Share this tour
Offered languages
- English
Experience the Vatican like never before on this 2.5-hour tour, led by an expert guide who brings history to life with fascinating stories you won’t hear elsewhere.
Join a small, exclusive group of 10 or fewer for an immersive journey through the Vatican Museums, skipping long lines with priority no-wait access—the fastest way in.
Marvel at the Sistine Chapel, where Michelangelo’s frescoes—including The Creation of Adam and The Last Judgment—adorn the ceiling and walls in a breathtaking display of Renaissance art.
Explore Raphael’s Rooms, featuring the iconic School of Athens, a masterpiece of High Renaissance art and philosophy.
Your tour also includes the Gallery of Maps, Tapestries, and Candelabra, showcasing treasures from the Vatican’s rich artistic legacy.
Want to visit St. Peter’s Basilica too? Choose an option that includes access to the Basilica to benefit from exclusive skip-the-line entry directly from the Vatican Museums.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Arrive at least 15 minutes early. Meet us on the steps at Via Tunisi, located at the corner with Via Sebastiano Veniero. We will be holding a sign with the green EcoArt logo.
Itinerary
-
1Vatican Museums
A typical itinerary inside the Vatican Museums includes the Pavilion of the Carriages, home to everything from centuries old horse-drawn carriages to vintage and modern cars really used by Popes past and present. You'll visit the Pinecone Courtyard, the Hall of the Maps (the "Oval Office" of the Pope centuries ago), the Gallery of the Tapestries, the Pinacoteca, Belvedere Courtyard, Room of the Muses, the Round Room and Candelabra Gallery.
10 minutes • Admission ticket included -
2Cortile della Pigna
This courtyard gets its name from the enormous bronze Pinecone sculpture that dominates it.
15 minutes • Admission ticket included -
Sphere within a Sphere (Pass by)
The Vatican Museums contains some modern art as well, including this famous sculpture: Sphere within a Sphere. Variations of this sculpture can be found in many settings around the world.
Admission ticket free -
3
The most famous wing of the Vatican Museums, the Pio Clementino museum contains much of the Museum's most important highlights. Your guide will take you through the Room of the Animals, where you can spot the life-like statues of fauna from around the world. Head to the Octagonal Courtyard where a small fountain trickles in the background of famous statues like the Laocoonte and Apollo Belvedere. Don't forget to look at the Candelabra Gallery -- master painters decorated these ceilings to create the illusion of a 3D effect centuries ago!
45 minutes • Admission ticket included -
4Galleria Delle Carte Geografiche
Head with your guide to the Gallery of the Maps -- and get a perspective of the world how it was five centuries ago. These exquisitely detailed, hand-painted giant maps are a favorite of the Vatican Museums. See if you can find the Italian cities you have visited, or spot the nod to Christopher Columbus' journey to the Americas.
10 minutes • Admission ticket included -
5
Raphael painted these rooms with incredible frescoes, originally meant for the private rooms of Pope Julius II.
15 minutes • Admission ticket included -
6Sistine Chapel
No guides are able to speak inside the Sistine Chapel. However, your guide will prepare you in advance for your free time inside so you'll know what to look for.
30 minutes • Admission ticket included -
(Pass by)
Your visit ends close to where it began, after the spiral staircase at the entrance to the Vatican Museums.
Admission ticket free -
Vatican City (Pass by)
Visit to Vatican Museums - Vatican City
Admission ticket free -
7St. Peter's Basilica
Only for bookings where access to St. Peter's Basilica is selected, tour will include Skip the Line Access to St. Peter's Basilica directly from the Vatican Museums.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
St. Peter's Square (Pass by)
Tours that do not end in St. Peter's Basilica will end in St. Peter's Square when available.
Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children 6 and under are entitled to free access to the Vatican Museums (with proof of age)
- Children aged 7-18 are entitled to a reduced entry fee (see tour and ticket pricing) and must provide proof of age.
- Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult
- 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.
Show 6 more
Additional info
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children 6 and under are entitled to free access to the Vatican Museums (with proof of age)
- Children aged 7-18 are entitled to a reduced entry fee (see tour and ticket pricing) and must provide proof of age.
- Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult
- 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.
- Check-in is 15 minutes prior to the booked start time. Tickets are time sensitive and we cannot accomodate late arrivals.
- Due to the Jubilee, some monuments may be under restoration. Please pay attention to any messages we may send regarding potential changes.
- Guests with a certified disability of over 75% are entitled to free entrance to the Vatican and do not require a ticket. For guests who are not self-sufficient, free entry is extended to a companion.
- Important: St. Peter's Basilica is not included in all tour options. If you wish to visit the Basilica as part of your experience, please ensure you select a tour where it is explicitly listed as included.
- Please include all names as they appear on your passports when booking. Tickets are non-transferable and if the names on your booking do not match your ID you may be denied access and will not be due a refund. Any name changes must be communicated at least 72 hours in advance.
- Please bring an ID or a photo/copy of ID.
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Show more
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Rating
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Your guide to the flawless travel experience
Top Searches
Get our app
