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Save 1–2 hours by skipping ticketing lines and explore the Vatican’s treasures on your schedule.
Save 1–2 hours by skipping ticketing lines and explore the Vatican’s treasures on your schedule.
Inclusions
Exclusions
Crowds were expected, didn't expect to extend our walk/tour for more than 2hrs. So if you have a booking with with tour time, make sure you will allocate enough to move from one place to another eg 2hrs. Overall, we had a good experience & learned so much.
The visit to the Vatican Gardens has been a unique experience, I went with my fiancée and we wanted to return once again and do it walking now because it is such a beautiful place that makes you want to spend more time observing every detail, the trip in the open bus is super good if you have an agenda to visit more things in Rome, because you can tour the gardens with ease, plus with the guide in multiple hate to choose the experience becomes more dynamic. We recommend it 100%
View original review in Spanish
We bought the tickets the same day and they had availability, it was super easy to arrive and check in, the super friendly guides explain everything you need to know and accompany you to the entrance door ahhh and you avoid the long lines.... In the end we were able to see the whole museum and also the Sistine Chapel everything was amazing thanks and greetings from Mexico.
View original review in Spanish
We had a good time. Thank you ... The wonderful works of Art ... 3 hours is not enough to admire them all ... but neither are months ....
View original review in Italian
The queue-cutting tickets for the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel: a real added value for the visit and an invaluable time-saver for enjoying the place to the full, and the guide who welcomed us and accompanied us to the entrance was friendly and very clear - a much appreciated plus. I'd definitely recommend it!
View original review in French
This was our first visit so we had big expectations. Our guide Silvia fulfilled them and even more. She explained every detail and answered all our questions which made this journey unforgerable. Silvia is high experienced and very pleasant guide. Our 7 Years old son enjoyed during all time if visit.
Buying through the agency was very important. It avoided a huge queue to get in! Not to mention the professionalism and cordiality we received. Visiting the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel was like living a dream! It's worth it and I recommend it!
View original review in Portuguese
At the beginning of the street at the entrance to the Vatican Museum, signs should be put up saying : A sign: "Visits without a ticket" A sign: "Visits with a ticket" It's the best museum I've ever visited I find this museum very rich in works of art, clean and well organized. The Vatican gardens are beautiful. CONGRATULATIONS!
View original review in Portuguese
It was great to get in fairly quickly and explore at our own speed. We found the group tour guides annoying as they kept stopping g in the middle of the passage ways blocking everyone else!!
Visiting Vatikan Museums was one of best my experiences. I expected more crowds . But Maybe it was about time . I visited there at 4 pm and when I was out, it was 8 pm. I had researched paintings, fresks, statues in museum. So I got happy when I saw them. Best museum in the World!
The guide was knowledgeable and personable. I loved it! However, I think it should have been written somewhere anyway since the ticket bought also covered the Sistine Chapel, which would be closed as of April 28.This was not indicated anywhere.
View original review in Italian
Skipping the long lines was great. Everything neatly arranged. The Sistine Chapel was unfortunately closed because of the conclave but things like that cannot be planned.
View original review in Dutch
The exciting sightseeing. So many beautiful works of art. If you are interested in the history of Rome, this trip tells you something new or explain you something what you knew before.
Coming to Rome without visiting the Vatican Museums is just not possible!!! The spiral staircase, a true wonder! Raphael's rooms not to be missed! The Gallery of Maps is also without a doubt a must see. Excellent organization through online booking of tickets.
View original review in Italian
Antonio was great, with clear and precise explanations of the history of the monuments. Lots of humor, which made the visit very enjoyable!
View original review in French
It was an exceptional experience! The super friendly and efficient guide at the entrance to the Vatican! He was right at the meeting point and I called him in 2 minutes and he returned my call quickly! I recommend it! We loved the experience!
View original review in Portuguese
Dario the guide who took us inside the Vatican museums was very kind as well as knowledgeable in giving information let's say the Top
View original review in Italian
I came in 2017 ans now 2025 but still the same surprise. Everything was so beautiful, museums, paints, monuments... I was with my mother 79 years old and I would to congragulate the Vatican organization, specially for the people with reduce mobility. We appreciate Grazie Mille !!!!
Everything. I didn't believe in the power of culture. I didn't believe in the majesty and depth of the message. Now I am different. Aware and deeply grateful.
View original review in Italian
Everything was fantastic, a little less people would have been nicer but I loved it, I don't think I got to see everything but it was incredible.
View original review in Portuguese
The beauty of the paintings and each room was unique and historic.
View original review in French
Good information, short waiting time, recommendable
View original review in German
A very fabulous place, the best place I've visited in Rome so far
It was most knowledgeable
Everything was incredible! I loved every minute there.
View original review in Portuguese
Explore all three Vatican highlights with skip-the-line access to the Museums and exclusive entry to the basilica via a hidden passage.
Explore all three Vatican highlights with skip-the-line access to the Museums and exclusive entry to the basilica via a hidden passage.
Inclusions
Exclusions
The audio thing does not work good. I had difficulty about hearing. The guide is good and I thing very necessary. Before getting tickets be sure to read all of the information about tour, what you need to and do not need to do. Very crowdy so be ready to this
The tour was great. The tour guide was amazing and really knowledgeable. The price was worth it for skipping the ques for the Vatican Museums alone as they were hours long and we bypassed them all and walked in straightaway. The only reason I gave it good rather than awesome was because of the amount of people allowed into the museums itself. This isn't the fault of the tour guide obviously but it meant the experience was less enjoyable in the 30 degree heat because there simply were too many people
Our guide, Vincenzo, was wonderful. Very funny and knowledgeable. I don't think you can enjoy touring the Vatican without a guide and skip the line. 100% worth it!
Skipping the line was absolutely amazing!!!! The tour guide was absolutely fantastic. Very knowledgeable wonderful tour would not have been the same without her!
Our guide Maria Theresa was amazing! She was very knowledgeable in aspects of the tour. She went out of her way to make sure that the whole group of 17 was taken care of. She had her eyes on everyone throughout and wouldn't let anyone get left behind. With the crowds and other tour croups pushing through she did an exceptional job of communicating with us to keep us together. She gave everyone a potty break in the middle if we needed it. I would highly recommend this tour guide and the company as they all are professionals.
The crowds were very heavy for the jubilee but our guide was wonderful in directing us and keeping us focused on the important details on the museum and Basilica!
The tour guide was very well organized, punctual, very entertaining and in addition to his technical and historical knowledge also liked to have a humorous joke along the way. The group was very pleasant with 10 people, it always moved quickly so that we could see everything and also ask what we wanted from this tour. Thank you very much. We are very happy to recommend this tour.
View original review in German
Everything that was mentioned in the tour we saw. Our guide Olga explained so much to the in-depth knowledge & history of The Vatican & sacred places. The crowds were overwhelming but Olga was able to guide us safely to the best vantage points
Very complete visit, the meeting point very easy to locate. I would have liked to have been able to enjoy a little more of the Sistine Chapel, but there were many people and we passed quickly. Otherwise everything was great !!!!
