Rome Tours
Skip-the-Line Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's | Small Group
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Skip-the-Line Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's | Small Group

By What a Life Tours
Recommended by 98% of travelers
98% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
About
If you’re not sure what you’re looking for, you can easily spend a day getting lost in the Vatican in Rome—not ideal if you’ve got limited time in Italy. Ensure you only see the best of the Vatican, and save hours waiting in line, on a skip-the-line tour that also includes access to St. Peter’s Basilica. Explore in a small group with an English speaking guide.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 0-99, max of 12 per group
Duration: 3h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English, Spanish
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Audio guide: English, Spanish
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Highlights
  • Only see the best of the Vatican on an express tour
  • A great choice for first-time visitors with limited time
  • Sail past lines often in excess of two hours with a skip-the-line ticket
  • Explore in a small group limited to 12
Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best
2024

  • Skip-the-line entry to the Vatican Museums & St. Peter's Basilica
  • Entry to the Sistine Chapel
  • English-speaking licensed tour guide
  • Headsets to hear the guide clearly
  • Easy meet up point to our office (5 min walk from the Museums)
  • Small Group
  • Tickets included
  • Entry/Admission - Vatican Museums
  • Entry/Admission - Rome
  • Entry/Admission - Sistine Chapel
  • Entry/Admission - St. Peter's Basilica
  • Guaranteed to skip the lines
What's not included
  • Gratuites
  • St. Peter's Dome

Your tour begins in central Rome, where you greet your guide and—with skip-the-line ticket in hand—sail past the long lines that often form outside of the Vatican. Once inside, make a beeline for top Vatican attractions, such as the Gallery of Maps, Raphael's Rooms, and the indisputable main attraction: the Sistine Chapel, where Michelangelo’s frescoes adorn the ceiling. After discovering little-known information about the history of the landmark, continue to St. Peter’s Basilica to admire standout features, such as the gold-painted ceiling and altarpiece. Your tour concludes here, but you’re free to continue exploring independently, if you wish.

Start:
  • What a Life Tours, Via Santamaura, 14B, 00192 Roma RM, Italy
    The meeting point is at our office at Via Santamaura 14-b, you will be looking for What a Life Tours. The closest Metro stop is Ottaviano which is about a 6-minute walk away. Please allow extra time to reach the meeting point and notice that the meeting time is 15 minutes before the start time.
End:
  • St. Peter's Basilica, Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Città del Vaticano, Vatican City
    The tour ends inside St.Peter's Basilica.

  • Not 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: 7559P6

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Most travelers can participate
  • 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.
  • While the Vatican Museums are equipped with elevators for wheelchair/walkers access, they are not conveniently located on the group tour route and only give access to specific sections of the Museums. As a result, we cannot accommodate wheelchairs/walkers on this tour.
  • The ticket is valid only for the day and time reserved.
  • Please remember to bring with you a valid ID document for all participants (or even a picture of it) because the Vatican Museums tickets are nominal and your ID will be checked when you enter.
  • Unable to accomodate service animals.
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers

  • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

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: 7559P6

From
$100.03
per adult
Select date and travelers

Similar experiences

Itinerary
  • Via Santamaura, 14B, 00192 Roma RM, Italy
    The meeting point is at our office at Via Santamaura 14-b, you will be looking for What a Life Tours. The closest Metro stop is Ottaviano which is about a 6-minute walk away. Please allow extra time to reach the meeting point and notice that the meeting time is 15 minutes before the start time.
  • 1
    Pass by
    Vatican City
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
    Pass by
    St. Peter's Square
  • Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Città del Vaticano, Vatican City
    The tour ends inside St.Peter's Basilica.
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
  • What a Life Tours
    8,602
    Italy
    Joined in February 2011
  • Steven R
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent Experience
    Marina provided an exceptional tour of the Vatican, blending her deep knowledge with a delightful sense of humor. Her expertise was evident as she expertly navigated through the art, history, and architecture, offering insightful commentary on everything from Michelangelo’s masterpieces to the rich history of the papal seat. What set her apart was her ability to keep the tour engaging and fun, ensuring the group was both informed and entertained. She struck the perfect balance between depth and lightheartedness, making complex historical topics accessible and enjoyable. It was an unforgettable experience thanks to Marina's unique approach!
    Written October 3, 2024
  • robindK9421XM
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Perfect Vatican Experience
    One of the VERY best tours we’ve ever experienced! Yanira (our guide) was absolutely delightful! So knowledgeable, attentive to the group, efficient and passionate about the tour-excellent English and very sweet! She made the Vatican, St. Peter’s Basillica, and the Vatican Museum COME ALIVE for us!! Don’t miss this!
    Written October 3, 2024
  • Kevin R
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great tour
    Great guide - Gabriel Terrific level of knowledge Amazing views Will visit again One complaint. Crowds allowed in the museum were to large. Not enough time at artwork
    Written October 3, 2024
  • Nicole H
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    What a Life Tours with Gabriel as our guide
    The tour was amazing, Gabriel was very knowledgeable and friendly. He did a great job leading our group through the Vatican, St Peter’s Square and the basilica. He made sure our group was always together and answered all of our questions. 10/10 recommend!
    Written October 3, 2024
  • Richard F
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Vatican City at a great pace
    Gabriel was our guide and he was superb. Clearly a student of the history of the Vatican he was able to convey the beauty and majesty of the City. With so much to see in a few hours he kept us at a pace that made everything interesting. Thank you Gabriel for a great tour.
    Written October 3, 2024
  • 909christins
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great tour
    Enrica was wonderful! Her humor and delivery made the experience very educational and entertaining. Her passion for the art is infectious. We very much enjoyed the tour today. I would highly recommend going as early as possible to anyone thinking of touring the museums.
    Written October 2, 2024
  • Nicole D
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    AMAZING - very knowledgeable tour guide
    Gabriel was amazing, he was very knowledgeable and good at synthesizing information. He expertly navigated us through the busy Vatican museum and made for a very interesting and enjoyable experience.
    Written October 2, 2024
  • trinityj720
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Gabriel was an awesome tour guide
    The tour of the Vatican was amazing, the information and passion that Gabriel showed brought it to life. His explanations were concise and interesting. He kept a steady pace and never left anyone behind!!!
    Written October 2, 2024
  • Gillian_M112
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent tour!
    First of all, it was great to go early morning before the crowds became oppressive. Our guide Daniela was excellent- extremely knowledgeable as a doctor in art history. I was very impressed with her knowledge and clarity. My husband wears hearing aids and she accommodated him by getting him a headset vs an ear piece. A wonderful tour. We could have never attempted the Vatican on our own. Highly recommend WhatALife Tours
    Written October 1, 2024
  • leannem371
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Best tour ever!
    What A Life Tours is excellent! Our tour of the Vatican with Elaine exceeded all expectations. We truly skipped a line of 100s of folks hoping to get in. We entered easily, went through so very many areas of the Vatican learning so much from Elaine. She was extremely knowledgeable, entertaining and engaging. I feel lucky to have had her as a tour guide. Highly, highly recommend What A Life tours
    Written October 1, 2024
  • Voyage585757
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great Tour, Great Guide!
    This was our first visit to Rome. Elaine, our tour guide, was exceptional! She was knowledgeable, well prepared, got us through all the main areas with ease and even had bathroom breaks lined up. We learned a lot, laughed a lot, and are so happy to have skipped the lines. Highly recommend What a Life Tours with Elaine!!
    Written October 1, 2024
  • X29UCstevem
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Solid tour. Great guide.
    Our tour guide Elaine was great. She was organized, informative and had a great sense of humor. The tour itself was great too. This was our first time at the Vatican. It is a bit overwhelming, so much to see, everything is very ornate, the floors, walls and ceilings all have things on them. I think it would take a lifetime to see everything in the Vatican. The tour was solid and hit all the highlights. Our tour guide showed us a few hidden gems as well.
    Written October 1, 2024
  • jasonmX1507RQ
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A perfect day in Vatican City
    My family and I recently booked a Vatican tour, and I couldn’t be more thrilled with the experience! The tour itself was seamless, and booking was a breeze, but the true highlight of our day was our guide, Elaine. Her vast knowledge of the Vatican Museums, St. Peter’s Basilica, and the Sistine Chapel was impressive, and she navigated us through the crowds with ease. On top of that, Elaine kept us laughing throughout the tour, making the whole experience both educational and incredibly fun!
    Written October 1, 2024
  • J5368MXmadelinem
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Vatican City
    Tour guide Jeb was amazing and so knowledgeable! We were also able to skip the long line and get right in at 8am when the museum opens. Overall great experience.
    Written September 30, 2024
  • J5892XMlisas
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Early Morning Vatican Tour is Great!
    We THOROUGHLY enjoyed our early morning Vatican, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica with Marina and the What A Life Tours! She was very knowledgeable and had a great sense of humor. We would HIGHLY recommend this particular tour to avoid the heavy crowds.
    Written September 30, 2024
See all 8,602 reviews
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.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles3,256 reviews
Excellent
3,050
Very good
142
Average
47
Poor
8
Terrible
9

