Rome
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Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica Tour - Skip The Line!

Badge of ExcellenceRoma, Italy
Vatican Highlights Tour Semi Private Skip The Line

From $90.89

Select Date and Travelers

Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance.
Rome Tours
All Rome Tours
Audio Guides
Kid-Friendly
Likely To Sell Out
Unique Experiences
  • 3 hours
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Overview

The Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica can be intimidating for first-time visitor, both for the wealth of its art and for the vast area they cover. With this tour, see the highlights with a guide for a comprehensive introduction to the Vatican Museums, Raphael Rooms, Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica that won’t overwhelm. Afterwards, enjoy free time to explore St. Peter's Square, and even climb the dome for views over Rome.
  • Skip the lines into the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica
  • Tour with a guide to concentrate on the highlights of the vast collection
  • Learn about works by Michelangelo, Caravaggio, and Raphael
  • Visit St. Peter’s Basilica and the Dome at your own pace

What's Included

  • Professional guide
  • Guaranteed to skip the long lines
  • Radio headsets (hear the guide clearly at all times)
  • All Fees and Taxes
  • Gratuities (optional)
  • Food & Beverage

Meeting And Pickup

Meeting point

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

    You will find your Vatican tour guide 'at the very bottom of the Stairs' of Via Tunisi, holding signs that say MAXIMUS TOURS. These stairs are directly opposite the entrance of the Vatican Museum. (We DO NOT meet on the steps of the Vatican Museums entrance you must cross the street).

End point

  • St. Peter's Basilica
    Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Città del Vaticano, Vatican City

    After visiting the inside of St. Peter's Basilica with your guide, the tour will then finish directly in front of the Basilica. Afterwards you are free to enter the church once again, visit the tombs of past Popes, or climb the dome of the Basilica.

What To Expect

Vatican Museums

2 hours 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Sistine Chapel

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

St. Peter's Basilica

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • St Peter's Basilica is a holy place of worship and is not subject to the rules of the Vatican Museums. The Basilica is subject to close with little to no warning and in this case, the tour will conclude in the Sistine Chapel.
  • All youth / students aged 18-25 years must present a valid photo student ID and document with date of birth. Students below the age of 18 will only be asked to show proof of age. If you do not arrive with the proper documents, the Vatican will not honour the reservation and a new full price ticket must be purchased at the cost of €15 / ticket.
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • A dress code is required to enter places of worship and selected museums. No bare knees, no bare shoulders no bare stomachs. You are allowed to wear shorts, dress and skirts however the cloth must fall long enough to cover the ball of the knees and shoulders for both men and women. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements.
  • A moderate amount of walking is involved.
  • Near public transportation
  • Not recommended for travelers with back problems
  • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
  • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travelers

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.

