Skip the Line: Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Tour + Basilica

4.7 (6,542 reviews) Rome, Italy
Duration1h - 3h
Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish
Group sizeUp to 20 travelers
Skip the linePriority entrance

Overview

Save time and energy at the Vatican Museums with skip-the-line, timed entry that lets you bypass long queues and head straight inside. Explore the highlights with your guide, including the Sistine Chapel, Raphael’s Rooms, and the Gallery of Maps, while learning the rich history, art, and architecture behind these masterpieces. With expert commentary, you’ll gain a deeper appreciation of the Vatican’s treasures and enjoy a more meaningful visit. Upgrade to a small-group tour for a more personalized experience, or extend your visit with priority entry to St. Peter’s Basilica. Prefer to focus only on St. Peter’s? Select the Basilica-only option for a guided visit inside.
Short on time? Opt for the 1.5-hour tour to breeze through the Vatican Museums and be among the first to enter the Sistine Chapel.

Options

EXPRESS Small Group Tour

1.5 hr Small Group: Guided Tour in English. (Basilica NOT included).
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Express Tour: 1.5 hr Small Group Guided Tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & Raphael Rooms.
St. Peter's Basilica is NOT included.
Starting point:
Via Tunisi, 4, 00192 Roma RM, Italy

Hosted Ticket Only (No guide)

SKIP-THE-LINE TICKET: Multilanguage Audioguide app included.
Hosted Ticket (no guide): Hosted skip-the-line access to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, (no guided tour). St. Peter's Basilica NOT included.
Starting point:
Via Tunisi, 4, 00192 Roma RM, Italy

Small Group Guided Tour

Max 20 guests or less: Guided Tour in English. (No Basilica)
Small Group without Basilica: Includes Guided Tour of the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel in a Small Group.
St. Peter's Basilica is not included.
Starting point:
Via Tunisi, 4, 00192 Roma RM, Italy

Semi-Private Tour + Basilica

Max 10 guests or less: Premium Guided Tour in English. (St. Peter's Basilica access included)
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Guided Tour + Basilica: Semi-Private Guided Tour of the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel + St. Peter’s Basilica Skip the Line Access (no tour inside)
Starting point:
Via Tunisi, 4, 00192 Roma RM, Italy

FIRST ACCESS Semi-Private Tour

Max 10 guests or less: Premium Guided Tour in English with first access of the day (No Basilica)
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
First Access without Basilica: Semi-Private Guided Tour with First Access of the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel.
St. Peter's Basilica is not included.
Starting point:
Via Tunisi, 4, 00192 Roma RM, Italy

Private Tour

Exclusive Private Tour : Private Tour in English of the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chaepel. Includes Skip the Line (St. Peter’s Basilica not included)
Starting point:
Via Tunisi, 4, 00192 Roma RM, Italy

Basilica Only (No Museums)

St. Peter's Basilica Only: Small Group Guided Tour in English of St.Peter's Basilica with skip the line access. (Vatican Museums & Dome NOT included).
Duration: 1 hour
IMPORTANT: Go directly to the meeting point at Borgo Santo Spirito 17, without showing up at Via Tunisi 4.
Starting point:
Borgo Santo Spirito, 17, 00193 Roma RM, Italy

Small Group Tour + Basilica

Max 20 guests or less: Guided Tour in English. (St. Peter's Basilica access included)
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Guided Tour + Basilica: Small Group Guided Tour of the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel + St. Peter’s Basilica Skip the Line Access (no tour inside).
Starting point:
Via Tunisi, 4, 00192 Roma RM, Italy

Semi-Private Guided Tour

Max 10 guests or less: Premium Guided Tour in English. (No Basilica)
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Semi-Private without Basilica: Includes Guided Tour of the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel in a Semi-Private Group.
St. Peter's Basilica is not included.
Starting point:
Via Tunisi, 4, 00192 Roma RM, Italy

FIRST ACCESS + Basilica max 20

Max 20 guests or less: Guided Tour in English with First Access of the Day. (St. Peter's Basilica access included)
First Access + Basilica: Small Group Guided Tour of the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel + St. Peter’s Basilica Skip the Line Access (no tour inside)
Starting point:
Via Tunisi, 4, 00192 Roma RM, Italy

FIRST ACCESS + Basilica max 10

Max 10 guests or less: Premium Guided Tour in English with First Access of the Day. (St. Peter's Basilica access included)
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
First Access + Basilica: Semi-Private Guided Tour of the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel + St. Peter’s Basilica Skip the Line Access (no tour inside)
Starting point:
Via Tunisi, 4, 00192 Roma RM, Italy

