Private Vatican Tour with Sistine Chapel, Fast-Access Tickets
Description
This is a private 3-hour tour with the services of your own local, expert guide. With skip-the-line access you visit the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and Saint Peter’s square amongst other famous sites. Your guide will recount the history of these amazing places and tell you stories about some of the many treasures to be found in the Vatican.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Meet with your guide at the entrance to the Vatican museums and with skip-the-line access head straight inside to begin the tour with a visit to the Belvedere Courtyard, the Pio-Clementino Museum and the magnificent collection of Ancient Roman and Greek Statues. You continue your tour with a visit to the Gallery of Tapestries followed by the Gallery of Maps, which houses one of the most significant displays of Renaissance Maps in the world. In the Sobiesky Room you will see on of the largest painting in the Vatican and in the room of the Immaculate Conception gaze upon its wonderful frescoes. It is certainly worth spending time in Raphael’s Rooms. Painted for Pope Julius II here are displayed some of the painters greatest works, the Parnassus and School of Athens.
Before entering the Sistine Chapel (no talking allowed inside) your guide will tell you about the wonderful frescoes by Michelangelo, Botticelli and other famous artists that you will see once inside. You will also hear interesting facts and anecdotes about this unique chapel that is still in use today as the setting for the conclave to elect new Popes.
It is then time for a tour of St. Peter’s Basilica where you will explore the numerous side chapels with their hidden crypts. You will see Michelangelo’s Pietà and your guide will explain why this is the only work that he signed. You will gain an appreciation of the mastery that went into the creation of Bernini’s altarpiece and learn how Michelangelo triumphed over his contemporaries for the honour to paint St. Peter’s magnificent dome. There is still more to see though below ground level. You guide will lead you below ground to the papal crypt where, over the centuries, many of the Popes have been interred. This special place is a site of pilgrimage for many Catholics.
The tour will end in Saint Peter’s Square where you can see the Pope’s Palace and catch a glimpse of the colorful Swiss Guards.
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
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- A dress code is required to enter places of worship and selected museums. No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements
- READ CAREFULLY: Because of the growing popularity of the current pope Francis and his intense activity in organising mass events in the Vatican some areas might get closed last minute without previous notice. This has already happened this year and can happen again during you Vatican tour. In case of such events our tour guide will provide you with a valuable alternative focusing the tour inside the Vatican museums.
- PLEASE NOTE: Due to the Jubilee the Basilica might not be accessible as part of the tour. Unfortunately, we know that very last minute. In any case, you can go there after the tour, queuing.
Reviews(34)
Tomasso was punctual, friendly and knowledgeable. Access was fast and easy I would highly recommend this tour
Our guide Thomas was a wealth of knowledge, who really brought our attention to some amazing details we never would have noticed if we had only walked through ourselves or done a tour with a larger group. He brought so much insight and enthusiasm to the tour, I could do it 5 more times and learn about a new set of different artifacts and arts each time.
A highlight for our time in Rome. Claudia is a WONDERFUL tour guide. Her enthusiasm for art is contagious. She is engaging and kept our interest the entire 3 hour tour. We appreciated the time she gave us to take in the highlights of the tour. I can't imagine trying to tour the vast Vatican sites without someone to guide you along and navigate the crowds. So happy we chose this tour and we were matched with Claudia.
Our guide Francesco was excellent! He was so knowledgeable and shared the history with us. We greatly appreciated the pictures he shared with us that helped us to understand exactly what he was describing.
Sara was an excellent guide, just what we wanted. She let us see what we were most interested in and didn’t overload us with information.
We had a great tour with Frao/Francesco. He was very knowledgeable on all the history of the Vatican and he gave us a memorable and enriching experience.
Tomaso our guide was outstanding. Friendly, knowledgeable, and a great story teller. We were able to skip every line: the Vatican Museum, the Sistine Chapel, and the Basilica. Top notch.
Sara is Fantastic!!! Her knowledge is incredible, she made the tour very pleasant. We all love her! Her kindness, wisdom and people skills enchanted us
Everything was amazing and Massimiliano was a knowledgeable and great tour guide even with have 2 eleven year old boys. But if you are going in July make sure to take a fan with you. The museums are not climate controlled (no A/C) so if there is no breeze, with so many people it can be a bit stifling.
The tour guide Macelliano was awesome. With so much to see, he highlighted key points of interested and explained thins beautifully
