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Exclusive First Access Vatican Tour with Skip the Line Basilica

4.8 (80)
Rome, IT
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Exclusive First Access Vatican Tour with Skip the Line Basilica

4.8 (80)
Rome, IT
Share
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Experience the Vatican like never before with an Exclusive Early Access Vatican Tour with Skip the Line Basilica. Skip the long lines and enter the Vatican Museums one hour before the public, allowing you to explore these incredible halls in a more intimate setting. With a knowledgeable guide and a small group of no more than 13 people, you'll discover the legends, histories, stories, and hidden meanings behind the museum's most priceless artworks. Marvel at Michelangelo's masterpiece, the Sistine Chapel, and when available, enjoy Skip the Line access to St. Peter's Basilica at the end of your tour. This is not your typical Vatican tour - it's an extraordinary opportunity to immerse yourself in the wonders of Vatican City and uncover its secrets. Don't miss out on this unforgettable experience.

About this experience

  • Free Cancellation For a full refund cancel at least before the start of your booking
  • Admission Included
  • 2 hours 30 minutes
  • Suitable for 1-12 Participants
  • Private Tour, Small Group Tour
  • Guided Experience
  • Exclusive early access to Vatican Museums
  • Expert guide providing insight into priceless artworks
  • Skip the Line access to St. Peter's Basilica
  • Small group size for a more personalized experience
  • Opportunity to admire Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel
  • Skip-the-line tickets
  • All fees and taxes
  • Headsets
  • Skip the Line Entrance Tickets to the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
  • English Speaking Vatican Guide
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel Pick up & Drop off

How long before the event do I need to book?

  • You can book at any time before the event

Vouchers accepted in the following formats

  • Mobile

Is an adult required for the booking?

  • At least one adult or senior required per booking

Your Itinerary

Vatican Museums

Visit the Vatican Museums with fast entry, in the first available access of the day.

Cortile della Pigna

This courtyard gets its name from the enormous bronze Pinecone sculpture that dominates it. Don't miss Alfredo Pomodoro's famous Sphere within Sphere while you are here. Ask your guide to give it a spin for you!

Admission Included

Sphere within a Sphere

(Pass by)

Don't miss Arnaldo Pomodoro's Sphere within a Sphere. Variations of this sculpture can be found in many settings around the world. Ask your guide to give it a spin for you!

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!

Admission Included

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.

Admission Included

Stanze di Raffaello

Raphael painted these rooms with incredible frescoes, originally meant for the private rooms of Pope Julius II.

Admission Included

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.

Admission Included

Museos Vaticanos

(Pass by)

Your visit ends close to where it began, after the spiral staircase at the entrance to the Vatican Museums.

Vatican City

(Pass by)

Visit to Vatican Museums - Vatican City

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.

St. Peter's Basilica

(Pass by)

When available, access to St. Peter's Basilica via a special exit from the Sistine Chapel will be included in your tour. This access will allow you to skip the long lines normally required for entry to the Basilica. No tour inside the Basilica will be provided, just access. Please note this is provided in an as available basis and access is not guaranteed. Note: The remaining time is spent between the attractions.

More about this experience

Introduction:

Experience the Vatican like never before with the Exclusive First Access Vatican Tour with Skip the Line Basilica. This unique tour allows you to bypass the long lines and enter the Vatican Museums with the first access of the day. With a select small group of no more than 10 people and a knowledgeable Vatican tour guide, you'll have the opportunity to explore the timeless pieces that line the halls of this iconic destination.

What to expect?

During this tour, you can expect to discover the legends, histories, stories, and hidden meanings behind the Vatican Museums' most priceless artworks. Your English-speaking Vatican guide will lead you through the must-see masterpieces, providing insights and context that will enhance your understanding and appreciation of the art. One of the highlights of this tour is the chance to witness Michelangelo's greatest work: the Sistine Chapel. Your guide will prepare you for this awe-inspiring experience, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the beauty and grandeur of the famous frescoes. Additionally, when available (excluding Wednesdays), you will have the opportunity to skip the line and enter St. Peter's Basilica at the end of your tour. Please note that no guided tour is provided inside the Basilica, but you are free to explore this magnificent religious landmark at your own pace.

Who is this for?

