Skip-the-Line Private Tour of Vatican Museums + Sistine Chapel with a PhD Guide
5
Skip-the-Line Private Tour of Vatican Museums + Sistine Chapel with a PhD Guide
By Joy of Rome Tours
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About
If you’re serious about the history of art and architecture, you want a tour that goes beyond the surface of the Vatican Museums, one of the world’s greatest art collections. Benefit from the insights, wisdom, and experience of an academic expert with a doctorate in archaeology or art history—and gain skip-the-line access, too.
Ages 0-99, max of 10 per group
Duration: 3h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English, Italian
More
Highlights
- Enjoy skip-the-line access to the Vatican Museums
- See masterpieces by Michelangelo, Botticelli, Raphael, and more
- Learn about art and architecture from an art historian or archaeologist
- Visit the famous Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica
- Professional art historian guide
- Guaranteed to skip the long lines
- Headsets cost (if needed)
- Entry/Admission - St. Peter's Basilica
- Guaranteed to skip the lines
What's not included- Entrance tickets NOT included: 35€ per adult, 25€ per kid. Tickets have to be prepaid to JoyRome.
- the cost of tickets must always be paid by clients, regardless of any possible clients delay or no show.
- Entry/Admission - Sistine Chapel
- Entry/Admission - Vatican Museums
- Greet your guide and group outside the Vatican Museums and hand over your entrance fees: the tour cost only covers guiding. Clear security and don your headset. View the ancient Roman collection, with its masterly sculptures, the Gallery of the Tapestries, which includes work designed by Raphael’s studio, and the Gallery of Geographical Maps. Enter the Sistine Chapel to admire the world-famous frescoes painted by the master Michelangelo—and learn about the frescoes Botticelli and other Renaissance painters crafted before Michelangelo started work. If St. Peter’s Basilica is open, enjoy time in the Basilica along the way. Your tour ends either there or on Viale Vaticano.
- Start:
- Caffè Vaticano, viale, Viale Vaticano, 100, 00192 Roma RM, ItalyDeparture Point: The meeting point with your guide is on Via Vaticano n.100, in front of the Caffè Vaticano (opposite the Vatican Museums entrance gate). You MUST be there at least 15 minutes before the tour departure time. If you miss the tour due to your late arrival, we will not be able to refund your money or reschedule you for another tour. Address: Viale Vaticano n.100, Rome Directions: You can easily get there by taxi (please be sure the driver will drop you at the right spot, in front of the entrance of the Vatican Museums, and not nearby St.Peter's square, that is at least 15 minutes walking from the right meeting point). You can also reach the meeting point by Metro (use the Red-Line to reach the stop "Ottaviano" and walk 5-10 minutes to the meeting point)
End:- Saint Peter's Square, Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Città del Vaticano, Vatican City
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 21986P12- A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
- 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
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers
- All sales are final and incur 100% cancellation penalties.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 21986P12
Similar experiences
Itinerary
- viale, Viale Vaticano, 100, 00192 Roma RM, ItalyDeparture Point: The meeting point with your guide is on Via Vaticano n.100, in front of the Caffè Vaticano (opposite the Vatican Museums entrance gate). You MUST be there at least 15 minutes before the tour departure time. If you miss the tour due to your late arrival, we will not be able to refund your money or reschedule you for another tour. Address: Viale Vaticano n.100, Rome Directions: You can easily get there by taxi (please be sure the driver will drop you at the right spot, in front of the entrance of the Vatican Museums, and not nearby St.Peter's square, that is at least 15 minutes walking from the right meeting point). You can also reach the meeting point by Metro (use the Red-Line to reach the stop "Ottaviano" and walk 5-10 minutes to the meeting point)
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- Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Città del Vaticano, Vatican City
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- 977melissah0 contributionsHighly recommend this tour for ColosseumFabulous way to really appreciate the Colosseum! Francisca did an excellent job of bringing the past alive! The 2 hour tour flew by. We learned so muchWritten October 26, 2024
- 53SThomas0 contributionsFrancesca is the best.Francesca was our guide and she was wonderful. My wife, son, and I spent 3 hours going through the coloseum and through the Palentine gardens, which is like a park. She was very informative and made history come alive. We were not rushed and we felt like we were walking with a friend and not part an actual tour.Written September 2, 2024
