from
$85
Privileged Entrance Vatican Tour with Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica
Skip the line and gain direct access to the Raphael Rooms, Creation of Man & Scala Regia passageway
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
Entry to St. Peter’s Basilica
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.
Vatican Museums
With your privileged, skip-the-line entry, you'll glide past the main crowds and head directly inside to begin exploring the Vatican's magnificent art collection. Your guide will lead the way, ensuring you hit all the must-see masterpieces and avoid getting lost in the maze of galleries.
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!
Wed, 04 Feb 2026
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4.93
2974 Ratings
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Great tour!
Alexander S.
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.
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.
January 29, 2026
Thank you, Francesca! The tour was informative and interesting
GREAT!!!!
Alexandra L.
January 28, 2026
HIGHLY recommend - we had THE nicest sweetest most educated guide..... A++++++++
Good tour
Pamela H.
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.
January 27, 2026
Great Tour!
Mark C.
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.
January 21, 2026
Deny is the best guide !
Maria was awesome
Hikaru S.
January 20, 2026
Learned a tremendous amount of the Vatican through Maria. She knew the place inside out. Grazie
Great tour
Charles F.
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.
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.
January 18, 2026
Amazing
martha P.
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.
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.
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.
January 16, 2026
Fabulous Faby
Annette A.
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.
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.
Small group experience
Allison T.
January 16, 2026
Our group was small and intimate. The knowledge of our tour guide was exceptional and we thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
Karen S.
January 14, 2026
Great tour experience
Eka J.
January 14, 2026
Tour was great and informative. It was a busy day when we visited the vatican but everything went smoothly.
We loved this tour!
Sarah L.
January 13, 2026
Bogden was our tour guide and we loved him! He was so knowledgable and also made the tour very fun. The Vatican is overwhelmingly large with so many important things. It was great to have a guide to tell us what to focus on and make sure we don't miss any big things.
Tour guide Raffa was excellent
Melody E.
January 13, 2026
Tour guide Raffa was excellent
Deborah Y.
January 12, 2026
Sistine Chapel,/ Saint Peter’s Basilica
Brent K.
January 12, 2026
Didn’t care for what felt like being herded through. I guess that’s how it goes when the place gets 20k visitors a day. Our guide, Raffa, was excellent however. Appreciated her vast knowledge of the sites and Rome in general.