Early Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Small Group Tour
Description
Visit the Vatican Museums - arguably the best collection of art in the world, seeing highlights such as the Laocoon and the Apollo Belvedere as well as some other hidden treasures on this 3.5-hour Vatican group tour, accompanied by a top-rated local guide. After enjoying the museums, marvel at Michelangelo’s masterpiece - the Sistine Chapel. This Vatican tour also includes an escorted entrance to St Peter's Basilica, where you can enter your own accord after the tour has ended. *** Disclaimer: For reservations made less than 72 hours in advance, your tour will end in the Vatican Museums as we cannot guarantee skip the line tickets into St Peter's Basilica. ***
Tour Options
Itinerary
Rooms of Raphael, Hall of Maps, Ancient Sculpture Gallery, Belvedere Courtyard, Cortile della Pigna
The Sistine Chapel
Inside Vatican Museums
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- As this is a walking tour with steps and staircases, comfortable walking shoes and a bottle of water are strongly recommended.
- Please advise if any travelers have mobility concerns so that we can best accommodate you.
- Please note that the Vatican Museums provide free entrance for visitors who are (according to the requirements stated by the Vatican City) at least 74% disabled by presenting the appropriate certification and, if one needs assistance by another person, that person also receives a free entrance. Please inform us when you are booking if you fit into these requirements and we will remove the pricing of the entry tickets from the price of the tour.
- Please ensure you arrive 10 minutes early and at the right meeting point as we cannot wait for late arrivals
- At the end of your tour, you are required to return the headset provided to you to your guide. In the event that you do not return the headset, you will be subject to a fine of €100 for lost property.
- Due to the Jubilee, some monuments may be under restoration. Please pay attention to any messages we may send regarding potential changes.
- Disclaimer: For reservations made less than 72 hours in advance, access to the Basilica cannot be guaranteed due to ticketing restrictions.
- The Basilica of St. Peter's may be subject to unscheduled closings and late openings for religious ceremonies. We do not provide refunds for last-minute closures of St. Peter's Basilica. Your guide will still give you an introduction to the Basilica should you wish to return on your own time during your visit to Rome.
- Please note that the Raphael Rooms are part of this 3-hour itinerary but on days due to crowding, timing and direction flows of crowd traffic dictated by the Vatican Museum staff on the day, we may not be able to make this stop within the designated time frame.
Reviews(323)
So much to see at the Vatican! Unfortunately, with a guided tour you don't have the time to stop and see things and you cannot go back into the museums after the tour ends. We certainly saw the highlights though. Our guide was very enthusiastic but she could be very hard to understand and seemed to have a limited vocabulary in English.
We appreciate your review! It's wonderful that you were able to see the highlights of the Vatican, and we take your feedback about the guide's clarity seriously as we aim to improve our tours. Thank you for joining us!
We had Tatiania and she was extremely knowledgeable! It was a very comprehensive tour and ultimately very satisfying.
Thank you for your kind review! We're delighted to hear that you had such a satisfying experience with Tatiana. Her knowledge and passion for history are truly exceptional, and we're so pleased that her expertise helped make the tour both comprehensive and engaging. It's wonderful to know that you left feeling you had gained a deeper understanding of the sites you visited. Creating enriching and memorable experiences is exactly what we strive for, and we're thrilled that the tour met your expectations. We'll be sure to share your kind words with Tatian; she will be delighted to hear them. Thank you for choosing to tour with us, and we hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable experience in the future!
The tour was an excellent experience. Ursa, our tour guide, was knowledgeable and very personable. It was obvious he is an expert with all things Vatican. The early morning tour beat the crowds and we had plenty of opportunity to enjoy the Sistine Chapel and the Museums. Entrance to the Basilica was a simple walk with no need to go through security. I would highly recommend this tour.
Thank you so much for your kind review! We're delighted to hear that you had an excellent experience with Ursa. His passion for Vatican history and art, combined with his engaging and personable approach, makes him a favorite among many of our guests, and we're glad his expertise helped make your visit so memorable. It's wonderful to know that the early morning entry allowed you to enjoy the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel before the larger crowds arrived. Those quieter moments can make a real difference in appreciating the beauty and significance of these incredible sites. We're also pleased that the seamless access to St. Peter's Basilica added to the overall experience. Thank you for your recommendation and for choosing to tour with us. We'll be sure to share your kind words with Ursa, and we hope to welcome you back for another adventure in Rome in the future!
