3 hours
Skip the line
2 languages
Private tour

Highlights

It can be quite daunting visiting the Vatican with children. What will they enjoy seeing? How can we keep them from being bored? Look no further. This 3-hour tour has been specifically designed for families. It is a fun, learning experience for the whole family. You get to see the wonderful artwork in the Vatican Museums as well as the famous Sistine Chapel , Saint Peter's Basilica and Saint Peter’s Square.

Inclusions

What's included

Local guide
Professional art historian guide
Guaranteed to skip the long lines

What's not

Gratuities
Private transportation

Itinerary

Skip-the-line access means that there is no queuing, so after you meet you guide outside the entrance you can put your belongings into the Vatican cloakroom and go straight to explore the treasures of the Vatican. On this interactive tour, there are quizzes, scavenger hunts and lots of other games for the whole family to take part in; even some prizes to be won!The kids will love the colossal Greek and Roman statues and the sarcophagi of the Empresses Helena and Constantina, the mother and daughter of Constantine the Great. You explore some of the wonderful galleries and rooms, including the Gallery of the Candelabra and Gallery of Tapestries. The kids will love the Gallery of Maps – the largest collection of Renaissance Maps in the World. The Sobieski Hall has one of the largest canvases in the Vatican – How was it painted? Raphael’s Rooms are a riot of color. Why were they painted and for whom? The kids will love asking questions of the very knowledgeable guide and getting to know more about this magical place.
1 hAdmission included
Of course, no tour is complete without a visit to the Sistine Chapel, still used today for the conclave to elect a new Pope. Your guide will tell you all about the Bible stories, including the creation of Adam depicted in the wonderful frescoes that adorn the ceiling and walls. The kids will be amazed at how long it took Michelangelo to paint The Last Judgment.
1 hAdmission included
It is then time for a tour of St. Peter’s Basilica where you will explore the numerous side chapels with their hidden crypts. You will see Michelangelo’s Pietà and your guide will explain why this is the only work that he signed. You will gain an appreciation of the mastery that went into the creation of Bernini’s altarpiece and learn how Michelangelo triumphed over his contemporaries for the honour to paint St. Peter’s magnificent dome. There is still more to see though below ground level. You guide will lead you below ground to the papal crypt where, over the centuries, many of the Popes have been interred. This special place is a site of pilgrimage for many Catholics.
30 minAdmission included
The best way to learn is through play. At the end of this tour both you and you children will have learnt a lot about the Vatican and its treasures. Your guide can customize the tour for your particular gamily group – just ask! You will say goodbye to your guide in Saint Peter’s Square next to the taxi rank and bus station. Then it is back to your hotel to share your memories of these wonderful 3-hours spent in the Vatican.
30 minAdmission included

Cancellation

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

Reviews

4.6

Ratings come from 8 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Know before you go

Meeting point: at the stairs outside the Vatican museums, under the big white monumental door. Your guide will have a sign with your name.
Pickup: Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
Ticket type: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Operated by: Sistine Chapel Tours

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
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
READ CAREFULLY: Because of the growing popularity of the current pope Francis and his intense activity in organising mass events in the Vatican some areas might get closed last minute without previous notice. This has already happened this year and can happen again during you Vatican tour. In case of such events our tour guide will provide you with a valuable alternative focusing the tour inside the Vatican museums.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to the Jubilee the Basilica might not be accessible as part of the tour. Unfortunately, we know that very last minute. In any case, you can go there after the tour, queuing.

How it compares in Rome

Its from-price is 126% above the median of the 8352 experiences we list in Rome.
Its length is typical for the group.
By number of reviews it ranks 2479 of 8352.

About Rome

Rome layers nearly three thousand years of history into one walkable city, from the Colosseum and Forum to Baroque piazzas and Vatican art.

Ancient Rome is still in plain sight. The Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill sit together at the city's heart, the Pantheon still stands with its open oculus, and fragments of temples and aqueducts turn up between apartment blocks. Across the Tiber, Vatican City holds St Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums and Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling.

Top-ranked sights in Rome: Colosseum, Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel.

See all 8352 experiences in Rome