- Carissa E0 contributionsGreat tour guide.Dario was a fantastic tour guide with a wide knowledge, flexibility and a great sense of humor. We had a wonderful four hour tour with him and learned a lot about the history and culture. We will definitely be back to discover more of the city with him in 2025Written August 30, 2024
- Y8304WNkarend0 contributionsFabulous!Dario was a fabulous tour guide! So knowledgeable and clearly has a passion for history, but he was also very personable and we felt comfortable and at ease with him right away. For the three months leading up to our trip, he was in regular communication with me, sending me tips and recommendations that would help us during our trip. On the tour, he went out of his way to send me places to visit at our next stop on the Almafi coast. He also took his time with us, even going over our agreed upon time a slot, which we really appreciated. We felt like friends visiting his city, rather than customers. Book with Dario and you’re sure to have a great experience. Ciao!Written June 12, 2024
- Sightseer597048899180 contributionsGreat experience exploring Ancient RomeOur group of 4 (Mom, Mother-in-law and two teenage girls) did the walking tour of Ancient Rome which included the Pantheon, Forum and Colosseum. Our guide, Dario, was fantastic - very insightful and helpful in bringing these ancient places to life. He was knowledgeable about the sites, with pictures and descriptions to show how they looked two thousand years ago. He was also able to answer all of our extra questions about culture of those times and curiousities about present day Rome. In addition to his professionalism, he was incredibly patient and accommodating of our group and our need to rest with my elderly MiL’s injured back. It made the tour enjoyable for everyone. My family highly recommends investing in tours with local and knowledgeable guides and we think Joy of Rome has the best!Written June 10, 2024
- Janisdl0 contributionsFamily visit if RomeTaking guided tours with Joy of Rome during 2 full days was an excellent decision. We enjoyed and learned so much more than going our own way. Francesca and Dario were so knowledgeable, interesting and friendly that we enjoyed every minute of our tours. Thank you so much for an exceptional service!!Written June 4, 2024
- F7384CVtaylorc0 contributionsFantastic experience with kids in the ColosseumWe had a phenomenal experience with Maria, our Colosseum guide from Joy of Rome. She was friendly and engaging from the first moments, taking special interest in our son (10 years) and daughter (8 years). She whisked us right to the front of the line and helped us negotiate the ticket-taking and ID check process. Once inside, she knew the Colosseum comprehensively, stopping to point out interesting facts and details. She was constantly asking questions of the kids and getting them to use their imaginations, explaining Roman history in a way that was appropriate for them. An impromptu bathroom break was no problem, and we resumed our tour. Maria had a bag full of activities to match the several exhibits she showed us, which the kids enjoyed completing. Maria also knew some of the best spots for views and photos, allowing us breaks to take snapshots. Keeping the kids' attention for 2+ hours is not easy, yet Maria was able to do it through her thoughtful questions and friendly nature. Easily the best tour guide we've ever had, anywhere. Her help with the logistics (tickets/lines) alone would have made the cost worth it; we got so much more out of the experience, for which we are very grateful. Also worth noting that Alexandra from Joy of Rome, with whom we corresponded before and after the visit, was extremely helpful and provided all the details we needed before our arrival. Can't say enough good things about Joy of Rome generally, and Maria specifically. We've enthusiastically recommended Joy of Rome to all our friends with kids who are considering taking kids to Rome. Our 2 hours with Maria were the highlight of our vacation!Written April 7, 2024
- beverlyunited0 contributionsColiseum tour with DarioDario was fantastic. He was thorough, personable and professional. I would recommend this company and use them again!!!!Written April 1, 2024
- JenK1050 contributionsA brilliant museumSo enjoyed our few hours in the Capitoline Museum, we purchased our tickets at the door only queued for a few minutes. Definitely worth a visit, a huge amount to see and very spacious. There is an incredible vista from the lower level, we spent 10mins complete alone taking beautiful photos of the city. PerfectWritten March 4, 2024