View original review in Spanish
Absolutely loved our guide, Antonio that also speaks Japanese. He was knowledgeable and passionate about his tours. He knew the end and outs making it unforgettable.
Very good guide bravo! However, we didn't have time to go to St Peter's Basilica, even though it was included in the ticket.
View original review in French
We visited the Vatican Museums with an exceptional guide named Marco and we were really thrilled with the experience. Marco was very well prepared, clear in his explanations and very passionate: he was able to convey to us the importance and beauty of the works of art in an engaging and never boring way. Thanks to him we were able to better appreciate the richness of the Vatican Museums, and the whole tour. We highly recommend this guided tour, especially with Marco: he made our day unforgettable!
View original review in Italian
Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable about both the history of all sites but also about how to effectively navigate the journey through the spaces during such an extremely crowded time. Due to the jubilee crowds we had some delays, and our tour ran long. She did not rush through the museums, nd gave us the complete tour anyway. Seeing that some on the group were getting tired, she sought out places to sit and rest, and was more concerned with everyone's health and happiness than ending on time. A native Roman, the depth of her knowledge, her personal perspectives, and her passion were amazing! Since the sistene chapel was closed, she spent 20 minutes using picture handouts to talk through the meaning of the art inside. The climb to the dome was my favorite part - to be inside seeing the mosaics and the perspective of such a grand church from above were incredible!
Our guide Theresa was simply great! She told and explained everything so well. The whole tour was super nice and absolutely recommendable.
View original review in German
Fantastic tour! It's worth it to skip the queues and have a guided tour with a small group. Wonderful experience which I would reccomend to anyone and will absolutely do it again.
Our guide, Francesca, was funny and easy to listen to. She brought the history to life with her stories and kept us all interested at what was a very busy time in the Vatican. The Vatican museums and gardens were stunning, the Sistine Chapel was breathtaking and St Peter's Basilicia was beautiful. Francesca's stories about the art in the Sistine Chapel and Michelangelo's antics were the highlight for me.
Our tour of the Vatican museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's basilica was amazing. The crowds were crazy but our tour guide kept us together and helped us get where we wanted to go. Her information was great and she was entertaining.
The guide was phenomenal !!! So knowledgeable, so invested in the history, and importing that to the group. Her timing, for ingress and egress to specific areas was so beneficial to the whole experience.
I love the entire surreal experience with Vatican Museum,Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica self guided tour. She was an excellent tour guide on everything she talks about. I would highly recommend her and tour company. It was very easy to meet up and how organize it was. Thank you for the wonderful experience. #firsttimeinItaly!!!!
Enjoyed it very much. Very busy though. That can't be helped though. Your guide was very informative.
Punctual start, centrally located, very friendly guide and accurate information. A nice experience
View original review in Spanish
Our Guide Fredrico (Fred) was amazing. Incredibly knowledgeable and passionate.
Knowledgeable guide, very attentive and helpful.
View original review in Italian
Our guide, Federico Grande was great. We pass the line in about 5 min. We saw and heard a lot of interesting.
Very interesting tour we did, it allowed us to take pictures and explore the beautiful place.
View original review in Spanish
Gain deeper insight into the museums' treasures and Michelangelo’s frescoes with an expert guide.
Gain deeper insight into the museums' treasures and Michelangelo’s frescoes with an expert guide.
Inclusions
Exclusions
Maurizio was an amazing tour guide. His knowledge about every piece of art was sensational. 100% would do this tour again! Very seamless pickup at meeting location and walking us into Vatican City, guiding us through security. Only feedback is not on tour guide but the headsets used. The system is a bit finicky. The headphones are a bit uncomfortable. I'd say the vox or similar wired headphone systems are superior.
I am glad that I bought tickets ahead of time to avoid the long lines. It was very crowded, but we made it through. To see the Vatican museum in person was breathtaking!
The guide was knowledgeable and personable. I loved it! However, I think it should have been written somewhere anyway since the ticket bought also covered the Sistine Chapel, which would be closed as of April 28.This was not indicated anywhere.
View original review in Italian
Due to indisposition of the guide for the Vatican Museums, we had our booked visit varied to include the Vatican gardens. Still, it was a good experience, expertly illustrated by the lady who guided us. The presence of a very large audience somewhat marred our expectations so we will repeat the experience in quieter times. Thank you.
View original review in Italian
Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and friendly! She taught us so much about the Vatican and explained the most important aspects of what we were seeing. We were able to skip the long lines. It was easy to find our meeting point. I would highly recommend booking with them. Worth every penny!!
Absolutely amazing seeing all of those incredible works of art. It would take a lifetime to see and hear the history behind all of the priceless works.
Our guide was wonderful, funny and very informative! Sending friends your way
Great tour guide! Super funny and knowledgeable
The articulation of English was difficult to understand. Lovely woman , just talked too fast and didnt understand her. Only about 30% and I had to fill in the rest since Ive been to the Vatican on several times over the last 30 years. I was hopping to gain more insight and knowledge
It was a very seamless experience, easy to find office, skip the long lines, our guide was incredible. We had a stroller and he made sure to accommodate us, pointing out the lifts and waiting for us to rejoin the group. Very knowledgeable and helped the whole group find our way to St Peter's square at the end of our tour. The only downside for me was the ear piece, I have small ears so it wouldn't stay on properly and would fall off so I had to hold it or try stand close to the guide to hear. Overall it was a wonderful experience and would highly recommend.
The tour started to late because a miscommunication of the guide and the organisation. This was also discussed in front of the tour group. This gave people an uncomfortable feeling . The guide and the tour were amazing
Very efficient staff at check-in. Outstanding guide( Frederics?) who was professional , friendly and exceptionally knowledgeable. The tour was about three hours and the guide gave us the right amount of information in each part of the tour but there was time to ask questions as well. Once the tour was finished the ticket gave you the the chance to stay on as long as you wanted and visit areas there hadn't been time for. This is an excellent tour from start to finish and we recommend it 100%.
we were fortunate to be accompanied by a very kind and very knowledgeable guide who made the visit interesting in the delirium of a bewildering overcrowding . without the guide so comprehensive would have been an " ordeal " devoid of interest in a unique place in the world . congratulations to the guide , and to Vs organization .
View original review in Italian
Reservations allow you to skip the line. The staff giving directions was very nice. Our guide very kind and knowledgeable. We really enjoyed the walk to the gardens and museums.
View original review in Italian
Very good experience, very good guide, super nice tour, however, there was no queue-free access. We queued for 1 hour and 15 minutes in the sun
View original review in Portuguese
The guide was very friendly and easy to understand. He led us through the museums with joy and enthusiasm.
View original review in German
The tour guide Theresa!!! Incredible amount of knowledge, told with wit and charm, very interesting and entertaining tour!!!
View original review in German
We took the guided tour with Juan Miguel Ortiz and it was really fantastic. His concrete explanations, fluid, full of knowledge and his kindness was the perfect complement to this unforgettable visit. We would definitely repeat. Thank you
View original review in Spanish
The vending machines didn't take big notes or cards so we didn't have a chance to get water and it wasn't made clear to us that we wouldn't have access to water once inside the gardens, this unfortunately made it difficult to enjoy. We also thought it was a bus tour around the garden. There are way too many people going through the museums and the Sistine chapel, it was uncomfortable and overpriced to be packed in like sardines. Would not recommend d.
