Skip the crowds and experience some of the greatest Renaissance art at the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel with an early morning tour with an expert guide.
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Enter the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica before 8am, skipping ticket lines and exploring in peace before the crowds arrive.
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Hunt down some of the Museum's most iconic artworks, including the Torso Belvedere and Lacoon and Sons.
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Experience the artistry of The Last Supper within the hallowed halls of the Sistine Chapel with your expert guide.
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Discover the grandeur of the St Peter's Basilica, or take in the panoramic views at the St Peter's Dome. Choose your ideal experience during checkout.
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Did you know that the dome of St Peter's Basilica is so large that it could hold the entire dome of the Pantheon inside it!
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Guided tour of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel with skip-the-line entry
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Guided tour of St Peter's Basilica (as per option selected)
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Entry to St Peter's Dome (as per option selected)
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Expert English-speaking guide
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Headsets
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- Gratuities
These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.
How do we collect reviews?
Guests from United States, Australia, United Kingdom and over 56 countries have loved this experience
Astrid
Jan, 2025
Patrizia out tourguide was wonderful , professional and always timely every step of the tour perfectly to make all guests feel well taken care of at any time.Ofer
Nov, 2024
The excprince was really graet. The tour guide was very intresting and full of knoledge. The onky dwonside was the crwod at thw vatican museum. It whould have been better to start there before all the people arrive.
Gertrud
Oct, 2024
Our guide Lia was really great. Full of enthusiasm, she took us as her "family" throughout the morning. Standing so early in St. Peter's Square is a wonderful experience. We really enjoyed the tour and all the wonderful stories.View original review in DutchMaria
Sep, 2024
I had an amazing experience with Guide Sabrina! She was not only knowledgeable, sharing interesting historical insights, but also incredibly kind and organized. When other people were blocking certain areas, she took the initiative to guide them politely, ensuring that everyone could enjoy the space. Sabrina also took us to some beautiful spots for pictures, making the experience even more memorable. Highly recommend her for anyone looking for a thoughtful and skilled guide! Love mama Sabrina!
Philipp
Sep, 2024
The tour was very strenuous, but if you want to see everything in a relatively short time, the early-bird-skip-the-line ticket is the best option. The price-performance ratio is good. We were on the road for a total of 5 hours. The waiting time for the security check is unfortunately unavoidable and took around 30 minutes at 7:30. By 8 a.m. the queue was already twice as long and by lunchtime it was three times as long. Take the elevator to the roof of St. Peter's Basilica and then walk to the dome (inside and outside). Not for couch potatoes. Then we walked through St. Peter's Basilica and the Crypta. After 3 hours that part was done. We then walked along the outside of the Vatican wall to the entrance of the Vatican Museums. Here, too, you have to wait several hours without a ticket. The tour of the museum is horrendous, to say the least. It feels like millions of people are pushing their way through the rooms with no chance of taking a photo in peace. The guide tells you everything as you pass by. The exhibits are no better than those in other museums. Looking back, I would have liked to have saved myself the trip if it hadn't been for the grand finale in the Sistine Chapel. Very exhausted, we were finally able to put a "check" under this impressive sight.View original review in German
Beat the crowds, early morning!
Early birds, this tour is your best bet to explore the Vatican with fewer people around! Get ahead of the crowds by entering the museum before the crowds start pouring with your fast-track entry. Start your experience at the Vatican Museums and move on to explore the famous Torso Belvedere and Lacoon and Sons with your expert guide.
Uncover masterpieces at the Vatican
See and admire the breathtaking artistry of Michelangelo's Last Judgement within the hallowed Sistine Chapel. Your expert guide will shed light on the history and process of the Biblical-painted ceilings by Michelangelo. Extend your exploration to St Peter's Basilica, or elevate your experience with a climb to the summit of St Peter's Dome for panoramic views of Rome. These optional add-ons can be selected during checkout, ensuring a fully customized Vatican adventure tailored to your interests.
What to bring
- Wear comfortable shoes as the experience requires a fair amount of walking.
What's not allowed
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Strict dress code: knees, shoulders, and back must be covered for all guests.
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Inside the Sistine Chapel, it's all about the quiet vibes. No chatting, no phones, and no photos, just pure admiration.
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Luggage and/or large bags are not allowed inside the venue. You may drop off your bags with the free cloakroom service.
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Pets and other small animals are not allowed in the venue.
Accessibility
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This experience is wheelchair and pram/stroller accessible.
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The Vatican Museums offer free wheelchair hire and free entry for visitors with mobility impairments (certified invalidity exceeding 74%) and a companion if required. Click here for the accessible route.
Additional information
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The entrance to the Museums is timed. Be sure to select your activity starting time when booking. Once inside the Museums, you will be free to explore at your own pace.
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Although not included in these tickets, access to St. Peter's Basilica is free but there could be a waiting line during peak season.
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Please be aware that during the Jubilee Year, certain areas of the Vatican Museums may be inaccessible due to religious ceremonies. Additionally, entrance to St. Peter's Basilica may also experience unannounced closures. These circumstances are beyond our control. Thank you for your understanding.
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Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.
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Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the meeting point.
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Please arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes before the scheduled time of your tour to avoid any delays.
Meeting point
- Please check your final voucher for the meeting point details and specific instructions.
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