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St. Peter's Basilica (Basilica di San Pietro) Tours
1047 Tours & Activities

Private Sightseeing Tours
2969 Tours & Activities

Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises
5856 Tours & Activities
From $183.92
Price varies by group size
Free Cancellation
up to 24 hours in advance
2 hours 30 minutes (Approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English and 1 more
Keeping you safe during COVID-19
Overview
Discover the renowned art and architecture of the Vatican on this skip-the-line private tour of the Vatican Museums. As you explore rooms like the Gallery of Maps and the Sistine Chapel, learn about the Renaissance artwork of masters like Michelangelo with in-depth commentary from a knowledgeable private guide. You’ll also visit St Peter’s Basilica and hear insider details about the Vatican, plus skip past all the entrance lines, even the priority ones.
- Skip past the priority lines, with access through a reserved entranceway
- Step inside the Sistine Chapel to see Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam fresco
- Visit St Peter's Basilica, and then see Bernini's colonnades in the square
- Enjoy commentary tailored to your interests with a private guide
Why Travelers Choose This Tour
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After meeting your private guide, go straight inside the Vatican Museum with your skip-the line ticket, and let your guide know if there’s anything specific you want to see or any particular interests you have that you’d like to hear more about, such as the history of the Vatican or the sometimes-scandalous stories about its inhabitants over the years.
Follow your guide to some of the complex’s dozens of galleries and rooms, such as Raphael’s Rooms, the Gallery of Maps, the Gallery of Tapestries and the Pinecone Courtyard. Hear about the famed Renaissance masters like Raphael and Michelangelo who created art for the popes, and listen to stories about rivalries between artists. You’ll eventually reach the Sistine Chapel, known for its iconic frescoes by Michelangelo—The Last Judgment and The Creation of Adam, which decorates the chapel’s sacred ceiling. (Talking inside the chapel is prohibited, so any commentary from your guide will be given outside the doors.)
Next, walk over to St Peter’s Basilica, the Italian Renaissance church that’s home to more artistic masterpieces, most famously Michelangelo’s La Pietà sculpture and Bernini’s bronze baldachin altar canopy. Then head outside for a stroll around St Peter’s Square, where your guide points out Bernini’s use of optical illusion at the colonnades. Your tour ends here, where you can continue exploring on your own.
Follow your guide to some of the complex’s dozens of galleries and rooms, such as Raphael’s Rooms, the Gallery of Maps, the Gallery of Tapestries and the Pinecone Courtyard. Hear about the famed Renaissance masters like Raphael and Michelangelo who created art for the popes, and listen to stories about rivalries between artists. You’ll eventually reach the Sistine Chapel, known for its iconic frescoes by Michelangelo—The Last Judgment and The Creation of Adam, which decorates the chapel’s sacred ceiling. (Talking inside the chapel is prohibited, so any commentary from your guide will be given outside the doors.)
Next, walk over to St Peter’s Basilica, the Italian Renaissance church that’s home to more artistic masterpieces, most famously Michelangelo’s La Pietà sculpture and Bernini’s bronze baldachin altar canopy. Then head outside for a stroll around St Peter’s Square, where your guide points out Bernini’s use of optical illusion at the colonnades. Your tour ends here, where you can continue exploring on your own.
Itinerary
After meeting your private guide, go straight inside the Vatican Museum with your skip-the line ticket, and let your guide know if there’s anything specific you want to see or any particular interests you have that you’d like to hear more about, such as the history of the Vatican or the sometimes-scandalous stories about its inhabitants over the years.
Follow your guide to some of the complex’s dozens of galleries and rooms, such as Raphael’s Rooms, the Gallery of Maps, the Gallery of Tapestries and the Pinecone Courtyard. Hear about the famed Renaissance masters like Raphael and Michelangelo who created art for the popes, and listen to stories about rivalries between artists.
Duration: 2 hours
Admission Ticket Included
You’ll eventually reach the Sistine Chapel, known for its iconic frescoes by Michelangelo—The Last Judgment and The Creation of Adam, which decorates the chapel’s sacred ceiling. (Talking inside the chapel is prohibited, so any commentary from your guide will be given outside the doors.)
Duration: 15 minutes
Admission Ticket Included
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Traveler Tips
- "After seeing the lines to get into the Vatican Museums, a skip-the-line tour is well worth it." See review
- "If you enjoy art history this is the tour for you!" See review
Reviews
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Product code: 3731VATICAN_P
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