Amazing tour. Guide was helpful, efficient and informative. He welcomed questions and was quite good at explanations.
We're delighted that you had an amazing experience on the tour and that the guide was able to provide detailed explanations. Your feedback is truly appreciated!
If you’re like me and tend to overthink everything, here is your sign to stop, breathe, book THIS tour, and move on to the next thing. Great Vatican Museum tour- well priced, ran seamlessly, and our group was only 10 people!! Felt very personalized and private and not like a herd of cattle. Communication from the company was excellent, meeting point was easy to find, everything was prepared and well organized. Also, Francesca was THE BEST tour guide!! Highly, highly recommend her! She was clearly very knowledgeable and passionate about art, history, etc. and I loved the passion and energy she brought into the tour. She shared so many interesting stories and pointed out features of the art in a way that was engaging and mixed in some humor- the time passed very quickly. She was also super friendly and personable and made an effort to learn names and connect with everyone. She utilized ear pieces connected to a lapel mic she wore, so she could talk at a normal volume and walk naturally through the museums and interact with us all and we could still hear her. It worked great. I also appreciated how she shared her faith since that is so clearly connected to everything at the Vatican. As I was contemplating if/who to book a tour with, I was worried about a “canned”, sterile feeling tour. That was 100% not the case. Francesca made everything come alive. I was so impressed! A++
Thank you very much for your kind and detailed feedback. We’re really pleased to hear that you enjoyed the tour and that the small group setting, organization, and overall experience met your expectations. It’s also great to know that Francesca’s knowledge, energy, and approach helped make the visit engaging and enjoyable for you. We will be sure to pass your comments on to her. We appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and hope to welcome you on another tour in the future.
We booked to Viator and got a private family group tour with local provider Through Eternity. Our tour guide Roberta was outstanding. She made our tour a success with her love of the Vatican and her knowledge of the tour sites. This is my 4th time visiting the Vatican including the museums and Sistine chapel and this was by far the best experience.
Thank you for sharing your experience! We're delighted to hear that your private family tour was such a memorable one. Roberta's passion for the Vatican and her deep knowledge of its history, art, and significance truly make for an exceptional experience, and we're thrilled that she helped make your visit so special. It's especially meaningful to hear that, despite this being your fourth visit to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, this was your best experience yet. We'll be sure to pass along your kind words to Roberta. Thank you for choosing us for your Vatican visit, and we hope to welcome you and your family on another tour in the future!
Wonderful trip through the Vatican museums and the Sistine chapel. We did not see, however, some of the paintings. Also loved the basilica.
Thank you for your review! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your visit to the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica. These are truly unforgettable highlights of any trip to Rome. We appreciate your feedback regarding the paintings you were hoping to see. Given the vast size of the Vatican Museums and the time available during guided tours, it's not always possible to cover every artwork or gallery. Thank you again for sharing your experience, and we hope to welcome you on another tour in the future!
The tour was fantastic! The Vatican museum collections alone would require at least a day, there are so many top level artworks! But it was our guide Irene who made the whole tour so much enjoyable! Knowledgeable, witty, absolutely charming, she always pointed out what to look for (there was so much around!), where are the best spots for a good photo, and made the whole experience nice and easy, despite the tremendous amount of information!
Thank you so much for your fantastic review! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your visit to the Vatican Museums. With such an extraordinary collection of art and history, it truly is a place where you could spend days exploring and still discover something new. We're especially pleased to hear that Irene made such a positive impact on your experience. Her knowledge, sense of humor, and engaging storytelling are qualities that our guests greatly appreciate, and it's wonderful to know that she helped bring the collections to life while making the tour both enjoyable and easy to follow. We're also glad that her tips on what to look for and where to capture the best photos helped you make the most of your visit. Thank you again for your kind words. We will be sure to share your feedback with Irene, and we hope to welcome you on another tour in the future!
5/5 - an excellent experience, well worth the money. Would thoroughly recommend this tour company and, this particular tour.
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled you enjoyed the tour and found it worthwhile. We appreciate your recommendation and look forward to creating more unforgettable experiences with Through Eternity Tours!
Eugenia D’Andrea was EXCELLENT! She was very knowledgeable, and answered a multitude of questions. She was warm, personable and friendly. We couldn’t have chosen a better guide! I highly recommend both Eugenia and Through Eternity!
Dear Darcell, Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear that Eugenia provided such a knowledgeable, warm, and personable experience. Your recommendation means a lot to us. We hope to welcome you again with Through Eternity Tours soon!
