Rome Tours
Early Vatican Museums Tour: The Best of the Sistine Chapel
4.5

Early Vatican Museums Tour: The Best of the Sistine Chapel

By Walks of Italy
Recommended by 92% of travellers
92% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 0-99, max of 15 per group
Duration: 3–4 hours
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More

Highlights
  • Avoid time spent waiting in Vatican lines with prebooked, early-access tickets
  • Admire the frescoes of the Sistine Chapel without the later daytime crowds
  • Catch all of your guide’s commentary with your complimentary headphones
  • Save time by using a privileged corridor to enter St. Peter’s Basilica

  • Skip the line ticket for Vatican Museums
  • Skip the line ticket for St. Peter's Basilica (AM Tour option only)
  • Expertly guided tour of the Vatican
  • Small groups of 15 people or fewer
  • Guests can stay and enjoy time at their leisure after the tour finishes
  • Entry/Admission - Vatican Museums
  • Entry/Admission - Stanze di Raffaello
  • Entry/Admission - Vatican City
  • Entry/Admission - St. Peter's Basilica
  • Guaranteed to skip the lines
What's not included
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off


Start:
  • Antico Caffè Candia, Via Candia, 153, 00192 Roma RM, Italy
    Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of your tour, your guide will be holding a green Walks sign. This tour meets at Antico Café Candia, Via Candia, 153, 00192 Roma RM.
End:
  • St. Peter's Basilica, Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Città del Vaticano, Vatican City
    St. Peter's Basilica

  • Not wheelchair 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: 15693P43

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Most travellers can participate
  • The tour is in English.
  • This is a walking tour. Guests should be able to walk at a moderate pace without difficulty.
  • Unfortunately due to the nature of this tour it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments or with wheelchairs, or strollers.
  • The special access passage between the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica is closed on Wednesdays and is subject to other unexpected closures during special celebrations/festivities, including the Easter ceremonies. On such days we will instead explore the magnificent Pinacoteca Gallery.
  • All guests (including children) must bring ID on the day of their tour.
  • Due to the religious nature of the Vatican, all individuals regardless of gender must cover their shoulders and knees. Walks cannot be held responsible for those denied entry.
  • Please note: starting December 2024, access to St. Peter's Basilica may be limited due to the Vatican's Jubilee Year 2025, which includes special events and ceremonies. These closures are determined by the Vatican and are beyond our control. Thank you for your understanding.
  • Walks and Devour comply with all local government regulations. Please refer to local government guidelines for the most up to date information.
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travellers

