Entire Vatican Tour: Treasures of the Sistine Chapel

Go beyond the average Vatican tour and let our top rated Art Historian guides bring masterpieces by Michelangelo and Raphael to life for you with this award winning original 2.5-hour experience with fast-track access to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel.

What We Love About This Tour: 

• Stand just feet away from Michelangelo’s remarkable frescoes in the Sistine Chapel

• Take in the beauty of the extraordinary rooms of Raphael 

• Skip the lines with priority tour operator access 

• Expert guides will ensure you stay on track and visit all the must sees in this 5 mile-long museum 

• Small groups of max 15 participants

Meet your expert guide by the Vatican Museum entrance and after brief introductions enjoy skip-the-line entry to what is arguably the most important and largest art collection in the world. Your guide knows every nook and cranny of the museums and will navigate seamlessly through the galleries, emphasizing the Rooms of Raphael, the Ancient Roman and Greek pieces in the Belvedere Courtyard and the Gallery of Maps, all while ensuring that you stay on track with an eye on the ultimate prize: the Sistine Chapel. 

The Vatican Museums weren’t always as we know them today. For over five hundred years, celebrated Popes slowly gathered and commissioned works of art from the most talented painters, architects and sculptors in Italy and brought them to the Vatican to showcase them for their own personal enjoyment and that of a carefully chosen circle of clerics, artists, nobles, and scholars. Each new Pope sought to leave a legacy, commissioning chapels, frescoes, sculptures, libraries, paintings, courtyards - one masterpiece after another until the Papal Collection finally grew to more than 70,000 works of art spread over 1400 galleries. 

In 1771 Pope Clement XIV finally opened the doors to the public, making it possible for us to enter the Holy See and walk in the footsteps of Popes and the most celebrated artists from Renaissance and Baroque Italy. 

We have hand-picked a selection of the highlights of this massive museum, covering the most important masterpieces from Greek and Roman times to the high Renaissance. Much of this tour will be dedicated to the Rooms of Raphael and of course the majestic Sistine Chapel, from its commissioning to the finishing touches applied by none other than Michelangelo Buonarroti. Your expert guide will help you to discern between myth, fact, and popular Hollywood fiction regarding this epic work of art. 

Duration: Approximately 2.5 hours 

What’s Included: 

• Expert local guide

• Skip-the-line tickets to the Vatican Museums

• Room of the Muses and Belvedere Torso 

• Pinecone Courtyard

• Octagonal Courtyard

• Rooms of Raphael

• Gallery of Maps 

• Laocoonte Sculpture 1st Century AD

Not Included: 

• Gratuities

• Transport to and from meeting point 

Important to Know:

• Tour departs rain or shine

• Unfortunately, wheelchairs and strollers cannot be accommodated on this tour.

Important to Bring: 

• Comfortable shoes for walking and stair climbing

Covid-19 compliance: For the most accurate and up-to-date information click here. 

In accordance with Italian Covid-19 safety regulations, all guests ages 12 and older will be required to show proof of Vaccination (Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson or AstraZeneca) or a negative Covid-test taken within 48 hours of the tour.

Please note that due to current local Covid-19 measures, all customers will be required to bring and wear a mask during the entire visit. Temperature checks may also take place at tour venues; if your temperature is above 37.5°C you will unfortunately not be able to attend the tour.

Special Requirements for Vatican Tours: 

• A strict dress code is in place at the Vatican. While short pants are permitted, shoulders and knees must be covered for both men and women. Shorts must come to knee length.  
• Large bags, knives or other weapons will not be permitted inside the Museums.

Terms and conditions:

• Changes and cancellation are possible free of charge up to 72 hours before the start time. If the desired change involves a tour of greater value, the balance will be due upon rebooking.
• Any cancellations made within 72 hours and no-shows are non-refundable.
• Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by at least one adult to join a tour or an activity.