VIP Vatican, Sistine Chapel & Basilica Tour

Experience the Vatican Museums VIP Tour and skip the lines to see the breathtaking Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. Explore the extraordinary art collections with an expert guide for a personalized and immersive experience.

Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Maya Tours - Once you book, we organize everything. Just show up and check-in at the Maya Tours office (VIA GERMANICO, 16) at the correct time (Please arrive 10 minutes before your booked departure time) and your guide will escort you inside the Museums & provide you with your ticket.
  • Vatican Museums - Explore the Vatican Museums with an Expert Guide, visit the highlights of the incredible collections comprised of a colossal 20,000 works on display, over 4 miles of Art, Sculptures, Tapestries, Paintings and Architecture.

Belvedere Courtyard
Pinecone Courtyard
Pio Clementino Museum
Octagonal Courtyard
Sala Degli Animali
Sala Delle Muse
Sala Rotonda
Sala A Croce Greca
Gallery of the Candelabra
Gallery of Tapestries
Gallery of Maps

  • Sistine Chapel - Marvel at the incredible Sistine Chapel, an impressive sanctuary that boasts works of art by master painters like Perugino, Pinturicchio, Ghirlandaio, Rosselli, Botticelli, Signorelli, della Gatta and, of course, Michelangelo.

See the world famous frescoes stretch magnificently across the ceiling with the renowned Creation of Adam as the central focus and the majestic Last Judgement upon the rear wall, offering a visual spectacle that encapsulates the divine.

Sistine Chapel Frescoes
Cosmati Floor Mosaic
Forseen conception of Jesus Christ
Pagan Sibyls / Icons
Prophet depictions
Creation of Adam
The Last Judgement
Sacrifice of Jesus Christ
Greek Mythology Styx

  • St. Peter’s Basilica - Gain privileged direct entrance to the heart of the Catholic faith and lose yourself in the monumental grandeur of Saint Peter’s Basilica. See the highlights of the phenomenal church with a guide and enjoy free time to explore its many secrets including getting your blessing at Saint Peter’s feet and head down into the Vatican Grottoes which contain the Papal Tombs.

The Pillars
The Ceiling
Statue Of St. Peter (Blessing at Saint Peter’s Feet)
Tomb Of Innocent XI
St. Peter’s Throne
La Porta Santa (Holy Door)
Loggia Of The Blessings Or Central Balcony
The Dome
High Altar (St. Peter’s Altar)
Baldacchino
Vatican Grottoes (Papal Tombs)
La Pietá
Tomb of John Paul II
La Navicella Mosaic

  • St. Peter’s Square - Exit the Basilica on to St. Peter’s Square, a large plaza located directly in front of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, one of the largest, most beautiful squares in Europe where the Papal Audience is held.

Bernini Fountain
Maderno Fountain
Vatican Egyptian Obelisk
St. Peter’s Square colonnades
Columns
Basilica Façade
Central Balcony
Statues of the Saints and first century apostles

What's Included
  • Skip The Line St.Peter’s Basilica Entry (when possible)
  • Small Group Tour Experience with Expert Official Licensed Vatican Guide
  • Skip The Line Priority Access Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Tickets
  • Highlights of St.Peters with a guide and free time to explore
What's Not Included
  • Location Pick Up & Drop Off
  • Scavi / Necropolis
  • On Wednesday mornings St. Peter’s Basilica may be closed to the public due to the Papal Audience
  • St Peter’s Basilica is subject to last-minute closures for religious ceremonies, with no warning
Additional Information

Skip the line and immerse yourself in the Vatican’s treasures with an expert guide and priority entrance with a small group. This exclusive tour includes the awe-inspiring Sistine Chapel and direct entrance into St.Peter’s Basilica and the Papal tombs. Designed for those who wish to absorb the full splendour of the Vatican, this experience is an in-depth exploration into Vatican city.

Wander through the Vatican Museums, whose halls house an incredible array of masterpieces. This vast collection includes exquisite sculptures, mesmerising frescoes, and architectural wonders that together create a collection unmatched anywhere in the world.

Feast your eyes on breathtaking works by world renowned artists such as Bramante, Bernini, Perugino, and Botticelli, culminating in the Sistine Chapel. Here, Michelangelo’s famous frescoes, including the majestic Last Judgement, stretch magnificently across the ceiling and rear wall, offering a visual spectacle that encapsulates the divine.