  • 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: 15693P43

From
£68.83
per adult
Select date and travellers
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Itinerary
  • Via Candia, 153, 00192 Roma RM, Italy
    Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of your tour, your guide will be holding a green Walks sign. This tour meets at Antico Café Candia, Via Candia, 153, 00192 Roma RM.
  • 1
    Pass by
    Sphere within a Sphere
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Città del Vaticano, Vatican City
    St. Peter's Basilica
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
  • Walks of Italy
    1,197
    Italy
    Joined in July 2010
  • Odyssey60765861326
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Thanks for guiding
    The tour was well planned with a very friendly guide with an extensive knowledge. The 3,5 hours were not to much. We enjoy every moment
    Written 29 October 2024
  • bethfO3173BS
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    AMAZING DAY!!
    our tour guide was amazing - she was so passionate and knowledgeable about the sites. we took fabulous photos and had a memorable experience. thank you for sharing with us and allowing us to learn so very much!! Long day - lot s of walking, but very worth it!!
    Written 29 October 2024
  • duffd869
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing!! Worth every minute.
    Our guide was very very knowledgeable and interesting and held my attention throughout the tour. She was captivating and very educated about art, the history of the catholic reign and state and the different popes throughout history. Unfortunately I’ve forgotten her name. She’s from Australia and is currently still in school and still learning about Art, history and architecture if I remember correctly. I don’t think I would be satisfied in the future with a different guide. She was that good.
    Written 26 October 2024
  • 709BethS
    0 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Tour guide was great, but tour was very rushed (and crowded!)
    First things first - don't believe any tour that says "without the crowds." There are ALWAYS crowds, this one was no exception. Second - use the bathroom before you get to the meeting spot/tour, as the cafe was not open. And the line for the bathroom inside the museum was very long, and the few people that "had to go" took about 20 minutes to get back to our group, keeping us all waiting to start the tour. We did get to skip the line for our tour, which was nice. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the museums. We spent a lot of time outside viewing posters of what we would see inside, with our guide explaining them. But it did help explain some of the history behind the art we were about to experience. We ended at the Sistine Chapel, where I had heard they pack you in - they do. But it was still an amazing sight to see. Overall, we felt very rushed through the museums. To be fair, it looked like all of the other tours (and there were so many tours!) were doing the same. It might be worth it to get there earlier and stand on line for tickets, so you can go at your own pace. But if you just want a very topline view of all the art and gaudiness, this is good for you.
    Written 24 October 2024
  • BackPacker658751
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A great tour and a great experience!
    The tour meet-up was easy to find. Our guide was very informative and knowledgeable. The pace of the tour was perfect for us. We had a thorough overview of the history of the site, major features were highlighted, and we had plenty of opportunities to ask questions. We highly recommend this tour!
    Written 24 October 2024
  • Jacqueline L
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Informative and fun tour
    Our guide, Sev, is a forensic archeology professor, so very knowledgeable. He is also a great storyteller and shared information in a fun, easy to understand manner. The dome climb was the highlight of the tour with incredible views from the top.
    Written 23 October 2024
  • rickaL8913GE
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great Vatican tour
    We did a Vatican tour with Walk Tours. Our guide was excellent and provided us with a lot of information for each area we were about to see. THis allowed us to appreviate the painting etc. as we saw them and to understand the background of each. Highly receommend. HIs enthusiasm was infectious.
    Written 22 October 2024
  • F6585XMkasiaw
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing Vatican museum tour!
    Very informative! Great understanding of art history! Saw all the highlights of the Vatican museum and didn’t have to wait in any lines!!
    Written 21 October 2024
  • sharcarlson
    0 contributions
    1.0 of 5 bubbles
    Disappointed
    The advertisement said small group of 20 people, before the Vatican opened, to avoid the crowds. Wrong 😔 there were thousands of people. We got in at 845 am. Having cancer I/we expected just the 20 folks of our group. But we were crowded like sardines. We were rushed thru only 15 minutes in the Sistine Chapel. Avoid the tour you will see more from watching the movie, The 2 Popes.
    Written 20 October 2024
  • suewK7624AK
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fabulous tour of the Vatican
    This was an amazing tour. Our guide, Sev, was extremely knowledgeable! He was fascinating to listen to and had a great sense of humor. He was one of the best tour guides I have ever had. Highly recommend this tour.
    Written 19 October 2024
  • Voyage300621
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    would recommend
    We were staying in the Trevi Fountain area. We would have hoped that the meeting point would have been in an location easy to find. For us the restaurant selected was in a street on the opposite side of the Vatican City from the bus stop and very difficult for us to find. However, we would give a big shout out to our guide Sev. He was everything that we could have wished from a guide, well done to him and thank you!
    Written 19 October 2024
  • peterbY6395BF
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sistine and St Peter’s Stunning
    This was an amazing tour, Marco C our guide was very knowledgeable and ensured we got a good understanding of the background to the important highlights of the tour. Amazing artwork, well worth it.
    Written 18 October 2024
  • luisbT1574PR
    0 contributions
    1.0 of 5 bubbles
    Disappointed
    Unfortunately, my experience was less than stellar. At the start of my tour I fell into a fountain and was dripping wet from top to bottom. I ended up having to go through the tour soaking wet. I felt pressured to go through the tour all wet and was never offered to come back on another day or another alternative arrangement to come back at a later time. Given that I spent hundreds of dollars ($682 to be exact) on this tour, I simply walked the next hour and a half dripping wet. My camera was drying along the way. Moreover, I couldn’t even hear the tour guide. I was surprised that we didn’t have headphones to allow us to experience our surroundings while taking in the history. I’ve provided feedback but never received any communication from the tour company.
    Written 12 October 2024
  • Pioneer99386
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent visit
    Excellent, knowledgeable guide Michael delivered the information so well and with a sense of humour when appropriate. Well worth the price.
    Written 12 October 2024
  • thejams
    0 contributions
    1.0 of 5 bubbles
    Overcrowded, Disappointed, Waste of time and money!
    Our tour was not worth the time or effort. We moved quickly through the Vatican Museums to have extra time in the Sistine Chapel. The chapel itself was a nightmare - way overcrowded and guards constantly screaming for visitors to be quiet, stop taking pictures and push closer together. It was impossible to appreciate the chapel and its remarkable artwork. We were VERY disappointed. The guide was fine and did what he could but the overall tour was a terrible experience. I would NOT recommend a tour of the Sistine Chapel. Much more to see at St Peter’s and the crowds handled much professionally.
    Written 12 October 2024
See all 1,197 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.

