Skip the Line: Small Group Vatican Tour with Basilica Access

based on 447 reviews

Duration:2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
Location: Rome, Italy

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This 2.5 hour Vatican Tour is led by an expert guide who will share stories you won't hear anywhere else! Visit the highlights of the Vatican Museums in small, exclusive groups limited to 10 people or less. Skip-the-Line no-wait access is included and is the fastest possible way to enter the Museums. For a special experience, choose the first access of the day at 8:00AM. All tours included Skip the Line access to St. Peter's Basilica (except Wednesdays, special events).

WHAT'S INCLUDED

WHAT TO EXPECT

1. Vatican Museums
A typical itinerary inside the Vatican Museums includes the Pavilion of the Carriages, home to everything from centuries old horse-drawn carriages to vintage and modern cars really used by Popes past and present. You'll visit the Pinecone Courtyard, the Hall of the Maps (the "Oval Office" of the Pope centuries ago), the Gallery of the Tapestries, the Pinacoteca, Belvedere Courtyard, Room of the Muses, the Round Room and Candelabra Gallery.
2. Cortile della Pigna
This courtyard gets its name from the enormous bronze Pinecone sculpture that dominates it.
3. Sphere within a Sphere
The Vatican Museums contains some modern art as well, including this famous sculpture: Sphere within a Sphere. Variations of this sculpture can be found in many settings around the world.
4. Museo Pio Clementino
The most famous wing of the Vatican Museums, the Pio Clementino museum contains much of the Museum's most important highlights. Your guide will take you through the Room of the Animals, where you can spot the life-like statues of fauna from around the world. Head to the Octagonal Courtyard where a small fountain trickles in the background of famous statues like the Laocoonte and Apollo Belvedere. Don't forget to look at the Candelabra Gallery -- master painters decorated these ceilings to create the illusion of a 3D effect centuries ago!
5. Gallery of the Maps
Head with your guide to the Gallery of the Maps -- and get a perspective of the world how it was five centuries ago. These exquisitely detailed, hand-painted giant maps are a favorite of the Vatican Museums. See if you can find the Italian cities you have visited, or spot the nod to Christopher Columbus' journey to the Americas.
6. Stanze di Raffaello
Raphael painted these rooms with incredible frescoes, originally meant for the private rooms of Pope Julius II.
7. Sistine Chapel
No guides are able to speak inside the Sistine Chapel. However, your guide will prepare you in advance for your free time inside so you'll know what to look for.
8. Museos Vaticanos
Your visit ends close to where it began, after the spiral staircase at the entrance to the Vatican Museums.
9. Vatican City
Visit to Vatican Museums - Vatican City
10. St. Peter's Square
When available, access is provided to St Peter's Basilica, skipping the lines. A tour is not provided inside the Basilica, only access. Your visit will end at the steps of St. Peter's Square with an introduction made by your guide after which you will be on your own to continue exploring.
11. St. Peter's Basilica
When available, access is provided to St Peter's Basilica, skipping the lines. A tour is not provided inside the Basilica, only access. Your visit will end at the steps of St. Peter's Square with an introduction made by your guide after which you will be on your own to continue exploring.

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Posted By : barbaragT7891JA
Giuseppe was phenomenal! Extensive knowledge of the Vatican and the treasure trove of art! He had insights as to the background of the portrait subjects and the style of the artist.
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Posted On : 2024-07-02 17:43:03

Posted By : marissar680
So informative and interesting. We learned so much, and it was very engaging. Felt like a perfect length. We loved our guide, Martina!
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Posted On : 2024-07-02 08:26:48

Posted By : L_C
This was an amazing tour with possibly the best guide I’ve ever had on a tour in Rome - she was fantastic! Thank you for a great visit to the Vatican!!
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Posted On : 2024-06-30 01:45:38

Posted By : John_Y
Excellent experience from beginning to end. Lorelei was a wealth of knowledge. She made visiting the Vatican fun and informative.
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Posted On : 2024-06-29 03:23:51

Posted By : D4677UCcaseyc
Frederico was an amazing tour guide. He was authentic, educated and delivery was perfecto! Our experience was fantastic and many thanks to our attentive tour guide.
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Posted On : 2024-06-28 10:49:43

Posted By : Seaside14212275567
The whole tour was amazing! The museums are gorgeous and St. Peter’s is just beautiful. Our tour guide Yamuna was outstanding and made every step of an already great tour so much better. She was clear and easy to understand in English, provided fascinating, well organized info, and knew answers immediately to our random questions. She escorted us efficiently through the entire tour making sure we were on time to each stop- but also made the time to pause and find shade when describing things using visual aids. Absolutely A++ tour and guide.
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Posted On : 2024-06-28 04:27:37

Posted By : O9474OHantonioc
We had taken tours of the Vatican in the past. It Maria Elisa really helped to make this one special.
She knew so much about the history and really made the tour memorable.

We are a family of 5 and she was great with the kids. She even gave our 4yr old son a kiss on the cheek at the end and he’s still blushing!

Grazie Maria Elisa
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Posted On : 2024-06-28 04:07:53

Posted By : JTG463
Stefano was an excellent guide. We did the small tour with just 9 people and it was perfect. We learned a lot about the Vatican and the related history. He gave each person in the group individual attention which was very nice. I would definitely recommend this tour and definitely recommend Stefano!
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Posted On : 2024-06-28 02:08:41

Posted By : Guide577838
Very informative and a great tour! We learned a lot of new information. Go early so there are not as many people. And it was not as hot!
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Posted On : 2024-06-27 05:10:49

Posted By : Amanda_S
Our guide was very knowledgeable, with a great grasp on the history. Using a microphone and ear pieces is difficult but the crowds necessitate it. She was a lovely person and good with the group. So grateful for the small group offering so we could ask questions and maintain a good dialog.
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Posted On : 2024-06-23 06:10:04