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Guided Tours

Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Guided Tour with St. Peter's Basilica

Courtyard of the Vatican Museums in Rome with the Pinecone Sculpture.
Vatican Museums sculpture hall with ancient statues and marble columns.
St. Peter's Basilica with obelisk in Vatican City, Rome, surrounded by tourists.
St. Peter's Basilica interior with ornate altar and spiral columns in Vatican City.

Duration

2 hr - 4 hr 30 min

Open today

Free cancellation

Free cancellation up to 48 hours before the start of your experience

Book now, pay later

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

Guided tour

Access Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica on this skip-the-line guided tour, showcasing the Holy See's iconic landmarks.

4.4/5

(20,387)

Jeffrey Robert Wright

Jeffrey

Nov 2025
Verified booking
5/5
The Vatican Museums exceeded all expectations. I was surprised just how big they were and in particular the Hall of Maps was mind blowing. The guide, Pasquale made the day even more memorable with his incredible knowledge and sense of humour, all in impeccable English. We learned so much about Roman History, the Popes and more, particuarly what an incredible person Michellangelo was. The Sistine Chapel was as incredible as expected and the Basilica was a great way to finish the tour. Although not religious or Catholic it was a spiritual experience going through the Holy Door in a Jubilee year. The size of the Basilica really defies belief. One of the best if not best tour I have ever done - and I have travelled the world.
Jörg Michaelis

Jörg

Oct 2025
Verified booking
4/5
The process at the meeting point was quick and uncomplicated. The tour itself was conducted very well by Angela. She spoke the local language on the way to coordinate special details with the security on site, which worked well. The description of the history and the organization of the places for explanation, where more detailed descriptions were possible, was highly professional. The explanations themselves came across very well because the technology also worked well and Angela herself was able to name all the dates and historical details in perfect German. Any questions were answered very well and she was happy to share her insider knowledge. Many thanks and greetings from Hamburg, Jörg.
Susana Arce

Susana

Oct 2025
Verified booking
4/5
We originally had a tour with another company and it was cancelled due to circumstances out of their control. I was able to rebook through head out. Our guide was very informative about all the areas we visited. The crowds were not too bad in the morning but they increased as the day went on. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars was because we were sent to St Peters Basillica on our own . ( I'm not sure if there was an option to go with a group) but the lines were so long and the staff around St Peters did not have much information. We waited an hour with a skip the line ticket with no advancing in the line and all these groups kept coming and just adding to the confusion.
    • Explore three top Vatican landmarks in one go — the Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica.

    • Skip long entry lines at the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel with priority access.

    • Walk the Gallery of Maps as your expert guide shares stories behind every masterpiece.

    • Enter St. Peter’s Basilica via a special passageway from the Chapel—no need to queue again outside.

    • Opt for a small-group tour (max 10) for a deeper Vatican experience, or beat the crowds with early access and reach the Dome’s summit for stunning views.

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

    • St. Peter's Basilica Access

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

    • Semi private tour with a max group of 10 (as per option selected)

    • Early morning tour with St. Peter's Basilica and Dome climb (as per option selected)

    • Headphones

    • Gratuities

    • Entry to St. Peter's Basilica Dome

  • You can cancel these tickets up to 48 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

  • 4.4
    20,387 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.

    13.4K
    3.8K
    1.2K
    706
    1K
    Guests from United States, United Kingdom, France and over 10 countries have loved this experience

    What our guests say

    De Wolf Inge

    De

    Nov 2025
    Verified booking
    3/5
    It is an exceptional historical site with interesting things I did not know before. But The guide was kind, but the tour was supposed to start at 9.15. The guide arrived later so we were late at the entrance. Then there is no warning that we would have to cue for quite a while. When we were inside at 10.00, someone lost his wallet so the guide wanted to help to look for it. I understand but by the time we started the tour (and it was difficult to understand all of her English ) it was 10.30 . The tour took therefor way to long and we missed the last part in the St Peter's church as we had another visit booked as well. And I had taken 1,5 hour safety in between both visits. So that delay was really too much. We missed that last part. :-(
    Jeffrey Robert Wright

    Jeffrey

    Nov 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    The Vatican Museums exceeded all expectations. I was surprised just how big they were and in particular the Hall of Maps was mind blowing. The guide, Pasquale made the day even more memorable with his incredible knowledge and sense of humour, all in impeccable English. We learned so much about Roman History, the Popes and more, particuarly what an incredible person Michellangelo was. The Sistine Chapel was as incredible as expected and the Basilica was a great way to finish the tour. Although not religious or Catholic it was a spiritual experience going through the Holy Door in a Jubilee year. The size of the Basilica really defies belief. One of the best if not best tour I have ever done - and I have travelled the world.
    Simeon Dimitrov

    Simeon

    Nov 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    Great experience, the only problem was that we got a full ticket for Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica but at the day of the event they told us that the St. Peter's Basilica is too crowded at Monday's so we can visit it on the other day or get a refund for this part. The good thing is that they still offer the option to visit the Basilica at the other day or get a refund, and since we were still at Rome for the next day, we decided to visit the St. Peter's Basilica, but if someone has plans to travel at the next day for example, it will mean that they has to skip the visit.
    Spencer Procter

    Spencer

    Nov 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    Absolutely fantastic experience on the Vatican tour. The instructions for the meeting point are super easy to follow and once you're there the tour reps and really helpful and well organised. The tour was awesome thanks to the tour guide, she was really knowledgeable and again very friendly and understanding about slow moving members of the group. The other plus was we got to access parts of the Vatican that were closed off at the time of the tour. Would highly recommend using, I definitely will. MASSIVE THUMBS UP 👍
    Karren Sabog

    Karren

    Nov 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    This guided tour is a great experience. We were able to see the amazing landmarks of the Vatican along with the beautiful paintings and sculptures . With skip the line entry , we have entered the museum, chapel and basilica . Our tour guide (frederico) guided us well with the place and we love how he shares histories and stories behind every masterpieces. After it , we were able to access and take our time in the basilica. We were glad to have book the tour. It was such a memorable day. We would highly recommend it.
  • Discover the best of Vatican City in one seamless tour—with skip-the-line access and exclusive entry to St. Peter’s Basilica.