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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles456 reviews
Excellent
392
Very good
28
Average
17
Poor
7
Terrible
12

Kelvin
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022
I would recommend a tour as it allows you to bypass the long lines used by the general public,

Tour was early morning prior to official opening of the museum. We got in 1 hour before general public. Don't waste your time on breakfast at the Vatican tour .... you lose 30 minutes having breakfast in the court yard. There is a lot to cover and best taking full advantage your time prior to the general public opening.

The tour allowed us access to St Peter's through a path only available to tours. We skipped the line and entered directly into St Peter's.

The Vatican museum was amazing. Only wished that they were able to bring us back to the museum and let us explore on our own after the completion of the tour.
Written 24 October 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.

Robert C
3 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022
Our guide was good--knew a lot and had a nice energy to him.
Positives: The early start. You do NOT want to wait for the crowds to build up inside, so pay extra to make sure you're one of the first groups inside. Trust me, that museum packs people in like sardines.
The collection. There is a staggering amount of stuff to see!

Negatives: There's a tendency to pull people through to the Sistine Chapel. I mean, it's an amazing thing to see, but it feels a bit rushed. Make sure you plan to stay behind after and tour by yourself...
Written 17 May 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.

Laura S
5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
We opted for an early entrance tour to the Vatican Museums because even in mid-March, Rome was busy with tourists. Our meeting time was 7 AM at a nearby cafe and we had to spend some time waiting to enter the museum so probably had an hour+/- head start. Our guide, Burcu, was absolutely outstanding - very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. While we were waiting to go in, she handed out a copy of the Sistine Chapel so she could explain in more detail, as this is not permitted inside the chapel. However, we did see everything as noted on the itinerary, plus Van Gogh's Pieta which is off in a small room and easily overlooked. By the time we got to the Sistine, it was beginning to fill up with people so we were very glad we booked an early tour. Our very well informed guide then took us to St. Peter's Basilica. At my request afterward, Burcu also kindly took us to the tomb of Maria Clementina Sobieski, wife of Pretender to the English throne, James III Stuart. I highly recommend this Walks of Italy tour.
Written 5 April 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.

Curiosity56786812760
1 contribution
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022
We got to the museum but had to wait until it opened anyway and entered with a number of other tours and visitors doing the same thing meaning that the less busy period was not that, saying this it certainly could have been worse. There was a bit of waiting around to get in, await the guide to get the tickets and headsets but this was not excessive and perfectly reasonable.

Our guide, Maria showed key bits and had great knowledge and passion. I can not fault her at all and she did a great job. The museum is so large we didn't expect to see everything but it would have been nice to have a map so we could have gone back to any areas of interest to us in particular at the end of the guided tour. We stumbled across the Popes vehicles that you can find at the back of the exit gardens where there is an underground garage with them in but it was not signposted so keep your eyes peeled!

We went straight into the Sistine Chapel on our journey through and were given time to admire this. We were not taken to the Basilica though as the bookings says which meant that we had to come back and do this on another day which was this tours main downfall on the day we went.

I would recommend a guided tour of the Vatican if it is first trip to the museum given how big it is so you get the key bits however if we were going back in the future we would now go around ourselves with a map to see bits we missed on this trip.
Written 8 June 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.

Elspeth B
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
I have traveled extensively and been on tons of guided tours. I can say with confidence that this was the most memorable! Gigi was the best tour guide I have ever encountered (this is saying a lot!!!) and I learned so much. Plus having 15 minutes to hang in the Sistine Chapel with only a few other guests was a truly spectacular experience I won't soon forget. Thank you for this amazing and thoughtful tour. Gigi, thanks for putting so much hard work and energy into your work.
Written 8 February 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 Elspeth I, Thank you so much for joining us for an early morning tour of the Vatican! Low season is an excellent time to visit this fascinating city-state, and this tour really makes the most of the smaller crowds. We are so pleased that you were impressed by our tour and look forward to welcoming you back on your next trip away. The Walks Team
Written 11 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Carlos Federico
Hamden, NY4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Couples
I had to think about how this experience went. Our guide Julia (Giulia?) was extremely knowledgeable. Julia spoke perfect Italian (I overheard her talking about the pink coat she had bought and described it as a 'gioello'). It's obvious Julia has lived in Italy for a long time and knows the Vatican and its staff very well.
The tour was well prepared and very informative. As we moved from room to room I started to have a nagging feeling that I couldn't pinpoint. We were one of the first groups and we were able to enjoy the early hours in the Vatican in all its splendor.
By the time we were inside Saint Peter's, towards the end of the tour I knew why I was displeased: I wanted to know more. I wanted to know why the horsefly turned into the Barberini's bee, I wanted to know about the details of the Borgia's conspiracies, I wanted to locate the original Solomonic columns in St. Peter's etc. I felt that Julia knew these things. Unfortunately, we have an allotted amount of time and the groups you will be in are an eclectic assortment of people from everywhere with different interests. The tour guide has to make the experience interesting, informative and engaging to people who might not even know the difference between a fresco and a mosaic. Julia did that and more. Julia was engaging with the whole group without being pretentious. Julia gave us the morsels to ignite the curiosity to learn further.
I strongly recommend this tour for the learned ones as well as the neophytes. I would also recommend to "Walks if Italy" to consider an in-depth tour with scholastic material that somebody like Julia would excel at. I would gladly pay for it!
Written 14 October 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.

