Private Vatican Highlights Guided Tour with Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica
by LivTours
Choose from 1 available option
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.€500Overview
The tour begins with entry into the Vatican Museums where a private guide leads the group through key galleries and courtyards. Over about two hours, the guide presents Greek and Roman sculptures including Laocoon and Apollo Belvedere, and explains the history behind artworks and the Popes. Visitors walk through the Octagonal Courtyard, the Gallery of Maps, Raphael Rooms (subject to availability), and the Gallery of Tapestries, while also seeing Renaissance and Greek Mythology statues. Next, the group proceeds to the Sistine Chapel via a small door. The guide gives detailed commentary before entering, as talking inside the chapel is prohibited. Visitors view the frescoes by Michelangelo, including the Last Judgment, which may be partially obscured by scaffolding from mid-January to the end of March due to restoration work. The last part of the tour is a visit to St. Peter's Basilica. Using a VIP entrance, guests bypass the regular lines to enter the basilica and spend about 45 minutes inside admiring key features such as Michelangelo's Pietà and the church's architecture. The basilica is an active church and may close unexpectedly for ceremonies or during Wednesday morning Papal audiences, in which case the museum visit will be extended. The entire tour lasts approximately three hours and fifteen minutes and includes skip-the-line access and a private expert guide.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Vatican Museums
The private guide leads the group through the Vatican Museums for about two hours. The group sees famous paintings and sculptures from Western civilization while hearing stories about the Popes and artists. Visitors pass through Renaissance and Octagonal courtyards, enjoy views of the terrace over the gardens, and visit the Gallery of Maps and Raphael Rooms when accessible. The tour includes statues of Greek mythology figures such as Aphrodite and also shows the pope's toilet.
120 min
Sistine Chapel
For about 15 minutes, the guide explains Michelangelo's work before entering the Sistine Chapel through a small door. Talking inside the chapel is forbidden, so the guide provides commentary beforehand. From January 12 to March 31, scaffolding covers the entire Last Judgment wall due to restoration, making that fresco temporarily not visible. The chapel remains open during this period.
15 min
St. Peter's Basilica
The tour finishes with approximately 45 minutes inside St. Peter's Basilica, accessed through a VIP entrance to skip the line. Visitors see the basilica's large interior and notable artworks, including Michelangelo’s Pietà. The basilica is an active church and may close unexpectedly for liturgical events or Wednesday morning Papal audiences.
45 min
Meeting point
In front of Caffé Vaticano, on viale Vaticano 100, just across the street from the Museum entrance. Your guide will be holding a LivTours sign. Remember to bring your ID to access the Museums
End point
In front of Caffé Vaticano, on viale Vaticano 100, just across the street from the Museum entrance. Your guide will be holding a LivTours sign. Remember to bring your ID to access the Museums
Languages
Cancellation policy
- All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Additional info
Private Vatican Highlights Guided Tour with Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica
by LivTours
Choose from 1 available option
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.€500Overview
The tour begins with entry into the Vatican Museums where a private guide leads the group through key galleries and courtyards. Over about two hours, the guide presents Greek and Roman sculptures including Laocoon and Apollo Belvedere, and explains the history behind artworks and the Popes. Visitors walk through the Octagonal Courtyard, the Gallery of Maps, Raphael Rooms (subject to availability), and the Gallery of Tapestries, while also seeing Renaissance and Greek Mythology statues. Next, the group proceeds to the Sistine Chapel via a small door. The guide gives detailed commentary before entering, as talking inside the chapel is prohibited. Visitors view the frescoes by Michelangelo, including the Last Judgment, which may be partially obscured by scaffolding from mid-January to the end of March due to restoration work. The last part of the tour is a visit to St. Peter's Basilica. Using a VIP entrance, guests bypass the regular lines to enter the basilica and spend about 45 minutes inside admiring key features such as Michelangelo's Pietà and the church's architecture. The basilica is an active church and may close unexpectedly for ceremonies or during Wednesday morning Papal audiences, in which case the museum visit will be extended. The entire tour lasts approximately three hours and fifteen minutes and includes skip-the-line access and a private expert guide.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Vatican Museums
The private guide leads the group through the Vatican Museums for about two hours. The group sees famous paintings and sculptures from Western civilization while hearing stories about the Popes and artists. Visitors pass through Renaissance and Octagonal courtyards, enjoy views of the terrace over the gardens, and visit the Gallery of Maps and Raphael Rooms when accessible. The tour includes statues of Greek mythology figures such as Aphrodite and also shows the pope's toilet.
120 min
Sistine Chapel
For about 15 minutes, the guide explains Michelangelo's work before entering the Sistine Chapel through a small door. Talking inside the chapel is forbidden, so the guide provides commentary beforehand. From January 12 to March 31, scaffolding covers the entire Last Judgment wall due to restoration, making that fresco temporarily not visible. The chapel remains open during this period.
15 min
St. Peter's Basilica
The tour finishes with approximately 45 minutes inside St. Peter's Basilica, accessed through a VIP entrance to skip the line. Visitors see the basilica's large interior and notable artworks, including Michelangelo’s Pietà. The basilica is an active church and may close unexpectedly for liturgical events or Wednesday morning Papal audiences.
45 min
Meeting point
In front of Caffé Vaticano, on viale Vaticano 100, just across the street from the Museum entrance. Your guide will be holding a LivTours sign. Remember to bring your ID to access the Museums
End point
In front of Caffé Vaticano, on viale Vaticano 100, just across the street from the Museum entrance. Your guide will be holding a LivTours sign. Remember to bring your ID to access the Museums
Languages
Cancellation policy
- All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.