Guided tour

Rome: Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel Early Access Tour

4.1  / 5216 reviews
Activity provider:Loving Rome
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Guided tour

Rome: Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel Early Access Tour

Activity provider:Loving Rome
4.1  / 5216 reviews

From $85.29 per person

Discover the beauty of the Vatican City on an early access guided tour to the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica. Get in an hour before the usual opening hours with priority tickets.

About this activity

Free cancellation
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Duration 3 hours
Check availability to see starting times.
Skip the ticket line
Live tour guide
English

Experience

Highlights
  • Enjoy early access to the Vatican Museums before it opens to the public
  • Explore the Sistine Chapel and the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter
  • Join a guided group tour with skip the line tickets for a hassle-free entry
  • Pick up and learn some detailed and historic facts from your expert guide
  • Admire masterpieces such as Michelangelo’s Pietà and Bernini’s Baldachin
Full description

Take advantage of privileged early access tickets on a guided tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Enter an hour earlier than the general public entry, avoiding massive crowds, and enjoy a stress-free tour with an experienced guide.

Follow your guide to the Vatican Museums, and marvel at the extensive art collections from the Renaissance that have gathered great significance historically and artistically.

Wander inside the museum, explore the most spectacular rooms and sophisticated galleries, and see a collection of frescoes of maps in the Gallery of Maps.

Next, head to the Sistine Chapel and admire its iconic ceiling painted by Michelangelo. Learn about the story behind the frescoes and contemplate their meaning.

Roam around the St. Peter’s Basilica, considered one of the Catholic Church's holiest temples and an important pilgrimage site. Check out famous mosaics including Michelangelo’s Pietà and Bernini’s Baldachin.

Includes
  • Early entry before the opening hours
  • Skip-the-line tickets
  • Tour of St.Peter’s Basilica, Vatican Museum, and Sistine Chapel
  • Tour guide
  • Headsets if needed
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Tips
  • Dome tour
Not suitable for
  • People with mobility impairments
  • People with claustrophobia
  • 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 clothes
  • Weather-appropriate clothing

Not allowed

  • Pets
  • Shorts
  • Weapons or sharp objects
  • Baby strollers
  • Food and drinks
  • Luggage or large bags
  • Short skirts
  • Sleeveless shirts
  • Tripods
  • Backpacks
  • Umbrellas

Know before you go

  • Some parts might not be accessible and are subject to unexpected closures due to the site’s restrictions
  • During religious holidays or Wednesday mornings (Papal Audience) the tour will only include an external guided tour of the Basilica
  • Wear clothing that covers the shoulders and knees. If your clothing does not comply with the rules, you may be denied entry
  • All guests must undergo airport-style security. During high season the wait may be up to 30 minutes
  • Late arrivals will not be accommodated
  • Photography is not allowed in the interior of the Sistine Chapel and some parts. The staff is authorized to delete any files
  • Bags larger than 40x35x15 cm, tripods, large umbrellas, and potentially dangerous objects are not allowed inside the Vatican Museums and must be left in the cloakroom. The cloakroom is a 20-minute walk from the end point of the tour

Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.1 /5

based on 216 reviews

Review summary

  • Value for money
    3.9/5

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G
GetYourGuide traveler – United StatesOctober 17, 2023 – Verified booking
The guide was very informative and she really took time to explain the things that we see. Although it mainly focuses on the highlights, the tour guide took time to dig deep into the meaning of whatever it is we’re seeing- tapestry, statues, mosaics, thr building itsslf etc
Helpful?
A
Abdurrahman – EstoniaOctober 15, 2023 – Verified booking
Our tour guide had a lower voice, we had to get closer to hear her time to time. Early access, I think this term isn't precise because we had to wait until museum opened. In the beginning of tour she gave information about St. Peter's Basilica (from outside), then we entered to Vatican Museums with tour guide. We got audio guide inside, after seeing musem and Sistine Chapel we've finished the tour and tour ended front of Church. We had to explore by ourselved, however we already forgot most of the thing has been said earlier about Chuch(St. Peter's Basilica). Interesting itinerary, I guess they're adjusting based on the situation. Ultimately, it was very crowded and sadly we had to stay in Sistine Chapel only 5 minutes duration, with just sightseeing. I think its better to visit some wikipedia and do it by your own. Taking tour partially recommended.
Helpful?
G
GetYourGuide traveler – CanadaOctober 10, 2023 – Verified booking
The guide was really good - it was a lot of info in a very short period of time. Everything felt rushed, but that’s the Vatican and the fact that they cram as many people as possible in there. Only complaint is that she did part of the tour without the whispers when other groups got whispers right away. That took time away from our tour as we had to wait in line inside to get our whispers. Also, the tour starts at 7:30, but you don’t actually go inside until 8:30.
Helpful?

Product ID: 428063

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