Private Tour of Vatican with St. Peter's, Papal Tombs and Dome
Description
Discover the Ultimate Vatican Experience! Step into the heart of Vatican City with our most popular tour, showcasing all the treasures and wonders of this sacred destination. Explore the Vatican Museums, admire the breathtaking beauty of the Sistine Chapel, and marvel at the grandeur of St. Peter’s Basilica. Your journey continues with an exclusive visit to the Papal Tombs, including the revered Tomb of St. Peter the Apostle, followed by an unforgettable elevator ride to Michelangelo’s Dome, where panoramic views of Rome await. Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the Vatican’s most important highlights in one incredible tour.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Enter with your guide via skip line gate and visit the highlights of Vatican Museums
Admire Michelangelo's frescoes of Creation and Last Judgement
Visit the highlights of St. Peter's with Pieta by Michelangello
Visit the Tombs of Popes under the Basilica
Guided visit with reserved skip line tickets to St. Peter'Dome by elevator
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(16)
Our tour guide did not listen to our input, which was disappointing. We were very jet lagged and made several requests to see specific things, but she didn’t seem to listen or see that we were exhausted. She talked too much and we didn’t learn a thing.
The tour guide was EXCELLENT. He was very patient with my father's mobility issues and was extremely informative, knowledgeable and very thoughtful. I was EXTREMELY disappointed in not being able to do the Scavi tour. I registered for a Scavi visit with the Vatican MONTHS earlier and some time before our visit, still hadn't heard back, so we booked this excursion. After booking this excursion, we received word from the Vatican that our Scavi tour was approved, but since we booked and paid for the tour through Viator, we cancelled with the Vatican. At our meeting point on the day of the excursion, the company informed us that we were not able to do the Scavi because it was scheduled for the morning and that is when they scheduled their tour guide. We were absolutely crushed. Read the fine print on this excursion. They do not GUARANTEE a Scavi tour. If that is what you are truly looking for, I suggest booking a Scavi tour through the Vatican. We were devastated and not met with more than an off-handed apology. "Sorry, but we don't guarantee the Scavi".
They cancelled on us last minute without an offer for equivalent experience. Disappointing as this was to be a highlight of our trip.
We are sorry but once again we need to explain that during the Jubilee 2025 the scavi office at times closes the area due to important religious function planned in the crypt of St. Peter Basilica. Unfortunately those vents during Jubilee Year do not have constant schedule. This decisions are beyond our control. With kind regards. Francsca Conti.
Our tour guide, Issac, was great! Incredibly knowledgeable and interesting! Because it was the Monday after Palm Sunday the crowds were overwhelming. Obviously, that is not controlled by the tour, but I would recommend checking the best time of year to visit. We also got there first thing in the morning and purchased skip the line tickets which were a big help!
Exceptional in every way thanks to our unbelievable guide, Serena, the most fantastically knowledgeable historian accessed our interests and catered the tour to include exhibits not always included. Best experience on a busy day. Place was packed, but she accomplished more than we could have ever wished for. Worth every second. Highly emotional experience.
Be aware! The excavations area has been closed since August 2024, and as of this review, is still closed. When I booked, I reached out to confirm whether I had to purchase any tickets, and I was told they had been secured by the tour company. Weeks later, after midnight and roughly 7 hours before the tour was to start, I was informed that actually the Scavi excavations site was still closed. Instead, the tour could be “extended” to the Tombs of the Popes, but for this to be a guided tour, we would have to pay an additional 6 euro for headphones because those are required for guides to talk in St. Peter’s. After the significant expense of the tour and the hotel transfer (which was actually just a cab), to be asked to contribute any more money while not getting into the excavations site (the reason for this tour) was appalling and incredibly upsetting. Our Vatican tour guide herself was absolutely wonderful and is the reason this is not a one-star review. But again, the lack of effort to make up for the core part of the tour being unavailable was awful. No attempt to reschedule and the additional element only being available at additional expense were too much for me. Seeing the excavations site has been a dream for a decade, and I was in tears at the end of this tour.
Just two days before the visit Scavi Office informed about further extension of the maintenance closure of the excavations area for visits. The closure, originally scheduled from August 15, 2024, to January 6, 2024, has now been extended to January 17, 2024. Your guide extended the visit by extra hour to include the underground of St. Peters Basilica and the Tomb of St Peter to compensate for the closure of the area beyond guide's control. PS At times, during the Jubilee Year celebrations St. Peters Basilica authorities may request use of headphones in St Peters and charge E 3/person for rent
Guide was great. They cut a 3rd off of the tour. They said they refunded the part we had not paid yet. Basically a 4 hour tour for 3 hours less the part we still owed ha. Most amazing place ever. Choose a different guide service.
We regret to say that the math is not correct. The total time of the tour is 4 hours: 3 hours including Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, St Peters Basilica and 1 hour scavi tour which was not available due to prolonged closure of scavi. That 1/4, not 1/3 of the total, for which you have been duly reimbursed. We appreciate your comment about our excellent guide. Kindly. Francesca Conti
Tour guide was outstanding! Missed seeing the Scavi but everything else was wonderful. Thank you for the experience.
It was fabulous! A must do in Rome! My Mom and I took a girls trip and this was the highlight and I will do this trip on my next visit for sure!
My husband I were told that the tour operator was charging more for our tour because we were entering the Vatican before it opens. This was not true. We spent a total of $800. It was informative but way too costly. And Mr Zalewski, the tour operator took a month to respond to my inquiry just to provide false information. Also, the second part of the tour was not private. Still very informative guide, but with a group of around 10 others. This would have been fine, but again, part of the cost was also related to it being a private tour.
