Combos

Combo (Save 15%): Castel Gandolfo Full Experience + Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Guided Tour

Name: Combo (Save 15%): Castel Gandolfo Full Experience + Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Guided Tour
Start: 2025-11-14T13:00:00
End: 2025-11-14T15:30:00
Location: Rome

Ornate hallway inside Castle Gandolfo with frescoed walls and marble floors.

Castle Gandolfo garden with manicured hedges, fountains, and scenic pathways.

Visitors exploring the ornate Gallery of Maps in the Vatican Museums.

Tour group observing ancient sculptures in the Vatican Museums.

Duration

2 hr - 5 hr

Open today

Free cancellation

Free cancellation up to 3 days before the start of your experience

Audio guide

Enhance your experience with multilingual audio guide

4.2/5

(8,466)

Mariella

Oct 2025

Verified booking

4/5

At the last minute my tour was changed. I made the resevation 2 months in advance. It was supposed to be a 2 hour tour starting at 10AM. I arrived at 9:30 to ensure I was there on time. I waited and waited for the skip-the line-guide who did not show up until 10:40 and told me my tour was changed to 11AM. I was told they notified me thru Whatsapp. However, I could not access it at the time because I had no internet service. It caused an inconveniece since I had made plans to meet friends for other tours starting a 12:30. Needless to say I was unable to meet for that second tour which was very disappointing. Once in the chapel, the tour guide was phenomenal. He was very informative and knowledgeble. However, I was disappointed with the late notification of the skip-the-line service.

Fernanda

Oct 2025

Verified booking

5/5

The staff at headout was extremely helpful and made us feel very comfortable. Andrea was an infusion of energy and italian hospitality! Our tour guide Fred was very knowledgeable and facilitated the entrance to the Vatican Museum. The Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica. As an Architect he was exemplary and he went above and beyond to make sure that the group received as mich information as possible (he educated us the ENTIRE tour). I am happy we decided to utilize headout for our Vatican visit. I am sure my mother and I would have missed valuable information and our experience would not have been as rich if we chose a different direction.

Ellenor

Sep 2025

Verified booking

5/5

We thought this tour was very informative. The tour guide was very pleasant and interesting. She had extreme knowledge of the vatican. We were disappointed that St. peters was closed that day. However, this was totally out with the companies control. They made up for this by extending the tour of the museum. The vatican was well laid out, unlike other tourist attractions in Rome. Good access to bathrooms throughout. Well lit and not too busy. The staff were welcoming and attentive. I would highly recommend this tour. We managed to pick it up on a super promotion, which was super value for money.

Experience the richness of papal heritage with guided Vatican Museum tour paired with full access to the Pope’s summer residence.

Explore the Apostolic Palace at Castel Gandolfo, tour the villa’s gardens by eco-minibus, visit secret gardens and observatory domes, all with a multilingual audio guide.

Discover masterpieces on a guided tour of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, including the Gallery of Maps and Raphael Rooms, with headsets for clear commentary.

Deepen your understanding of papal history through this curated combo, offering an immersive journey across iconic papal art, architecture, and tranquil gardens.

Castel Gandolfo Apostolic Palace

Timed entry to Apostolic Palace

Eco-minibus tour of villa gardens

Access to secret garden

Access to observatory domes

Multilingual audio guide

Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel

Guided tour of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel with skip-the-line entry

Expert English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, or Portuguese-speaking guide

Explore with a group of up to 20 people

You can cancel these tickets up to 3 days before the experience begins and get a full refund.

4.2
8,466 reviews
How do we collect reviews?
These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.
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Guests from United States, United Kingdom, Australia and over 10 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Jean
Nov 2025
Verified booking
5/5
Our Vatican tour which took place on the 30th of October at 1:30pm was an absolutely unforgettable experience thanks to our Tour Guide Tonia Christiane Chiaramonte! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ From start to finish, Tonia was deeply knowledgeable, engaging, and passionate about the incredible art and history surrounding us. We visited the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel and each stop felt like stepping into a masterpiece. Tonia was fantastic in bringing the stories behind the art to life. She explained Michelangelo’s work in the Sistine Chapel with such enthusiasm that it gave us a whole new appreciation for every detail. She also helped us navigate the busy museums efficiently, ensuring we didn’t miss any highlights while avoiding the biggest crowds. The pace was perfect — not rushed, but full of fascinating insights. Key Highlights: • Expert, friendly Tour Guide with deep historical knowledge • Well-organized entry and timing with skip the line access • Stunning art, architecture, and storytelling throughout • A seamless experience despite the crowds Overall, this tour made our Vatican visit so much more meaningful. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to understand not just what they’re seeing, but why it’s so important! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Jean Dunne
Nicole
Nov 2025
Verified booking
5/5
We went on a monday but it was still super crowded. Thanks to this ticket we only stayed in the queue for 5-10 mins( including security check ). Guide was friendly and knowledgable and went through most of the important parts. Locating the guide was easy as well but the tour was delayed for 10 min. We werent able to see all the parts of the musuem so be aware of that .As for Sistine Chapel, it was hot and stuffy inside as it was full of people and be well informed that no pictures are allowed inside. Overall was a good experience but i wish we coulve seem more of the museum.
Anne
Nov 2025
Verified booking
3/5
Our tour guide was wonderful. She was very knowledgeable, kind, and courteous. The ear piece for the audio equipment was difficult to wear around the ear and it was uncomfortable. The tour guide had some issues with the microphone. But she replaced it during the tour and it fixed the problem. It was just SOO crowded and the security guards were understandably pushy. We learned that 2025 is a pilgrimage year - hence an extra heavy crowd. But we found it difficult to truly enjoy the sites. Ee learned a lot from our lovely tour guide, though, and are very grateful for that!
Viana
Nov 2025
Verified booking
5/5
i'm not able to make it , but i know for sure must be beautiful , i had a chance to get into Basilica though that's beyond words , it's soooo beautiful! I was crying because i did pray Rosary everyday , so i come to Rome and pray inside ! Thank you Jesus Christ , Thank you mother Mary 🙏🏽🙏🏽 Hopefully i can come back soon Rome is one of the best place in the world love it ! 🙏🏽🙏🏽
Suvidha
Nov 2025
Verified booking
5/5
My guide Nadia was warm as well as well informed. She interlaced historic facts, art trivia and humour into her narrative, making the entire experience rivetting and enjoyable. She wa able to answer most of the questions and offer additional information on exhibits and artworks and demonstrated strong knowledge of the artists and masters that had worked on various frescos, paintings and sculptures we came across.