The guide was pleasant and knowledgeable; however, I was expecting more in-depth information about the artworks displayed in the museum. Some of the explanations felt a bit superficial.
Seeing The Vatican, was a highlight however there was such large crowds and lines. It was difficult to manage. Our Tour got started late because of change in meeting location and some of the other group was quite late. The headset was not working most of the time and our guide was difficult to understand. We felt like we were just in line for hours and being moved around like cattle. What we did get to see was fabulous, but it was not worth the tour. I would definitely do it another way next time.
Vatican Museums unique in the world ,Sistine Chapel to be breathless , a synonym of true beauty ? Being able to admire the frescoes of the Sistine Chapel and my compliments to the very good Carolina our guide who accompanied us on this journey immersed in beauty
View original review in Italian
Punctuality, clear detailed explanation of the guide, mastery of the topics related to the tour, good treatment to people. Faster and direct access to the different museums. Well organized.
View original review in Spanish
We attended the guided tour as a family and had a wonderful experience exploring the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. The guide was knowledgeable , bringing the rich history and incredible art to life. The collection is vast and truly awe-inspiring — a must-see in Rome
We did actually "Skip-the-line". The process was easy and communication from the tour company was great! Our tour guide, Mauricio, was very knowledgeable and gave detailed information. He was even funny.:) Worth every euro I paid!
22% off
One ticket, two icons—skip the hassle of multiple bookings and experience the best of Ancient Rome and the Vatican with expert guides.
One ticket, two icons—skip the hassle of multiple bookings and experience the best of Ancient Rome and the Vatican with expert guides.
Inclusions
Colosseum
Vatican Museums
Exclusions
Colosseum
Vatican Museums
Colosseum
Vatican Museums
Many thanks to our guide Said for this fascinating tour of the Colosseum, the Palatine and the Roman Forum! Thanks to him, history really came to life, even for our 13 and 17 year olds, whom he managed to put on stage! Clear explanations, lively anecdotes and well-judged humor: a real family pleasure. An enriching, fast-paced visit, conducted with passion and kindness. We highly recommend Said, who even recommended a good restaurant at our request!
View original review in French
The audio thing does not work good. I had difficulty about hearing. The guide is good and I thing very necessary. Before getting tickets be sure to read all of the information about tour, what you need to and do not need to do. Very crowdy so be ready to this
Our guide, Vincenzo, was wonderful. Very funny and knowledgeable. I don't think you can enjoy touring the Vatican without a guide and skip the line. 100% worth it!
The tour guided by SUSANA, was EXCELLENT, for her dedication, her clear answers and with historical value. The whole tour was wonderful despite all the tourists who attended that day (something normal) but I highlight the work of Susana in that all the group observed every detail with valuable information. THANK YOU SUSANA. (group colosseum, palatine and roman forum of 9/6/25 at 11hs.
View original review in Spanish
Skipping the line was absolutely amazing!!!! The tour guide was absolutely fantastic. Very knowledgeable wonderful tour would not have been the same without her!
Our guide Maria Theresa was amazing! She was very knowledgeable in aspects of the tour. She went out of her way to make sure that the whole group of 17 was taken care of. She had her eyes on everyone throughout and wouldn't let anyone get left behind. With the crowds and other tour croups pushing through she did an exceptional job of communicating with us to keep us together. She gave everyone a potty break in the middle if we needed it. I would highly recommend this tour guide and the company as they all are professionals.
The crowds were very heavy for the jubilee but our guide was wonderful in directing us and keeping us focused on the important details on the museum and Basilica!
First of all, the guide Eleonora was great at explaining and making the tour enjoyable everything else and meraglioso given what the Romans did
View original review in Italian
The tour guide was very well organized, punctual, very entertaining and in addition to his technical and historical knowledge also liked to have a humorous joke along the way. The group was very pleasant with 10 people, it always moved quickly so that we could see everything and also ask what we wanted from this tour. Thank you very much. We are very happy to recommend this tour.
View original review in German
The guide who showed us around did a fantastic job. He showed us the best and most beautiful spots of each monument. He showed a lot of interaction with the audience. He even helped take the pictures; afterwards, he helped me and my friends get a bite to eat nearby. Top experience! As a result, he received a tip from us that was more than deserved!
View original review in Dutch
Everything that was mentioned in the tour we saw. Our guide Olga explained so much to the in-depth knowledge & history of The Vatican & sacred places. The crowds were overwhelming but Olga was able to guide us safely to the best vantage points
I was struck by Prof Carmelo Vinciguerra's outstanding preparation as an expert in archaeology and a lover of art and his work so fascinating . Accurate and comprehensive descriptions with continuous insights . He also included for us a visit to the Church of Vismo and Damiani , vetsmente splendid, which was not included. The Colosseum was very exhaustive to us in its use, construction and fall into ruin, between earthquakes and looting. A beautiful expetience! I recommend this guide to everyone. Thank you Dr. Vinciguerra, see you next time! Greetings, Vincenza from Milan. (group of 4 adults)
View original review in Italian
Tour was originally booked with head out, unfortunately the guide was unable to work so they transferred us to Crown Tour's. They were very professional in their correspondence and provided multiple options including change of date or transfer to another operator. They provided clear instructions via email including new meeting point. On arrival the staff from Crown tours were friendly and professional. Our guide, Damiano was great, very knowledgeable, understanding of the groups needs and fun. The Colosseum was absolutely magnificent.
Very complete visit, the meeting point very easy to locate. I would have liked to have been able to enjoy a little more of the Sistine Chapel, but there were many people and we passed quickly. Otherwise everything was great !!!!
View original review in Spanish
Absolutely loved our guide, Antonio that also speaks Japanese. He was knowledgeable and passionate about his tours. He knew the end and outs making it unforgettable.
Very good guide bravo! However, we didn't have time to go to St Peter's Basilica, even though it was included in the ticket.
View original review in French
Very important the knowledge of the guide. He took care to explain what was asked. As the only criticism, understandable due to the urgencies, he was a little fast.
View original review in Spanish
We visited the Vatican Museums with an exceptional guide named Marco and we were really thrilled with the experience. Marco was very well prepared, clear in his explanations and very passionate: he was able to convey to us the importance and beauty of the works of art in an engaging and never boring way. Thanks to him we were able to better appreciate the richness of the Vatican Museums, and the whole tour. We highly recommend this guided tour, especially with Marco: he made our day unforgettable!
View original review in Italian
Nerea is an exceptional guide, you can feel her passion and knowledge of Rome. She makes it very enjoyable and it goes by very quickly. She explains everything clearly and with feeling, friendly and professional guide. If we do more tours in Rome, hopefully the guide will be her. Spectacular Colosseum. Lorena
View original review in Spanish
Our guide Cristina was excellent. Very knowledgeable, spoke very good English and was a true pleasure to be with. Started exactly on time and did not feel rushed through any part of the tour. Great experience!
