5 hours
Skip the line
Guided in English
Mobile ticket

Highlights

Wether it’s your first time visiting the smallest country in the world or the 7th, there’s always so much more to see, and learn. Take our Private Extended Tour of the Vatican City and you will get the chance to see the impressive works of Michelangelo, Raphael, Caravaggio and many more, but you will also get access to the Papal Apartments of the Borgia Family and the infamous Pope Julius II. Soak in the beauty of the Sistine Chapel at your own pace and explore every nook and cranny in the awe inspiring St.Peter’s Basilica. Last but not least, we will go below the Basilica to visit the Tombs of Past Popes with a closer glimpse into the sacred Tomb and Crypt of St. Peter. Our Private 5 hour Vatican City Tour is a guaranteed immersive experience in the heart of Catholicism.

Inclusions

What's included

Live commentary on board
Local taxes
Professional Tour Guide

What's not

Entrance fees - Payable to the guide on the day of the tour
Gratuities (optional)
Headsets Fee (Compulsory after 5 people), Vatican Museums
Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica

Itinerary

The Vatican Museums are the largest collection in the world so it is important to leave ample time to explore them We first enter into the Picture Gallery which holds great works of Raffaele, Caravaggio, Bernini and many more. We then begin to go through the many galleries and courtyards visiting impressive statues such as the Belvedere Torso and Laocoon. We pass through the Gallery of the Maps, Tapestries, Candelabra, multiple Rooms of Raffaele. We will also visit the Old Papal Apartments and Borgia Apartments.
2.3 h
In the Sistine Chapel we will examine Michelangelo's frescoes with his alter wall; The Last Judgment. From top to bottom we will cover all areas in depth. We will also look at the ceiling which holds one of the most import works of art in the western world, the 'Creation of Man', also done by Michelagelo's masterful hand.
20 min
We will also cover St. Peter's Basilica in depth visiting the many alters throughout the church, Michelangelo's Pieta and Bernini's Baldacchino. Your guide will also bring you below the church to see many tombs of past Popes including a gimps of the tomb of St. Peter.
2 h
The tour will finish in St. Peter's Square where the guide will talk about the purpose of the square, the Ancient Egyptian obelisk in the center, as well as the many saints and martyrs who welcome us into the piazza.
20 min

Cancellation

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

Reviews

4.6

Ratings come from 11 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: The tour meets at the bottom of the stairs located on Via Tunisi. The stairs are directly across the street from the entrance of the Vatican Museums. The meeting point is at the bottom of the stairs where you will find you guide holding a sign with your name on it, and / or a Maximus Tours sign.
Pickup: Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
Ticket type: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group size: Up to 6 travellers
Operated by: Maximus Tours

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
St Peter's Basilica is a holy place of worship and does not follow the same rules as the Vatican Museums. The Basilica is subject to close with little to no notice due to religious events. In this case the tour will conclude in the Sistine Chapel.
All youth / students aged 18-25 years must present a valid photo student ID and document with date of birth. Students below the age of 18 will only be asked to show proof of age. If you do not arrive with the proper documents, the Vatican will not honour the reservation and a new full price ticket must be purchased.

How it compares in Rome

Its from-price is 285% above the median of the 8352 experiences we list in Rome.
It is longer than most of them.
By number of reviews it ranks 2248 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