TaniaS
San Jose, CA1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019 • Family
The museum was packed. More than usual because of the New Years eve schedule with early closing, but our guide Matteo was prepared and very excited about sharing all his knowledge about Vatican City and Michelangelo and all the artist's work. Learned so much in short time! And skip the line and being in a small group of 12 was totally worth it !
Written January 8, 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.
Ciao from Rome and thank you so much for your awesome feedback! We are so happy that you enjoyed your tour with our wonderful guide Mario despite the business of the day. Mario is amazing at sharing information about the Vatican in a way that is both fun and captivating. Since he is an expert, he of course also knows the best ways to navigate the museums and show you all of the highlights even with minimal time. Our small group sizes and friendly staff are what sets us apart here at What a Life Tours so thank you so much for choosing us! We hope to see you again soon for another tour in one of our beautiful destinations across Italy! :)
Written January 16, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

pvendi
Toronto, Canada4 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2022
I took this tour September 6th, the tour was supposed to start at 9am so we can get ahead of the crowds in the morning, I was notified the day before that the tour was being delayed one hour to 10am, in my mind it defeated the purpose of booking an early morning tour to beat the crowds. The tour guide did a good job of explaining what we were looking at but missed many of the key items that I overheard other guides explaining to their groups. The museum tour of the Sistine chapel, maps, and tapestries was at capacity with spectators, we were shoulder to shoulder in the crowd, with way too many people to really enjoy what you are looking at. Tour rushed through many of the rooms, too quick to really appreciate what you are looking at. All in all, I would recommend coming in the off months and booking an earlier time or later afternoon time to avoid the crowds so you can really enjoy the beauty of the various museums.
Written September 9, 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.

Erick
Jacksonville, FL2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2022
We had a long holiday weekend in Rome and booked primarily to expedite the lines but the tour far surpassed our expectations and I would highly recommend anyone traveling here for the first time use an experienced guide. Elaine was brilliant and her knowledge and passion for the city's art and history was genuine and enthusiastic. In the three days we've been here we've fallen in love with Rome and Elaine helped us appreciate the richness of it's history and why it's a city I will want to revisit again and again.
Written February 20, 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.
Dear Erick, thank you very much for posting a 5-star review, I love the title!😉 Enjoy the rest of your holidays in the Eternal City! Kind regards, Maria
Written February 22, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Hannah Louise S
Wirral, UK1 contribution
3.0 of 5 bubbles
The places we visited on the tour were amazing to look at and we would definitely recommend visiting all three (vatican museum, Sistine Chapel and St. Peters Basilica), but we felt the tour was very rushed. Our tour guide (Laura) rushed ahead a lot and spoke very quickly, so it was hard to understand all the history behind everything, which was a bit disappointing.
Be prepared for ques and very big crowds, you don't get much chance to view things.
Written August 26, 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.

Amanda
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Family
We were absolutely thrilled with our tour with Carlotta. Her knowledge was exceptional and she shared the story of each part with passion and enthusiasm which was infectious.
My teenage children were completely engaged throughout and there was time to take photographs.
I thoroughly recommend this company but in particular the guide Carlotta.
Written January 7, 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.
Ciao from Rome! Wow, it sounds like you and your family really enjoyed your tour of the Vatican with our wonderful guide Carlotta. She is a great when it comes to explaining the vast history of the Vatican in a way that is both enriching and interesting for everyone, no matter their age! Thank you so much for choosing our small, family-owned business for your tour, we greatly appreciate it and this perfect 5-star review. We would love to have your family back again for another tour, whether that be exploring more of Rome's treasures or foods, or somewhere else in Italy like Florence and the rolling hills and villages of Tuscany, the ruined city of Pompeii, or even coastal town of Positano!
Written January 8, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

HL K
New Taipei, Taiwan18 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
I visited in the mid of Jan 2023 and I’d strongly recommend to join this private tour. I had not much history background before joining but no worries this tour will take you thru all the way from the ground up. You can get to know the history behind those gorgeous collections. With the explanations, we could see and understand the details of the highlighted arts and antiques. If I were joining by myself, I’d just go around (probably get lost) and feel super tired since there are so many collections without guidance. What’s more, Vatican museum had so many arts collections and with the tour lady we had chances to get into private spot to observe the Roman marble statue (normal people can’t access.) Our tour lady is also taking many questions from us with passion which is very helpful to us!

