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Faster Than Skip-the-Line: Vatican, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica Tour

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Roma, Italy
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Faster Than Skip-the-Line: Vatican, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica Tour
See More (1277)
1277

From $60.25

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Learn more about our Covid-19 response.

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Free Cancellation
up to 24 hours in advance
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icon2 hours 30 minutes  (Approx.)
Mobile ticket
iconOffered in: English and 5 more
Keeping you safe during COVID-19
What you can expect during your visit
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Temperature checks for travelers upon arrival
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Safety precautions are provided by the tour operator and are not checked by Viator for accuracy
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(888) 651-9785

Overview

Discover the Vatican on a tour of St. Peter’s Basilica, Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Museums. Navigate the vast complex of rooms, artwork, and history with a guide, who brings the ancient collection to life. Skip all the entrance lines to explore halls such as the Gallery of the Maps and Raphael’s Rooms; step inside the Sistine Chapel to admire ‘The Creation of Adam’ by Michelangelo; and hear little-known tales about sacred St. Peter’s Basilica (when the option is selected). Choose from several departures, or upgrade to an evening experience or small-group tour with 10 people.
  • Enjoy priority access through a Vatican Partner entrance, and tour the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica (when the option is selected)
  • See captivating sites such as the Raphael’s Rooms, Gallery of the Maps, and Bramante’s Pinecone Courtyard
  • Choose from four different times, or upgrade to a small-group tour (maximum 10)
  • Audio headsets are provided to make sure you can hear your guide clearly at all times (when group size is 20 people)

Why Travelers Choose This Tour

“Skip the line” with this tour means using a special entrance to bypass even the fast-track line.
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From $60.25

Lowest Price Guarantee
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Professional guide
Headsets to hear the guide clearly (when group size is 20 people)
Priority Access to the Vatican
Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Food and drinks
St. Peter's Basilica is not included until further notice

Departure Point

Via Tunisi, 4, 00192 Roma RM, Italy

Return Details

Sistine Chapel, 00120, Vatican City
Vatican tours with skip-the-line access are sought-after, so even the fast-track lines are long. This experience includes admission through a special entrance, so there are no lines whatsoever. Follow your guide directly inside the vast collection of private artwork that is the Vatican Museums.

Walk through the Gallery of the Maps and Gallery of Tapestries as you listen to tales of Vatican intrigue. Gaze at artifacts such as timeworn yet fascinating Italian maps, and admire the sculptures and candelabras of the Gallery of Candelabras. Stop for photos in front of the Pigna statue in the Pinecone Courtyard, designed by Donato Bramante.

Raphael’s Rooms are a series of galleries that highlight the talent of the lauded Renaissance artist himself. Pass through the rooms, and then step inside the Sistine Chapel—the pope’s personal place of worship and a highlight of any Vatican trip. Stand beneath Michelangelo’s 'The Creation of Adam,' which cloaks the ceiling, and admire 'The Last Judgement,' his colorful mural that adorns a wall.

After your Sistine Chapel visit, continue to St. Peter’s Basilica, the symbolic heart of the Catholic church. Learn about its history and see more Vatican art including Michelangelo’s 'La Pietà,' which was sculpted when the maestro was only 24 years old. Gaze at the baldachino by Bernini, and then say goodbye to your guide in St. Peter’s Square.

Keep in mind that St. Peter's Basilica and St. Peter's Square might be unavailable on Wednesdays due to the weekly Papal Audience. As an alternative, enjoy an extended itinerary within the Vatican Museums, which still includes the Sistine Chapel and Raphael's Rooms. If you want to make sure that St. Peter's Basilica and Square are included in your tour, don't select Wednesday as your travel date.

If you want to enhance your Vatican experience, select one of the following experiences:

Small-Group Tour in the morning: Enter the Vatican Museums as soon as it opens, before the other lines enter. Your tour is limited to 10 people for personal attention and information about the Vatican’s must-see sights.

