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Landmarks

Vatican Museums Tickets with Vatican Gardens Open Bus Tour

Vatican Museums gallery with classical statues and ornate ceiling.
Laocoön and His Sons sculpture in Vatican Museum.
Visitors exploring the Gallery of Maps in the Vatican Museum, admiring detailed frescoes.
Vatican Gardens fountain surrounded by flowering arches on open bus tour.

Duration

3 hr

Open today

Audio guide

Enhance your experience with multilingual audio guide

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.

4.2/5

(1,167)

Vivian R Fernandez Lentz

Vivian

Jan 2026
Verified booking
It was truly the best thing I did on my trip. I was able to get in without waiting in line for 30 minutes and enjoy the back part of the Vatican. From there, I went into the museums, but be careful because on Saturdays, the Sistine Chapel closes at 2 p.m. I recommend going for the first tour and booking in advance.
Claire LEMOINE

Claire

Nov 2025
Verified booking
Visit the gardens, it's exceptional and in a small group, so very pleasant! I was worried before the appointment because it wasn't very clear, in fact the meeting point is in the museum after the security checks, where you had to show up with your e-ticket at least 25 minutes before the meeting time (you have to take into account how long you'll have to queue before arriving at the security checks). After that, you're completely taken care of, which is very reassuring. An unexpected bonus: we were given an audioguide in the language of our choice on board the mini-bus. The staff were very courteous, and everything was in place to make us feel at ease. We were then left at the entrance to the tour as advertised.
Shane Wearen

Shane

Oct 2025
Verified booking
Bought the vatican garden, vatican museums and sistine chapel "skip the queue" tickets. Garden tour is short but nice, museums....too many, but still excellent. The artist rooms leading to the sistine chapel are awe inspiring, you can photo or video everything except the sistine.....DONT QUEUE!!! PREBOOK YOUR TICKETS!!! If you dont prebook you will be standing and queueing for two hours or more in the baking sun amid heavy traffic, being constantly harrassed by on the street tour guides. Be wise and be early and spend your short wait time sitting across from the vatican museum entrance enjoying an ice cream or a cool drink in the shade. The prebooked "skip the queue" ticket price is worth the avoidance of the queues alone.
    • 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.

  • 1,167 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.

    640
    283
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    39
    86
    Guests from France, United States, Spain and over 10 countries have loved this experience

    What our guests say

    Obrecht Cornelia Edelgard

    Obrecht

    Feb 2026
    Verified booking
    Everything went perfectly! It was organized very professionally!
    Vivian R Fernandez Lentz

    Vivian

    Jan 2026
    Verified booking
    It was truly the best thing I did on my trip. I was able to get in without waiting in line for 30 minutes and enjoy the back part of the Vatican. From there, I went into the museums, but be careful because on Saturdays, the Sistine Chapel closes at 2 p.m. I recommend going for the first tour and booking in advance.
    Karev Igor

    Karev

    Jan 2026
    Verified booking
    Wow!! It was amaizing expirience I'm so exited and happy that i had visit Vatican Thank you so much for this feelings!!!
    Daniela Buloncellia

    Daniela

    Jan 2026
    Verified booking
    Even when it rained, there were buses with shelters. The skip-the-line option is excellent. You pay a little more, but you avoid hours of queuing.
    Buccelli Roberto

    Buccelli

    Jan 2026
    Verified booking
    Sistine Chapel not open to visitors due to an event, paid for, not used, no notice of the situation at the time of ticket purchase
  • 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.

  • Vatican Museums

    Monday8:00am - 8:00pmlast entry 6:00pm
    Tuesday8:00am - 8:00pmlast entry 6:00pm
    Wednesday8:00am - 8:00pmlast entry 6:00pm
    Thursday8:00am - 8:00pmlast entry 6:00pm
    Friday8:00am - 8:00pmlast entry 6:00pm
    Saturday8:00am - 8:00pmlast entry 6:00pm
    SundayClosed

    Gardens of Vatican City

    Monday9:00am - 6:00pm
    Tuesday9:00am - 6:00pm
    Wednesday9:00am - 6:00pm
    Thursday9:00am - 6:00pm
    Friday9:00am - 6:00pm
    Saturday9:00am - 6:00pm
    SundayClosed
  • 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.

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