Most visitors miss the Vatican’s best shortcut. With our expert guide, you’ll explore the Vatican Museums, including the Raphael Rooms and Sistine Chapel, then descend the Scala Regia (Bernini’s regal staircase) into St. Peter’s Basilica through an entrance reserved only for guided groups. This is the Vatican experience you didn’t know you needed.
Expert, English-speaking guide
Skip-the-line entry to Vatican Museums
Entry to the Sistine Chapel
Privileged access to Scala Regia (except Wednesday mornings)
Entry to St. Peter’s Basilica (except Wednesday mornings)
Guide tips
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.
Enter the Vatican Museums
With your privileged entry, you'll glide past the main crowds and head directly inside to begin exploring the Vatican's magnificent art collection. Please note that all guests to the Vatican need to pass through security, so expect some standing in line.
Pinecone Courtyard
Pause briefly in the serene Pinecone Courtyard, a beloved open-air space within the Vatican Museums. Here, art and nature blend seamlessly around the massive bronze pinecone that gives the courtyard its name, offering a moment of tranquility before the main artistic explorations.
Pio-Clementino Museum
Next, explore the halls filled with some of the world’s most important classical sculptures. You’ll stop to admire masterpieces like the dramatic Laocoön and His Sons and the serene Apollo Belvedere, learning about the myths and legends associated with these iconic works.
Gallery of Maps
Follow your guide into the astonishing 120-meter (400 ft) long Gallery of Maps. This iconic hall reveals Italy’s intricate terrain through the meticulous cartography of the 16th century, commissioned by Pope Gregory XIII. You’ll hear the stories behind these detailed, topographical depictions of the Italian peninsula.
For Reference Only. Itineraries are subject to change
Select participants and date
Start times are in the product’s local time
Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance!
Mon, 16 Feb 2026
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4.93
2981 Ratings
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Charlotte S.
Verified Review
February 14, 2026
Review
Simon S.
Verified Review
February 14, 2026
Very good informative guide
GREGORY T.
Verified Review
February 12, 2026
David F.
Verified Review
February 10, 2026
Alfredo T.
Verified Review
February 07, 2026
It was great experience love it
Passing the long lines
Marilyn B.
Verified Review
February 06, 2026
While we have been to Rome and the Vatican many times, we never took a tour except for the Scavi. There is so much more to learn and this was a way to do it. Maria, our tour guide, was great. She offered insight into the time periods and current popes. Honestly, with the crowds converging at every site, a private tour is a perfect way to understand the magnificence before you.
Privileged Entrance Vatican Tour with Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica
Stephen D.
Verified Review
February 05, 2026
The tour was engaging and insightful. In short, it was an amazing experience.
Great tour!
Alexander S.
Verified Review
January 31, 2026
Our guide (Fulvia I believe was her name) gave a grat and informative tour. It's a huge place, but she was able to hit the highlights without feeling too rushed. Recommended!
Rushed and shorter than expected
Deborah A.
Verified Review
January 30, 2026
Due to closure of Sistine Chapel the previous day and a noon closure on tour day, the Vatican was very crowded (especially for January). The tour started out at a leisurely pace, but then was very rushed through Raphael rooms and skipped modern art section. She was trying to get to Sistine chapel before it closed. We ended up getting there in plenty of time. Was rushed through by guards, so could not follow her instructions about timing to exit for St Peters. We had a few minutes by Michaelango’s Pieta then the tour was complete. Complete tour was less than 2 1/2 hours. Wish some of the extra time attend could have included a short tour of St Peter’s.
Jodie H.
Verified Review
January 29, 2026
Thank you, Francesca! The tour was informative and interesting
GREAT!!!!
Alexandra L.
Verified Review
January 28, 2026
HIGHLY recommend - we had THE nicest sweetest most educated guide..... A++++++++
Good tour
Pamela H.
Verified Review
January 28, 2026
Fabiola was a terrific tour guide. Very informative. The art/sculpture gets to be a bit much, but there’s not much you can do about that. The voucher said we wouldn’t see St. Peter’s because it was Wednesday morning, but we did see it after all. That was a nice surprise.
Joseph C.
Verified Review
January 27, 2026
Great Tour!
Mark C.
Verified Review
January 26, 2026
Our guide Kate was terrific! She had tons of energy and was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the Vatican. I learned a lot and I’m so happy I went on this tour!
Deny is great !
Joel P.
Verified Review
January 21, 2026
Deny is the best guide !
Maria was awesome
Hikaru S.
Verified Review
January 20, 2026
Learned a tremendous amount of the Vatican through Maria. She knew the place inside out. Grazie
Great tour
Charles F.
Verified Review
January 19, 2026
The magnitude of the Vatican makes it difficult to rate the tour. It was informative and educational to say the least but overwhelmingly impossible to rate. Guide was remarkable and knowledgeable.
Amazing experience!
Michelle W.
Verified Review
January 18, 2026
Eleonora was our amazing tour guide! It helps that she has a background in archeology, so she had extensive knowledge of the Vatican, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica. She was very informative and answered all of our questions. She didn't rush us through the tour but took the time to show and explain some of the beautiful artwork and history. She made the tour really fun and exciting. I thoroughly enjoyed my tour with Eleonora; she made my trip very memorable. Grazie!
Sara S.
Verified Review
January 18, 2026
Amazing
martha P.
Verified Review
January 18, 2026
Our guide Fulvia was wonderful and excellent. On time. Our tour became a private one since it’s only me and my husband on this 0815 scheduled time. We were not rushed . She point out some spot that’s extra not done on the big group. So much to see and process but she guided us on the most important ones we won’t know if on our own. The privilege passage to St. Peter’s basilica was heaven . I have a slight knee problem and the 4 hrs of walking was tough especially with up and down stairs in the apartments. Swift pass through St. Peter’s. She was very knowledgeable, patient. We were tired but loved the experience. Highly recommended.
Great guide, VERY BUSY place!
Peter P.
Verified Review
January 17, 2026
Our guide was fantastic! Lovely person, very knowledgeable and got us to all the highlights on an insanely busy day! They seem to let in far too many people at one time and they can randomly close the Sistine Chapel at any time, as they did to us. You need a guide that can move quickly to the most important items on the tour and insist that you get to see it all!
Highly recommend!!!
Kristen G.
Verified Review
January 17, 2026
Bogdon was our tour guide and he was amazing. Really interesting amd knowledgeable about history along with a fantastic sense of humor making it fun. Highly enjoyed it. Definitely recommend. The Vatican tour with the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Bascillica is one not to miss if in Rome. Amazing!!
Russ B.
Verified Review
January 16, 2026
Fabulous Faby
Annette A.
Verified Review
January 16, 2026
What a wonderful experience to be led through the Vatican by Faby. Faby made the tour so very enjoyable for me AND all my four sons. Her immense knowledge and sense of fun was a winning combination. She even managed to keep my sons’ attention for the whole 3 hours! I thoroughly recommend this tour and Faby.
Celine B.
Verified Review
January 16, 2026
The guide was very knowledgeable and kept us on time for our basilica entry. It was nice to be able to go straight from the museums to the basilica.