Fantastic tour! It's worth it to skip the queues and have a guided tour with a small group. Wonderful experience which I would reccomend to anyone and will absolutely do it again.
Our guide, Francesca, was funny and easy to listen to. She brought the history to life with her stories and kept us all interested at what was a very busy time in the Vatican. The Vatican museums and gardens were stunning, the Sistine Chapel was breathtaking and St Peter's Basilicia was beautiful. Francesca's stories about the art in the Sistine Chapel and Michelangelo's antics were the highlight for me.
Our tour of the Vatican museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's basilica was amazing. The crowds were crazy but our tour guide kept us together and helped us get where we wanted to go. Her information was great and she was entertaining.
The guide was phenomenal !!! So knowledgeable, so invested in the history, and importing that to the group. Her timing, for ingress and egress to specific areas was so beneficial to the whole experience.
We had a fantastic guided tour with Diego! Such a great guide, he was excellent and knew so much about both the Colosseum and Rome in general. I was a bit sceptical about taking a tour that is not from the official site, but it was honestly great! The queues were short, so we even got extra guidance through the Roman forum.
Enter before opening hours for a quieter, crowd-free Vatican experience.
Enter before opening hours for a quieter, crowd-free Vatican experience.
Inclusions
Exclusions
The tour was great. The tour guide was amazing and really knowledgeable. The price was worth it for skipping the ques for the Vatican Museums alone as they were hours long and we bypassed them all and walked in straightaway. The only reason I gave it good rather than awesome was because of the amount of people allowed into the museums itself. This isn't the fault of the tour guide obviously but it meant the experience was less enjoyable in the 30 degree heat because there simply were too many people
Our tour guide shared so many interesting things that we would not have know. She helped us navigate the crowds and move through entry quickly, ahead of the long lines. This was a wonderful tour for our family.
Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable about both the history of all sites but also about how to effectively navigate the journey through the spaces during such an extremely crowded time. Due to the jubilee crowds we had some delays, and our tour ran long. She did not rush through the museums, nd gave us the complete tour anyway. Seeing that some on the group were getting tired, she sought out places to sit and rest, and was more concerned with everyone's health and happiness than ending on time. A native Roman, the depth of her knowledge, her personal perspectives, and her passion were amazing! Since the sistene chapel was closed, she spent 20 minutes using picture handouts to talk through the meaning of the art inside. The climb to the dome was my favorite part - to be inside seeing the mosaics and the perspective of such a grand church from above were incredible!
Special and Quick entrance to all locations with the help of Guide. Very friendly and knowledgeable guide.
Our guide was brilliant. So knowledge and a welcoming and engaging personality. The walk up the Duomo was exceptional and the view.
Our tour guide was wonderful and the size of our group at 6 people was perfect. The guide was knowledgable and provided the right amount of information withour overwhelming us.
Our tour was delayed because the Pope met the Vatican staff in the morning so the afternoon was packed with people. Michaela our guide was the boss, she got us through extremely busy areas with ease. She appears to have a great relationship with the Vatican staff which meant we had a smooth tour bypassing queues and she is not afraid to "have words" if needed. Now for the tour, excellent loads of information, plenty of time to stop and appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship or take photos. Anyone who gets Michaela as a guide is in for a great tour.
Beautiful experience! We entered the Vatican museum among the first ones early in the morning. Our guide Chiara was awesome! Extremely knowledgeable with a solid background in history. She gave us so so much information that we can honestly say we graduated from a history college course. When we finished with the Sixteenth Chapel (Amazon) we moved to St Peter basilica to admire more amazing art form Michelangelo and other classics. We were fortunate to go thru the Holly Doors" during the jubilee year. If anyone would like to experience this miracle named Vatican City I highly recommend this company"
Our tour guide Marina was excellent. Early entry was fantastic and very well organised. Would recommend this tour to anyone as you get to enjoy the experience before the large crowds.
I had so much fun!! The experience was absolutely incredible and we had the best guide Andreas! He was so knowledgeable and funny and we had so many laughs throughout the day, I highly highly recommend this experience:)))
Our small group tour of the Vatican was fabulous from the start to the finish. Our Tour Guide, Marina, was exceptional, very knowledgeable and informative, very pleasant and friendly and made the tour very enjoyable. We saw all the major
Elenora was an amazing tour guide with so much knowledge. We loved our experience and would highly recommend. It was the highlight of our stay in Rome.
The whole experience was great, it makes such a difference to have some education about the history of the Vatican and the chapel. Rita is an amazing tour guide and wholeheartedly recommend the experience.
The highlight of my visit was St Peter Dome. Our guide took pride in her job to explain & cover every aspect of the tour. We are blessed to be at Vertican City during this Jubilee year. It was very crowded It took us from 7.15am till 2pm to cover the highlights of Vertican City
We had a great day. Our guide was amazing. She really knew her stuff. She was good at giving lots of info and answering questions. Very fun places to visit.
We had an amazing morning with our guide, Simona. From our ascent up the 330 steps to the dome of St Peter's Basilica to the amazing trip through the Vatican museum, our 5-hour tour was fantastic. Simona shared facts and stories that I had never heard before, and we thoroughly enjoyed her guidance. The Sistine Chapel was closed due to Pope Leo celebrating his first Mass, but we saw other precious historic artifacts and works of art instead. I highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a guided tour.
The guide and the crew from Tour Guy had everything planned and were diligent to provide the best experince. It was an awsome and very especial tour!
Yamuna was well prepared with all the interesting facts, lovely personality, easy to chat with, answerting questions. She prepared us all very well for the climb up the Basilica tower. The information aboit the Cistine Chapel was fantastic and respecting the rules of the chapel even though nobody else was observing them.
Getting there early was key. Our tour guide was fantastic. Very knowledgeable about what she showed us and how to budget time to maximize our experience..
Our guide was knowledgeable , patient and accommodating.
Marina was amazing! Best tour guide we've had.
The early-morning start was worthwhile to beat some of the crowds!
Tour guide was very informative. Gave good descriptions and was clear.
Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and engaged.
Very good except that the weather did not coincide with what was agreed upon
View original review in Spanish
Gain insights into the art, history, and spiritual legacy of St. Peter’s with a licensed guide—and climb the Dome for stunning views over Vatican City.
Gain insights into the art, history, and spiritual legacy of St. Peter’s with a licensed guide—and climb the Dome for stunning views over Vatican City.
Inclusions
Exclusions
I really liked the cordiality of the guides and the simplicity of the tour, along with the information provided. We started a few minutes after the agreed time, but it was still excellent.
View original review in Spanish
The guide was great and has a lot of experience - he has lived in Rome for 30 years and has many life stories to tell. A very funny and entertaining tour with the necessary background knowledge 😊👍👍👍👍👍
View original review in German
Volodymyr was great. He provided lots of really interesting facts, and was keen to offer information and insights around the interests of members of our group. I particularly liked the fact that he gave quite a balanced view - of some of the corruption over the centuries, as well as pointing out the glories of the artwork, and all the time being respectful of the culture and religion.
