Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & Papal Basilicas Full Day Tour | 7 hours 30 minutes

1060 Reviews | Rome
From $196.09 per person Lowest Price Guarantee
Select Date and Travelers
You can select up to 15 travelers in total.
Adult (15-99) Minimum: 1, Maximum: 15
2
Child (6-14) Minimum: 0, Maximum: 15
0
Infant (0-3) Minimum: 0, Maximum: 15
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Free Cancellation For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Full Day Tour
2 Adults x $195.14
$390.28
Approx Total
$390.28

Inclusions / Exclusions

  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English
  • Expert, English-speaking tour guides
  • All transfers in an air-conditioned coach
  • Audio headsets, so you can always hear your guide
  • Priority Access to the Vatican Museums
  • Guided tour of St Peter's Basilica & Papal Basilicas
  • Group of 25 people or less
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Transfer between tours
  • Lunch

Overview

Experience Rome’s Sacred Treasures in a Day! Begin with priority access to the Vatican Museums, guided by an expert who brings its world-famous art collection to life. Explore galleries of classical sculptures, Renaissance masterpieces, and intricate tapestries before reaching the breathtaking Sistine Chapel and Michelangelo’s iconic frescoes, including The Last Judgment. Next, visit St. Peter’s Basilica, the world’s largest church, where your guide reveals its architectural marvels, artistic treasures, and spiritual significance. After a mid-day break, discover Rome’s Papal Basilicas. Admire Saint Mary Major’s gold ceilings, Saint John Lateran, the Pope’s seat, and the Holy Stairs. Conclude at Saint Paul Outside the Walls, built over St. Paul’s tomb and rich in history. Finish at St. Peter’s Square, reflecting on the day’s highlights. This full-day tour combines Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and all four Papal Basilicas into one unforgettable experience.

Meeting points

The meeting point is at the bottom of the steps which are located right next to Caffè Vaticano on the corner of Viale Vaticano and Via Tunisi. The closest Metro stop is Line A (Ottaviano – Musei Vaticani). The meeting points are the same for the morning and afternoon tours.

End point

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Itinerary

  • Vatican Museums

    The Vatican Museums are a must-visit for art and history lovers, featuring one of the world’s most impressive collections spanning ancient Roman artifacts, Renaissance masterpieces, and beyond. Highlights include Michelangelo’s breathtaking Sistine Chapel ceiling and the stunning frescoes of Raphael’s Rooms. Wander through ornate galleries filled with sculptures, tapestries, and maps, and immerse yourself in the rich cultural heritage of the Vatican City. This unparalleled experience offers a journey through centuries of creativity and religious significance.

    2 hours

  • Sistine Chapel

    The Sistine Chapel is a masterpiece of art and spirituality, renowned for Michelangelo’s iconic ceiling frescoes, including The Creation of Adam, and his powerful Last Judgment on the altar wall. Located within Vatican City, the chapel serves as a sacred space for papal ceremonies and the election of new popes. Visitors are awestruck by the intricate details, vivid colors, and profound symbolism that make it one of the greatest achievements in Western art. A visit to the Sistine Chapel is a journey into the heart of Renaissance brilliance and religious devotion.

    20 minutes

  • St. Peter's Basilica

    St. Peter's Basilica is a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture and one of the holiest sites in Christianity. Designed by greats like Michelangelo and Bernini, its grandeur includes the iconic dome, Michelangelo’s Pietà, and Bernini’s stunning Baldachin. As the heart of the Catholic Church, it attracts pilgrims and visitors from around the world. Explore its sacred interiors filled with history, art, and devotion with your guide. A visit to St. Peter’s Basilica is an unforgettable experience of faith and architectural splendor.

    40 minutes

  • Abbazia di San Paolo Fuori Le Mura

    St. Paul Outside the Walls (Basilica di San Paolo Fuori le Mura) is one of Rome’s four major papal basilicas and a significant pilgrimage site. Built over the burial site of St. Paul, it features stunning early Christian mosaics, a magnificent cloister, and an awe-inspiring nave supported by towering columns. Its golden apse mosaic and portraits of every pope highlight its rich history and spiritual importance. Located just outside the ancient Aurelian Walls, this basilica is a serene and breathtaking testament to Rome’s religious and artistic heritage.

    35 minutes

  • Arcibasilica di San Giovanni in Laterano

    St. John Lateran (Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano) is the oldest and highest-ranking of Rome’s four major basilicas, serving as the cathedral of the Pope in his role as Bishop of Rome. Renowned for its stunning Baroque facade and grand interior, it features impressive sculptures of the Apostles, intricate mosaics, and the Holy Stairs, believed to have been climbed by Jesus during his trial. As the "Mother of all Churches," St. John Lateran is both a spiritual and historical landmark, offering visitors a profound connection to Rome’s religious and architectural legacy.

