Rome: Skip the Line Vatican, Sistine Chapel, St Peter Small Group
Description
Enjoy a semi-private Vatican tour with a maximum of six guests. With your expert guide and skip-the-line tickets, explore the Vatican Museums, experience the wonders of the Pinecone and Octagonal Courtyard and the Belvedere Torso. Admire Constantine’s coffins and unique sculptures while learning about Church history, the Popes, and the artworks. After this, it’s time to head over to see one of the stars of the tour – Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. Admire the 8,000 square feet of this masterpiece standing in its center surrounded by paintings. After the Chapel and all its glory, your tour guide will take you towards your final stop, St. Peter’s Basilica* where you will enjoy exclusive access to the most immense and ornate Catholic church in the world. Visit one of the most stunning pieces of art in the basilica, Michelangelo’s statue of the Pietà, depicting the Virgin Mary holding her dying child in her arms.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Discover some of the most famous paintings and sculptures from western civilization and listen to amusing anecdotes about the former popes and artists represented in the museums. With a small-group tour of maximum of 6 people, or in your very own private tour, easily manoeuvre through the crowded museums at a comfortable pace. After a view of the terrace over the Vatican gardens, make your way across the beautiful early Renaissance courtyard to admire Hadrian's Pinecone, and then to the modern art piece of Arnaldo Pomodoro. You will then head to the magnificent Octagonal Courtyard which is one of the most remarkable collections of Roman and Greek artefacts. Admire the famous Belvedere Torso, learn about the mystery of the Laocoön Priest of Troy, and visit the Muses Room. Walk through the beautiful galleries to admire an abundance of candelabra, tapestries, and maps. Then head to the Julius II apartments and see the grandeur and the magnificent details of the Raphael Rooms.
Admire the the famous frescoes, painted by Raphael and his workshop. Please note that the visit to the Raphael Rooms may not always be feasible.
Your comprehensive Vatican tour concludes with VIP entrance directly into St. Peter’s Basilica without standing in the long lines. Walking through the Basilica, you will learn all about the secrets of the magnificent and ornate decorations, sculptures, altars and chapels. Visit Michelangelo’s Pieta and walk down the main nave to admire the dome he designed that sits on top of the largest Catholic church in the world.
Next, learn of Michelangelo's masterpiece from your guide before you enter through a tiny door to admire the majestic Sistine Chapel. Take in its grandeur in contemplative silence as you admire this 8,000 square foot wonder. From January 12 through March 31, the Vatican Museums will be carrying out special conservation work on Michelangelo’s Last Judgment inside the Sistine Chapel. During this time, a scaffolding structure will cover the entire Last Judgment wall. The Sistine Chapel will remain open and fully accessible, but this specific artwork will not be visible during the restoration period. Thank you for your understanding as this masterpiece receives important care.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- *St. Peter’s Basilica is an active church and can be closed unexpectedly for liturgical ceremonies. If closed, your guide will provide a revised itinerary including more of the Vatican Museums. No compensation is granted in these circumstances.
- *Saint Peter’s Basilica is closed on most Wednesdays mornings due to the weekly Papal Audience. If you book this tour for a Wednesday the time inside the Vatican Museums will be extended.
- Places of worship have strict dress code requirements for entry. All participants are required to have shoulders and knees covered (no tank tops or short dresses) to enter.
- There is no photography allowed inside the Sistine Chapel.
- Please be aware that the Sistine Chapel is a Holy Place and talking during your visit inside is strictly forbidden, therefore your guide will give you an explanation of the Sistine Chapel beforehand during your tour, in order to give you a comprehensive explanation before entering the chapel.
- Guests with wheelchair accessibility needs will find difficulty with this small group tour. In order to ensure a barrier-free tour with alternative routes, please book the private version of this tour.
- Everyone in your group, regardless of age, needs a government issued ID to enter the Vatican Museums.
- IMPORTANT: Please advise our team if you believe that a disability qualifies you for complimentary access to the Vatican
- *Access to the Raphael Rooms is contingent upon crowd conditions, timing constraints, and guard-regulated routes. Including them may not always be feasible. In these cases, your tour guide will exercise discretion to adjust the itinerary, ensuring a high-quality experience
- Not recommended for travelers with mobility issues
Reviews(4,045)
Our guide, Patrick, was outstanding. Liv Tours are excellent. I do wish Viator had shared more clearly we were on a Liv tour.
There is a lot of walking and the crowds are very large. The skip the line feature is very nice. It saves a lot of time.
This tour was wonderful and Massimo was an EXCELLENT guide! Our flight to Rome from Paris was a bit delayed and we unfortunately got turned around when walking to the meeting point. Massimo was waiting for us outside with a sign held high and rushed us through to join the group. We felt this tour was the perfect amount of time and Massimo was a fountain of knowledge, sharing photos on his iPad to explain details to pay attention to. Literally minutes after meeting our group of six, he called us each by name. He knew how to navigate us through each point of interest, and was hilarious and kept us on our toes with his witty banter. He seemed to know every single worker and tour guide we ran into, and each greeted him with affection. We highly recommend this tour and Massimo for a tremendous experience at the Vatican and Sistine Chapel. Thanks so much to Liv Tours!!
Luca was AWESOME!!! He slowly walked us through the museum, leading up to the Sistine Chapel, making sure we understood how every sculpture influenced Michelangelo's choices in the Chapel. This was the second time I have been in the Sistine Chapel, but the first time I really appreciated everything that influenced it.
First of all, Giovanni was wonderful! Knowledgable, funny, engaging - just great in every way! I am still in awe of the history, talent and beauty that we saw on this tour. We were in Italy 9 days and did 8 tours. This was definitely my favorite and that was in large part because of our Guide Giovanni!
Great tour guide!!! She was very knowledgeable and took her time with our group! Would highly recommend!
We had a great time with Attilia! She was very patient with my hot and tired kiddos! She had a lot of knowledge to share. We learned so much during our tour about the Vatican, the art inside, the Sistine chapel and St Peters. If you can go in the morning, it might be cooler! I would recommend a fan - either an accordion fan or a battery-powered fan.
Daniel was a terrific host and knew so much about the history of the Vatican. He really brought it all to life and made me cry with his depiction of the Pieta.
Don’t skimp on this, by using a group tour. USE A PERSONAL GUIDE!!!!! This is such an incredible place.
Lots of walking, but there is no other way to do it! Our guide, Barbara was great! Try to book in the am if possible :)