Alishba was an amazing guide, so passionate and knowledgeable. She made the tour an exceptional experience Thank you so much Alishba your an amazing lady
Booking the tour was seamless and efficient. From the moment the tour started to when it ended, we enjoyed every part of it. Our Guide (Kelly) was so helpful, fun and informative. She brought the whole group together really quickly making us all feel like a little multi country family. She went out of her way to make all participants of the group feel very much included. The detail that was shared and the pace we went through the tour was perfect. Kelly's explanation of everything made our visit to the Vatican that much more special.
The lady who gave us a lot of information about St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican State was very knowledgeable and extremely friendly and never tired of answering even the last interesting question. A "feel-good tour"!
View original review in German
Super-friendly guide, to the point in her explanations and full of anecdotes. Mastered her subject and was extremely efficient. Remarkable VAV in all aspects of the tour.
View original review in French
Superb visit despite the crowds due to the basilica being closed in the morning. The guide was perfect, full of anecdotes and attention to detail, conveying his passion and love for this monument. The climb up to the dome was well worth it, with its magnificent 360° view of Rome and Vatican City. The only downside is that the meeting point is poorly signposted, as it's a guide with a flag that shouldn't be blue. And it would be simpler to have a bus stop for the meeting point or a reserved room.
View original review in French
The guide, Edward, who was very knowledgeable and personable, was able to engage the group in the tour, giving comprehensive and easy-to-understand explanations even for children.
View original review in Italian
The church itself was amazing, but our guide topped it with an engaged, huomoristic and very interesting tour. We really learned a lot from him and we all had a great experience and it was worth all the money.
We loved the overall experience and our tour guide was awesome and very knowledgeable. She explained everything patiently and thoroughly. We highly recommend this tour.
We had a very nice tour, especially the guide was very, very nice, knowledgeable, very well read and above all friendly. You could ask him questions, he explained everything, took a toilet break and always kept an eye on his group!!!! I would recommend such a tour!!! It's really worth the money. There was so much going on, yet he kept calm and kept on explaining. We took away so much from this tour, including the history.....If you do a tour like this on your own you don't get this information at all. Thank you very much
View original review in German
Our guide Frédérico was sensational. With great explanations. We lived in the moment. And, above all, in beautiful French.
View original review in French
We took the tour in a small group. The starting point was easy to find. Our guide JAD was attentive to our needs, and we appreciated his explanations.
View original review in French
Many thanks for the experience! A big compliment to our guide. She was very knowledgeable and articulate. Everything seemed very professional and customer-friendly.
View original review in German
We had Michaela as our guide and we were more than impressed with her. There were a total of 18 young people in our group who stayed attentive until the end thanks to Michaela's manner. A thousand thanks to Michaela for this wonderful experience.
View original review in German
Our tour guide was very nice and knowledgeable. What I didn't like was that it said it was a 2 hour tour and it was to start at 8:25 which it did however one of the most things I was looking forward to was the dome climb. Since the description said 2 hours I felt comfortable scheduling another tour at noon. We were still in line at 11:15 for the climb and we had to miss what I was really looking forward to to make sure we made our next tour. I would suggest in your description that the dome climb isn't until the end of the tour and that your tour can last upwards of 3-4 hours long. Since that was one of my highlights of your tour description we then went back after our other tour and then had to pay more to do the dome climb.
Good, a little disorganized and a lot of wasted time. But it was good. I went off on my own to explore, because the history can be googled or read in the library, most people already read and heard, then come to SEE it . Tour guide needs to focus on getting people inside, taking them to various biblical status, and areas, for pictures. This is not a history class, we only had 1-2hrs , but our tour guide spent 40 mins telling us stories and history outside and on the door way, While I applaud her of her knowledge, however this is not a history class, 6 of us had other tours scheduled right afterwards, so we left the tour midway to explore the Basilica on our own, including the Tomb areas underneath.
We had an unforgettable tour. Even though we thought we had booked an audio tour, we absolutely did not regret the guided tour. Alexandra is a very enthusiastic guide with extensive knowledge about St. Peter's and the Vatican. Her English is very good! Also highly recommended for visitors who have been to St. Peter's before!
View original review in Dutch
I had an incredible experience on the St. Peter’s Basilica Guided Tour. Our guide was absolutely amazing and extremely knowledgeable about the rich history and architecture of the basilica. I walked away with a much deeper appreciation and understanding of this iconic site. Highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting the Vatican!
This was my first Headout experience and it was A+! First of all, our guide, Brigitta, was wonderful! So many informations and fun facts, she was also full of humor and funny comments, it was so nice! She really made us feel close to Rome, Vatican and their history. She eas really easy to talk to and that means a lot! The climb wasn't hard, whole 551 steps. The crowd on top was big, but that is what happens with big turistic places. Our trip was so much better because we had this day in the Vatican!
Brigida was a fabulous guide, we learnt such a lot & loved the whole experience. I highly recommend this tour and this company.
It was very interesting a must visit !! The guide Valerio was super cool and very polite he explained every detail
Our tour guide was knowledgeable and patient. She easily moved us through the crowd.
Awesome , my pleased to be here and wish everyone a good, peace fortune
A scenic Vatican Gardens tour by open bus, followed by fast-track access to the museums.
A scenic Vatican Gardens tour by open bus, followed by fast-track access to the museums.
Inclusions
Exclusions
The visit to the Vatican Gardens has been a unique experience, I went with my fiancée and we wanted to return once again and do it walking now because it is such a beautiful place that makes you want to spend more time observing every detail, the trip in the open bus is super good if you have an agenda to visit more things in Rome, because you can tour the gardens with ease, plus with the guide in multiple hate to choose the experience becomes more dynamic. We recommend it 100%
View original review in Spanish
We had a good time. Thank you ... The wonderful works of Art ... 3 hours is not enough to admire them all ... but neither are months ....
View original review in Italian
At the beginning of the street at the entrance to the Vatican Museum, signs should be put up saying : A sign: "Visits without a ticket" A sign: "Visits with a ticket" It's the best museum I've ever visited I find this museum very rich in works of art, clean and well organized. The Vatican gardens are beautiful. CONGRATULATIONS!
View original review in Portuguese
Magnificent experience. Visit to the sublime gardens. The museum is a sight to behold, paintings, sculptures waoooo. And the Sistine Chapel 🤩😍 What happiness. ROME IS A MAGNIFICENT CITY 🌟💖
View original review in French
Everything was fantastic, a little less people would have been nicer but I loved it, I don't think I got to see everything but it was incredible.
View original review in Portuguese
Good information, short waiting time, recommendable
View original review in German
It was most knowledgeable
We waited in line but it was very fast. Interesting visit and we loved all the roofs, each one more beautiful than the other.
View original review in Spanish
Everything was cool, of course the magnificent Sistine Chapel
View original review in German
Visit to the gardens and direct entrance to the museum
View original review in French
The bus ride was great and super enjoyable. The vatican museum was a nightmare. Too many people, too many rooms to go through before seeing one room. There should be timed entries for the museum or a direct way to the chapel. It is a disservice to the art there, because everyone is ignoring that art to rush to the chapel. Two entries (museum and chapel separately) and timed entries would solve a lot of the issues. Look at what the louvre is doing for "la joconde" . Not your fault, but still worth mentioning. Last comment: a recycle bin for headphones at the end of the trip would be great.
