Guided tour

Rome: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Tour

Activity provider: Crown Tours
Guided tour

Rome: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Tour

Activity provider: Crown Tours
Save up to 15%

From US$ 68.39 US$ 58.13 per person

Explore the Vatican Museums with skip-the-line tickets and see St. Peter's Basilica on a guided walking tour in Rome. Step into the Sistine Chapel and admire the ceiling painted by Michelangelo.

About this activity

Free cancellation
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Duration 2.5 - 3 hours
Check availability to see starting times.
Skip the line through a separate entrance
Live tour guide
German, Spanish, English, Italian, French
Private or small groups available

Experience

Highlights
  • Marvel at the intricate frescoes adorning the Sistine Chapel ceilings
  • Save time by skipping the long ticket lines at the Vatican Museums
  • Wander through the courtyards of the Vatican complex with your guide
  • See the Raphael Rooms and learn about the School of Athens fresco
  • Explore the interior of St. Peter's Basilica and see Michelangelo's Pietà
Full description

Discover some of the most popular attractions in Rome on a guided walking tour of Vatican City. Visit the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica with your guide, and admire the ornate interiors and the famed artworks housed here.

Meet your guide close to the entrance to the Vatican Museums and follow them as you set out to explore the most interesting galleries within the museum. See the Rotunda, the Gallery of Tapestries, and the Gallery of Maps.

Take in the ornate ceilings in each room and see the ancient statues, frescoes, and tapestries that adorn the walls.

Then, enter the Sistine Chapel and marvel at the intricate fresco that covers the entire ceiling and walls. Painted by Michaelangelo between 1508 and 1512, the Sistine Chapel represents a cornerstone work of High Renaissance art.

From the Creation of Adam to the Last Judgement, Michelangelo dedicated some of his greatest years to the Sistine Chapel, working day and night – even sleeping in the chapel – to satisfy the popes of Rome.

The artist also expressed his frustration through hidden meanings in his work, which have since been uncovered and deciphered. Listen as your guide lets you in on Michelangelo's private jokes.

Finally, head to St. Peter's Basilica for the final leg of your guided walking tour. The cathedral is one of the most renowned works of Renaissance architecture and holds the title of the biggest church in the world.

Explore the interior of this magnificent structure with your guide and discover the many masterpieces of Renaissance and Baroque art that fill the cathedral. Admire the famous Pietà by Michelangelo and the elaborate St. Peter's Baldachin by Bernini.

Your tour comes to an end outside the cathedral. From here, feel free to wander around Saint Peter's Square or visit the nearby Castel Sant'Angelo on your own. 

Includes
  • Tour guide
  • Skip-the-line Vatican Museums Entry ticket
  • Visit to St. Peter's Basilica
  • Gallery of Maps visit
  • Sistine Chapel visit
  • St Peter's Basilica Dome entry ticket
  • Vatican Museums Cabinet of the Masks visit
Not suitable for
  • Wheelchair users

Select participants and date

Participants

Date

Meeting point

Meeting point may vary depending on the option booked.

Important information

What to bring

  • Passport or ID card
  • Comfortable shoes

Not allowed

  • Shorts
  • Short skirts
  • Sleeveless shirts

Know before you go

  • Entry to the Vatican Museums is based on strictly timed tickets. For this reason, late arrivals cannot be guaranteed access
  • All visitors must have a photo ID for the security check
  • The Vatican Museums imposes a mandatory dress code: knees and shoulders must be covered otherwise you will not be able to enter
  • Due to exceptional religious events, St. Peter's Basilica might be closed without any notice
Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.8 /5

based on 1309 reviews

Review summary

  • Guide
    4.9/5
  • Value for money
    4.5/5
  • Service
    4.8/5

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Star rating:

We found the tour to be amazing, especially St. Peter's Basilica which was simply astonishing. An absolute must in my opinion. And our guide was not only extremely knowledgable but he was also funny and made the whole experience so much better. I'd love to have him as my guide if I ever visit again.

March 19, 2023

Our tour with Nella was wonderful! She was authentic, knowledgeable and entertaining. I would NEVER suggest going to the Vatican without a guide (crowds were surprisingly large for late March). Although, if you get overwhelmed/overstimulated, consider springing for a private tour - you’ll be able to ask more questions and won’t have a little speaker hanging off your ear the whole time (of the tour guide’s speaker). My only feedback: Crown Tours was a little hard to find. They were in front of the souvenir shop as stated but this was discreet/small/closed and not near the start of the other tours (on the stairs closer to the Vatican), so we went to the wrong spot at first. Also, no one was there with a purple flag when we arrived at 8am, hence making them harder to find. Otherwise, great tour!

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March 18, 2023

The guide was excellent, she had an in-depth knowledge of Vatican City which brought the tour alive. No one should miss the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Tour, I had reservations about the Vatican Museums, boy was I wrong, they are full of Ancient Roman memorabilia that, do NOT miss them.

March 17, 2023

Product ID: 429439