Traveler Photos

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Reviews

4.5
267 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 267 reviews
Incredibly Knowledgeable
Dan_K, Sep 2023
Tatiana was an amazing guide for us in the Vatican. She provided detailed and understandable information in what was a very crowed scenario of tourists for that day as we do not like crowds but nothing she could do about that. Tatiana did a fantastic job and we really enjoyed both the tour and the information provided to us. Keep up the great work.
Response from Host, Sep 2023
Thank you for your kind words! We're thrilled Tatiana's expertise made your Vatican tour enjoyable despite the crowds. We appreciate your positive feedback.
reliable convinient and friendly
Maria_V, Sep 2023
convenient easy to find booking reliable good option found the booking the day before so glad really enjoyed your friendly guide
Very Informative
Linda_F, Sep 2023
We were thankful we booked a guided tour as the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica were extremely crowded. Our guide, Elizabet, was very knowledgeable and gave us a lot of information about the artwork in the museums, the basilica, and the Sistine Chapel. There were 16 people in our group which was a manageable size compared to some other groups that were much larger. We were glad we didn’t have to navigate on our own. We recommend this tour if you’re interested in the great art of the world.
best tour !
Gabriella_D, Sep 2023
Elisabeth was the BEST tour guide i have ever had. she was so full of knowledge and i really enjoyed the tour ! i only wish it was longer as she was someone i would have loved to spent more time with. highly recommend .
Fantastic tour - be prepared for the crowds
Amber_F, Sep 2023
Tour was fantastic. The tour guide Elisabeth was very helpful and informative. The skip the line option is a massive plus given how crowded it was and how long you have to wait if you don't have skip the line as an option. The only limitation was the crowds. There are way too many tours moving through the Vatican Museum, which makes it difficult to stop and admire everything.
Worth the experience
Sathappan_S, Sep 2023
Great experience. Maura was a knowledgeable guide. Be prepared to walk a lot. It is extremely crowded. You can bring a stroller for families but there are plenty of steps. Maura will explain everything patiently. But due to the jam packed nature of the tour you might be walking fast. So get plenty of water and enjoy the history
Excellent tour
Kirsty_G, Sep 2023
23 Sept 23 we visited the Vatican Museums with Viator and we were blown away. We have used Viator once before in London so knew the name. Our guide was excellent, very knowledgeable and witty. She made the experience what it was. There was so much to see, and without Christiana, we wouldn't have known what was what.
Great Experience
Anne_C, Sep 2023
Overall experience was memorable. The Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica are stunning and steeped in history. Everything we thought it would be and more….
The Vatican is overcrowded right now!
Darren_S, Sep 2023
We loved the tour and especially the amount of information our guide supplied. We would rate this a 5 except for the overcrowding in the museums and Sistine Chapel. Really not the fault of the tour company but you need to know how crowded it is this year. It really reduced our level of enjoyment. We would suggest a guided tour though because there is so much history in the Vatican.
Outstanding guide!
Corinne_M, Sep 2023
We loved our tour with Giuseppe (Joe) for the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter’s Basilica Tour. His expert knowledge, sense of humor, attention to detail, and making sure everyone’s needs were taken care of, really made this tour an awesome experience. When we found out Joe was an art restorer and traveled around the world doing this, we knew immediately we were in good hands. One of the best tour guides we’ve ever had! The only reason we didn’t give this review 5 stars is that we expected to be guided through St. Peter’s Basilica, (look at the title of the tour) only to find out that part of the tour was self guided. You are left to roam around for yourself.
Vatican museums(3 of them), Sistene Chapel, At. Paul's Basilica.
Karen_E, Sep 2023
The whole tour was amazing. A packed full 3 hours, with Tatiana as our tour guide, who is incredibly knowledgeable and attentive.
Great day at the Vatican
Sarah_M, Sep 2023
Lovely tour guide ( Cris ?) who shared lots of stories and extra information we wouldn’t have picked up on our own. Meeting point was easy to find and the small group size was nice.
Origins
Regina_H, Sep 2023
The history of Michelangelo painting. The tour guide, Elizabeth, explained everything in detailed with clarity.
Response from Host, Sep 2023
Hello Thank you for your review. I am glad that you thought the tour guide Elizabeth did a good job and explained everything in clarity. We hope to see you back again soon.
The best tour
Camille_M, Sep 2023
Our guide was exceptional. So knowledgeable about the history of the church and buildings as well as artworks, The highlight of Rome.
Response from Host, Sep 2023
Dear Camille, Thank you for taking the time to share your positive experience with us. We are delighted to hear that your tour was the highlight of your trip to Rome! Our guides strive to provide a comprehensive and engaging journey through history, architecture, and art, and it sounds like your guide succeeded in doing just that. If you ever find yourself back in Rome, we would be honored to provide another enriching experience for you. Thank you again for choosing Maximus Tours for your tour, and for your high praise.
I done the full tour of the Vatican, Sisine Capel and the Basilika and was well worth the time.
Michele_N, Sep 2023
The guide Rosseta was absolutely amazing so friendly and the information she gave us couldn't have been better. She explained everything that everyone could hear and took the time to answer questions. A massive thank you for everything she showed us and can only say what amazing experience I had. ✨️
Response from Host, Sep 2023
Dear Michele, Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience with us. We are thrilled to hear that your guide was able to provide you with an amazing tour that was both informative and engaging. Her ability to explain things clearly and take the time to answer questions reflects the high standards we aim to uphold at Maximus Tours. Your positive feedback serves as a great encouragement to our team, inspiring us to continue delivering exceptional experiences to our valued guests like you. Should you find yourself back in the area, we hope to have the pleasure of guiding you once again for another amazing experience.
Skip the line Vatican tour
Theresa_F, Sep 2023
Loretta was an amazing tour guide! Extremely knowledgeable and organized throughout the tour. I would recommend Viator and Loretta for this tour. Skip the line was totally worth it
Response from Host, Sep 2023
Dear Theresa, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your wonderful experience with us! We're thrilled to hear that you had an amazing tour led by Loretta. Her dedication to providing insightful and organized tours is something we take great pride in, and we're so happy to hear that her efforts left a lasting impression on you. We're also pleased to know that you found value in our "Skip the Line" feature. Our goal is to make every aspect of your tour as enjoyable and hassle-free as possible, and it's heartening to know we've succeeded in that respect. Your recommendation means the world to both Maximus Tours and Loretta. Thank you for choosing us for your touring experience, and we can't wait to welcome you back for another memorable adventure. Warm regards, Maximus Tours
When in Rome
Belinda_K, Sep 2023
Worth it to skip queues and get detailed information from our guide who was quite passionate. We only had 5 in our small group which was great. I’m not a religious person but appreciated everything the Vatican offers.
Great tour!
maria_a, Sep 2023
Cristiana was an excellent tour guide. Everything ran smoothly and timely. She was very knowledgeable and would definitely recommend.
Very beautiful
GLORIA_B, Aug 2023
The entire tour. BUT wish they would’ve offered water. It was brutally hot and an elderly woman couldn’t go any further from the heat
Good
Kazeema_K, Aug 2023
Tour started on time. Meeting point directions were very clear. Had to leave early because it was really hot.
Response from Host, Sep 2023
Hello Thank you for taking the time to write this review. We are glad that you thought the tour was good and you found the meeting point easily. We cannot do much about the heat but we hope you will be able to join us again to finish the tour.
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