- Z5655NWandrewd0 contributionsYou must visit this museum!I couldn't find a page for the official museums so i'll review here even if I don't know Joy of Rome Tours (i'm sure you are wonderful). For me, this museum was the best place I visited in Rome. Incredible artefacts from ancient Rome can be found inside and it's not so busy either.Written February 28, 2024
- Kelly G0 contributionsPersonal tours are the way to go!My friends and I had an excellent tour of the Franciscan Crypts and the Catacombs with Marco. We highly recommend Joy of Rome and guides, Francesca, Marco and Grace. I met Francesca in 2015 and enjoyed the tours so much, I booked them again for my recent trip in October. Grace was our guide for the Colosseum and the Forum. The guides are so knowledgeable and have a great sense of humor. These tours were the best part of our trip….and that is saying something! Everything is amazing in Italy!! Thank you, Joy of Rome!!Written January 13, 2024
- Ami D0 contributionsSecond Amazing Experience with FracescaThis is the second time Francesca has been our guide at The Vatican. The first time was in 2017 for just my husband and me. This time we brought our niece and her roommate and Francesca did not disappoint. She is phenomenal! Her love of the Vatican, the art, and Rome shines through. She is able to bring everything to life and make it real with her stories and knowledge. We sought out Joy of Rome and Francesca this time because our first experience was so amazing. Since she was our guide in 2017, we have done a great deal of traveling all over the world and we compare every tour guide to Francesca. It is actually a conversion we have after every tour. "Was this one as good as Francesca?" No one has come close. Thank you, Francesca! This is a picture of my husband and me with Francesca in 2017 and again this year. She hasn't aged a bit!Written December 19, 2023
- 272juliusb0 contributionsExcellent museum and guide!Amazing tour! Excellent guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. Her passion for the museum made it even more interesting and exciting. We will remember her and the museum fondly. If you like to hear the history of art and artifacts as you view them, this is the tour and tour for you.Written October 22, 2023
- DallasTravelingmom0 contributionsMust see in RomeWhat a wonderful museum! The Borghese Gallery is unique for its history and we would have missed so much if we hadn't one with Ilaria from Joy of Rome. She clearly adores the Gallery and knows so much. She was the perfect guide and seeing the museum was such a treat. Timed entry is very important as they limit the number of visitors very strictly and you have to check all your purses (so I didn't take one). A must see!!Written October 4, 2023
- DallasTravelingmom0 contributionsWonderful tour off the beaten pathWonderful tour! Ilaria was our tour guide -- in fact she was our guide for 3 Joy of Rome tours -- and she was wonderful. Very knowledgeable. English was great. This tour was wonderful because it was off the beaten path without 1000s of tourists, but yet it was easy to get to and taught us something new. We highly recommend!!Written October 4, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Popular mentions
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32 reviews
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Doris R
7 contributions
Mar 2023
Nicole was our guide for this tour and she was excellent. So knowledgeable. She gave us a view and understanding of the Sistine Chapel that made the tour so much more enjoyable. And we learned something. She speaks excellent English and is very personable. It was a wonderful tour and I highly recommend Joy of Rome.
Written March 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brian B
5 contributions
Jul 2023
This tour was one of the highlights of our stay in Rome. Our guide Grace designed the tour for our 9-year old daughter, and she loved the experience! At the same time, our guide answered questions that I had about the art that helped enrich the experience for me too. If I went back to Rome I would certainly book another tour with this company.
Written July 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Simoniinha
Lyon, France51 contributions
Jun 2021 • Family
I am very happy we booked this tour. Francesca was lovely and she kept my 6 year old entertained and taught him a lot during our time in the Vatican. It's definitely not an easy task to make little children that engaged in a museum and she accomplished it in a very natural way. We have all learnt a lot and i would recommend it to anyone with kids.
Written July 3, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
B Maddox
Louisville, KY12 contributions
May 2019
My husband and I had a wonderful experience with Joy of Rome tours. They provided 3 of our tours while in Europe and they were the best tours of our 3 week journey. I cannot recommend this company enough! The private tours are definitely worth the price if you want a great experience. I would recommend them to any one and will use them again on our next trip!