    45 minutes

  • Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore

    Your tour will end at St. Mary Major Basilica, one of the city’s most significant and beautiful churches. As a major papal basilica, it’s celebrated for its stunning mosaics that date back to the 5th century, depicting biblical scenes in vibrant detail. The basilica combines architectural styles from early Christianity to the Baroque, featuring treasures like the gold-encrusted ceiling and Bernini’s tomb. A symbol of devotion to the Virgin Mary, it’s a spiritual and artistic gem that offers visitors a glimpse into Rome’s rich religious and cultural heritage.

    30 minutes

Sample Menu

Additional Info

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • All four basilicas are subject to last-minute closures for religious ceremonies during the Papal Jubilee. Furthermore, access through the holy doors is not possible, as the site is expected to be busy
  • Entrance into the Vatican Museums and the basilicas requires a strict dress code. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women. The local supplier cannot be held responsible for refused entry due to improper dress
  • Extra measures may be implemented at some venues due to heightened global security. As a result, there may be delays in getting through mandatory security checks when entering these venues. Extra measures may also restrict the size of bags that can be brought inside. To avoid disruptions or possible denied entry, avoid bringing large purses, bags or backpacks on your tour. The Vatican only permits very small bags, and specifically prohibits large bags, tripods, umbrellas and backpacks. Any such items must be checked into the free luggage storage area, and this may result in you having to leave the tour early to retrieve them at the entrance
  • Guests must check in with the local supplier's representative both in the morning and in the afternoon.
  • It is the responsibility of all visitors to be at the meeting point 15 minutes before departure. Guests arriving after departure cannot be accommodated, and missed tours or tickets cannot be refunded
  • Non-flash photography is permitted throughout the tour, except in the Sistine Chapel where talking and photography are prohibited
  • The Vatican Museums are among the most highly trafficked sites in the world. With over 6 million visitors in 2014 and numbers rising year-on-year, the museums give rise to a whole new meaning of the word “crowded.” The route taken on this tour is designed to minimize exposure to crowds as much as possible, but be aware that the museums are very busy by nature
  • This tour involves a fair amount of walking and stairs, so comfortable shoes are recommended.

Free Cancellation

June 13100% refund
June 14No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews

4.6

1060 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
  • 5 stars
    753
  • 4 stars
    227
  • 3 stars
    54
  • 2 stars
    14
  • 1 star
    12

Reviews by TravelOne travelers

Showing 1-5 of 753 reviews with 5 stars

The Vatican

Published on Nov, 2019

Maria was our tour guide and she was super knowledgeable about the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica as well as the Sistine Chapel. We enjoyed our tour and would definitely recommend this to anyone planning a trip to Rome. Absolutely incredible.

Very Personal and Great Value!

Published on Aug, 2018

The 3-hour morning tour was great! We went during peak season and the crowds were huge, but our group was tiny (8 people) and our guide Giuseppe breezed us right through. He certainly hit all of the highlights. There's so much to see, I can imagine getting figuratively lost in the grandeur of any single Vatican Museum or even a single work of art for many hours, but he managed to keep us moving while showing us all of the most fascinating details and putting everything into historical context. After lunch we reported back to the starting point at the foot of the stairs next to the Cafe Vaticano and to our delight we found that we (my wife and I) were the only ones who booked the full day and we were introduced to our personal guide Laura and our very own driver! No crowded buses, no standing in lines, just one major, beautiful work of art after another and Laura's explanations of the evolution of the basilicas was more intimate and complete than I imagined such a tour could be. She was far beyond delightful. If you really want to learn about the places you're visiting and understand the historical context and the people who influenced them (Peter, Paul, Contstantine, etc.), I cannot recommend this highly enough. If you just want to walk in and out and take pictures, you can probably do that on your own without the expense. These guides are so knowledgeable, I think it would be a shame to hire them unless you are seriously interested in learning and immersing yourself in the experience. St. Peter's Basilica is included in the morning Vatican tour, but the three churches we toured in the afternoon were every bit as remarkable each in its own unique way. St. Paul Outside the Wall is exquisite as is the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran.

Great tour, great guides, excellent value

Published on Jul, 2018

This was an outstanding experience, The groups were small and the local guides very knowledgeable, with excellent English. There was plenty of free time between the morning and afternoon tour for lunch and some shopping. The operator, CityWonders, really had their act together.

Vatican

Published on Jul, 2018

Great tour. Our guide was terrific and provided the right amount of history and entertainment. Amazing to see this world treasure!

Excellent tour

Published on Jul, 2018

Vatican tour was amazing our tour guide Maria Theresa was excellent. In the afternoon tour it was just my family on the tour so we taken by a private car and toured to the 3 major basilica by Laura. She was excellent very knowledgeable

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