Mel7hills
Fayetteville, AR3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
Stephanie was a great, humorous and knowledgeable guide. We thoroughly enjoyed the tour. We especially appreciated having the early look when we passed back through the Cistine Chapel and saw the big crowd in there later. I liked Stephanie's insight into what was going on in the plays between people when some of the art was being painted or frescoed.
This really increased my understanding of art's importance back then…so much more important to the society than it is today.
Written 2 February 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.
Hello Mel7hills, Learning that Stephanie was able to provide such a wonderful experience for you is the best thing we could hope for. She is a true asset to Walks, and we are so lucky to have her. We will be sure to forward your comments to our Guide Manager to ensure she gets the recognition that she deserves! We look forward to sharing another walk with you soon! Warmest regards The Walks Team
Written 3 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Rae B
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2024 • Couples
Andrea was our guide and extremely knowledgeable on the history of Art within the Vatican. Highly recommend booking this tour to see the Vatican Museums, without a guide my partner and I would have been totally lost and not known anything about the amazing art we were looking at. Still very crowded inside, even with the early morning 745am slot, but with how busy the Vatican always is, not really much way to get around this. Andrea also expertly navigated the crowds weaving us through each room, which helped mitigate the stress that can come from being surrounded by a lot of people for a lengthy amount of time. He knew which pieces of art to focus on and didn't need to explain every single piece, which is appreciative since there is SO much to see. Think of this tour as Greatest Hits of the Vatican Museums!
Written 13 April 2024
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.

WIllied425
BEDFORD354 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2020
I cancelled well within time for a full refund. They first said I would get a full refund. A few weeks later, asked if I would take a credit. (No.) A few weeks after that, asked if I would accept double credit. (No.) When I wrote to request my refund again, 15 weeks later, they refused. And now, there is only a recording at their US phone number requesting you call again during business hours regardless of what time you called. Aargh!
Written 24 June 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.
Dear WIllied425, Thank you for your feedback. Covid19 has had great impact on the travel industry and the world at large, leaving many disappointed as they have had to cancel or delay travel plans. Our main objective is to help clients explore the world, hence the tour credits we have been offering. Having said that we understand this option may not be for everyone, and as this is the case for you, we kindly ask that you reach out to us at info@takewalks.com referencing your TripAdvisor name so that a member of our management team can assist you with your request promptly. Warmest regards, The Walks Team
Written 28 June 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Daria L
Brooklyn, NY4 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2023
Deceiving description, 'access the galleries before they open to the general public' is a lie, since no one is allowed into the galleries before they open, you enter same as everyone else at 8am. We had a tour in the middle of February and with this early entry at 8am there were hundreds of people in the museum and we had to wait for other groups to leave before we can approach the famous paintings or rooms. If I knew we were entering at the same time as everyone else, I would never paid 90$ per person at is it a total rip-off. There were independent visitors in the line next to us (without a tour) and they entered before we did, hence making me think we should have come by ourselves without any tour.
If you are looking to avoid the crowds, go on your own early, this tour is not worth the price.
Written 26 March 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.
Dear Darial45, Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on your recent experience with our Early Entry Vatican Museums: The Best of the Sistine Chapel tour. We appreciate your feedback and would like to address your concerns regarding the tour description. We would like to clarify that our tour does indeed offer early access to the Vatican Museums. Our tour enters the Vatican Museums before the general public line forms, as the general public is only allowed to enter the museum when it opens at 9 AM. We apologize for any confusion caused by the tour description, and we appreciate your feedback. We will work to ensure that our tour descriptions accurately reflect the tour experience, and we thank you for bringing this to our attention. If you have any additional comments or feedback that you would like to share with us, please contact us at feedback@walks.org. Thank you for choosing our tour, and we hope to have the opportunity to provide you with an exceptional tour experience in the future. Best regards, Jhonas.
Written 27 March 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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Early Vatican Museums Tour: The Best of the Sistine Chapel provided by Walks of Italy

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