In short, this tour is worth of the price and would strongly recommend to people who first time visited the Vatican City:)
Written January 24, 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.

Roya M
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022 • Couples
Our visit to the Vatican museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica was a truly magical and unique experience. We are so happy we got a tour and even happier that Carlotta was our guide. From the beginning of the tour, she was a delight with a great sense of humor. She is also extremely knowledgeable and confident in the information she provides. Without her guidance, we would’ve been lost since there is so much to see. She guided us through the rooms and seamlessly related the pieces together and wove an engaging story. She also did a great job presenting the history of Michelangelo and the Sistine Chapel so that by the time we arrived at the Sistine Chapel, we had the background to appreciate Michelangelo’s huge accomplishment.
You can tell she is really passionate about what she teaches and we are thankful for her expertise. I really recommend that if you are visiting the Vatican, you book a tour to help guide you through all the rooms and explain the historical context of everything.
Written October 20, 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.

Stephanie L
New York City, NY1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
Elaine was a fantastic guide for this tour. She was enthusiastic, knowledgeable, fun, and very engaging. Having the small group was great and we were able to see many pieces of the Vatican Museums practically by ourselves (only 4 people in the Raphael rooms? Unheard of!)

Elaine was obviously very passionate about the pieces, and was knowledgeable even about particular statutes and things that weren't necessarily on her 'highlights' plan - when asked, she still always knew the answer and had an insightful bit of history to share. Would definitely recommend her to anyone.
Written January 20, 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.
Hi there, it sounds like you had an amazing time exploring the Vatican's treasures with Elaine! She is one of the best when it comes to showing people around the museums in a way that is both fun and informational. Our small group sizes are designed to give you that one on one interaction with your guide so that they are able to personalize each tour, just like Elaine did for you. We are so glad you had the museums practically to yourselves because you're right, that is pretty uncommon (but skipping the lines sure does help!) :) Thanks for giving us this perfect review, we hope to see you soon for another tour whether that be in Rome or one of our other gorgeous Italian destinations!
Written January 23, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Gerardo3420
4 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
I booked the small group tour so that my wife and I would have a more intimate tour with less people. It cost us $164.04 USD for the both of us. We were paired with our tour guide Elaine. She was wonderful. She definitely had a lot of knowledge to share with us. Where our tour went bad was right after finishing the Sistine Chapel. We walked a bit to the entrance of St. Peter's Basilica. There was a fountain where we could fill our water bottles to which Elaine indicated we could fill up. We waited in line to fill up and when my wife and I were finished, we looked around, and couldn't find our group. We looked around the area, and couldn't find them. We decided to search even further so one of us stayed back in the hopes that Elaine would come back and find us. Our search came up short. Our last effort was to message the company to let them know. I had two different ways to contact them, but we didn't receive a response until 40 minutes later. We waited at the water fountain for a total of 30 minutes before deciding to call it quits. We walked to the Company's office to let them know what happened. The gentleman there offered me a $20 refund. I was a bit disappointed because we had paid quite a bit for the tour. He then proceeds to tell me that Elaine had been looking for us even though we stayed at the place she lost us. The gentleman then gives me a $50 refund which is better than $20, but I intimately would've preferred to have had my tour. I don't understand how someone gets forgotten in a "Small Group Tour."
Written September 7, 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.

Trevor M
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021 • Couples
Truly truly I do not want to go to a museum without Eugenes insightful commentary and expertise. His eye and knowledge of history and the arts meant that he knew exactly where to draw the eye, and what the most fascinating pieces in the room were. He also had an iPad with some imagery to build the backstory behind some art pieces that I would have walked past without a thought. None of my husbands questions could stump him, and he also had a very charming wit about him that made the pacing of the tour feel relaxed but full. (No rushed feeling or no feeling like someone was reading an encyclopedia to us) I am so glad we chose to do this tour, a lot of tours will end at the Vatican basilica, but this ended in the museum so that we could admire the Sistine chapel as long as we liked, and revisit some of our favorite museum art pieces.
Written October 20, 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.
Dear Trevor, great feedback! Thank you so much, Eugene is indeed an amazing storyteller! He will be thrilled to read your review! Kind regards, Maria
Written October 22, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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Skip-the-Line Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's | Small Group provided by What a Life Tours

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