Written March 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pete K
Laguna Hills, CA164 contributions
Sep 2019
We are currently traveling with our two young girls, 3 years and 16 months. We were concerned about trying to visit the Vatican with little ones in tow. Joy of Rome and our guide Alessandra eliminated all of those worries. We met Alex just outside the Vatican entrance and she quickly navigated our family through the ins and outs of the ticketing process. She made it so easy for us by then finding us an elevator access to make taking our stroller easier. While exploring the grounds and galleries, Alex worked to keep our 3 year old engaged. By the end of the tour, the two were holdings hands. Alex even helped us with carrying her when we were busy with the stroller on stairs. I really can't say how thankful we are to have had her with us. For others thinking about bringing a stroller, I would suggest trying to do without it. A small umbrella stroller would be fine, but we had a big double for the two kids. By the way, this was a private tour with just us and the guide. I would highly suggest going this route as its much more personal and individualized. Thanks Alex!!!
Written September 22, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kelley S
4 contributions
This was the highlight of Rome for us. Francesca is amazing! Her knowledge and passion came through the entire day! I loved this experience and would highly recommend a day with Francesca!
Written October 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LoveTravel451918
3 contributions
We took 3 tours with Rome of Joy.
Arianna showed us the Colosseum. We fell in love with her from the first word. Great knowledge, communication skills, personal attention to each and every question that any of us had.
We took a walking tour of Rome with Nicole. We were afraid that “Arianna “ ( she was our first guide) was not going to happen again, but as soon as we met Nicole we realized that every guide of Rome of Joy is great and unique in their own way. She showed us the main attractions of the city and was brave enough to engage our teenage boys into the history of Rome.
The third tour we took was the tour of Vatican with Grace. She captured our attention from the moment we met until our second goodbye, when she came back to tell us where to see the Swiss Guard. Despite the unexpected closing of the Sistine Chapel for more than an hour she stayed with us till the very end finding the ways to entertain us on her own time.
We cannot thank Arianna, Nicole and Grace enough for the exceptional experience they shared with us.
Absolutely RECOMMEND!!!
Arianna showed us the Colosseum. We fell in love with her from the first word. Great knowledge, communication skills, personal attention to each and every question that any of us had.
We took a walking tour of Rome with Nicole. We were afraid that “Arianna “ ( she was our first guide) was not going to happen again, but as soon as we met Nicole we realized that every guide of Rome of Joy is great and unique in their own way. She showed us the main attractions of the city and was brave enough to engage our teenage boys into the history of Rome.
The third tour we took was the tour of Vatican with Grace. She captured our attention from the moment we met until our second goodbye, when she came back to tell us where to see the Swiss Guard. Despite the unexpected closing of the Sistine Chapel for more than an hour she stayed with us till the very end finding the ways to entertain us on her own time.
We cannot thank Arianna, Nicole and Grace enough for the exceptional experience they shared with us.
Absolutely RECOMMEND!!!
Written June 27, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dariusz P
4 contributions
Taking a eight year old to Vatican Museum is nice parental ambition and poor reality attachment but aren't we all want them to be bit better than us even if we have no idea how to do it. Well Joy of Rome has this wonderful way to do just that. Thanks to wonderful, well English speaking and amazingly well educated guide name Francesca my son turn his attention away from electronic device for entire duration of the tour and actually get interested in history of our lovely western culture. Her way with children is definitely not over advertised specifically after next day's treat of VR on the ancient Rome. We so glad to spend this educational moment on our trip Francesca. Thank you very much. Darek, Kate and Michelangelo.
Written June 9, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What a beautiful words! Thanks so much. Having Michelangelo as my guest was a real honor, it was like having the original Michelangelo;) All the joy of Rome awaits you soon in Rome again. Ciao and we hope to see you soon!
Written June 16, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Evan
4 contributions
Sep 2022 • Couples
We loved this tour! Their guide was wonderful and the tour at night was magical! We got so much more out of the experience this way and thoroughly enjoyed our time with Francesca.
Written October 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
R Radil
7 contributions
Sep 2021
The intimacy of having a one-on-one guide, Emma, for both the Vatican and the Colosseum was second to none. I highly recommend this tour company and if at all possible ask for Emma. From the beginning they were easy to communicate with and felt secure in dealing with them even if I was half way around the World.
Written October 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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