)

Museo Pio Clementino

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Galleria Delle Carte Geografiche

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Stanze di Raffaello

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Sistine Chapel

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

St. Peter's Basilica (Pass By)

St. Peter's Square (Pass By)

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • Most travelers can participate
  • 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.
  • At least 4 people are required for the guided tour options to take place.
  • Check-in is 15 minutes prior to the booked start time. Tickets are time sensitive and we cannot accomodate late arrivals.
  • Guests with a certified disability of over 75% are entitled to free entrance to the Vatican and do not require a ticket. For guests who are not self-sufficient, free entry is extended to a companion.
  • Due to the Jubilee, some monuments may be under restoration. Please pay attention to any messages we may send regarding potential changes.
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers

Cancellation Policy

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

Questions?

Visit the Viator Help Centre for any further questions.

Product code: 6700P15

Traveler Photos

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Reviews

4.7
5,336 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 5,336 reviews
Fantastic
Krista_K, Jan 2025
It was great your, with interesting tour! Gide was smart and funny, with a great attitude. I loved our small group.
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Dear Krista, Thank you so much for your feedback and kind words. We are thrilled to hear that you had such an excellent experience with us and our professional guide! We look forward to welcoming you again in the future! Warmest regards, EcoArt Team
Well constructed tour the...
William_M, Jan 2025
Well constructed tour the guide Ricardo was extremely knowledgeable explained everything and answered questions
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Dear William, Thank you so much for your kind words and for sharing your experience with us. We’re thrilled to hear that you found the tour well-constructed and that Riccardo’s knowledge and attentiveness enhanced your visit. Providing informative and engaging tours is our top priority, and feedback like yours inspires us to keep doing our best. We hope to welcome you again in the future for another memorable experience! Best regards, The EcoArt Team
We had a great tour with...
Jessica_B, Jan 2025
We had a great tour with Assunta! She was knowledgeable and we learned a lot and got to see a beautiful place
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Dear Jessica, We are truly grateful that you took the time to share your feedback with us! Assunta is an exceptional guide, and we are so pleased to know that her efforts made your visit special. At EcoArt, we always strive to provide the best possible service for our guests. We look forward to welcoming you again soon! Best regards, The EcoArt Team
Ricardo is the best. Wow....
Bjorn_S, Jan 2025
Ricardo is the best. Wow. The level of knowledge of every detail of the Vatican was incredible. Also we were travelling with a 1 year old and he was over the top considerate and helpful. 100% recommend. Will be booking again with this company for the other parts of Rome.
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Dear Bjorn, Thank you so much for your feedback and kind words. We are so happy to learn that you had such an excellent experience with us and our professional guide Riccardo! We look forward to seeing you again in the future! Warmest regards, EcoArt Team
Vatican museum tour
Colin_P, Jan 2025
Lot of walking. Lots of steps. We'll worth the visit. Absolutely stunning. We did not have a guide but found it very informative and visually beautiful. The Vatican museum is just amazing. The sistine chaple has all been said before.
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Dear Colin, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We are absolutely thrilled to hear that your experience with us was great! Knowing that we met your expectations motivates us to continue delivering exceptional service and unforgettable experiences. We genuinely look forward to welcoming you back in the future. Whether it’s for another memorable visit or to explore something new, we are here to make your next experience just as wonderful as the last. Warmest regards, EcoArt Team
Oscar is the greatest!
Barrie_L, Jan 2025
It was wonderful. Our guide was knowledgeable injected humor and stories into story of the Vatican. His instructions were clear and concise
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Dear Barrie, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your wonderful feedback with us! We are absolutely delighted to hear that our professional guide, Oscar, provided you with a perfect and highly informative experience. Oscar takes great pride in offering engaging and memorable tours, and it’s fantastic to know he made such a positive impression. We would be thrilled to welcome you back in the future! Whether it’s exploring the iconic Colosseum, the stunning beauty of Ponza Island, or the rich history of the Basilica di San Clemente, we’re excited to share more unforgettable experiences with you. Warmest regards, EcoArt Team
Check off another country and see what Roman Catholicism is about.
Deborah_N, Jan 2025
Vatican City is worth doing at least once. Impressive and extensive art collection (you literally can’t see the whole thing in one day, this tour gets you the best of the collection) as well as into the holiest place on earth for Roman Catholics via a skip the line process into Sistine Chapel. Check off another country while in Italy, walk distance from Rome.
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Dear Deborah, Thank you so much for your feedback. We are delighted to hear that your experience with us was absolutely perfect. It’s wonderful to know that our special “skip-the-line” option added extra comfort to your visit. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again in the future! Warmest regards, EcoArt Team
Very knowledgeable guide...
Haru_Q, Jan 2025
Very knowledgeable guide Sabina! She was aware of all the shortcuts to make the most of our visit avoiding long queues while her explanations were relevant and easy to understand.
