Vatican crowds and long ticket lines can eat up your day and drain the experience. Skip the wait and explore the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel with just 10 guests per group. This semi-private tour offers a more personal experience with a dedicated guide, plus direct entry to St. Peter’s Basilica through the Scala Regia. You’ll end in the basilica, free to explore until you’re ready to take on the rest of Rome.
Expert, English-speaking guide
Skip-the-line ticket to Vatican Museums
Entry to Sistine Chapel
Exclusive access to the Scala Regia
Direct entry to St. Peter’s Basilica
Guaranteed max group size of 10
Guide tips
Basilica entry on Wednesday mornings
Your tour begins near the Vatican Museums entrance
Meet your guide near the Vatican Museums entrance. Look for the exact location on your booking voucher. Get ready to bypass the long general entry lines and head straight into the vast complex of the Vatican Museums.
Vatican Museums
Uncover the incredible breadth of the Vatican's extensive art collection, featuring pieces across distinct galleries and halls. Your expert guide will lead you through the highlights, providing historical context and captivating stories behind the masterpieces you encounter.
Pinecone Courtyard
In this open-air courtyard, you’ll enjoy a moment of calm surrounded by greenery and iconic sculptures. It’s a refreshing pause before diving deeper into the museums’ most celebrated halls.
Pio-Clementino Museum and Nero’s Bathtub
Explore the Pio-Clementino Museum, home to iconic ancient statues like the Apollo Belvedere and Laocoön and His Sons. You’ll also visit Emperor Nero’s massive bathtub, carved from a single block of rare red marble.
The Best Galleries at the Vatican Museums
Follow your guide through the Vatican's spectacular corridors, including the Candelabra Gallery and the Gallery of the Tapestries. Next, stroll down the 400-foot-long Gallery of Maps, admiring the stunning 16th-century topographical depictions of Italy.
For Reference Only. Itineraries are subject to change
Select participants and date
Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance!
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Wonderful experience at the Vatican
Michelle C.
Verified Review
January 06, 2026
Marcia was so knowledgeable, informative, and direct. We were able to get into the holy doors! I've been through the Vatican many times and this was the best tour yet! I will use The Tour Guy again the next time I'm in Rome.
Very good tour
Richard W.
Verified Review
January 04, 2026
The guide was very knowledgable. Would recommend.
Elise H.
Verified Review
January 04, 2026
Shannyn D.
Verified Review
January 03, 2026
Famtastic Tour and Very Knowledgeable / lively Guide
Pablo N.
Verified Review
December 30, 2025
Oksana was very lively and demonstrated a deep understanding of the museum; she was fun and made the tour very enjoyable. She gave us great recommendations.
James I.
Verified Review
December 27, 2025
Renato M.
Verified Review
December 23, 2025
Amy R.
Verified Review
December 23, 2025
Great tour with Tatiana
Jan H.
Verified Review
December 23, 2025
Very positive experience again with the Tour Guy, this time with Tatiana as our guide. Being an qualified historian, she gave us an excellent look into the Vatican, it operations and select artworks - there is simply too much to see in 1 day, let alone 3 hours.
Zipping by the long lines for entry etc made it also very easy. Highly recommend
Tatiana was great
Eric V.
Verified Review
December 23, 2025
Tatiana gave us a great tour. Her English is excellent. She shared a depth of knowledge with a concise manner. Her leadership kept the group together and informed us about how we would move through the congested spaces. I would recommend her to anybody seeking a guide through the Vatican Museum.
Excellent, informative tour
Alexander P.
Verified Review
December 23, 2025
I had a great tour with Patrizia - we moved smoothly throughout the Vatican and into St Peter’s, and Patrizia provided good, detailed insight throughout. I thought the tour was well worth the cost and would recommend it to others interested in a seamless, informative introduction to the Vatican and St Peter’s.
Pamela G.
Verified Review
December 20, 2025
Kevin H.
Verified Review
December 12, 2025
The best way to see these sites
Larry L.
Verified Review
December 04, 2025
The tour was very well organized, very informative and provided just the right amount of time at each of the main points. We checked your YouTube before coming and combining those tips and this tour made for the perfect visit.
Great experience!
Kent L.
Verified Review
December 01, 2025
Amazing tour guide! Very enjoyable tour. Learned some very interesting things!
Great tour for our family!
Michael V.
Verified Review
November 27, 2025
Our family of 5 loved our Vatican tour with Yamuna! Even our little ones enjoyed exploring the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica. Highly recommended!
Excellent Tour
Kenneth E.
Verified Review
November 26, 2025
Our guide Yamuna was friendly, personable, and knowledgeable. We were able to see everything we hoped to. I would highly recommend this tour.
Heidi C.
Verified Review
November 26, 2025
Memorable moments at the vatican
Sibylle R.
Verified Review
November 25, 2025
So glad we booked this smaller group tour, worth every penny. Our excellent guide zoomed us past the crowds and had so much to share about these location and profound meaning. The Vatican museum was little cut short but on e at St. Peter’s basilica we could stay and enjoy this incredible structure . The visit at the Sistine chapel didn’t linger long enough. You get kind of pushed through there. Thank you to our guide! She was lovely.
Great experience
KATHRYN O.
Verified Review
November 25, 2025
We are very glad to have done this tour. Our guide was fantastic and very easy to listen to. The meeting point was very easy to find, entry was quick and smooth, the rooms in the museum were amazing and her knowledge made it very interesting. The best part was being able to walk directly between the museums and the basilica without lining up again or having to go through security. The only thing I would liked to have been included on the tour was the double helix staircase. Highly recommended.
Elmeriza P.
Verified Review
November 24, 2025
Sara does her job very well. She’s prompt, very knowledgeable and gives clear instructions.
Great Tour
Shayla P.
Verified Review
November 20, 2025
P
Enlightening and enjoyable
Greg A.
Verified Review
November 20, 2025
Neva B.
Verified Review
November 19, 2025
Rebecca L.
Verified Review
November 17, 2025
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