Tour in the evening: Explore the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel after the doors close to the general public. A visit to St. Peter’s Basilica is not included.
Itinerary
Stop At:  
Vatican Museums
Vatican tours with skip-the-line access are sought-after, so even the fast-track lines are long. This experience includes admission through a special entrance, so there are no lines whatsoever. Follow your guide directly inside the vast collection of private artwork that is the Vatican Museums. Walkthrough the Gallery of the Maps and Gallery of Tapestries as you listen to tales of Vatican intrigue. Gaze at artifacts such as timeworn yet fascinating Italian maps, and admire the sculptures and candelabras of the Gallery of Candelabras. Stop for photos in front of the Pigna statue in the Pinecone Courtyard, designed by Dontao Bramante.
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Duration: 1 hour 
Admission Ticket Included
Stop At:  
Stanze di Raffaello
Raphael’s Rooms are a series of galleries that highlight the talent of the lauded Renaissance artist himself.
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Duration: 15 minutes
Admission Ticket Included
Stop At:  
Sistine Chapel
Pass through the rooms, and then step inside the Sistine Chapel — the pope’s personal place of worship and a highlight of any Vatican trip. Stand beneath Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam, which cloaks the ceiling, and admire The Last Judgement, his colorful mural that adorns a wall.
... MoreLess
Duration: 20 minutes
Admission Ticket Included
Stop At:  
St. Peter's Basilica
After your Sistine Chapel visit, continue to St Peter’s Basilica, the symbolic heart of the Catholic church. Learn about its history and see more Vatican art including Michelangelo’s La Pietà, which was sculpted when the maestro was only 24 years old. Gaze at the baldachino by Bernini, and then say goodbye to your guide in St Peter’s Square. Keep in mind that St Peter's Basilica and St Peter's Square might be unavailable on Wednesdays due to the weekly Papal Audience. As an alternative, you'll be offered an extended itinerary within the Vatican Museums, which still includes the Sistine Chapel and Raphael's Rooms. If you want to make sure that St Peter's Basilica and Square are included in your tour, don't select Wednesday as your travel date. If you want to enhance your Vatican experience, select one of the following experiences: Small-Group Tour at 8:10am: Enter the Vatican Museums as soon as it opens, before the other lines enter.
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Duration: 30 minutes
Admission Ticket Included
Pass By:  
St. Peter's Square
Passing by
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Stop At:  
Vatican City
In just three hours, we’ll introduce you to the artistic treasures of the Vatican City and its main attraction Vatican Museums in an enjoyable and hassle-free manner. From the enormous basilica built over the tomb of St. Peter to Michelangelo's ground-breaking frescoes in the Sistine Chapel, you will see how the Popes used art and culture to spread their message. You’ll leave not just appreciating the Vatican but having understood it too.
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Duration: 3 hours 
Admission Ticket Free
  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Please bring your own mask on the tour. The wearing of mask is compulsory in order to comply with health & Safety regulations. Our guide will be wearing mask during the tour as well.
  • At the meeting point there will be social distancing taking place. Our guide will organize the group upon your arrival, but we kindly ask yourself to be conscience in taking social distance at all the time from others.
  • Following the new regulations regarding Coronavirus, at the entrance your body temperature will be checked. If a body temperature above 37.5 ° C is registered, you will not be able to enter the site.
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
  • We regret that we are unable to accommodate guests with wheelchairs or any impairments requiring special assistance. We are also unable to accommodate strollers or baby carriages on our group tours.
  • Guided visits are not allowed inside St. Peter's on afternoon tours due to religious functions. In this case guides provide full commentary from the Basilica's porch, and guests can visit the interior at their own pace without the guide
  • Tours departing Wednesday: There is a possibility that St Peter's Basilica and St Peter's Square will be unavailable due to the weekly Papal Audience during which access to St Peter's Basilica is closed.
  • Avoid bringing large purses, bags, or backpacks on your tour
  • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • We may experience delays in getting through mandatory security checks when entering these venues
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers
  • OPERATED BY City Wonders Ltd

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

  • 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.

Learn more about cancellations.

The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Q:
What is the policy on face masks and attendee health during Faster Than Skip-the-Line: Vatican, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica Tour?
A:
The policies on face masks and attendee health are:

  • Face masks required for travelers in public areas
  • Face masks required for guides in public areas
  • Temperature checks for travelers upon arrival
See all safety measures taken by Faster Than Skip-the-Line: Vatican, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica Tour.
Q:
What is the social distancing policy during Faster Than Skip-the-Line: Vatican, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica Tour?
A:
The policy on social distancing is:

  • Social distancing enforced throughout experience
See all safety measures taken by Faster Than Skip-the-Line: Vatican, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica Tour.
Q:
What is the maximum group size during Faster Than Skip-the-Line: Vatican, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica Tour?
A:
This activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers.

