Vatican Tours
Vatican City is the only independent city-state to be part of the UNESCO registry as a World Heritage Site. A revered location, Vatican City is the heart of the Catholic Church, frequented by millions of pilgrims and tourists each year. There’s plenty to see in Vatican City: historic sites like the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. These landmarks are a feast for art and architecture enthusiasts, hosting works by iconic names like Michelangelo, Caravaggio and Bernini among others.
The best way to explore and soak in history is through a guided Vatican tour. Enter a world of insightful facts and trivia about art and artists, history of Christianity and Vatican City and more through a guided tour of Vatican City.
Why Take a Vatican Tour?
Vatican City is a popular traveler’s destination in Rome. Here’s why you should take a guided tour of the Vatican:
- You can book a Vatican tour that includes access to the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica
- By opting for a Vatican tour, you can enter St. Peter’s Basilica directly through the Sistine Chapel entrance, instead of having to walk around and wait in long lines to enter
- Your Vatican tour includes skip-the-line access to Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, allowing you to bypass the long waiting lines.
- Gain insights into each painting, fresco and sculpture that adorn these historic landmarks with the help of your professional, multilingual tour guide
- Get priority early morning access to the Vatican Museums by opting for a guided tour. This way, you can beat the crowds and explore comfortably
Your Vatican Tour Options
Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica
Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica
Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel
Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica and Dome, Papal Tombs
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
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Hotel transfers
St. Peter's Basilica, wheelchair accessibility
Pick-up and drop-off, gratuities, food & drinks, visit to Necropolis/St. Peter's Tomb, Scavi
Cancel up to 72 hours in advance for a full refund
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Tickets cannot be canceled
Cancel up to 48 hours in advance for a full refund
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
What to Expect from Your Vatican Tour?
A visit to the Vatican can be overwhelming for the uninitiated, especially since this tiny city, only 120 acres in total, packs a punch. A guided tour is possibly one of the best ways to get the most out of your trip to Vatican City, a vestige of Renaissance-era architecture and baroque style. Once you meet your certified guide and group at the meeting point, you will be taken straight into the Vatican Museum where you can observe the finest and largest art collection in the world. Explore the Gallery of Maps, tapestries, Raphael’s Rooms and more.
Through the Vatican Museum, you will be taken to the world-famous Sistine Chapel that is home to famous frescoes like Michelangelo’s ‘The Last Judgement’ and Botticelli’s ‘Temptation of Christ’, among others. Both these landmarks take a couple of hours to explore, not including St. Peter’s Basilica. The Basilica has two main visitor entrances: a front entrance that is free for tourists but is always packed with long waiting queues, and a second entrance that you can access through the Sistine Chapel specifically through a guided tour.
At St. Peter’s Basilica, you can observe art and architecture by famed artists like Raphael and Michelangelo, the architectural marvel that is the Dome -- which you can climb up to as well to get splendid views of Rome and Vatican City -- and more. Your Vatican tour ends at St. Peter’s Square.
Vatican Tours FAQ
Q. What does a guided Vatican tour include?
A. A standard guided tour includes entry into the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. If you would like to visit St. Peter’s Basilica, you would have to book a Vatican tour that specifically includes access and entry into the basilica.
Q. Does my Vatican tour include entry into St. Peter’s Basilica?
A. No. You would have to book a guided Vatican tour that specifically includes access to the St. Peter’s Basilica. A standard tour includes access to Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel only.
Q. Does my Vatican tour include skip-the-line access?
A. Yes. Your Vatican tour includes skip-the-line access to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, allowing you to bypass the long waiting lines.
Q. Can I cancel a booked Vatican tour?
A. It depends on your ticket. Most Vatican tours offer a complete refund if canceled 72 hours in advance. However, ensure that you check the cancelation policy before you finalize your booking.
Q. What languages are Vatican Tours available in?
A. Most tour guides on a Vatican tour are fluent in several languages. These include but not limited to English, French, Portuguese, Mandarin, Spanish, German, etc.