Excellent organization: total punctuality, kindness and helpfulness..we also avoided a very long queue for the entrance to the Vatican museums..beautiful also the tour in the Vatican gardens..thank you for the unforgettable experience
View original review in Italian
Since Vatican city is so big, it was very confusing locating the meeting point. It took over an hour to lcate it. It would be helpful if the info was more detailed or signages directing us where to go/meet. As we were late over an hour, the tour staff was nice enough to let us go on a bus tour with another group.
Enjoyed the bus tour of the Vatican gardens. I wasn't aware that the channels for the headsets contained different languages. Better communication from the driver or placed somewhere so when one gets on the bus, they know which channel = which language.
It was very beautiful. They took us in a tiny bus and showed us around the gardens , we couldn't get off and whoever took the picture took the picture 😂😂😂. From there we were dropped off at the museum and left on our own to wander around , whoever wanted had audio hits for 8€ each in several major languages . It was very crowded with groups and separately alone , it was very stuffy and crowded , our conclusion was come with the first hours i.e. as soon as they open go in otherwise after 9:30 it is very crowded even before that , but if you find early hours best
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The experience was very good. We did the visit without a guide, although we used the audio guides that helped us to understand and improve the visit. What I did not like so much was the overcrowding of people there, maybe it was the dates we went, since it was Pentecost Sunday and Monday. Perhaps the next time we go we will not find so many people and we will be able to enjoy the visit much better.
View original review in Spanish
When I got my student card, it wasn't stated anywhere until what age the student card is valid.I had to pay an additional 20 euros for a regular ticket.
Without a doubt, the Sistine Chapel and not waiting in line to get in. I wish it wasn't mandatory to go through the whole museum to get to the chapel.
View original review in Spanish
In advertising of the tour was told that it's forbided for children under 6 years old to take part on it. But when we came to entrance guide told that my son is not able to go inside. In general under 6th years old it's under 6 years 11 months and 30 days. It's totally uncorrect. That's why I should to.stau with my smaller son and wait for the end of bus tour.
THE Egyptian part of the museum is impressive, perhaps even better than the Louvre. Not having to queue is really a big plus. And the visit of the garden by bus was very beautiful and interesting.
View original review in French
The experience itself was wonderful, since the place deserves it. We arrived a while before the established time, tried to enter, without success. When the entrance to the site was allowed, the directions were followed, but in the site they gave different and changing directions (up to 4 counters were visited), this resulted in losing the agreed visiting hours, access to bus and guide (could not see the gardens), the audio guide had to be paid again. They were not very polite and did not give correct explanations to get access on time and without incident.
View original review in Spanish
We enjoyed the infinite historical and cultural heritage that the museum contains beginning with a beautiful bus tour x the enchanting Vatican gardens and ending the visit in the enchanting Sistine Chapel. There were endless people but the reservation system used allowed us to arrive and enter. Excellent service. Arriving early as suggested is essential.
View original review in Italian
The trip to the Vatican gardens and museum was wonderful. First of all, because I mistook the time of reservation and we came too early, a very nice lady took us right away and we didn't have to wait. The ride through the Vatican gardens was wonderful, while the tour of the museum and the Sistine Chapel would also have been amazing if not for the crowds of people. Nevertheless, we enjoyed everything very much.
This review is translated. Show original review.
They would not let us enter in time to meet our 1.00 time so we missed our guide, luckily we could join the 1.30 tour. Really difficult to get inside to join the tour we were turned back to the end of the queue 3 times as they told us we were too early. So much for beating the queues
Everything went smoothly, as per directions received we arrived over 30 minutes early because we feared bedlam, once inside we went to the Vatican gardens desk, at the appointed time we were escorted to the bus then museums and finally Sistine chapel. Everything was perfect
View original review in Italian
Tour at a relaxed pace with fewer than 15 guests—for more personal guidance and deeper engagement.
Tour at a relaxed pace with fewer than 15 guests—for more personal guidance and deeper engagement.
Inclusions
Exclusions
Great tour guide! Super funny and knowledgeable
The articulation of English was difficult to understand. Lovely woman , just talked too fast and didnt understand her. Only about 30% and I had to fill in the rest since Ive been to the Vatican on several times over the last 30 years. I was hopping to gain more insight and knowledge
The guide was very friendly and easy to understand. He led us through the museums with joy and enthusiasm.
View original review in German
Seeing The Vatican, was a highlight however there was such large crowds and lines. It was difficult to manage. Our Tour got started late because of change in meeting location and some of the other group was quite late. The headset was not working most of the time and our guide was difficult to understand. We felt like we were just in line for hours and being moved around like cattle. What we did get to see was fabulous, but it was not worth the tour. I would definitely do it another way next time.
Paula was an excellent guide through the Vatican - there were extremely many visitors and she made the best of it, told us lots of interesting things and didn't dwell on the little things (e.g. vases). We knew that the Sistine Chapel was closed, but it would have been good to have been informed in advance that St. Peter's Basilica was also only partially open to visitors!
View original review in German
Our guide was super friendly and kind, but because both the sixtine chappel and the St Peter where closed we spend a lot of time in the museum. After 2,5h it's just not that interesting anymore. In the end he was able to get us into the st Peter, but the time was up so inside we did not get any tour/explanation. It's not his fault of course, he made the best of the situation - but for us it was a disapointment
Julia our guide was exceptional. She answered all our questions and was very patient with us since English is not our first language.
View original review in Spanish
Very knowledgeable and friendly tour guide. She ensured everyone had a chance to ask questions and was ok during the tour. I'd highly recommend going on a tour. It wouldn't have been the same if we had viewed the Vatican by ourselves because we would miss out on a lot of detail and significance/purpose behind certain artwork.
Excellent. Our guide was very knowledgeable and pleasant, making a very stressful and congested experience into an unforgettable one. Thank you.
Sarah was amazing...made a very crowded and stressful tour very manageable and interesting in a personal way - so glad we booked this!
We managed to get in without queues, and the guide was very attentive to the group, which was not that big. We received explanations of the Vatican museums all the time.
View original review in Spanish
Despite the large number of guests, everything was well organized. Our tour guide was very friendly and knew a lot, but her English was sometimes difficult to understand.
View original review in German
I was impressed by the Sistine Chapel.
View original review in Spanish
It was a really interesting tour of the Vatican. Silvia was a really great tour guide!
Our guide was spectacular Her knowledge was absolutely spot on It was the an amazing experience because of her
The Aussie guide knew her stuff ; the entire tour was educational as well as looking at history .
Natalia was an excellent, informative and helpful guide. A lovely tour that made the most of a very busy place.
Our tour guide was fantastic and very kind
Our guide was amazing. Very knowledgeable, friendly and open to questions. Added so much to our experience.
well informed guide lots of interesting exhibits in the museum
Very good guide, very interesting and very nice. Of course, it was beautiful, fantastic.
