Vatican Tickets & Tour including Sistine Chapel & Raphael Rooms

4.6
(17 reviews)

3 hours (approximately)
Offered in: English and 1 more

This is a superb half-day tour to see the Vatican in the company of a top-rated and very knowledgeable guide.

With skip-the-line access you by-pass the waiting lines of tourists and head directly inside to see Ancient Roman and Greek statues,  Raphael’s Rooms, the Galleries of Tapestries and Maps, the Sistine Chapel, to name a few.

This is one of the most comprehensive tours of the Vatican highlights and we ensure you won’t miss any of the “must-see” treasures that make this such a special place.

What's Included

Professional art historian guide
Guaranteed to skip the long lines
All activities
Admission tickets
Gratuities
Private transportation
Hotel pick up and drop off

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

At the stairs outside the Vatican museums, at the monumental white door topped with the statues of Michelangelo and Raphael (Vatican museum Entrance) Address: viale vaticano

End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Duration: 3 hours (approximately)
  • 1
    Vatican Museums

    You meet with your guide at the entrance to the Museums and with privileged access by-pass the queues and head inside.  You can leave your belongings in the cloakroom and take a comfort break before starting the tour. The visit begins in the rooms that hold ancient Roman and Greek artworks collected from excavations in the city of Rome.  When the Popes ruled Central Italy the Vatican had the rights to all finds.  Your guide will take you to see the most interesting of these including the Belvedere Apollo, the Torso, the busts of Claudius and Hadrian and the sarcophagi of Helen and Constance, the mother and daughter of Emperor Constantine.Next on the itinerary is a visit to the Room of Animals and the Gallery of Candelabra where you walk over rare Roman mosaics and come face-to-face with the magnificent statues of Diana of Ephesus, the Muses and many Greek philosophers. 

    1 hour Admission ticket included
  • 2

    You then proceed to the Gallery of Tapestries, the Sobieski Hall and Raphael’s Rooms.  The latter were the private apartments of Pope Julius II and were painted by Raphael and his disciples.  Here you will see two of the painter’s most famous masterpieces, the Parnassus and The School of Athens.  

    30 minutes Admission ticket included
  • 3
    Sistine Chapel

    The highlight of any tour is of course the famous Sistine Chapel, Italy’s most visited site.  Your guide will tell you all about Michelangelo’s frescoes, The Last Judgment, the Creation of Adam and the Genesis as well as details of the Stories of Moses and Jesus painted by Botticelli, Perugino and other famous Renaissance masters.  Still in use today, the Sistine Chapel is where the conclave takes place to elect a new Pope.  Listen to anecdotes and some well-kept secrets about this amazing place.  

    30 minutes Admission ticket included
  • 4
    St. Peter's Basilica

    It is then time for a tour of St. Peter’s Basilica where you will explore the numerous side chapels with their hidden crypts. You will see Michelangelo’s Pietà and your guide will explain why this is the only work that he signed. You will gain an appreciation of the mastery that went into the creation of Bernini’s altarpiece and learn how Michelangelo triumphed over his contemporaries for the honour to paint St. Peter’s magnificent dome.

    30 minutes Admission ticket included
  • 5
    St. Peter's Square

    The tour will end in Saint Peter's Square

    30 minutes Admission ticket free

Additional info

  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Specialized infant seats are available
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • A dress code is required to enter places of worship and selected museums. No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements
  • READ CAREFULLY: Because of the growing popularity of the current pope Francis and his intense activity in organising mass events in the Vatican some areas might get closed last minute without previous notice. This has already happened this year and can happen again during your Vatican tour: the Sistine chapel and/or the Basilica of Saint Peter might not be accessible. In case of such events our tour guide will provide you with a valuable alternative focusing the tour inside the Vatican museums.
Supplied by Vatican and Sistine Chapel Tours

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Tags

Half-day Tours
Private Sightseeing Tours
Cultural Tours
Historical Tours
Art Tours
Walking Tours
Viator Plus
Short term availability

Cancellation Policy

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

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Rating

4.6 Based on 17 17 reviews
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