Vatican Highlights Tour in Rome with ItaliaTours

Duration

2.5 Hrs.

About

The most budget-friendly of all our Vatican Tours, this 2.5-hour tour is short and sweet while not sacrificing any of the must-sees. Book your tour today and let our passionate art historian guide get you past the queues and through the labyrinthine Vatican museums and Sistine Chapel in two hours.

Highlights

• Quick access and a shorter tour leaves time for more sightseeing around Rome
• Get up close and personal with Michelangelo’s remarkable frescoes in the Sistine Chapel
• Top-rated guides make this tour a clear winner for best value
• Skip-the-line access to both the Vatican Museums AND St. Peter's Basilica

Itinerary

Meet your expert guide by the Vatican Museum entrance and enjoy skip-the-line entry to what is arguably the most important collection of art in the world. Your guide knows every nook and cranny of the museums and will navigate seamlessly through the more than 1,200 galleries. Emphasis will be placed on the Rooms of Raphael, the Ancient Roman and Greek pieces in the Belvedere Courtyard, and the Gallery of Maps, ensuring you stay on track with an eye on the ultimate prize: the Sistine Chapel.

As you stroll through the former papal residences, your guide will point out major works of art dating back to Ancient Greece and Rome and explain the role these ancient pieces played in inspiring the future artistic genius of Renaissance Italy.

Much of this tour will be dedicated to the majestic Sistine Chapel, from its commissioning to the finishing touches applied by none other than Michaelangelo Buonarroti. You will hear the true life story of this fascinating yet tormented artist, who considered himself a sculptor and not a painter yet dedicated countless years of his life painting frescoes on a ceiling 44 feet high. Learn of the physical and psychological damage inflicted on the artist as your guide helps you to discern between myth, fact, and popular Hollywood fiction regarding this epic work of art.

After ample time gazing up at the world’s most famous ceiling, choose whether to take advantage of priority access to St. Peter's Basilica or remain inside the museums to explore some of the remaining 1,400 galleries of art at your own pace.

Includes

• Skip all lines at the Vatican and get ahead of everyone else
• Rooms of Raphael and Sistine Chapel
• Full-immersion guided Vatican Museums experience with an expert Vatican tour guide
• Belvedere Courtyard, Greek and Roman Sculptures
• Priority access to St. Peter's Basilica

Excludes

• Hotel pick-up and drop-off
• Gratuities

Know before you book

• Max group size: 20
• Due to the route covered and/or transportation used, it is not possible to participate in this tour using a wheelchair, scooter, or other aid. Please contact us to inquire about customized tour options for guests with mobility challenges.
• Wednesday 9:00 AM departures will not include access to St. Peter's
• Direct access to the Basilica will be possible exclusively to those who book at least 72 hours in advance. Visitors without prior bookings will need to enter through the main square.

Know before you go

• Dress code: shoulders and knees must be covered
• Tour departs rain or shine
• Passports are not required for entry to the Vatican Museums
• Due to the special events and ceremonies associated with the Vatican's Jubilee Year 2025, access to St. Peter's Basilica might be restricted. These closures are decided by the Vatican and are outside our control.