Private Vatican Museums Tour with Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica | 3 hours

517 Reviews | Rome
Select Date and Travelers
You can select up to 10 travelers in total.
Adult (19-99) Minimum: 1, Maximum: 10
2
Child (7-18) Minimum: 0, Maximum: 9
0
Infant (0-6) Minimum: 0, Maximum: 9
0
Free Cancellation For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Vatican Private - English
2 Adults x $635.14
$1,270.28
Approx Total
$1,270.28
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes

Inclusions / Exclusions

  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English
  • Reserved Skip-the-Line Access to the Vatican Museums
  • Carefully curated private tour just for your group
  • Reserved Access to the Sistine Chapel
  • English-speaking expert guide exclusively for your group
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off

Overview

What better way to see the Vatican than with your own private guide? Do just that on this 3-hour walking tour, and explore the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica with customized commentary. From the splendor of Michelangelo’s “The Last Judgement” fresco to the intrigue of an architectural optical illusion in St Peter’s Square, this in-depth tour charts the stories behind the Vatican’s sacred sites. Even better, the tour provides access that allows you to skip all the entrance lines — even the priority ones.

Meeting points

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).

End point

Open in Google Maps

The tour ends outside Sistine Chapel.

Itinerary

  • Vatican City

    Experience the UNESCO-listed Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel effortlessly with a private guided tour. Say goodbye to the hassle of long queues, giving yourself the gift of extra time to explore these incredible museums with an Expert Guide just to yourself. Enjoy a seamless and unforgettable journey through art and history!

    5 minutes

  • Vatican Museums

    Kick off your Vatican adventure by meeting your private guide, who'll whisk you past the lines with your skip-the-line ticket. Customize your experience by sharing specific interests or requests, whether it's delving into Vatican history or juicy, sometimes-scandalous anecdotes about its inhabitants. Embark on a personalized tour with your guide, exploring diverse galleries like Raphael’s Rooms, the Gallery of Maps, the Gallery of Tapestries, and the charming Pinecone Courtyard. Dive into tales of Renaissance giants such as Raphael and Michelangelo, who crafted masterpieces for the popes, while also uncovering intriguing stories of artistic rivalries. Your journey through the Vatican promises an exclusive blend of history, art, and captivating narratives.

    2 hours

  • Sistine Chapel

    Finally, arrive at the renowned Sistine Chapel, celebrated for Michelangelo's iconic frescoes—The Last Judgment and The Creation of Adam—adorning its sacred ceiling. Inside, immerse yourself in the silent majesty of these masterpieces. While talking is prohibited, your guide will share insightful commentary just outside the chapel doors, ensuring you don't miss a moment of this awe-inspiring experience.

    20 minutes

  • St. Peter's Basilica

    Through a dedicated access, step into the grandeur of St. Peter's Basilica, an architectural marvel that stands as the epitome of spiritual and artistic excellence. Marvel at Michelangelo's iconic Pieta, gaze up at the breathtaking dome, and absorb the sacred atmosphere. The heart of Vatican City, this basilica offers a profound encounter with history, faith, and awe-inspiring beauty. Embark on a journey through the largest church in the world, where every detail tells a story of centuries past. St. Peter's Basilica invites you to witness the intersection of divine inspiration and human achievement, leaving an indelible mark on your soul. Your private guide will make sure you do not miss a detail.

    30 minutes

  • La Pieta

    Next, walk over to St Peter’s Basilica, the Italian Renaissance church that’s home to more artistic masterpieces, most famously Michelangelo’s La Pietà sculpture and Bernini’s bronze baldachin altar canopy.

    5 minutes

  • St. Peter's Square (Pass By)

    As your tour ends in St Peter's Basilica, head to St. Peter's Square, an iconic masterpiece in Rome. It embraces visitors with its grandeur. Designed by Bernini, the vast elliptical space is encircled by a majestic colonnade, symbolizing the Church's embrace. The central obelisk and fountains add splendor, while the stunning façade of St. Peter's Basilica stands as a beacon of architectural brilliance, inviting pilgrims and tourists alike to marvel at the heart of Vatican City.

Sample Menu

Additional Info

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • Visitors must pass through metal detectors at the security check point; expect to wait 20-30 minutes to clear security
  • Only small bags are allowed
  • Saint Peter’s Basilica is subject to last-minute closures for religious ceremonies. When this occurs, we're happy to offer customers an extended tour of the Vatican Museums. While we endeavour to tell tour groups ahead of time if there are any planned disruptions to the Basilica's opening hours, this is not always possible and in these cases we are unable to provide refunds or discounts.
  • On Wednesdays, due to the Papal Audiences, access to St Peter's Basilica is not possible until 1pm

Free Cancellation

November 16100% refund
November 17No refund

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 good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews

4.7

517 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
  • 5 stars
    438
  • 4 stars
    41
  • 3 stars
    9
  • 2 stars
    12
  • 1 star
    17

Reviews by TravelOne travelers

Showing 1-5 of 438 reviews with 5 stars

Fabulous Vatican

Published on Jan, 2025

Paula H was a great guide. Very informative and helpful. I would highly recommend this tour and our guide. She was able to answer any and all questions we had.

A good way to get a fast paced overview of the vatican highlights

Published on Jan, 2025

Of course it's busy, but at least our guide (Amy) kept us moving - at the start it seemed a bit fast paced, but there's a reason for that - the place is huge. As it was our tour lasted 3 hours and we felt we'd only got a taster of the museums. The setup is good - Amy talks into a microphone and we all have earpieces so you can hear what she's saying even if you stop to look at something that catches your eye. That is much more effective than trying to all stay close enough together in the crowds. This was our first trip to the vatican and we felt we'd have an idea where we would go on our own if we wanted to come back again. Amy was cheerful and engaging - which you need on a three hour yomp!

Paula H tour guide

Published on Dec, 2024

Our tour guide Paula H was more than knowledgeable! Thank you so much for an amazing experience! She is a definite recommendation to any tourist who is interested in visiting the Vatican

Best guided tour!

Published on Dec, 2024

Amy was by far the best tour guide we’ve had in any city. She was not just knowledgeable about the Vatican, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica but she was funny, entertaining and made it such a memorable trip. I can’t recommend booking a tour with her. She will make your trip 100x better!

Christian the guide excellent. Astonishing place. Interesting family fun. Teenagers loved it

Published on Dec, 2024

Christian, our guide, was so knowledgeable, amusing and helped enormously negotiating when the door to the basillica was unexpectedly closed. So informative and keen to answer questions with lots of amusing asides. Great guide and totally recommend this tour. Would have missed so much if had not gone with a guide so hugely enhanced the experience. So much to see and amazing place - descriptions do not do it justice The early start was worth it and the breakfast tour aspect great as meant missed most of the crowds and the food was surprisingly good. Recommend the pancakes and scrambled eggs!

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