View original review in French
Witness Pope Leo XIV’s first public audiences with exclusive, reserved seating in St. Peter’s Square.
Witness Pope Leo XIV’s first public audiences with exclusive, reserved seating in St. Peter’s Square.
Inclusions
Initially we weren't on "the list" perhaps due to booking a day prior to the event. We were told to wait until everyone was checked in and was escorted over to a guide. She was amazing. I wish I knew her name to give her an A++ review she deserved. She got us to the front of the line and the best aisle seats to view Pope Leo. Memories to last a lifetime!!
I thought there would be more provided than the free papal audience ticket and the guide walking us into vatican city. The guides were wonderful, and the information he provided was great, but there was really only 15 minutes worth of information. I think I would prefer to save money next time that I want to participate the Papal Audience. We turned in our whisper devices as soon as we arrived at the seats, so there was really very limited amount of description of the papal audience.
Our guide worked very hard to get his small group up close to the viewing - he had an asssociate who was working with him steering him to front row seats! Along the way he explained the up-coming Papal procession, the Vatican state, the Swiss guards and general history. Well Done!
Everything it was a brilliant experience
seeing the Pope live, in the vatican
The process of locating the guide was extremely stressful - I arrived at 630am and still by 715 it was a chaos with tour guides shouting at each other and no one offering helpful service. Only after I had to be very forceful to a staff member to say I'm not a late no show I have a ticket did they allow me to join.
We were left alone after entering the St Peter's Square
It was a fiasco. I arrived at the given meeting point 45 minutes early. There was no guide to be seen. I eventually made contact with11 other people also at the same point and also unable to make contact with anyone from the Company. When someone eventually responded to frantic phone calls it was to say that the meeting point had been changed and we had been advised. I had certainly not received any communication stating this and neither had any of the other people. By this time it was 8.30 and we then had to do what turned into a 15 minute walk (due to road closures etc by police and military). We then got to the rearranged meeting point where we personally had to ask a girl sat on the steps if she was the person we were looking for. She had nothing to suggest that she was from Headout. No tshirt, no flag. She did not even greet us or make any apologies. Her first words were 'you are very late' which totally annoyed me as I was, as were the others very early. By the time we got into the square the Pope had started his audience. It was so crowded we could not get to the seating area for another 30 minutes. The whole morning was totally ruined by u professionalism. We later met at 12.15 for the tour of St. Peters Basilica- again nothing indicated that it was Headout. In fact it looked like she had tied a dirty bandana/neckerchief onto a pole. For the fee charged I felt it was all totally unacceptable and ruined what should have been a special once in a lifetime (well for me) trip I had done a guided tour the day previous to the Coliseum with another tour company and you could do with learning a few lessons in professionalism from them. Sorry but you will not be getting any recommendations whatsoever from me and I would be interested in your excuses. If it was just myself complaining I would be doubting what happened but there were another 12 people experiencing exactly the same.
The guide Stefan saved the day. Other than that, it was horrible. Waited at the venue sent only to find out it was in a different location. Never again headout
The guide didn't show up at the appointed place because he was with another group. Luckily, other people helped us by showing us the way to attend the hearing even without the guide. Occasionally we found the guide after almost two hours, who was with another group and ended up taking us in on a limited basis.
View original review in Portuguese
Nobody was there from headout. We were like crazy asking every tour group. We were there at 7 am but no guide tour was there. Please refund our money. We were scammed🤬🤬🤬Refund our money ASAP
The organizer on site was very disorganized and we waited almost an hour before we went on our tour to St. Peter's Basilica. There we were not let in via the fast track entrance, but had to stand in the blazing sun again for over an hour with the others. All in all, I spent the money for nothing. I could have done it all for free.
View original review in German
We were on our own for the Papal Audience, she simply gave us the yellow invitation and sticker and showed us where to go for security check, which was a huge line the figure ourselves out once inline looking for seats on our own in huge lines. We were then supposed to go back to meet her at McDonalds after Pope audience, but the crowds were huge and hard to walk back in the heat so it was harder to go back in the heat so we went into St. Peter on our own. It was harder to go back looking for her once we were there than to just go ahead and look around own our own. Very inconveniencing
First, No one was holding up an orange umbrella, it was leaning against the wall and couldn't be seen. The guide for the tour, had us wait an hour and another guide made us get out our. Tickets again to split up group. Unorganized. The flag she was holding didn't say "English' but a.small ribbon with a tiny bear. Guide Maria walked us around for 30 minutes not being able to get in. The tour didn't even start and by 12:30 pm we were still in line. Twice we were told by guide to turn around and walk back through crowds to different locations. I video tape me giving back my radio to Maria as others were doing as well. We would have never gotten into Basillica by time it was supposed to be over. Extremely disappointed and I would like a refund I never have bad experiences but every single person in the group was complaining as well about what they said was "a rip off" . I chose to leave this unhealthy experience and all the negative energy. Please refund my money. TY
Tour the Vatican on your terms with a private, customizable experience and exclusive Basilica access.
Tour the Vatican on your terms with a private, customizable experience and exclusive Basilica access.
Inclusions
This experience is perfect for our guide Laura was knowledgeable and pleasant.. She made the tour so interesting. We are so grateful for Laura!!
Nunzia had incredible knowledge and an extremely pleasant feeling for us. In addition to the tour, she gave us lots of tips for the days and evenings. We would be happy to book with you again; I can only recommend you.
View original review in German
AnnaMaria was an absolutely brilliant tour guide. Very knowledgeable and a true Roman. Thank you for the great experience
Loved our guide! Maggie was knowledgeable and very capable. We were extremely please with her guidance.
Good guide and good highlights on the tour.
View original review in German
Valentina is fantastic! Reccomend 100%
Great Italian guide who speaks French fluently and knows all the guards. We passed through Vatican security in few minutes and the tour was really interesting. We have a great memory of this morning. Thank you very much.
Noelle Exceptional, very happy with our guide and the knowledge she has of all the details during the tour, very attentive and respectful with all my family. Visit, very attentive and respectful with all my family, super recommended!
View original review in Spanish
Our guide Alexandra led us through the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel with such naturalness that we felt like we were in Roman times and enjoyed our visit ! Grazzie mile
View original review in Spanish
Very knowledgeable and very accommodation to my husnads use of a cane. We had a great time
There was FAR too many people - you should reduce the number of people entering. The greatness dissapear I was there 40 years ago with a totally different experience
Duration: Flexible (self-paced)
Vatican Museum access: Yes
Sistine Chapel access: Yes
St. Peter's Basilica access: No
Guide: No
Why go for it?
Recommended tickets:
Duration: 2-3 hrs.
Vatican Museum access: Yes, with skip-the-line entry
Sistine Chapel access: Yes
St. Peter's Basilica access: Optional
Guide: Yes
Why go for it?
Recommended tickets:
Duration: 3 hrs.
Vatican Museum access: Yes, with skip-the-line entry
Sistine Chapel access: Yes
St. Peter's Basilica access: Optional
Guide: Yes
Why go for it?
Recommended tickets:
Duration: Full day (approx.)
Vatican Museum access: Yes
Sistine Chapel access: Yes
St. Peter's Basilica access: No
Guide: Yes
Why go for it?
