Ticket Hall

Vatican Museums Private Tour: Sistine Chapel and Necropolis Scavi

4.913 reviewsVatican Museums

  • 4h 30m
  • Guided in English
  • Private tour
  • Mobile ticket

Highlights

Your guide will escort you into the Vatican Museums while skipping the mass queues waiting outside.  Marvel in the spectacular museum galleries & bask in the breathtaking Sistine Chapel. After being within such breathtaking surroundings, you might think at this point you’ve seen all that is on offer, but with our Ultimate Express Vatican experience, we will also guide you through the Scavi (Underground) area of the Vatican. With many myths and secrets, your guide will open up a new mysterious world.

Inclusions

What's included

  • Access to the Scavi (Underground) as part of a small group led by a Vatican guide
  • Private walking tour (Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel)
  • Sistine Chapel
  • St. Peter's Basilica
  • Hotel pickup (centrally located hotels. Within Aurelian Walls)
  • Professional Licensed Tour Guide

What's not

  • Food and drinks
  • Hotel Drop Off

Itinerary

  1. With our Prime Tour, we get you inside the Museums at its first access. Watch the Vatican Museum Galleries slowly come to life.

    1.5 hAdmission included

  2. The Courtyard of the “Pigna”, created from the 16th century area of the “Belvedere”

    Passes by

  3. The Vatican Museums' Gallery of Tapestries showcases stunning 15th and 16th-century tapestries, intricately woven with scenes from biblical and historical narratives. Inspired by designs from Raphael’s school, this gallery highlights the artistic sophistication and storytelling of the Renaissance.

    10 minAdmission included

  4. The Gallery of Maps, inside the Vatican Museums, displays a stunning collection of topographical maps of Italy. Created in the 16th century under Pope Gregory XIII, these beautifully painted maps span 120 meters, offering a unique geographical snapshot of the Italy of the past.

    10 minAdmission included

  5. The Gallery of the Candelabra is a part of the Vatican Museums, showcasing a rich collection of Greek and Roman statues, sarcophagi, and reliefs. It is named for the grand marble candelabra that decorate it, dividing the gallery into thematic sections. Set up in the late 18th century, the gallery merges ancient art with stunning architectural details, providing visitors a journey through history and beauty.

    10 minAdmission included

  6. The Sistine Chapel takes its name from Pope Sixtus IV della Rovere (pontiff from 1471 to 1484) who had the old Cappella Magna restored between 1477 and 1480. It is known throughout the world both for being the place where the conclave and other official ceremonies of the Pope are held (in the past also some papal coronations), and for being decorated with one of the most famous and celebrated works of art of artistic civilization the frescoes by Michelangelo.

    15 minAdmission included

  7. Enjoy the breathtaking Saint Peter's Basilica, shrine of Christianity and Art. You will marvel at the Priceless Pietà, by Michelangelo, and stop by the venerable tomb of Saint John Paul II & Pope Karol Wojtyla. The Pietà (1498–1499) is a work of Renaissance sculpture by Michelangelo Buonarroti, housed in St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City.

    20 minAdmission included

  8. The Vatican Necropolis, beneath St. Peter's Basilica, is an ancient cemetery from the 1st century AD, believed to house St. Peter's tomb. It's a significant archaeological site, accessible only by guided tour.

    1.5 hAdmission included

  9. This monumental elliptical space, enclosed by 284 Doric columns four rows deep (196m wide and 148m long), is the masterpiece of Gian Lorenzo Bernini, who laid it out during the pontificates of Alexander VII and of Clement IX.

    15 min

Cancellation

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

Reviews

4.9

  • 512
  • 41
  • 30
  • 20
  • 10

Ratings come from 13 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

Pickup
Pickup is included for everyone.
Ticket type
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Operated by
CityEyes Private Tours
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • 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
  • A moderate amount of walking is involved - comfortable shoes are recommended
  • Minimum age is 15 years
  • During the Scavi visit, visitors may be affected by the altered environmental conditions of temperature and humidity. Those who have special physical problems, subject to increase under these conditions, including claustrophobia, are advised not to access the site
  • St. Peter's Basilica may close at the last minute for ceremonies or masses without warning
  • Please advise if anyone in your group has mobility issues
  • To ensure the safety and well-being of all our guests, every reservation that includes minors (under 18) must be accompanied by at least one adult. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept bookings made exclusively by unaccompanied minors.

How it compares in Rome

  • Its from-price is 310% above the median of the 8352 experiences we list in Rome.
  • It is longer than most of them.
  • By number of reviews it ranks 2091 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

Special offers in Rome

Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.

Similar experiences

Hop-on hop-off in Rome

1 / 6

Three steps to add it

Plan with AIYour trip, day by day