    Getting started

    Meet your guide at the designated meeting point near the Vatican Museums. Skip the general lines and breeze through a security check with group access. Your guide will help validate your tickets and get you started right away.

    What to expect

    Vatican Museums

    One of the world’s most visited museums, home to centuries of art and papal treasures.

    • Wander through iconic galleries like the Gallery of Maps and Tapestries.

    • Your guide shares the stories and symbols hidden behind the art.

    Sistine Chapel

    Michelangelo’s ceiling and Last Judgment fresco are the highlight of this sacred space.

    • Experience the Chapel in reflective silence as your guide preps you beforehand.

    • Marvel at the grandeur and detail of one of the world’s most famous ceilings.

    St. Peter’s Basilica

    Enter directly from the Chapel through a priority passage used only on guided tours.

    • Avoid the 2-hour queue and walk straight into the heart of Catholicism.

    • See masterpieces like Michelangelo’s Pietà and Bernini’s Baldachin.

    Wrapping up

    Choose to upgrade your experience with a guided tour inside the Basilica for deeper insights and stories you’d likely miss on your own.

  • Vatican Museums

    Monday08:00am - 08:00pmlast entry 06:00pm
    Tuesday08:00am - 08:00pmlast entry 06:00pm
    Wednesday08:00am - 08:00pmlast entry 06:00pm
    Thursday08:00am - 08:00pmlast entry 06:00pm
    Friday08:00am - 08:00pmlast entry 06:00pm
    Saturday08:00am - 08:00pmlast entry 06:00pm
    SundayClosed

    St Peter's Basilica

    Monday07:00am - 07:10pm
    Tuesday07:00am - 07:10pm
    Wednesday07:00am - 07:10pm
    Thursday07:00am - 07:10pm
    Friday07:00am - 07:10pm
    Saturday07:00am - 07:10pm
    Sunday07:00am - 07:10pm

    Sistine Chapel

    Monday08:00am - 07:00pmlast entry 05:00pm
    Tuesday08:00am - 07:00pmlast entry 05:00pm
    Wednesday08:00am - 07:00pmlast entry 05:00pm
    Thursday08:00am - 07:00pmlast entry 05:00pm
    Friday08:00am - 07:00pmlast entry 05:00pm
    Saturday08:00am - 07:00pmlast entry 05:00pm
    SundayClosed

    Public Museums of Vatican City

    Monday07:00am - 06:30pmlast entry 06:30pm
    Tuesday07:00am - 06:30pmlast entry 06:30pm
    Wednesday07:00am - 06:30pmlast entry 06:30pm
    Thursday07:00am - 06:30pmlast entry 06:30pm
    Friday07:00am - 06:30pmlast entry 06:30pm
    Saturday07:00am - 06:30pmlast entry 06:30pm
    Sunday07:00am - 06:30pmlast entry 06:30pm
  • What to bring

    • Compulsory Vatican dress code: Visitors must wear clothing that covers their knees, arms, and back.

    • Please wear comfortable shoes as this experience involves a lot of walking.

    Accessibility

    • The experience is not accessible for wheelchair users, pram/stroller users, or baby carriages.

    • The Vatican Museums offer free tickets for visitors with mobility impairments (with certified invalidity exceeding 74%). In the case of visitors lacking in self-sufficiency, free entry is extended to their companions.

    Additional information

    • 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.

    • St. Peter’s Basilica may be closed on Wednesday mornings and afternoons as the Papal Audience takes place in St. Peter’s Square. If you’re considering visiting St. Peter's Basilica, please make plans for another day.

    • 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 30-45 minutes.

    • Your ticket has a designated entry time—please arrive at least 30 minutes in advance.

    • Sometimes guides are not allowed to give tours inside the St. Peter's Basilica. On such rare occasions, they will share a brief introduction outside and you'll be free to explore the basilica by yourself.

    • Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica are active places of worship, some areas may be subject to sudden closures without prior notice.

    • Expect a long wait at security, especially during peak times. Patience is key, it could take up to an hour!

    • Please be aware that during the Jubilee Year, certain areas of the Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel, may be inaccessible due to religious ceremonies or unforeseen circumstances. St. Peter's Basilica may also experience unannounced closures. The closure of any museum section does not entitle visitors to any refund.

    • St. Peter’s Basilica may be closed on Wednesday mornings and afternoons due to the Papal Audience in St. Peter’s Square. If you’d like to attend, book an exclusive invitation with guaranteed seating.

    • Since the Jubilee is underway, access to St. Peter's Basilica is now restricted at all entrances. To ensure entry, reservations must be completed at least 5 days in advance.

    • 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.

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