What's included

  • Direct Access to St. Peter's Basilica (only when option is selected)
  • All taxes and fees
  • Professional & Passionate Art Historian Guide (when guided tour option is selected)
  • Professional Headsets to hear your guide clearly (when guided tour option is selected)
  • Skip the Line Entrance to Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel (except for the Basilica Only option)
  • Access to Pinecone Courtyard, Raphael Rooms, Gallery of Maps & Pio Clementino Museum
  • Food and drinks
  • Tips
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off

What to expect

  1. Vatican Museums
    5m · Admission ticket included
    Visit the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel on your own or with a guide (if option selected). Tickets provide skip the line access.
  2. 10m · Admission ticket included
    The Belvedere Courtyard offers one of the most breathtaking views in the Vatican, with a stunning panorama of St. Peter's Dome and the Vatican Gardens. It's the perfect spot to pause and take in the beauty of the Vatican from above.
  3. Cortile della Pigna
    10m · Admission ticket included
    Explore one of the Vatican's many open air courtyards. This one is decorated with a giant bronze pinecone sculpture, giving the courtyard its name.
  4. Sphere within a Sphere
    Pass by
    Access Vatican Museums and discover the famous "Sphere within a Sphere" sculpture.
  5. Museo Pio Clementino
    20m · Admission ticket included
    The Vatican Museums are divided into many smaller, unique museums. Among them, the Museo Pio Clementino is likely the most important, and the many highlights it contains cannot be missed! Stop at the Octagonal Courtyard for the Laocoön and His Sons, and the Apollo Belvedere - or the Round Room for the giant marble bathtub patrolled by an enormous bronze statue of Heracles. Spot a sculpture of your favorite fauna at the Room of the Animals, or just marvel at the 3D painted vaults of the Gallery of the Candelabra.
  6. 10m · Admission ticket included
    A striking corridor within the Vatican Museums, named for the pairs of elaborately carved marble candelabra lining its length. Alongside these ancient Roman sculptures, visitors can admire a rich collection of classical statues and vibrant frescoed ceilings, offering a glimpse into antiquity before continuing toward the Gallery of Tapestries and Maps.
  7. 10m · Admission ticket included
    The Gallery of Tapestries is one of the most fascinating halls within the Vatican Museums, showcasing a stunning collection of monumental tapestries woven from designs by Raphael's school in the 16th century. Depicting scenes from the life of Christ, the intricate details and vivid craftsmanship make this gallery a must-see stop on any Vatican Museums tour.
  8. Galleria Delle Carte Geografiche
    20m · Admission ticket included
    One of the most popular galleries of the Museums, make a stop here and try to spot the Italian cities you have travelled to, or your ancestor's hometown. These hand-painted maps, dating to the late 1500's, can also be admired for the exquisite attention to detail and embellishments. See if you can spot the nod to Christopher Columbus' voyage across the Atlantic...
  9. Stanze di Raffaello
    20m · Admission ticket included
    Admire Raphael's Rooms, painted by the master himself and his pupils around the same time as the Sistine Chapel, and inspired and challenged by Michelangelo's greatest masterpiece.
  10. Sistine Chapel
    20m · Admission ticket included
    Michelangelo's masterpiece, take time to admire the vaults.
  11. St. Peter's Basilica
    30m · Admission ticket included
    Only for tours where the option to access St. Peter's Basilica is selected in the booking process, access directly from the Sistine Chapel to the Basilica, skipping the outside security lines, will be provided. Your tour will end at the entrance to the Basilica and, after an introduction, you will be free to explore on your own inside.
  12. St. Peter's Square
    Pass by
    An introduction to the Square of St. Peter's will be provided for tours where access to St. Peter's Basilica is included.
  13. Vatican City
    Pass by
    Visit Vatican City

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

In front of 'Al San Michele Bar Caffetteria' - Borgo Santo Spirito n.17.
Your guide will be waiting for you holding a flag with the "EcoArt" logo.
The nearest metro stop is Line A ‘Ottaviano'.

Meeting point

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

Only for options where the Basilica is explicitly included, the tour will end at St. Peter's Basilica where you will be free to explore on your own.

End point

All options that do not include St. Peter's Basilica will end inside the Vatican Museums.

Additional information

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • 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.
  • Important: St. Peter's Basilica is not included in all tour options. If you wish to visit the Basilica as part of your experience, please ensure you select a tour where it is explicitly listed as included.
  • Please include all names as they appear on your passports when booking. Tickets are non-transferable and if the names on your booking do not match your ID you may be denied access and will not be due a refund. Any name changes must be communicated at least 72 hours in advance.
  • Please bring an ID or a photo/copy of ID.
  • Important: The ‘Basilica Only’ option it does NOT include access to the Vatican Museums.

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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