Landmarks

Vatican Museums Tickets with Vatican Gardens Open Bus Tour

Delight in the soothing ambiance of the Vatican Gardens on an open bus tour. Be captivated by the art in the Vatican Museums and embrace the glory of the Sistine Chapel.

4.4/5(1,293)

Pontillon M

Couple

Verified booking

6 days ago

The visit with the skip-the-line tickets went very well until we reached the turnstiles, where there was no cell service... and our tickets were on our phones... I would like to commend the kindness of the staff, who listened to visitors' concerns and found solutions so that the visit could proceed under the best conditions. This allows visitors to fully appreciate the beauty of the museum, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Gardens. Wonderful moments and memories from these visits.

Dr. Kegel-haupt, T

Family

Verified booking

Last week

The bus ride through the Vatican Gardens was a highlight. Everything went smoothly: quick entry into the museums. However, getting to the Sistine Chapel required a lot of patience due to the large crowds.

Siegrid F

Family

Verified booking

Sep 2026

The ride in the small bus through the Vatican Gardens was a unique experience! The subsequent visit to the museums was part of the experience for us... since we weren't in a group, we had time to see what was important to us! What felt off was being "herded through" the Sistine Chapel..... we had neither the time nor the space to get at least a brief overview! Presumably, with so many people interested, there's no other way......

Bridgett L

Group

Verified booking

Sep 2026

The Vatican was amazing but the staff was very rude! The bus ride through the gardens was not that great. The driver passes by places to take pics too fast or only stopped for about 10 seconds and he did position the open air bus to allow both sides an opportunity to take pictures. I could have skipped this!

Susana A

Family

Verified booking

Aug 2026

It’s well organized: they have you validate your tickets at the meeting point, where they explain the procedure. Once the entire group for your time slot is there, a guide accompanies you, showing you the way to skip the lines and explaining how to tour St. Peter’s. They take you right up to the entrance to the dome and leave you there. This ticket option is very convenient, since there are long lines for everything and it can be confusing to figure out how to get to the different sites. The staff was friendly, and they gave each of us a free bottle of water at the start of the tour. Our guide was Nikita.

Ana L

Couple

Verified booking

Aug 2026

It really is very beautiful, but I think they should limit the number of visitors allowed each day. I think there are too many people, and it gets way too hot.

A unique Vatican City experience—start with a scenic open-top bus tour of the lush Vatican Gardens, then explore the historic museums on your own.

Ride through history as you glide past Italian, French, and English-style landscapes covering nearly half of Vatican City, all while tuning into a multilingual audio guide.

Skip the long lines and step straight into the Vatican Museums, home to world-famous treasures like the Raphael Rooms and classical sculptures.

Stand beneath Michelangelo’s masterpiece in the Sistine Chapel, where the breathtaking Last Judgment and Creation of Adam come to life.

Vatican Gardens tour by open bus with a multilingual audio guide

Entry tickets to the Vatican Museums

Access to Sistine Chapel

Audio guide for Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel

Live guide

These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

1,293 reviews
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Guests from United States, United Kingdom, France and over 58 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Pontillon M
Couple
Verified booking
6 days ago
The visit with the skip-the-line tickets went very well until we reached the turnstiles, where there was no cell service... and our tickets were on our phones... I would like to commend the kindness of the staff, who listened to visitors' concerns and found solutions so that the visit could proceed under the best conditions. This allows visitors to fully appreciate the beauty of the museum, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Gardens. Wonderful moments and memories from these visits.
Dr. Kegel-haupt, T
Family
Verified booking
Last week
The bus ride through the Vatican Gardens was a highlight. Everything went smoothly: quick entry into the museums. However, getting to the Sistine Chapel required a lot of patience due to the large crowds.
Maria F
Couple
Verified booking
6 days ago
Very well organized. Strict adherence to schedules. I didn't know the bus tour through the gardens existed, and doing it was wonderful.
Helen H
Couple
Verified booking
4 days ago
The venue is amazing, can't fault anything there. Of course you expect it to be busy, and it was. What is frustrating is the number of guided tours that have no consideration for those travelling as a single or a couple. The guides stop without warning, with their very large groups blocking the way, making it difficult to make progress or see things properly. There are many areas where it would have been better for guided tours to be separated from non-guided tour traffic. The Sistine Chapel would be phenomenal, but it was absolutely chock full, with people not respecting the silence or no camera rules. We do recommend the garden tour if available, a wonderful way to see Vatican City and gardens. Be aware if you turn up more than the required 30mins before your entry into the Vatican, you will be turned away and told to queue again - it is difficult to assess how long the queue will take so you need to be patient here!
Musa M
Family
Verified booking
Last week
It will be great experience.

As one of the most sought-after attractions in Rome, the Vatican attracts hordes of visitors. With reserved entry tickets, you can be sure you won't be spending your vacation time in the waiting queues. The Vatican Gardens (also Giardini Vaticani) is a green oasis renowned as the pope’s personal garden where he returns to relax and unwind. They cover one-third of Vatican City's 44 hectares. Since 2014, visitors are invited to relish in the same exquisite scenery that was once exclusively available to popes of the past.

At the meeting point, you will receive assistance to board the minibus, after which you can admire the amazing manicured lawns, fountains, sculptures, and buildings. The Fontana dell'Aquilone and Fontana della Galera are among the most striking fountains you will find in the whole garden. Moreover, the historic building of the Governor’s Palace stands out among tourists due to its imposing structure. You can spend some time visiting the Grotta di Lourdes, an artificial cave designed to replicate its famous namesake in France. Another monument to surely catch your attention is the Casino of Pius IV, a 16th-century summer house designed by Pirro Ligorio.

With your ticket, you can also visit the lavish interiors of the Vatican Museum. It boasts one of the most impressive art collections in the world. Lastly, do not leave without seeing Michelangelo’s revered frescoes adorning the ceilings of the Sistine Chapel.

What to bring

A valid ID or student card (for reduced-price tickets)

Comfortable shoes for exploring the museums

A printed or digital copy of your booking voucher

What's not allowed

Large bags, backpacks, or luggage (cloakroom available)

Sleeveless tops, short shorts, or hats (strict dress code applies)

Tripods, selfie sticks, or professional camera gear

Food and drinks inside the Museums

Accessibility

The open bus tour is not wheelchair accessible

The Vatican Museums have ramps and elevators for easy accessibility

Additional info

Arrive at least 30 minutes early at the Vatican Museums entrance on Viale Vaticano

After security, head to the 'Open Bus Garden' desk (first on the left) — not the usual Guided Tours desk

The bus tour lasts approx. 45–60 minutes, with no stops along the route

Audio guide available in 7 languages: English, Italian, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, and Russian

Entry to the Museums is timed — late arrivals cannot be accommodated

Children under 7 years are not permitted on the Open Bus Tour

Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly.

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

Please arrive at the redemption point 30 minutes before the scheduled time of your visit to avoid any delays.

Ticket redemption point

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