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Dear Haru, Thank you so much for your feedback. We are delighted to hear that your tour experience with our professional guide, Sabina, was absolutely excellent. Sabina is truly one of our finest guides, known for her charisma, kindness, and exceptional expertise, and we’re thrilled that she made such a positive impression on your journey with us. Your kind words inspire us to continue offering outstanding service and memorable experiences. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again on another tour in the future! Warmest regards, EcoArt Team
Thanks Akio
caroline_c, Jan 2025
Akio was a great guide- informative and friendly We were lucky to be able to go through the Holy Door Awesome tour
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Dear Caroline, Thank you so much for sharing your feedback with us. We are thrilled to hear that your experience with our professional guide, Aiko, was both amazing and informative. It’s truly rewarding to know that her expertise and dedication made your tour so enjoyable and memorable. Your kind words inspire us to continue providing exceptional service and creating enriching experiences for all our guests. We look forward to welcoming you again in the future!d Warmest regards, EcoArt Team
Fantastic experience! Would recommend to family and friends
Adriana_B, Jan 2025
Sarah was very nice and fantastic at explaining the important things to notice. I appreciated her attention to detail without getting overly in depth about every little thing because there is obviously a lot to cover. She has an art history background which I think gave her a lot of credibility in my eyes and was very kind and let us know where all the water fountains and bathrooms were as well. Very helpful for the whole group and keeping everyone together.
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Dear Adriana, Thank you so much for sharing your feedback with us. We are delighted to hear that your experience with our professional guide, Sara, was nothing short of fantastic. It’s wonderful to know that her in-depth knowledge and expertise added such value to your tour and made it a memorable experience for you. Your kind words motivate us to continue delivering exceptional service and creating enriching experiences for our guests. We sincerely hope to welcome you back in the future for another extraordinary journey. Warmest regards, EcoArt Team
Lightning Tour
Evan_H, Jan 2025
Fantastic — but very quick — introduction to the many works of art and architecture at the Vatican /
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Dear Evan, Thank you for sharing your feedback with us. We are pleased to hear that you had a fantastic tour experience. Our team works hard to ensure that every guest has an informative and enjoyable time, and it’s great to know we succeeded in this regard. Regarding the duration of our tours, they are carefully designed to last 2.5 hours. This time frame strikes a balance between providing in-depth information while ensuring that the experience remains comfortable and engaging. During the tour, we focus on the most significant attractions within the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, and, when available, access to St. Peter’s Basilica, excluding Wednesdays. We believe this schedule allows for a fulfilling experience without overwhelming our guests. We appreciate your understanding and hope that you will consider joining us again in the future for another informative and enriching tour. Best regards, EcoArt Team
Fantastic tour with...
Lyndal_F, Jan 2025
Fantastic tour with Laura. So knowledgeable about the tour but also any extra questions we had. Amazing experience
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Dear Lyndal, Thank you so much for your kind feedback and these kind words! We’re thrilled to hear that our professional guide, Laura, was able to make your tour experience so enjoyable and informative. It’s wonderful to know that Laura’s expertise and professionalism shone through, answering all your questions in a way that enhanced your overall experience. Your words mean a lot to us and will undoubtedly be shared with Laura and our team. Feedback like yours motivates us to continue delivering exceptional service and memorable experiences. We truly look forward to the opportunity of welcoming you back in the future for another fantastic tour! Warmest regards, EcoArt Team
Great tour!
Jodi_B, Jan 2025
Marita was great. Group was the perfect size, she was knowledgeable and entertaining!! Loved it and would totally recommend!!!
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Dear Jodi, Thank you so much for your thoughtful feedback and kind words. We are absolutely thrilled to learn that you had such an excellent experience with us and that our professional guide was able to contribute to making your tour truly memorable. Our guides take great pride in delivering exceptional service and sharing their passion and expertise with all our guests, and it brings us immense joy to know this resonated with you. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again in the future, whether it’s for another tour or a new adventure. Warmest regards, EcoArt Team
History and Art and Intrigue: Beautiful renowned art at the Vatican site
Lisa_S, Jan 2025
Interesting and informative and entertaining history as told in a very captivating way by Fred, of a very important and fascinating, beautiful art/historical site.
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Dear Lisa, Thank you so much for your feedback and kind words. We are so happy to learn that you had such an excellent experience with us and our professional guide Federico! Hope to see you again in the future! Warmest regards, EcoArt Team
Not for Art lovers
Mary_W, Jan 2025
This tour is good if you're looking for a quick superficial tour of the Vatican Museums. Make sure you wear comfy shoes because get ready for the insane amount of staircases at the Vatican. This is not the tour's fault. However, there is so much to see at the Vatican and if you really want to experience the art, take a day and just walk through it as your own pace versus the bullet train guided tour. Learned a lot of info and appreciated our guide's deep knowledge. But would like to spend more time in the Sistine Chapel versus hearing about it from a poster in the Vatican courtyard.
