• Skip the line Vatican tickets
• Meet at 7:30 am for entrance just after 8:00 am
• Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel
• English-speaking guide with expertise in art history
• A guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica (except on Wednesdays)
• Guided walking tour of top Rome sites

COMPARE ALL VATICAN TOURS

Short delays at the security check may occur during the busiest months, June and July. We have a team of experts at the Vatican every morning to help our groups avoid delays as much as possible. 

Want to skip the line at the Vatican without having a guided tour? Click here for skip the line Vatican tickets.

Skip the Line Vatican Tour

As an accredited tour operator, we’re able to enter the Vatican museums a full hour before the general public can enter. On this Vatican visit, you’ll experience the best of the Museums in under 3 hours. 

First, explore the Vatican’s main galleries: the Gallery of Maps, Gallery of Tapestries and Candelabra Gallery. Not only will you explore the impressive statues and artwork commissioned by Pope Leo XIII in the Candelabara Gallery, but explore massive topographical and Catholic tapestries in the the other two primary galleries.

Sistine Chapel

Seeing the Sistine Chapel before the crowds start pouring into the museums is paramount to an excellent Vatican experience. That’s why we aim to get you to the Sistine Chapel as soon as we can on this tour, in order for you to see the magnificent place of worship with the least amount of people.

Before you go inside, your guide will explain the many frescoes you’ll see within the Chapel’s walls and ceiling, including The Creation of Adam and The Last Judgment of course. As the Sistine Chapel is a place of prayer, speaking inside is forbidden. You will have plenty of time to silently reflect on the awe-inspiring frescoes inside.

Please note: The Sistine Chapel is a sacred place, so visitors are required to have their knees and shoulders covered when inside. Failure to do so will result in refused entry to a portion of the Vatican tour. During Rome’s hot summer months,  consider bringing a shawl or sweater for covering yourself when necessary.

St. Peter’s Basilica

Lines to enter St. Peter’s Basilica without a guided tour can last for hours. This is why visiting with a tour operator like us is awesome--we take you through a special door in the Sistine Chapel directly to St. Peter’s so waiting in line is an afterthought. With your guide, you’ll visit the most famous artworks inside of the Basilica, including Michelangelo’s Pieta and Bernini’s Baldacchino.

Castel Sant’Angelo

After your Vatican visit, you’ll begin your walking tour of Rome’s top sites. About a 10-minute walk away, visit a mausoleum built for Emperor Hadrian back in 135 A.D. Converted into a papal fortress in the sixth century, Castel Sant’Angelo now functions as a national museum, housing artwork, prison cells, papal apartments and even a torture chamber. Your guide will walk you through the intriguing details of this Roman landmark as you pass by.

Piazza Navona

Your next stop will be the charming Piazza Navona, an area marked by its beauty and culinary delights. You’ll notice that the piazza takes on the shape of a race track, which is exactly what it used to be. The square was built atop one of ancient Rome’s most popular arenas, the Stadium of Domitian, which hosted gladiatorial events, similar to the Colosseum. Your guide will the best stories behind this gem and explain the significance of the piazza’s centerpiece, the Egyptian Obelisk.

Pantheon

Often referred to as Hadrian’s Temple, the Pantheon is a staple in terms of sites to see in Rome. When you arrive, you might notice that you’ve seen countless modern buildings modeled after it, like the U.S. Capitol. For centuries, the Pantheon’s dome was considered the largest in the world, made unique by its oculus in the center. You’ll learn all about the Pantheon’s significance to the city, and more about how many attempts it took to actually build this architectural wonder.

Gelato

At this point, you’ve already explored the Vatican and much of Rome’s Centro Storico neighborhood. Why not stop for a sweet treat to fuel you for the rest of your tour? You deserve it.

Trevi Fountain

Continue through central Rome to the intersection where three roads meet. Trevi actually translates to “three roads,” giving name to Rome’s most famous fountain. After learning about the magnificent baroque fountain symbolizing the changing tides of the ocean, stop to throw a coin in and wish for your return to the Eternal City.

Spanish Steps

For your final stop, visit Rome’s most opulent district, home to beautiful hotels and luxury shopping. The elaborate Spanish Steps will catch your eye, leading to the Trinita dei Monti church. Piazza di Spagna gets its name from its proximity to the Spanish Embassy to the Holy See. After exploring the Fountain of the Longboat and learning a little about some of the area's new rules (like not being allowed to actually sit on the steps), it’s time to say arrivederci.