The Complete Vatican Tour With Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica
3.5 hours
Max 20
Why take this tour?
Highlights
- Skip the line at the Vatican Museums with pre-reserved group entrance tickets, saving hours of waiting
- Visit the three most essential areas of Vatican City - the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica
- Enjoy a specially designed route highlighting all the works you wanted to see and a few surprises you won’t expect
- Stand in utter awe under Michelangelo’s ceiling in the Sistine Chapel and learn the incredible stories behind its frescos
- Skip the line into St. Peter’s Basilica for a full guided tour including Bernini’s incomparable altar and Michelangelo’s "Pietà"
- With only 20 people (or fewer), a comfortable headset and an expert guide, your experience will be intimate and surpass your expectations
- Sites Visited
- Vatican Museums
- Sistine Chapel
- St. Peter’s Basilica
- St. Peter’s Square
- Raphael Rooms
- Apollo Belvedere & Laocoön & His Sons
- Pinecone Courtyard
- Gallery of the Candelabra
- Gallery of the Maps
- Gallery of the Tapestries
- Tour Includes
- Local English-speaking guide
- Skip-the-line ticket for Vatican Museums
- Skip-the-line access into St. Peter’s Basilica
- Headset
Take a walk through the Palaces of the Pope
Book Now
Total Customer Reviews: 6086
Verified Ratings
4.6 /5
based on 6086 Walks’ customer ratings
Rating summary by category
Latest reviews
Excellent
Our tour guide was fantastic. Extremely knowledgeable, and enthusiastic.
Verified · Sandra · Oct 30, 2024 · United Kingdom · Female · 45 to 54 years
Great
Marco was an excellent tour guide for the Complete Vatican Tour With Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica. He was very knowledgable and had unique, interesting stories to share about the magnificent artists Michaelangelo and Raphael, as well as other historical events and characters. I definitely recommend Walks for your tour needs.
Verified · Colleen · Oct 30, 2024 · USA · Female · 55 to 64 years
Excellent
We loved our tour with Stefano. He was so knowledgeable and made the tour great for us. Would recommend this tour to everyone.
Verified · Yvonne · Oct 29, 2024 · USA · Female · 55 to 64 years
Great
Dario was excellent and very knowledgeable, the tour was well organized.
Verified · James · Oct 29, 2024 · USA · Male · 25 to 34 years
Great
Excellent over all! Booking process was so very easy and there was always a very helpful and friendly available at the end of the phone if we had any question. The meeting place was perfect. I short walk from the Vatican but not crowded and very well organised. The tour guide, Nico, was brilliant! Explained what we were about to see in detail but it was never boring, please than him for us.
The only thing that let it down, and this was not WALK TOURS fault at all - there are no restriction on number being allowed in - other tours, people just buying tickets on the day. The place was so packed with people, especially the Sistine Chapel and St Peters, in fact, if there was a fire or incident we dread to think what could have happened, it was dangerous - we felt very unsafe. That said, Nico and the WALK team were fantastic.
Verified · Gillian · Oct 29, 2024 · United Kingdom · Female · 65 to 74 years
FAQs
Will St. Peter's Basilica be open during the 2025 Jubilee?
St. Peter's Basilica will be open throughout 2025 and we aim to include it on our tours as much as possible. However, starting December 2024, access to St. Peter's Basilica may be limited due to the Vatican's Jubilee Year 2025, which includes special events and ceremonies. These closures are determined by the Vatican and are beyond our control. Thank you for your understanding.
I am in a wheelchair/have a mobility impairment. Can I take this tour?
The Vatican Museums are equipped with elevators for wheelchair access, but they are not located on the group tour route. If you have a mobility impairment and/or use a wheelchair please contact our customer service department at [email protected] and we will be happy to work out a suitable alternative.
Does St. Peter's Basilica have a dress code?
Yes, although you aren't expected to dress as formally as if you were attending a mass. Unless you actually are attending a mass. The most important rule is NO SHORTS, that applies to both men and women. Shoulders must also be covered, so no tank tops. Small bags and umbrellas are permitted inside but large bags have to be checked at the entrance, next to the official audio-guides desk.
Is this tour accessible for wheelchairs, strollers or for those with mobility impairments?
Unfortunately due to the nature of this tour it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments, or for wheelchairs or strollers. Please contact us at [email protected] so we can arrange your visit.
What happens if St. Peter's Basilica is closed on my tour?
The special access passage between the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica is closed on Wednesdays and subject to other unexpected closures during special celebrations/festivities, including the Easter ceremonies. On such days we will instead explore the magnificent Pinoteca Gallery. Your guide will still give you an introduction to the church should you wish to visit this on your own at a later occasion.
I want to take a selfie in the Raphael Rooms, can I bring my selfie stick?
No. Selfie sticks are strictly forbidden inside the Vatican Museums, along with flash photography. However, visitors are allowed to take non-flash photographs anywhere besides the Sistine Chapel.
What items can I NOT take into the Vatican Museums
Knives, scissors, and other cutting tools must also be deposited in the cloakroom as a precaution against harming the artwork inside. No hammers, either, as one was once used to smash Michelangelo's Pietá. This probably goes without saying, but firearms are also strictly prohibited for visitors within the Vatican Museums and you can't check them in the cloakroom.
I've heard the Vatican has a strict dress code. What should I wear?
It does, but it isn't anything too formal. The big rule is to make sure your shoulders and knees are covered - that applies to both men and women. Also remember that shorts of any length are not allowed at all in St. Peter's Basilica so if you are visiting both the Vatican Musuems and the Basilica, wear trousers or a long skirt. Occasionally visitors get away with wearing a bit less but it’s best not to risk it. Hats are also not allowed.
Walks cannot be held responsible for guests who are refused entrance due to inappropriate dress so please remember to cover up.
IMPORTANT: Can I bring a bag into the Vatican Museums?
Yes, as long as it's within a certain size. You cannot bring any bag, backpack suitcase or container larger that 40cm x 35cm x 15cm into the Vatican Museums. In fact, size limits apply to all items; because of the sheer number of people that visit the Museums, space is at a premium. You can’t enter with medium to large umbrellas, any umbrellas with spiked tips, camera tripods, signage (apart from signs used by certified guides) or walking sticks – except those required by disabled visitors.
All of these items can be left in the cloakroom, which is located at the entrance to the Museums. This means that you will need to walk 15 - 20 minutes back here after you finish your tour at St Peter's Basilica. On our afternoon tours you may need to leave the tour early to collect your bag before the cloakroom closes.
Why can't I take photos inside the Sistine Chapel?
When the chapel was restored in 1990 the biggest donors to the project (donating a whopping $4.2 million) were a Japanese television network. In return, they received exclusive rights to photograph and film inside and quickly banned any professional photographers from taking pictures. Although they didn't mind if tourists took photos, the Vatican guards decided to enforce the rule on everyone because it was impractical to differentiate between a normal visitor and who was a professional photographer. The Japanese network's exclusive contract has expired now but the rule persists. If you try to take any images in the Chapel Vatican, security is authorized to make you delete them.
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