Waste no Time in Line
We are the only Official Vatican Partner with the highest partnership status. As a result, we can offer you our exclusive Partner Entrance which allows you to access the Museums instantly. This gives you more time exploring the rooms and hallways where Popes and artists placed the art that made such an impression on them.
Discover More on this Tour
Once inside your guide will show you what very few ever see - St. Peter's Basilica rising above the gardens. From here you'll also see the unassuming building in the distance known as the Sistine Chapel. After photographs, you will move through the statues of antiquity and modern sculptures in the Pinecone Courtyard. As the Sistine Chapel is a place of quiet worship, you will receive an introduction here about what you are about to see inside from your Renaissance art-history expert.
On your way to the Chapel, you will pass through the incredibly accurate Hall of Maps, the tactile Gallery of Tapestries and the Raphael Rooms. Along the way, your guide will point out all the fascinating details to be seen such as Neptune pulling Columbus across the oceans and the depiction of Michelangelo. Inside the Sistine Chapel, you will be able to see every detail that you guide will have discussed with you such as Michelangelo's portrayal of Hell and his image of God which became part of public consciousness.
Don’t Delay with a Guide to Lead the Way
This tour enters St. Peter's Basilica directly from the Sistine Chapel so unlike other tours, you will not have to wait in line again. This will give you more time to see the interior of the Basilica, the many unusual doors and one of Michelangelo's earliest sculptures, the Pietá. The size of the Basilica alone will give you a new perspective on the first Pope who is buried beneath it. Finally, walk out into the open arms of St Peters Square, where he was martyred and where the faithful wait for a glimpse of their current Pope above the Bernini designed collonade.
Over the course of three hours, you’ll explore the treasures of the Vatican with a guide who will ensure that you see the highpoints of this unique collection. You'll see the rooms where the Popes are chosen and the doors where they make their final exit. You'll also see how they used their time to gather the art which reflected their ideas of faith and culture. You'll leave not just having seen the art of the Vatican but having understood the story behind it.
For a truly spectacular experience, consider our Semi-Private version of this tour. Limited to only 12 people or less, this tour makes for a more personalized exploration of the Vatican Museums.