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Dear Mary, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We sincerely regret to hear that your experience on the guided tour did not fully meet your expectations, and we appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns. First and foremost, we understand that guided tours may not suit everyone’s preferences, which is why we also offer alternative options, such as hosted tickets without a guided tour. These options are designed to provide flexibility for guests who may prefer to explore the Vatican Museums at their own pace. That said, guided tours do offer the unique advantage of deep insights into the Vatican’s treasures. Our professional guides are highly trained to share valuable context, historical details, and fascinating stories that bring the art and architecture to life. To enhance the experience further, our guides always ask guests if they would like to spend more time in specific areas, such as the Sistine Chapel. For those who wish to linger and absorb the beauty of this iconic masterpiece, there is always the opportunity to leave the group and explore independently at their leisure. Regarding your comment about the steps, we want to assure you that we make every effort to inform our clients in advance about the layout of the Vatican Museums, which do include numerous steps and stairs. This information is included in our communications and descriptions to ensure that our guests can prepare accordingly. However, we recognize that this may not always be sufficient, and we are committed to improving how we communicate such details to provide clearer expectations. We truly value your feedback, as it helps us refine our services and create better experiences for all our guests. Hope to see you again in the future! Warm regards, EcoArt Team
Laura was a great guide,...
Angelina_Z, Jan 2025
Laura was a great guide, super knowledgable and patient. She make this tour a great experience for us.
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Dear Angelina, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We are thrilled to hear that your tour experience was absolutely perfect and that our professional guide, Laura, played such an essential role in making it both enjoyable and informative. Laura is deeply passionate about sharing her knowledge and ensuring that each guest feels immersed and engaged during the tour. Your kind words are a wonderful testament to her dedication and expertise. It brings us immense joy to know that we were able to provide you with a memorable experience. We look forward to the opportunity to welcome you back for another fantastic journey in the future! Warm regards, EcoArt Team
Excellent tour guide
Mary_H, Jan 2025
This tour of the Sistine chapel/museum was wonderful. Our tour guide showed us everything with passion and understanding. It was wonderful to see how he truly loved his job.
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Dear Mary, Thank you so much for your kind feedback. We are thrilled to hear that you had such a perfect and informative tour experience with our professional guide. It’s wonderful to know that their passion truly resonated with you and added to your enjoyment. We hope to see you again in the future on one of our other exciting tours, such as those of the Colosseum, Basilica di San Clemente, or the beautiful Ponza Island. Warmest regards, EcoArt Team
1 traveler found this review helpful
Disappointed
maha_w, Jan 2025
Our tour guide did not stop a lot to see many of the areas I wanted to see and I was expecting more direction about skipping the line into the basilica. I still regret it by paying too much money for the tour I did not see much or enjoy it. , I wished if I enter the Vatican museum without the tour to pay much less and see much more. The audio was staticky ( not clear )
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Dear Maha, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback regarding your recent experience with us. We sincerely regret that your expectations were not fully met during your tour. The tour lasted 2.5 hours, a duration carefully planned to cover all the main attractions while ensuring the experience remains engaging and not overly lengthy. This balance allows for an enjoyable exploration of the highlights without fatigue. Your guided tour included the main attractions of the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, and, as an additional bonus, access to St. Peter's Basilica. The guide concluded the tour by leaving you directly at the Basilica with clear instructions for further exploration. Our guides are always available to answer questions and provide additional insights to enrich the experience. The price you paid included a range of services, such as coordination, customer support, and the expertise of a professional, licensed guide. For guests who prefer a more independent experience, we also offer an option of hosted tickets without a guide, which might better suit your preferences in the future. To address your comment about the audio equipment, we ensure the use of high-quality headsets to provide clear and comfortable communication in the often noisy and crowded conditions of the Vatican Museums. These headsets are specifically chosen to enhance the tour experience and maintain clarity throughout. We appreciate your feedback and hope this response helps clarify the considerations behind our tour design and services. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have further questions or suggestions: info@ecoarttravel.com Best regards, EcoArt Team
1 traveler found this review helpful
Excellent way to visit...
Jimmy_F, Jan 2025
Excellent way to visit the Vatican and learn more about the history of it as well as how it was built over time.
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Dear Jimmy, Thank you so much for your feedback and kind words. We are so happy to learn that you had such an excellent experience with us! Hope to see you again in the future! Warmest regards, EcoArt Team
1 traveler found this review helpful
Mrs
Jane_M, Jan 2025
Giseppe was an amazing tour guide, extremely knowledgeable and made the tour funny too! Very well Organised and completed in a very timely manner
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Dear Jane, Thank you for your feedback. It's perfect to hear that you had such a great and informative tour experience with our professional guide Giuseppe. We would be absolutely delighted to welcome you back in the future for our other tours in the Colosseum, Ponza Island, and Basilica di San Clemente. Warm regards, EcoArt Team
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