Save time and enjoy two Vatican gems. Skip the lines at the Vatican Museums with a guided tour, then explore Castel Gandolfo’s palace and gardens with included minibus access.

Getting started

Meet your guide near the Vatican Museums entrance, where your group will breeze through security with skip-the-line access. At Castel Gandolfo, present your ticket at the main entrance, collect your audio guide, and board the eco-minibus for your garden tour.

What to expect

Castel Gandolfo Apostolic Palace

Perched above Lake Albano, the Apostolic Palace has served as a papal retreat for centuries and offers a glimpse into the private world of the popes. Your visit includes both the palace and its expansive gardens.

Features:

Eco-minibus garden tour: Ride through the villa’s gardens, discovering rare plants and panoramic views, all narrated by your audio guide.

Papal Palace: Access grand halls and private rooms once reserved for popes, revealing centuries of papal history.

Observatory domes: Step inside the twin domes, a center for astronomical research and scientific milestones.

Secret garden: Wander a peaceful, secluded space once used for papal reflection.

Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel

This world-renowned museum complex houses centuries of art collected by the Catholic Church, including masterpieces of the Renaissance. Your expert guide leads a small group, sharing the stories behind the art and architecture as you move through the galleries.

Features:

Gallery of Maps & Tapestries: Walk vibrant corridors lined with Renaissance maps and intricate tapestries, each telling a unique story of art and discovery.

Raphael Rooms: See iconic frescoes like The School of Athens and learn how Raphael shaped the Vatican’s artistic legacy.

Sistine Chapel: Stand beneath Michelangelo’s legendary ceiling and The Last Judgment, with your guide providing essential context.

Vatican Museums

Monday	08:00am - 08:00pm	last entry 06:00pm
Tuesday	08:00am - 08:00pm	last entry 06:00pm
Wednesday	08:00am - 08:00pm	last entry 06:00pm
Thursday	08:00am - 08:00pm	last entry 06:00pm
Friday	08:00am - 08:00pm	last entry 06:00pm
Saturday	08:00am - 08:00pm	last entry 06:00pm
Sunday	Closed

Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo

Monday	09:00am - 02:30pm	last entry 01:00pm
Tuesday	09:00am - 02:30pm	last entry 01:00pm
Wednesday	09:00am - 02:30pm	last entry 01:00pm
Thursday	09:00am - 02:30pm	last entry 01:00pm
Friday	09:00am - 02:30pm	last entry 01:00pm
Saturday	09:00am - 06:30pm	last entry 05:00pm
Sunday	10:00am - 06:30pm	last entry 05:00pm

Sistine Chapel

Monday	08:00am - 07:00pm	last entry 05:00pm
Tuesday	08:00am - 07:00pm	last entry 05:00pm
Wednesday	08:00am - 07:00pm	last entry 05:00pm
Thursday	08:00am - 07:00pm	last entry 05:00pm
Friday	08:00am - 07:00pm	last entry 05:00pm
Saturday	08:00am - 07:00pm	last entry 05:00pm
Sunday	Closed

What to bring

Arrive promptly at your selected time slot to ensure smooth entry.

Carry a valid photo ID that matches your booking details.

Wear comfortable shoes suitable for walking through large venues and gardens.

Adhere to the Vatican dress code: shoulders and knees should be covered; a light scarf or shawl can be helpful.

What’s not allowed

Large or bulky bags, suitcases, and similar items are not permitted inside the venues.

Food, drinks, smoking, and e-cigarettes are strictly prohibited.

Pets are not allowed, except for registered service animals.

Maintain silence in designated sacred areas and photography is restricted.

Accessibility

The Vatican Museums experience is accessible for wheelchairs and prams/strollers.

At Castel Gandolfo Apostolic Palace, the twin observatory domes on the third floor are not accessible to visitors with mobility impairments.

Additional information

All bookings must include the correct visitor names. Ensure the names match your ID to avoid entry issues.

Entrance to the Museums is timed. Guests must stay with their assigned guide; access without the guide is not allowed, and missing the tour will forfeit the ticket without a refund.

During the Jubilee Year, some sections of the Vatican Museums may be closed for religious ceremonies. Access to St. Peter’s Basilica may also be restricted without prior notice.

The Vatican reserves the right to close the Sistine Chapel at short notice for institutional events.

Transportation to and from Castel Gandolfo from Rome is not included. Guests should plan their own travel via car, bus, or train.

Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly.

Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the starting point.

Please check your final voucher for the starting point details & specific instructions.