See all safety measures taken by Faster Than Skip-the-Line: Vatican, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica Tour.

Traveler Photos

See More (1277)

Traveler Tips

  • "Arrive early since it is a bit difficult to locate the tour guide to check in." See review
  • "Bring water with you as you won’t find any inside." See review
  • "Remember to wear appropriate clothing for the Vatican museums, otherwise there's street sellers with shawls you can purchase so you can enter the holy areas of the museum." See review

Reviews

4.5
star-4.5
24,711 Reviews
5 stars
17,778
4 stars
4,766
3 stars
1,163
2 stars
547
1 star
457
Reviews by Viator travelers
Showing 1-10 of 24,711 reviews
star-5
amazing
paul_p
, Oct 2020
awesome experience the tour guide was very knowledgeable and passionate and the tour was amazing.. Well worth doing no queuing great value
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star-3
Not so good
Simone_M
, Oct 2020
Gate to Basilica from Cappella Sistina was closed due to COVID. The number of people in the group was higher than expected (20).
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star-2
Disappointing tour
Janice_B
, Oct 2020
Firstly, the guide Elisabeta was surperb. However, please note that you are requested to meet at the bottom of the steps whereas, it should be the top! We were late as we were looking for the meeting point. It is supposed to be a group of 10 or less. There were 11! But the most dissappointing aspect of the tour was although it was advertised as a tour of St Peter's, it wasn't. The whole time was spent in the Vatican museum which was not the tour I wanted!
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star-5
Vatican experience
Bridgette_K
, Oct 2020
An Incredible experience! Our guide Lindee was very knowledgeable and extremely friendly, answered any questions we had with ease. The guided tour really helped us understand our surroundings and historic architecture. I would wholeheartedly recommend this trip, the Vatican museum was like no other I have seen so many Treasures, the Sistine Chapel was truly amazing.
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star-1
Meeting time
Clara
, Oct 2020
Unfortunately, they booked the tickets for the Vatican Museums too close to the meeting time, so even though we arrived early, they had already left and there was no way we could join the tour or get a refund. Please make sure they inform you of the exact time your tour is supposed to start, because with a different company we did not have this problem.
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star-5
Worth every penny
Alison_C
, Sep 2020
Sylvia was an amazing tour guide, full of knowledge and constantly interacting with all of us. Sylvia gets a full 10 stars from us, thank you. Highly recommend Alison & Steve from Manchester
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star-4
A must-see tour
Lou_B
, Sep 2020
We were very much looking forward to the Vatican and Sistine chapel tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable and clearly passionate about the chapel. It did feel slightly too long; it was a very hot day and wearing a mask didn’t help. We did lose a few members on the way and I must admit I felt a little faint towards the end. The gardens are very pretty and the chapel is just spectacular. A must see!
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star-1
False advertising
Dione_R
, Sep 2020
So Disappointed with this tour. Complete false advertising we got a tour of Vatican museum and so much information giving that we did not remember a thing every part of the museum the guide talked the whole way tru so we spent the whole time listening and did not get time to explore because when she finished speaking we wore rushed to the next part. We wore stood in one spot at the start of the museum tour for about half an hour listening to information about the Sistine chapel which we totally forgot by the time we got there because of so much information that was given. There was no tour or skip the line for at St peters basilica as the tour guide left us before we even got to the Sistine chapel. Is was not worth the price we paid and we wore very very disappointed leaving. Ques wore so long for at peters basilica that we end up leaving complete false advertising in my opinion and an absolute rip off!
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star-4
Rome - Vatican
Tina_B
, Sep 2020
The tour was excellent due to the knowledge of the tour guide (Laura). So much to see and take in. Excellent, enjoyable day. Only down side is the price, we paid £49.00 each for a 3 hour tour. It is E17.00 to get into the Vatican & Sistine Chapel.
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star-5
Everything!
Adele_E
, Sep 2020
Sal was fantastic, really lovely and explained everything perfectly. Really enjoyed the tour and would definitely book again.
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Product code: 3731VATICAN

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