The Exclusive First Access Vatican Tour with Skip the Line Basilica is perfect for anyone who wants to avoid the crowds and have a more intimate and immersive experience at the Vatican Museums. Whether you are an art enthusiast, a history buff, or simply curious about the world-renowned artworks housed within these walls, this tour is for you. It is suitable for all ages and can be enjoyed by solo travelers, couples, families, and groups.

Why book this?

By choosing the Exclusive First Access Vatican Tour with Skip the Line Basilica, you are ensuring a truly unforgettable visit to the Vatican Museums. With early access and a small group size, you can avoid the usual crowds and have a more personalized experience. Your knowledgeable guide will bring the artworks to life with fascinating stories and explanations, making your visit not just informative but also entertaining. And with the opportunity to see the Sistine Chapel and potentially enter St. Peter's Basilica without waiting in long lines, you'll save valuable time and make the most of your Vatican experience.

Good to know

It is important to note that this tour includes skip-the-line access to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, but does not include a guided tour inside St. Peter's Basilica. However, you are free to explore the Basilica at your leisure after the tour. The tour also provides headsets for easy listening to your guide's commentary. Gratuities, hotel pick-up, and drop-off are not included in the tour package.

Reviews

Travelers who have experienced the Exclusive First Access Vatican Tour with Skip the Line Basilica have raved about the in-depth knowledge and passion of their guides. They appreciated the smaller group size, which allowed for a more personalized experience and easier navigation through the museums. Many praised the opportunity to see the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica without the usual crowds, making their visit even more enjoyable. Overall, reviewers were highly satisfied with the tour and considered it a highlight of their Vatican visit.

Reviews

(80)

4.8 (80)

615adriane

Very good for Adults would not recommend for children under 16 I feel it was a little too long in length and required more time in the chapel due to crowds

179miguelinag

Very knowledgeable guide,and explain to us every details.it is one of my friends Birthday and is her first times in Rome.

Jennifer_H

Our guide Sara was very knowledgeable and considerate of everyone in our tour group. My mother had a knee injury and difficulty getting around and she was very conscious of the portions of the tour dominated by stairs. I observed her being very kind also to a family touring with their infant. There are A LOT of stairs on this tour. Lifts not available for 90% of the tour. If you have difficulty getting around, please consider.

NealB276

Rosalba was a great tour guide and the tour was informative and just about the right length of time.

Wanderer624613

My husband and I visited the Vatican in December with our EcoArt tour guide Ella. Ella was an absolute delight and a wealth of knowledge! Ella made sure to take the time to explain the history behind each piece, it was great to learn more about the artists and their work to understand why they’re so renowned. Due to some last minute cancellations we were the only two participants with Ella, which made for a more personalised experience and more focus on what we found interesting - as well as plenty of time for photos! Cheers, Natasha & James from Australia

523destinyk

Ilaria was a amazing tour guide! She was super informative and showed us so much more than other tour guides around. She was also very considerate of my mom who had some knee issues. I would highly recommend this tour/ guide.

Resort15559744189

Our guide Martina was a great tour guide, meticulous and hilarious 😆 Definitely a worth-going tour. Highly recommended!

Safari61915357390

Edy our tour guide was awesome and very knowledgeable about the Vatican. It was fun. Thank you Edy for a fun tour.

joshjinla

Monica was our tour guide through the vatican. She was exceptionally proficient and took us on an incredible journey through the history of the Vatican. We started our tour early nearby and were quickly through security at the museum. We stopped nearby to grab some croissants and coffee before the tour. I would recommend grabbing a bite and a coffee for some energy.

maryacagle

Loved having the skip the line ticket. Finding the tour was easy. Our guide, Eddie, was very knowledgeable, funny and very accommodating. The pace of the tour was great and when we had to do a couple of detours because of crowds he was able to tell us more than we thought about what we got to see. He took very good care of us when other groups were pushing through. Having been at the Vatican before COVID, I was saddened to see that the tour of the Sistine Chapel had become too commercialized and less reverent. Lots of talking and more people let into the room at a time that before. Tour guides, not ours, were talking loudly. Our guide told us information before we went into the chapel. I also liked having access to the gift shops outide of the Vatican museum.. I was dissappointed that we were not abl to go further into the nave.
Collected by Evendo, Tripadvisor & Viator
2024-03-29 13:23