Museums

Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Skip-the-Line Tickets

Name: Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Skip-the-Line Tickets
Start: 2026-02-25T10:15:00
End: 2026-02-25T20:00:00
Location: Rome

Entrance to the Vatican Museums with sculptures above the door in Rome.

Visitors exploring the Gallery of Maps in the Vatican Museum, admiring detailed frescoes.

Statue of river god Oceanus surrounded by figures in Vatican Museums.

Marble statues in the Vatican Museums corridor, part of the skip-the-line tour.

Open today

Explore at your pace

Choose your entry time, stay as long as you like

Book now, pay later

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

Discover the famous Raphael Rooms and Gallery of Maps with fast-track entry to Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, led in by a dedicated assistant.

By purchasing this ticket, you agree to follow our hosting instructions. .

4.4/5

(31,234)

Christina

Jan 2026

Verified booking

I've been to the Vatican Museums before, and both times have really been a great experience. The first time I had a 4:30pm booking on a weekday and the crowds were very little. There was still a line outside the museums we had to wait in, and another line inside to scan our passes. This time we booked with Headout for 8:30am on a tuesday morning. It felt much easier as we were escorted as a group through the lines by simply scanning our tickets. It was also not too crowded during that time! We personally wanted to have an entire morning and Headout had tickets left (The Vatican website did not) for those times. It was nice because we were not rushing at all. Definitely avoid the lunch hours to beat the crowds! Also they have a cafe/food area--lifesaver!

Jean

Dec 2025

Verified booking

Absolutely worth every penny. We visited on a rainy, extremely crowded day, and the difference between having skip-the-line tickets and not having them was dramatic. Lines for general entry were long, slow, and exposed to the rain, while we were able to enter smoothly and efficiently with minimal waiting. Traveling as a family, this saved us a huge amount of time and stress and allowed us to actually enjoy the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel instead of standing outside for hours. Even in bad weather and peak crowds, everything was well organized and the experience inside was unforgettable. I would 100% recommend skip-the-line tickets—especially during busy seasons or poor weather.

Dos

Jan 2026

Verified booking

The Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel offer an exceptional cultural experience, combining unparalleled artistic richness with a unique spiritual atmosphere. The diversity of the works on display, ranging from ancient sculptures to paintings by masters such as Michelangelo, allows for a deep immersion in the history of art and religion. The Sistine Chapel, with its magnificent ceiling, is a masterpiece that inspires wonder and reflection. However, crowds can sometimes be dense, which can detract from the tranquility of the visit. It is therefore advisable to plan your visit outside of peak hours to fully enjoy it.

See the private art collections of the popes over the centuries at the Vatican Museums and explore the Sistine Chapel, all with fast-track entry

Admire the coffered ceiling and the windows with triangular gables at Patrizi Montoro Palace, home to three paintings by Italian artist, Carvaggio.

Marvel at the "School of Athens," a fresco depicting an imaginary gathering of famous philosophers, scientists, and mathematicians in Raphael’s Room.

Enjoy entry with a designated host and marvel at the murals of the revered Sistine Chapel, including Michelangelo’s famous masterpiece, the 'Final Judgment'.

Fun fact: The Sistine Chapel's ceiling features over 300 figures and depicts scenes from the Book of Genesis, including the creation of Adam.

Skip-the-line escorted entry into Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel

Reserved entry ticket to Patrizi Montoro Palace

Designated host

Assistance from onsite representative

Professional tour guide

Audio guide (chargeable)

Transportation

These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

31,234 reviews
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What our guests say
Myrsini
Feb 2026
Verified booking
Me and my boyfriend come from Greece and Croatia. We absolutely adored the vatican museum. Not only the architecture of the building, its beautiful staircases, ceilings and floors, but mainly the variety of collections presented to us. As a greek I learned a lot about my own country as well given the opportunity to see with my own eyes the wonderful sculptures and the references to greek mythology! We did not book a tour guide but nevertheless the descriptions were completely understandable and informative. We really felt like we traveled back in time, starting with the egyptian culture and amazing collection. Even the lighting in the museum was suitable to complement the presentation! The roman and greek sculpture part of the museum made us feel as if the art was alive, watching us walk around! Natural lighting again made its own touch. The indoor gardens left us speechless and we took sometime off to gaze the scenery sarounded by beautiful nature. Nobody can describe the feeling of walking through the painted rooms since we ended up spending a lot of time observing each and every little detail on the ceilings, the painted maps around the walls and the homemade carpets. The maps taught us a lot of information and we spent some time reviewing each of them. The variation of paintings in the gallery was one of the best we have ever seen. Different artists, styles, talents and timelines filled our brains with information and our eyes with beauty. The journey was truly impressive and soul touching. It is incredible how we started "travelling" from egypt all the way to greece and italy in just one museum! All this journey along with a happy heavenly ending into the Sistine Chapel were we could rest and admire a room full of art and faith. We will definitely visit again soon and this time book in advance to get all the benefits along with the garden tour. Amazing experience for all people, kids and adults. 🙂😍
Milen
Feb 2026
Verified booking
The Vatican is a wonderful place to visit. It has many different artifacts from all over the world and all cultures and eras. Set aside at least 4-5 hours to explore it because the gardens outside are also magnificent. The area with the "pine cone" (pituitary gland) is a peaceful place to relax and enjoy yourself. I highly recommend buying tickets in advance to skip the long lines. We were satisfied and recommend it :⁠-⁠)
Petya
Feb 2026
Verified booking
I was extremely impressed by the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. The skip-the-line ticket made everything smooth and stress-free, even with the crowds. The collections are breathtaking, and seeing the Sistine Chapel in person was unforgettable. The organization was excellent and well worth it — truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience I highly recommend to everyone visiting Rome.
Jasper
Feb 2026
Verified booking
First of all, it was a huge relief to be able to skip the line to the museum by going with the guide. This made entering the Vatican very easy. After that, it was nice to explore the museum on our own. All in all, it was a good experience.
Nuray
Feb 2026
Verified booking
We bought tickets for February 6th and got in within 3-4 minutes despite the long line. We chose the unguided entry. Even so, the guide accompanies you inside and then joins those who purchased the guided tour. It continued. It was smooth and very good.

