Guided Tours

Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Guided Tour

Laocoön and His Sons sculpture in Vatican Museums, Rome.

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

Tourists with guide near Statue of Apollo Belvedere, Vatican Museum.

Visitors exploring sculptures on a guided tour of the Vatican Museums.

Duration

2 hr - 3 hr

Open today

Free cancellation

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

Book now, pay later

Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.

Guided tour

Get fast-track access to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel on a guided tour. Opt for a small group tour for added exclusivity.

4.3/5

(16,852)

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.

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.

Chad

Oct 2025

Verified booking

5/5

My wife and I loved our tour of the Vatican museums and Sistine chapel. Our tour guide (cant remember her and exactly but I think it was Guilietta ) was fantastico! Our experience with Headout was excellent even though I had read some concerning reviews. One thing we heard was tours were cancelled in the morning due to some events taking place at the Vatican, but our tour at 3 pm had no issues - we heard that on weekends it's better to book in the afternoons. Highly recommend this tour!

Skip the long lines and walk straight into the Vatican Museums with your guide—save up to 2 hours of waiting time.

Explore world-famous galleries like the Gallery of Maps, Tapestries, and Raphael Rooms with expert commentary.

In a group of up to 20 guests, enter the Sistine Chapel with powerful context that brings Michelangelo’s ceiling frescoes to life.

Upgrade to a small-group tour of less than 15 guests for a more personal, engaging experience or add access to the Vatican Gardens.

A smart, time-saving way to experience the highlights of a 48-day-long collection in just a few hours.

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

Guided tour of Vatican Gardens (as per option selected)

Small group tour (as per option selected)

Nighttime tour (as per option selected)

Gratuities

Entry to St. Peter's Basilica and/or guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica

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

4.3
16,852 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, France and over 10 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Alexis
Oct 2025
Verified booking
3/5
I was running late to meet my group for the tour and was surprised and grateful that the guide waited for us. He was friendly and welcoming not only when we arrived but for the entirety of the tour. I did not expect the group to wait and would have understood if they had left. I am very grateful they did wait for me because this saved me from having to wait in the incredibly long lines. Being able to skip the line was so nice as well as being led through the sea of people where we needed to go. There were so many people everywhere that it was hard to walk through every space. I can't believe the fire department allows that many people in the same space. It is not safe in an emergency and affects everyone's ability to enjoy and take in the sites. The 3 star review I gave is purely due to not being able to understand the tour guide. Although I personally liked our guide, I do not believe his English was clear enough to lead an English speaking tour. I was not the only one who could not understand him, 2 others I asked said the same thing. I was disappointed as I was relying on our tour guide to learn some of the history and interesting facts and was not able to take anything learned away from the tour. For the price of the tickets, this should not have happened. The tour provided listening devices to everyone which was great, but these were heavy and awkward and would not fit my ear or stay on. Other groups had different types of devices that looked much better fitting and lighter.
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.
Teresa
Oct 2025
Verified booking
3/5
Marco was great guide! Kudos to him. He has knowledgeable and we could clearly understand his accent.. But.... there were two beggars who approached our group while we waited outside the Vatican. And no one gave them coins or looked them in the eye. Which is not what Jesus taught. Then we had a lovely tour through the Vatican - until we saw that the Cardinals had covered all the artworks' sexual organs, while also proclaiming that the human body is beautiful and natural. And then whe we came outside, there were plentiful plentiful plentiful shops and souvenir stalls and restaurants selling wares, many of them cheap and blasphemous. Jesus would be aghast. So your company did a great job but the Vatican tour itself is hypocritical and leaves a lot to be deserved.
Chad
Oct 2025
Verified booking
5/5
My wife and I loved our tour of the Vatican museums and Sistine chapel. Our tour guide (cant remember her and exactly but I think it was Guilietta ) was fantastico! Our experience with Headout was excellent even though I had read some concerning reviews. One thing we heard was tours were cancelled in the morning due to some events taking place at the Vatican, but our tour at 3 pm had no issues - we heard that on weekends it's better to book in the afternoons. Highly recommend this tour!
Jamie
Oct 2025
Verified booking
3/5
Being in the Vatican was incredible- but that had nothing to do with the fact that the cost of the 'tour' was extremely overpriced & underwhelming. The ear pieces are very low quality & very poorly fitted. Had to keep on had on the piece the entire time, or it would fall off. Also impossible to wear if you wear glasses & the ear piece completes for the space. Could not understand our guide at all. Very fossilized English with heavy accent.

Discover the Vatican’s treasures with expert-led insights that reveal the stories behind the art and architecture.

Getting started

Meet your guide at the designated meeting point near the museum entrance. Skip the ticketing line and breeze through security with your group. Present a valid ID and booking confirmation before entry.

What to expect

Vatican Museums

One of the most visited museum complexes in the world, home to centuries of priceless art collected by the Catholic Church.

Gallery of Maps & Tapestries

Walk through vibrant, frescoed corridors filled with Renaissance-era cartography and masterful woven narratives.

Raphael Rooms

Admire frescoes like The School of Athens and learn how Raphael helped define Vatican art during the High Renaissance.

Sistine Chapel

Step inside the sacred chapel and gaze up at Michelangelo’s ceiling masterpiece and The Last Judgment with full context from your guide.

Wrapping up

After your tour, feel free to explore St. Peter’s Basilica on your own—entry is free and it's just a short walk from the Sistine Chapel exit.

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

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

It is recommended to wear comfortable shoes as the tour involves a fair amount of walking

What's not allowed

Strict dress code: knees, shoulders, and back must be covered for all guests.

Big bags and suitcases aren't allowed inside the attraction, but guests can make use of the lockers on site.

When in Sistine Chapel, silence is mandatory and photography is prohibited. Guides will provide all necessary and interesting details before entry.

Photography and the use of mobile phones is strictly prohibited in the Sistine Chapel.

Power banks are strictly prohibited inside the venue.

Pets and other small animals are not allowed in the venue, with the exception of guide dogs.

Accessibility

This experience is not accessible by wheelchair and pram/strollers.

While the tour is not accessible, the Vatican Museums offer free tickets for visitors with mobility impairments (certified invalidity exceeding 74%) and a companion.

Additional information

Please note: All guests must pass through airport-style security. During high season and peak hours, the wait time at the security check may be up to 30 minutes.

Purchasing this tour implies an agreement to stick with the assigned guide, without whom you cannot access the Vatican Museums. Opting out or missing the tour means losing ticket rights, without refunds.

Please be aware that during the Jubilee Year, certain areas of the Vatican Museums may be inaccessible due to religious ceremonies. Additionally, entrance to St. Peter's Basilica may also experience unannounced closures.

The Vatican Museums reserve the right to close any section, including the Sistine Chapel, due to unforeseen circumstances. The closure of any museum section does not entitle visitors to any refund.

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.

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

Please arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes before the scheduled time of your tour to avoid any delays.

Meeting point

Please check your final voucher for the meeting point details and specific instructions.