  • The tour reservations have strict timing. To join the tour, you are required to be at the meeting point for check-in at least 15 minutes prior to your tour departure time.
  • If you arrive late for the meeting time, it will not be possible to join the group or reschedule, the tickets and guide are void. As per Vatican rules you will not be entitled to a refund.
  • Knees & Shoulders MUST be covered for both men & women to enter the Sistine Chapel!
  • St Peter’s Basilica is subject to last-minute closures for religious ceremonies, with little to no warning and in this case, the tour will conclude in the Sistine Chapel. When this occurs visitors will have an extended tour of the Vatican Museums.
  • Should St. Peter’s Basilica be closed or not accessible within the scheduled time, the tour will include Raphael’s Rooms or the explanation of the Basilica from the outside. In this case we are unable to provide refunds or discounts as the Basilica is free to enter and not included in the tour price.
  • The Raphael’s Rooms are not included in the tour and are visited only when St. Peter’s Basilica remains closed to the public or if the Vatican makes the internal itinerary mandatory.
  • Please note that on the day of your visit certain areas of the monument/attraction can be closed due to either religious events or national holidays.
  • Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not suitable for those with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair. Please be aware that large oversized bags/backpacks/suitcases are not permitted in the monument/ attraction.
  • Students booking a reduced ticket must have a photo ID to be allowed into the monument. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
  • It is not possible to contact guides when they are inside the Vatican museums, it is the clients responsibility to stay with the guided tour group, if you lose your guide inside the Vatican, there is nothing we can do in this case.
  • Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not suitable for those with walking difficulties or using a wheelchair.
Location
Via Germanico, 16
Via Germanico
Once you book, we organize everything. Just show up and check-in at the Maya Tours office (VIA GERMANICO, 16) at the correct time (Please arrive 10 minutes before your booked departure time) and your guide will escort you inside the Museums & provide you with your ticket.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(444 Ratings)
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Gus_p
Aug 21, 2024
My experience is one that I would recommend to anyone who would come here - The tour guide she had so much knowledge and she was very funny her name was Cristina. I would recommend her to everybody.
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Amanda_k
Aug 21, 2024
Worth it! Great tour - Christina was a fantastic guide! She knows how to work the crowds and make the tour as comfortable as possible. She is very knowledgeable about the art and history, and organized the tour perfectly to get the right amount of sights/ information in , even keeping our kids engaged (10 and 12). The lines here are so long and in the hot sun, this is the only way to see the Vatican , in my opinion. We walked right in ! Well worth the price .
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Zachary_s
Aug 16, 2024
Very professional and an Amazing Experience - Our tour guide was great and was especially aware of keeping track of everyone, respecting the cultural and historical aspects of Vatican City, and was very knowledgeable about his craft. He was also genuinely nice and was great to chat with about any topic.
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Kimberlee_a
Aug 14, 2024
Deborah at Maya Tours was the best! - Our tour guide Deborah was a gem. The Vatican was overflowing with people as it is in August (it is also incredibly hot) and she knew how to maneuver so we could get through the crowds and have a special view. She also is incredibly knowledgeable and clearly loves showing visitors the treasures of the Vatican. We feel so fortunate to have her as our guide.
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William_m
Aug 12, 2024
We were able to see the main highlights in a timely fashion, and given enough knowledge to further explore on our own. - Christina was our tour guide, and she was amazing. She was well versed in her knowledge of the tour, and was able to relate to everyone from technical details to good humor. We had an amazing experience, and I give this tour high recommendations!!
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David_k
Aug 10, 2024
Magnifico! - The tour of the Sistine Chapel was amazing and our tour guide was so informative! A very worthwhile tour!
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Richard_p
Aug 9, 2024
Great small group tour - Maggie, our guide was both very knowledgeable and entertaining. We took our time and never felt rushed.
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Raymond_s
Aug 20, 2024
Incredible day in Vatican City - Great tour. Well organized. Tour guide was very knowledgeable. Very crowded day and guide was able to adjust to keep us engaged.
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Judith_t
Aug 19, 2024
Pretty good tour - Our guide was knowledgeable and engaged our six year old daughter throughout the tour. It was unbearably hot, but it was still enjoyable.
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Sajjad_k
Aug 18, 2024
Poor and unclear instructions causing a rare opportunity to visit Saint Peter's Basilica!! - I booked this tour for my family of four. Unfortunately, the day before the trip, my son fell off a bike during a tour of the Appian Ways and needed a wheelchair for this tour. He had to be separated from the family with my other son who was pushing the wheelchair so that they could take the elevator. The instructions were so poor that they didn't know they were supposed to meet us at St. Peter's Basilica on their own and ended up waiting for us at St. Peter's Square outdoors at nearly 100 degrees Fahrenheit. They missed out on a rare opportunity to see the Pietta and Creation of Adam, especially when we paid extra through the nose for it all because of incomplete instructions and directions. Extremely disappointed!
Review provided by Viator
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
September 2024
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