• A professional English-speaking guide
• Guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica
• Tickets to climb St. Peter's Dome
• Skip the line access* Vatican tickets for 10:30 a.m.
• Small group size of 16 people max

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

Important! After you visit the Vatican Museums, the tour will continue on to St. Peter’s Basilica as some of the group will not have been on the dome climb beforehand. If you wish, you may stay in the Vatican Museums and forgo a second visit to St. Peter’s. If you choose to leave the tour early, remember to return your headset to your tour guide.

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

Climb St. Peter’s Dome

Once you enter, you can choose to either climb 231 steps to reach the dome’s first level or take an elevator. From the first level, you’ll be able to see an amazing view of the Vatican City. After this, you are welcome to stay where you are, go down to the Basilica, or keep climbing to the very top.

Guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica

Once you descend from the dome, your guided tour of the world’s largest church begins. Your guide will show you some of the most famous works inside the Basilica, including Bernini’s Baldacchino and Michelangelo’s Pietà. You’ll have plenty of time to explore the jaw-dropping interior before you continue on to the Vatican Museums.

Highlights of the Vatican

There’s plenty to explore within the Vatican during your skip the line tour. See some of the best galleries in the museum: the Gallery of the Tapestries, the Gallery of the Candelabra, and the Gallery of the Maps. In these galleries, discover some of the most iconic artwork made by Italy's most renowned Renaissance artists.

Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel

The Sistine Chapel is one of the most famous works of art in the world and once you enter, it’s easy to understand why. Michelangelo’s massive masterpiece includes over 600 figures and words cannot do it justice. As the Sistine Chapel is a place of worship, speaking inside is forbidden. We will provide you a map/handout to reference before you enter as your guide will not be allowed to explain the frescoes once inside. 

Please note: As the Sistine Chapel is a place of worship, everyone who enters must cover their knees and shoulders. Otherwise, you may be refused entry to this portion of your tour. A great option is to bring a shawl/scarf/sweater with you. That way, you can cover your knees and shoulders when necessary.

Pio-Clementino Museum

This museum houses a number of iconic statues, including Laocoön and His Sons and the Belvedere Torso. Your guide will tell you all about the history and legends surrounding the art, as well as Emperor Nero’s bathtub, a 25 foot work made of red marble. 

Borgia Apartments

The Borgia Apartments were once the private chambers of Pope Alexander VI, the Borgia pope. The frescoes inside were the work of Pinturicchio, who studied alongside Raphael. Pinturicchio often placed fake jewels in his frescoes, giving “hidden gem” a literal meaning. Another surprise found within the Borgia Apartments? The first depiction of Native Americans in European art.

The Raphael Rooms

After the Middle Ages, Europe saw a new age of amazing art, literature and thought. Raphael is one of the most famous Renaissance artists and some of his most well-known works of art reside in the Vatican Museums. Your guide will show you the rooms he frescoed and one of his most famous works of art, The School of Athens.

Access St. Peter's Basilica Through Sistine Chapel

Finally, your tour will return to the Sistine Chapel.  From there, you will have the option to reenter St. Peter’s Basilica with your tour guide through a special door in the Sistine Chapel, or stay in the Vatican Museums to continue exploring on your own.