Skip the Line: Small Group Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Tour

Experience the Vatican like never before on this 2.5-hour tour, led by an expert guide who brings history to life with fascinating stories you won’t hear elsewhere. Join a small, exclusive group of 10 or fewer for an immersive journey through the Vatican Museums, skipping long lines with priority no-wait access, the fastest way in. Marvel at the Sistine Chapel, where Michelangelo’s frescoes—including The Creation of Adam and The Last Judgment—adorn the ceiling and walls in a breathtaking display of Renaissance art. Explore the Raphael’s Rooms, featuring the iconic School of Athens, a masterpiece of High Renaissance art and philosophy. Your tour also includes the Gallery of Maps, Tapestries, and Candelabra, showcasing treasures from the Vatican’s rich artistic legacy.

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.

This courtyard gets its name from the enormous bronze Pinecone sculpture that dominates it.

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.

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!

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.

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

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.

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

Visit to Vatican Museums - Vatican City

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Children 6 and under are entitled to free access to the Vatican Museums (with proof of age)
• Children aged 7-18 are entitled to a reduced entry fee (see tour and ticket pricing) and must provide proof of age.
• Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult
• A dress code is required to enter places of worship and selected museums. No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements.
• Check-in is 15 minutes prior to the booked start time. Tickets are time sensitive and we cannot accomodate late arrivals.
• Due to the Jubilee, some monuments may be under restoration. Please pay attention to any messages we may send regarding potential changes.
• Guests with a certified disability of over 75% are entitled to free entrance to the Vatican and do not require a ticket. For guests who are not self-sufficient, free entry is extended to a companion.

• First Access Sistine Chapel
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  Enjoy first access of the day and head straight to the Sistine Chapel.
  Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Small Group Tour
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  Tour in English with 10 or less participants.
• Small Group First Access Tour
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  Groups of 10 or fewer. First access of the day.

• Skip the Line access to the Vatican Museums
• Vatican Insider Guide

• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Transportation

Plan on arriving to our meeting point at least 15 minutes in advance of your selected departure time. All Vatican Tours meet our representative on the steps at Via Tunisi, located at the corner with Via Sebastiano Veniero. They will be holding a sign with the green EcoArt logo.

Please be advised..

• This Tour is Provided by EcoArt Travel.
• Tour Timezone & Starts at Europe/Rome.
• Mobile or paper ticket accepted.
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
• This Tour is Rated 4.7 Stars based on 574 valid reviews on VIATOR.
• Minimum 1 Travelers is required to book.
• Maximum 10 Travelers is accepted for booking.