Recommended tickets:
Visitors between the age of 18-25 enjoy reduced pricing on their tickets.
Most Vatican tickets can be canceled 24-72 hours before the experience begins. However, some tickets cannot be canceled or rescheduled. Please check your ticket for details at the time of booking.
A complex of art and historical museums situated within Vatican City, established by Pope Julius II in the early 16th century. The museums house an immense collection of art and artifacts amassed by the Roman Catholic Church over centuries.
Access included: Yes
Highlights & history of Vatican MuseumCommissioned by Pope Sixtus IV and consecrated in 1483, the chapel is renowned for its Renaissance art, most notably the ceiling painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512 depicting scenes from the Book of Genesis, including the famous Creation of Adam.
Access included: Yes
Book Tickets to Sistine ChapelOne of the most significant and revered sites in Christianity, St. Peter's Basilica stands on the traditional site where Peter, the apostle who is considered the first pope, was crucified and buried. The basilica was consecrated in 1626, replacing an earlier church that stood on the same site.
Access included: Free entry, but guided tours and dome access require separate tickets.
Book St. Peter's Basilica ToursThe official residence of the Pope, the Apostolic Palace is a complex of buildings including the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel.
Access: Yes, the rooms of the Apostolic Palace that visitors are allowed to view are a part of the Vatican Museums tour.
What's the Apostolic Palace?Beautifully landscaped gardens and green spaces that cover approximately half of Vatican City's 44 hectares. Established during the Renaissance and Baroque eras, the gardens are designed with a mix of traditional Italian, French, and English styles, and feature a variety of fountains, sculptures, and grottoes set amidst lush lawns, flower beds, and tree-lined paths.
Access included: You will have to book tickets that specifically include entry into the Vatican Gardens.
Vatican Gardens Tour OptionsThe Apostolic Palace, also known as the Papal Palace, is the official residence of the Pope, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church. It is thus, a symbol of symbol of the papacy and the Catholic Church and serves as the venue for many official ceremonies, gatherings, and decisions related to the governance of the Church.
Access included: Not all Vatican tickets include access to the Vatican Necropolis. You will have to book tickets that specifically include entry into the Vatican Necropolis.
The Vatican Grottoes are a series of underground chapels and tombs located beneath St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. They serve as the final resting place for many popes and other significant figures associated with the Catholic Church.
Access included: You can plan your visit to the Vatican Grottoes as part of your visit to St. Peter’s Basilica. Once you enter St. Peter’s Basilica, you can make your way below towards the grottoes.
From Monday to Thursday: 9 AM to 6 PM
Friday: 9 AM to 10:30 PM
Saturday: 9 AM to 8 PM
Last Sunday of the month: 9 AM to 2 PM
Last admission: 2 hours before closing
Closed: Sundays (except the last Sunday of each month), 1 and 6 January, 11 February, 10 April, 1 May, 29 June, 15 and 16 August, 1 November,
8, 25, 26, and 31 December.
Best time to visit: The ideal period to visit the Vatican Museums is between November to March due to fewer crowds. However, the peak season, which sees the highest number of visitors, is from April to September.
Detailed Vatican Museum TimingsAddress: Città del Vaticano, 00120 Vatican City
There are two entrances to the Vatican City:
The Vatican has a dress code, as it is a religious state and is quite stringent about it. Failure to adhere to the dress code can lead to you being denied entry. Clothes that expose your knees, including shorts, skirts, and dresses, are not allowed, as are offensive tattoos.
Celebrating Christmas at Vatican is a magical affair. The city decks itself in pretty lights, a Christmas tree, and a Nativity scene. However, the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel is closed on December 25 and 26.
The Mass
The mass at St. Peter's Basilica, which takes place on December 24, at 9.30 PM, is one of the most viewed masses around the world. To book the Papal Audience tickets, you have to fill out a form and fax it to +39 06 698 85863 at least 2 months in advance. You’ll receive a letter that confirms that the church has received your request. However, this is not a ticket confirmation. You will have to go to the Preffetura Office 4-5 days before the mass, between 8 AM to 6 PM, to get the ticket.
The Vatican doesn't have its own airport, so tourists arrive or depart from the Rome airports. Book Rome airport transfer services for a smooth connection from and to Rome's city center, the Vatican, and the airport.
International airports near the Vatican:
Some popular operators like SIT Shuttle Bus provide airport transfer services directly to and from Vatican and Rome Airports. Check out Rome Fiumicino Airport to the Vatican for more information.
Rome Airport TransfersBuilt of concrete and stone, it is the largest amphitheater ever built. It was commissioned by Emperor Vespasian in 70-72 AD and completed in 80 AD.
Colosseum TicketsAn ancient villa set amidst lush gardens, that dates back to the seventeenth century. It offers visitors an opportunity to experience life in this historic region and explore the beauty of its architecture and art.
Visit Villa BarberiniThe historic summer residence of the Pope, nestled in Castel Gandolfo, was built in 1596 and is home to several historical artifacts from its past use as a papal retreat. The palace gardens are also open to visitors, filled with sculptures and fountains.
Explore Apostolic Palace of Castel GandolfoThe starting price for Vatican Museums tickets is €29. This typically includes skip-the-line access to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. Prices may vary based on additional features like guided tours or access to special areas.
You can purchase tickets to the Vatican Museums online or at the venue. Online purchasing allows you to avoid the long queues at the ticket office. Additionally, some tickets offer combined access to St. Peter’s Basilica, providing a more comprehensive experience.
Booking Vatican Museums tickets online offers several advantages:
- Skip the lines: The Vatican Museums are a major tourist attraction, and the lines can be extensive, especially during peak seasons. By purchasing tickets in advance online, you can bypass the ticket lines and save valuable time.
- Guaranteed entry: Especially during peak seasons, walk-in tickets might be sold out. By booking in advance, you ensure your entry.
- Variety of options: Plan your experience by choosing from various options, such as guided tours or evening tours. Combo tours to visit other attractions in Rome are also available.
- Discounts & offers: Online bookings often come with special discounts and offers not available at the ticket office.
- Customer service: Benefit from 24/7 customer service via phone, email, or chat.
A standard Vatican Museums ticket includes skip-the-line access to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. Depending on the experience you choose, you may also get guided tours or special access to areas like the Raphael Rooms.
Yes, EU citizens between the ages of 18 and 25 can avail of reduced pricing on their tickets with a valid ID. EU and non-EU citizens under 18, as well as teaching staff, can enjoy free or reduced entry into the Vatican Museums.
Absolutely! You can purchase Vatican Museums skip-the-line tickets, allowing you to bypass the long queues and enter with priority access. Some popular options include:
- Tickets to Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel with Escorted Entrance
- Early Morning or After-Hours Skip-the-Line Tour of Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
Standard Vatican Museums tickets grant access to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. For entry into St. Peter’s Basilica, you'll need to opt for specific combo tickets.
The cancellation policy varies based on the ticket type. Some tickets offer a full refund upon cancellation up to 48-72 hours in advance, while others might be non-refundable. Always check the specific terms before booking.