Head straight into the Vatican Museums

Once you meet your host at the designated meeting point, you will take a short walk to the entrance to the Vatican Museums. Upon entering, you will be free to roam the Museum and Sistine Chapel at your own pace. The Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel boast the finest artwork ever to be made. Made up of 54 galleries, the Vatican Museums house one of the largest, and also the most important, collections of Renaissance art in the world. Built in the 15th century, the Sistine Chapel's walls and ceilings are covered in some of the most astounding frescoes ever produced.

Marvel Michaelangelo's Final Judgement

The 54th gallery of the Vatican Museums is the famed Sistine Chapel. Originally built in the 15th Century, the paintings by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel were painted in the 16th century. View many of the most famous frescoes in the world, including the famous ceiling and Final Judgement painted by Michelangelo. Not only does the Sistine Chapel hold some of the world's most precious works of art, but it is also still used for religious purposes such as the Papal Conclave - the process through which a new Pope is chosen.

Sites covered

Vatican Museum and its Walls | Pigna Courtyard | Pius Clementino Museum | Candelabra Gallery | Tapestries Gallery | Raphael's Rooms | Sistine Chapel: Michaelangelo's Final Judgement and Creation of Adam fresco

Vatican Museums

Monday	8:00am - 8:00pm	last entry 6:00pm
Tuesday	8:00am - 8:00pm	last entry 6:00pm
Wednesday	8:00am - 8:00pm	last entry 6:00pm
Thursday	8:00am - 8:00pm	last entry 6:00pm
Friday	8:00am - 8:00pm	last entry 6:00pm
Saturday	8:00am - 8:00pm	last entry 6:00pm
Sunday	Closed

Sistine Chapel

Monday	8:00am - 7:00pm	last entry 5:00pm
Tuesday	8:00am - 7:00pm	last entry 5:00pm
Wednesday	8:00am - 7:00pm	last entry 5:00pm
Thursday	8:00am - 7:00pm	last entry 5:00pm
Friday	8:00am - 7:00pm	last entry 5:00pm
Saturday	8:00am - 7:00pm	last entry 5:00pm
Sunday	Closed

Accessibility

People with wheelchair disabilities get free entry. The Vatican Museums offer free wheelchair hire from the cloakroom.

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

Certification of disability must be shown before the issue of the entrance tickets either at the Reception or at the Special Permits Desk, located in the entrance hall of the Vatican Museums.

This experience is not accessible by pram/strollers.

What's not allowed

Late arrivals will not be accommodated.

Additional Information

Please note the chosen time must be respected and latecomers will not be accommodated.

Please be dressed appropriately. Sleeveless blouses, miniskirts, shorts, and hats are not permitted. Your head, knees, and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women. Comfortable shoes are recommended. We recommend you carry a shawl or a scarf to cover your head.

Audio guides can be rented inside the Museums and are charged.

The tour assistants will help you enter the Vatican Museums and our services will end with the ticket delivery at the entrance (lobby) of the Museums.

There is a security check at the entrance of the Vatican Museum.

Adding external guides is not allowed.

Please follow the hosting instructions inside the Vatican Museums. Not complying with these will lead to ticket cancellations.

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 Sistine Chapel will close early on the following dates in January 2026, as follows:

January 3, 2026: Closes at 2pm (last entry 1pm)

January 9, 2026: Closes at 2pm (last entry 1pm)

January 10, 2026: Closes at 1pm (last entry 12pm)

The Vatican Museums will remain open as usual on all these dates.

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.

Note: Michelangelo’s Last Judgement will undergo maintenance until March 2026. While the Sistine Chapel remains open, views of the fresco may be partially obstructed by scaffolding.

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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.